Baseball: A Two-Way Player-Chapter 437 - 71: Climax Series Battle 2

As Takeshita Yohei spoke, many of the audience members focused their attention on the two middle-aged men seated beside him. For those who follow baseball, especially the middle-aged demographic, even a glance would reveal the identity of these two individuals. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"The two special guests beside me are certainly not unfamiliar to everyone—on the left, we have Mr. Ito Kei, the legendary catcher and manager of the Seibu Team. He dedicated all 22 years of his playing career to Seibu, serving as an indispensable cornerstone of the ’Seibu Dynasty.’ Between 2004-2007, he served as the manager of the Seibu Team and helped the team win Japan’s Number One once."

"On the right, we have Mr. Kohkubo Yuuki, the undisputed legendary hitter of the Daiei SoftBank Team, who just retired at the end of last season. He served the Fukuoka Daiei SoftBank Hawks for 15 years, hitting over 300 home runs and achieving Japan’s Number One three times for the team."

From the lineup, it’s clear that major broadcasting networks attach great importance to this highly anticipated series game:

On one hand, both Ito Kei and Kohkubo Yuuki are legendary players in Nippon Professional Baseball, and having them as guest commentators doesn’t come cheap;

On the other hand, this arrangement reveals a clever little idea from the broadcasters: the commentary booth hosts one of the leading figures of the past generation from each team, while on the field, the new generation of talents competes. This sense of continuity undoubtedly hits the sweet spot for many professional baseball viewers.

After completing the usual introduction of the two guests, Takeshita Yohei also began his warm-up work before the game started—

"Both the SoftBank Team and the Seibu Team are among the longest-standing and most reputable teams in the Pacific League. The starting lineup for today’s game has also been announced—what are your thoughts on today’s match?"

As the question was posed, the two former rivals who faced off countless times during their playing days, and who today represent their respective teams, exchanged a knowing smile before they began sharing their perspectives.

"As his former manager, I’m pleased to see pitcher Takayuki Kishi achieve such accomplishments today—firstly, his pitching form can be described as ’a work of art,’ with the entire process from set-up to over-the-shoulder throw being incredibly smooth."

"Moreover, his arsenal of pitches is vast, with his fastball, curveball, and changeup all being of top-notch quality. No matter what adverse situation he faces, he never lacks ways to respond. This has even been acknowledged by player Ichiro Suzuki, and the same is likely experienced by player Kohkubo, who has faced him before."

"Although SoftBank’s batting lineup is exceptionally strong, I believe it won’t be easy to overcome pitcher Takayuki Kishi. Even setting aside my identity as a Seibu supporter, I don’t think the SoftBank Team at home can easily defeat him."

As Takayuki Kishi’s former manager who discovered and promoted him, Ito Kei naturally praised his brilliant protégé extensively, though his statements were indeed universally acknowledged facts in the professional baseball world.

Takeshita Yohei nodded approvingly and then turned his attention to Kohkubo, who had not yet expressed his opinion.

As a meritorious player of the Daiei SoftBank Team, who might even succeed as the team’s manager, Kohkubo Yuuki naturally expressed his stance straightforwardly, unhesitatingly standing behind the team he loves.

"Well, player Takayuki Kishi’s abilities are indeed strong, especially his powerful spin and tailwind, which can pose quite a challenge for batters. A pitcher like him, who can easily acquire strikes with just his fastball, is rare in Nippon Professional Baseball."

"However..." Kohkubo began by highly praising Takayuki Kishi, today’s starter, then shifted his tone, starting to promote his team’s players, "I have confidence in the SoftBank Team’s batting lineup members, and I believe they won’t be troubled by such issues."

"After all, although the power of Kishi’s fastball is strong, our SoftBank Team has an ace who consistently pitches at an average speed of around 155 km/h and a maximum of 162 km/h. The players must have experienced some torment during practice matches, hahaha..."

Kohkubo’s remarks also amused the other two, and they all simultaneously laughed, instantly filling the studio with a cheerful atmosphere.

Then, Kohkubo’s expression became a little more serious as he continued to use data to support his view, "Although the SoftBank Team is ranked second in the Pacific League this season, and their overall condition is quite fluctuating, I still have great confidence in them when it comes to the climactic battle—not only because I was once a part of this team, but also because, in a series where the schedule is tense and the day’s condition is more tested, the power contained in an excellent batting lineup is definitely sufficient to change the situation of the entire series!"

"And the SoftBank Team happens to possess the most potent batting lineup in the entire Pacific League, and even in all of Nippon Professional Baseball—"

"First batter Lin Guanglai, batting average .298, 20 home runs;"

"Third batter Hasegawa Yu, batting average .341, 19 home runs;"

"Fourth batter Nakagawa Seiichi, batting average .316, 19 home runs;"

"Fifth batter Matsuda Naohiro, batting average .279, 20 home runs."

"The combined firepower of just these four players contributed to a total of 78 homers, not to mention the 16 homers from Lahai’er, 12 from Egawa, and 11 from Yanagida... If it weren’t for the firepower and value mismatch of the two foreign sluggers Lahai’er and Pena, this SoftBank lineup could have reached even greater heights."

"I can assert that as long as the batting lineup gets into the game quickly, there is a high chance that SoftBank can win today’s game!"

"Moreover, I have an interesting little fact here..." At this point, even Kohkubo himself couldn’t help but laugh, and then, under the puzzled gaze of the other two, he continued:

"SoftBank’s Lin Guanglai player, from Takayama to today’s match, has hit a home run in every debut game of every competition he participated in, never missing to this day!"

"2010 West Tokyo Conference first match, against Musashi Hill, ninth batter, a solo home run in the seventh inning; 2010 Summer Koshien, against Chukyo University, a grand slam in the first inning; 2010 Autumn Tokyo Conference, against Nihon University Fengshan, a grand slam in the seventh inning; 2011 Spring Koshien, against Kyushu Academy, a two-run home run in the first inning... The most recent one was in this season’s professional baseball season opener, a two-run home run against Tohoku Rakuten player Zeben."

"I wonder if today, Lin Guanglai player can continue to replicate his miracle? I’m quite looking forward to it!"

Kohkubo Yuuki listed these data with familiarity, like tossing a large stone into a calm lake, causing an immediate uproar: not only Takeshita Yohei and Ito Kei in front of him, but even many Koshien and professional baseball fans sitting in front of their TVs preparing to watch the game were shocked by such data.

For many, hitting a home run on the Koshien or professional baseball stage is already the ultimate goal they can only dream of achieving in their lifetime. Yet now someone tells them that since high school, Lin Guanglai has hit a home run in his debut in every game he participated in! How could that not be shocking?

There is no doubt that Kohkubo’s embellishment has indeed whetted the audience’s appetite in front of the televisions; the backstage staff was also unable to hold back their laughter as they watched the rating figures on the screen continuously rise.

Now, all of Japan’s attention has once again focused on Lin Guanglai in the SoftBank player’s area—

This young man, who has already created countless miracles, can he continue his legend?