Chapter 24 (44)

[based on translation by narwhaltortellini]

SUMMARY:

Waiting to bat, Hanai notes that the pitcher isn't unhittable and that he'd like to make a hit to turn around the mood of the game. Tajima thinks to himself that the outfielders are back to their usual positions. He'd noticed before when they were far forward for him and Izumi, and slightly forward for Sakaeguchi and Suyama. He notes the changes must be about more than physique, and continues to think.

In the dugout, Abe is unsure of something, and decides to try asking Mihashi his opinion. Abe says he sees that the batters are hitting balls in the opposite area from where they usually like, but he wonders why they aren't hitting in the places they usually like as well. Mihashi becomes very nervous and has difficulty talking. Momokan says if he has an idea he should say it, and Mihashi eventually gets out that maybe the batters aren't hitting those areas because they are always balls. After confirming this, Momokan says it seems throwing balls in the place the batter likes it must be a “habit” in Abe's pitch calling. Abe thinks to himself that isn't quite correct, as such a tactic is a fundamental of mixing pitches. Abe then realizes that usually the pitch won't always go where planned, muddling the results, but with Mihashi as his pitcher things end up differently.

As Hanai bats, Tajima yells at him to pull the ball. Hanai is confused, and think to himself that while he used to pull the ball in middle school a lot, he's gotten better now. He hits the ball and it is quickly picked up by a Bijou member, and tossed to his teammate to get Hanai out. Hanai is amazed by their cooperation which seems like the level of pros, and Tajima is impressed as well, but notes that in reality their success was partly because the two Bijou teammates were hanging close to second where Hanai usually hits the ball. Tajima notes that Bijou must have studied Nishiura thoroughly.

Abe realizes he is up to bat soon, and as he readies to go, Momokan tells him to keep thinking about both the offense and defense issues. Momokan thinks to herself that Abe's “habit” of pitch calling is harsh, because Mihashi is his pitcher. She figures now that they understand what is going on they can fix their defense, but that batting is the issue now. She calls to the team and lets them know what is going on, telling them to watch the Bijou defensive positions during their at-bats, and consider what Bijou might be expecting them to do. If they think they can exceed Bijou's expectations they can hit as they always do, but if they do not think they can, they should try to change their batting. If Bijou is moving their defense around, there should be holes left in other places they can aim for. Izumi notes that he already intended to try to hit a ground ball anyway, but considering how Tajima hit before, wonders if Tajima had already noticed the defense moving.

Up to bat, Abe notices the outfielders moving to the right, and wonders if this means they expect him to be bad at pushing the ball. They pitch him a fastball on the outside, and he watches it go by, noting they must not expect him to have the power to pull the ball when they pitch it on the outside. Abe swings at the next pitch, and in the stands the announcers on the portable TV note the ball was high and would have been a ball if Abe had not swing. They say Abe is swinging wide, and that he seems to be too impatient. Abe swings at and misses his next pitch as well, and the second inning is over.

Momokan notes that most of the Nishiura boys don't have the skill to aim for holes left by the Bijou defense, and that Tajima and Sakaeguchi, who they will not have data on, are their best chances.

Abe yells at Mihashi to help him get on his catcher's gear. Hanai notes that while this may just be an excuse for them to talk, Abe having his pitcher help with something like that makes the situation look a bit desperate. Hanai talks to Izumi about the Bijou defense moving around, and both say they did not notice it. Hanai mentions Tajima yelling at him to pull the ball, but figures it was just a coincidence. Izumi is now convinced, however, that Tajima must have noticed the defense moving early on, and becomes irritable. Thinking back, Hanai becomes embarrassed he did not score for Mihashi as he said he would.

As Mihashi helps him with his gear, Abe tells Mihashi he should shake his head from now on. At Mihashi's confusion, Abe explains that he will give Mihashi a middle finger sign to tell him to shake his head. Then he will give Mihashi a dummy sign to nod at though in reality Mihashi will pitch the first sign. Abe offers to explain again if Mihashi does not understand, but he says he does. Mihashi is impressed that Abe has thought up a sign even for something like that.

After they go out onto the field, Abe checks once again to make sure Mihashi understands and doesn't accidentally pitch the dummy sign. Mihashi says he does, but starts shaking his head and asking if that is ok. Abe is bewildered till he realizes that Mihashi is asking him how to shake his head, and tells him to just do it as he normally would, as surely he shook his head sometimes in middle school. Abe then realizes Mihashi never had an opportunity to shake his head then either. He tells Mihashi he's doing it perfectly, and thinks how Mihashi has never had someone he felt comfortable shaking his head at, from Hatake at Mihoshi to probably older catchers before him, to Abe now.

Mihashi throws a strike on the inside where the batter likes it, and the batter doesn't swing. Mihashi throws another strike, and the batter is surprised by this change in pattern, but figures they must happen occasionally. The batter figures a strike on the outside is coming next, probably a shoot though maybe a fastball. When it turns out to be a curve ball, he is surprised and misses it completely.

Wada, the cleanup who hit the home run before comes up next. Abe asks for a shoot on the outside corner that turns into a ball. Mihashi is surprised they are throwing balls where batters like again, but does as Abe says. Wada notes it is the exact same pitch he got in his first at-bat, and when the next comes on the inside, Wada thinks Abe might be repeating pitches again and that he might be getting the exact same one he got the home run off of. The ball turns out to be a shoot (rather than the expected slider), and Wada misses it. After that Abe does call for the exact pitch Wada got the home run off of (slider on the inside), and Mihashi is worried but pitches as he says anyway. Wada is confused now, and still with the afterimage of the last pitch in his head, he hits the ball, but it pops up and is caught. Abe finds it satisfying to turn Bijou's strategy against them.

Wada explains to Takii what happened in his at-bat. Takii lectures Wada on not getting tricked like a first year, as he is their captain and their cleanup. Takii notes that Nishiura is changing their mix of pitches, but he isn't sure if it's because they've picked up on Bijou's tactics or just because of Bijou's four point lead.

As with Wada, Abe once again has Mihashi throw a ball in the batter's preferred location. Next he asks for a curve ball on the outside. Mihashi notes that though he studied the same data as Abe, he still can't understand Abe's choice of pitches at all. The batter notes that while the types of pitches are changing, those in his preferred area are still balls. The batter figures Abe will throw a strike next, so it will probably be an inside shoot. When the pitch turns out to be a slider, he hits it badly. The ball is caught and the third batter is out.

In the stands, Roka is frustrated. Kazuki greets him and says it looks like they've been using the data he gave them well.

Abe compliments Mihashi on his pitching and Mihashi compliments Abe on his pitch calling. Abe notes to Mihashi that he never shook his head and asks if he ever wanted to. Mihashi says no, that just pitching as Abe says is all he wants to do. Mihashi thinks to himself that this is what is best to do, and that just listening to Abe is what's most important to him. Abe looks somewhat less satisfied with Mihashi's answer than usual.

Mizutani nervously asks Tajima to do something for him, clearly wanting to be tickled. As he tries to explain to Tajima, Izumi sneaks up behind him and tickles him until Mizutani screams that he's had enough. Izumi tells Mizutani that he should be relaxed now, and that though he is low in the batting rank, all he needs to do is hit the ball and get on base. Mizutani thanks him and goes out to bat. Izumi thinks to himself that he will score a point in his next at-bat for sure.