# 14 - The Softy
Source: [Crunchyroll](https://www.crunchyroll.com/series/GRVDWZZ4R/gurazeni-money-pitch)
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(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
**[01:30] bon**
* I broke my right wrist just before*
* interleague play started.*
**[01:36] bon**
* Four months later, in September,*
* I finally returned to the majors.*
**[01:41] bon**
* Luckily for me, the three top CL teams*
* are in a tight race for the pennant,*
***SIGN*** Central League Standings
***SIGN*** W L T GB
***SIGN*** Tempters
**[01:43] [SONG] sign**
Mops
***SIGN*** Spiders
**[01:47] bon**
* and my Jingu Spiders are in third, just one*
* win behind the leading Osaka Tempters.*
**[01:54] bon**
* If I can contribute to a pennant win*
* in this do-or-die moment,*
**[01:56] bon**
* I can make up for the four months*
* I spent out of action!*
***SIGN*** The Softy
**[02:01] bon**
*It's my third day back in the majors,*
**[02:03] bon**
*and our showdown with the
second-place Bunkyo Mops—*
**[02:06] bon**
*the last of a three-game series—has begun.*
**[02:10] sako**
Natsunosuke, enough.
**[02:11] sako**
Swap out for Asai.
**[02:13] bon**
Huh? But I've only thrown five pitches...
**[02:15] sako**
Just swap out.
**[02:18] bon**
O-Okay...
**[02:21] bon**
What the heck's going on here?
**[02:24] bon**
I was hoping to go all out now
that I'm finally back in the game,
**[02:27] bon**
but I won't get an appearance today either...
***SIGN*** 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th
**[02:29] bon**
* A guy who came up from the minors*
* with me is playing in today's game.*
**[02:34] ugu**
*Batting eighth, right field, Itsuki.*
**[02:38] ket**
Roppa-kun!
**[02:39] man**
Sonny boy!
**[02:40] bon**
*Itsuki Roppa.*
**[02:42] bon**
*He's twenty-six years old, just like me.*
**[02:45] bon**
*He throws right and bats left.*
**[02:47] bon**
* He was recruited out of*
* college four years ago.*
**[02:50] bon**
*His contract is 6.5 million.*
**[02:52] bon**
* He's been brought up to the majors after*
* an amazing hot streak in the minors.*
***SIGN*** Toda Stadium
Saitama Prefecture
**[02:59] [SONG] sign**
Jingu Spiders Match Schedule
August 22 Jingu vs. Tokorozawa Jaguars
Today's match is at 13:00
**[03:07] hide**
Hey, batter! Hit it here!
**[03:12] hide**
Here it comes!
**[03:16] hide**
It's going long!
**[03:21] hide**
I got it! I got it!
**[03:22] ump**
Out!
**[03:23] bon**
Hey, nice play!
**[03:27] team**
Nice play!
**[03:29] hide**
Yeah, yeah!
**[03:33] hide**
Now, bring it on!
**[03:38] hide**
Yeah!
**[03:39] hide**
C'mon, drop! Drop!
**[03:42] hide**
It dropped!
**[03:44] hide**
It's fair! It's fair!
**[03:48] hide**
Yes! A double!
**[03:49] ump**
Safe!
**[03:50] hide**
That hit gets me up to .300!
**[03:55] hide**
Hey, I'm taking a lead! I'm taking a lead!
**[04:00] hide**
Yeah, a hit! I'm going all the way home!
**[04:05] hide**
That's gonna be dicey!
**[04:06] right**
Back home!
**[04:09] hide**
Run, legs! Run!
**[04:12] catch**
Out!
**[04:13] hide**
What's the call?
**[04:14] ump**
Out! Out!
**[04:17] hide**
Heck, go figure!
**[04:19] hide**
And here I thought I'd make it.
**[04:21] bon**
* He's so cheerful after getting*
* tagged out at home.*
**[04:25] hide**
Boy, he got me good!
**[04:27] bon**
*It's a fair-weather Sunday.*
**[04:30] bon**
*On this beautiful day...*
**[04:32] bon**
*That dusty uniform...*
**[04:34] bon**
*That sun-baked smile...*
**[04:37] bon**
* What are you, an old man*
* playing grass-lot ball?!*
**[04:42] man**
Sonny boy's having another active day.
**[04:45] bon**
*Itsuki's wife and his father-in-law.*
**[04:49] bon**
*They live nearby,*
**[04:51] bon**
* so they'd always come to Toda Stadium to*
* cheer him on for his minor league games.*
**[04:58] bon**
*By the way, even among pro ballplayers,*
**[05:01] bon**
*you sometimes see people with husky builds.*
**[05:03] bon**
* They also tend to be real jacked*
* in the nude, but not this guy.*
**[05:08] hide**
Boy, it's hot today!
**[05:10] bon**
* This guy really has the physique*
* of an old man in grass-lot ball!*
**[05:17] bon**
* When you make baseball your living,*
* you see more bad times than good.*
**[05:21] bon**
* The guys on the farm team always have*
* a slight whiff of tragedy about them.*
**[05:26] bon**
*But there's none of that from this guy.*
**[05:29] bon**
*He really plays baseball because he enjoys it!*
**[05:32] hide**
I can't believe I'm a grown-up
getting to play baseball every day!
**[05:36] hide**
I get paid for it, too!
**[05:38] hide**
And I just love the slow pace of the farm!
**[05:42] bon**
*That's what it feels like.*
**[05:43] bon**
* Personality-wise, he's the quintessential*
* "guy not cut out for the pros."*
**[05:47] bon**
*"How is he not cut out for it," you ask?*
**[05:50] bon**
* He's got a good batting average,*
* but he has precious few RBIs.*
**[05:55] bon**
* He bats sixth, which is a good*
* place in the order for RBIs,*
**[05:59] bon**
*but this season, he only has four!*
**[06:02] bon**
* "Is he the type to buckle*
* under pressure," you ask?*
**[06:05] bon**
*No, that would actually be preferable!*
**[06:08] bon**
*This guy just doesn't think about anything!*
**[06:12] bon**
*He just hits whatever they throw at him!*
**[06:15] bon**
*Doesn't matter if there's a runner or not!*
**[06:18] bon**
*As a result, he has precious few walks, too.*
**[06:20] bon**
*Incredibly, he only has one this season!*
**[06:25] bon**
*Though the fact that he still bats at .300*
**[06:28] bon**
*suggests the incredible potential he has.*
**[06:32] bon**
* His physique makes him look*
* like he trots along when he runs,*
**[06:36] bon**
*but he's actually got surprising speed.*
**[06:39] bon**
* So he's got a surprising*
* number of infield hits.*
**[06:42] bon**
* And because he's fast, he's a*
* perfectly reliable fielder, too.*
**[06:47] hide**
That beer was great!
**[06:49] bon**
Even the way you drink beer...
**[06:51] bon**
You're such an old man!
**[06:55] bon**
Are you really the same age as me?
**[06:57] bon**
Yeah!
**[06:58] bon**
Maybe the reason you seem
like such an old man
**[07:02] bon**
is because you're hitched?
**[07:04] bon**
I'm a child by comparison.
**[07:07] bon**
*That's what I said, but that's sarcasm.*
**[07:10] bon**
*The real reason he seems like an old man*
**[07:12] bon**
* is because he's an old man*
* playing grass-lot ball at heart!*
**[07:17] hide**
I'm more than just hitched!
**[07:19] hide**
I've also got a kid coming
at the end of September!
**[07:21] bon**
Really?
**[07:23] bon**
That's just a month and a half away!
***SIGN*** Izakaya Yama-ariki
**[07:25] bon**
I see, I see. You're gonna be a daddy?
**[07:28] bon**
You'd better get up to the majors soon, then!
**[07:31] hid**
I thought I'd go up when you came down, yeah.
**[07:36] hid**
But of course, they wanted
a southpaw pitcher.
**[07:39] hid**
Good for you, though!
You finally get to pitch in a game!
**[07:44] hid**
You'll be back in the majors in ten days, I bet!
**[07:48] bon**
*There are moments that make me think,*
**[07:51] bon**
*"No matter how well this guy hits in the farm,*
**[07:54] bon**
*he'll never make it to the majors again."*
**[07:58] bon**
* He's just not cut out to be a pro,*
* personality-wise.*
**[08:01] bon**
*For instance, when he's not hitting well,*
**[08:05] bon**
*and he comes up to bat with the bases loaded,*
**[08:08] bon**
*could he take the walk to force a runner in?*
**[08:13] bon**
*When there's a runner on third,*
**[08:15] bon**
* could he hit a grounder to second*
* to bring the runner home?*
**[08:20] bon**
*Both cases would get him an RBI.*
**[08:23] bon**
*Both win-wins.*
**[08:24] bon**
* But in both cases, he'd swing away*
* and strike out in three!*
**[08:29] bon**
* He's the type of guy where*
* that's so easy to imagine.*
**[08:33] bon**
* Guys cut out to go pro will hang in there*
* and do what it takes to eke out the run.*
**[08:40] hide**
You know...
**[08:41] hide**
For the sake of my incoming kid,
**[08:44] hide**
I gotta get my first hit
as a pro on the board.
**[08:49] bon**
What, you've never gotten a hit in the majors?
**[08:52] hide**
Yeah, sad to say.
**[08:54] bon**
*That's right.*
**[08:55] bon**
* In his four years as a pro, he only*
* spent one month in the majors, so...*
**[09:01] bon**
*Well, I guess that makes sense.*
**[09:04] yui**
Roppa-kun.
**[09:05] dad**
Sonny boy.
**[09:06] hide**
Hey, Yui. Dad.
**[09:07] yui**
We came to pick you up.
**[09:09] dad**
Thank you, Bonda-san, for looking after him.
**[09:13] bon**
No problem.
**[09:15] [SONG] sign**
Piyopiyo Honpo
**[09:17] dad**
Excuse us.
**[09:18] hide**
Take care!
**[09:19] bon**
Take care.
**[09:24] bon**
*Piyopiyo Honpo*
**[09:26] bon**
* is a Japanese-style confectionery chain*
* with fifteen stores in Saitama Prefecture.*
**[09:30] bon**
* Itsuki married the only*
* daughter of the owners,*
**[09:33] bon**
*and they live with his in-laws.*
**[09:36] catch**
*So whenever he quits baseball,*
**[09:40] bon**
* he'll have a job lined up as*
* president of Piyopiyo Honpo!*
**[09:45] bon**
* You can see how a guy like that wouldn't*
* bend over backwards to get to the majors.*
**[09:51] bon**
*Not that I envy him or anything.*
**[09:56] bon**
*As a mere pro baller with an uncertain future,*
**[10:01] bon**
*and his body as his only resource,*
**[10:03] bon**
*I know I can't stay here forever!*
**[10:05] bon**
* I need to get back to the majors*
* as soon as possible...*
**[10:08] bon**
Or I'll get a pay cut next season!
**[10:16] bon**
* Today, Itsuki is starting,*
* batting eighth and playing right field.*
**[10:20] bon**
*This is his third time at the plate.*
**[10:22] bon**
*His last two at-bats, he made good contact,*
**[10:25] bon**
* but the defense's amazing*
* fielding kept him in check.*
**[10:28] (Flashback) bon**
You know...
**[10:30] (Flashback) bon**
For the sake of my incoming kid,
**[10:32] (Flashback) bon**
I gotta get my first hit
as a pro on the board.
**[10:37] dad**
Yui, how are you feeling?
**[10:39] yui**
I'm just fine.
**[10:40] yui**
The baby's kicking a lot!
**[10:47] bon**
Going...
**[10:48] dad**
Going...
**[11:08] hide**
*At last, my first hit...*
**[11:09] bon**
*...in the pros!*
**[11:16] ana**
The center-fielder robbed the home run!
**[11:18] ana**
What an amazing play!
**[11:20] yui**
Oh, Roppa-kun...
**[11:22] dad**
Sonny boy...
**[11:23] ana**
Itsuki, in his first start in a year,
has been robbed of three hits today!
**[11:29] ana**
Rotten luck for him, huh, Tokunaga-san?
**[11:31] toku**
Yes, it's a terrible shame.
**[11:34] toku**
But that center-fielder's moves
were amazing, weren't they?
***SIGN*** 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th
**[11:38] toku**
That homer would've given them the lead.
**[11:40] bon**
What rotten luck.
**[11:43] bon**
Itsuki...
**[11:44] umi**
Itsuki, don't get discouraged.
**[11:46] umi**
Give us your best on defense.
**[11:47] hide**
Sure!
**[11:51] bon**
* Itsuki's 0 and 3, but they're*
* still letting him play?*
**[11:55] bon**
* Well, it stands to reason.*
* He should've had three hits.*
**[11:59] bon**
*And I've heard that since they brought him up,*
**[12:01] bon**
* his batting practice performance*
* has been amazing.*
**[12:05] umi**
W-Wow... Itsuki...
**[12:14] tana**
* At this rate, can't not put Itsuki*
* in the starting lineup.*
**[12:19] bon**
* But while everyone might be thinking,*
* "Itsuki's had some rotten luck today,"*
**[12:24] bon**
* I can't help but think his poor results*
* come from a lack of real pro spirit.*
**[12:30] bon**
* You could call it*
* "The determination to get a hit."*
**[12:34] bon**
* When a player with that determination*
* comes up for their third at-bat,*
**[12:37] bon**
*they might go for a cheap hit.*
**[12:40] bon**
* Like clipping it just over*
* the shortstop's head, you know?*
**[12:44] bon**
* Itsuki just hits like it's an*
* extension of batting practice.*
**[12:48] bon**
* At the same time, I can't deny*
* that Itsuki is in the zone.*
**[12:51] bon**
*And I'm in the zone, too!*
**[12:54] bon**
* I was producing results in the farm.*
* That's why they called me up.*
**[12:59] bon**
* But for two days, they*
* haven't put me in the game.*
**[13:02] (Flashback) sako**
Natsunosuke, our pitching staff's in a bad way.
**[13:05] (Flashback) sako**
Come back to us soon, okay?
**[13:07] bon**
*That's what he said.*
**[13:10] bon**
*But both yesterday and the day before,*
**[13:12] bon**
* there have been moments*
* when I thought "is this my turn?"*
**[13:14] bon**
* But they called in a different*
* left-hander instead.*
**[13:18] bon**
*Anyway, I'm back now. Be patient!*
**[13:21] bon**
* Do the job you're given,*
* for the sake of the team!*
**[13:24] bon**
*The accomplishments will follow!*
**[13:27] sako**
Natsunosuke.
**[13:30] sako**
Get warmed up.
**[13:34] bon**
Yes, sir!
**[13:42] bon**
*And then, in the 8th inning...*
**[13:45] ann**
It broke out through left center!
**[13:48] ann**
It's a double!
**[13:50] ann**
There's two outs, but the man
on deck has had two hits today.
**[13:53] ann**
It's their 3-hole, Tomoto!
**[13:55] toku**
You gotta assume the Spiders
will bring out a lefty here.
**[14:01] sako**
Natsunosuke, you're up.
**[14:04] bon**
*It's here!*
**[14:05] bon**
*It's finally here!*
**[14:08] ugu**
* The Spiders are announcing*
* a change of pitcher.*
**[14:11] ugu**
*Now pitching: Bonda!*
**[14:14] ugu**
*Jersey 39.*
**[14:16] ann**
His broken right wrist now healed,
**[14:19] ann**
left-hander Bonda is finally back
after four months!
**[14:27] bon**
*I'm finally...*
**[14:31] bon**
*I'm finally back...*
**[14:35] bon**
*Back here!*
**[14:38] toku**
*You did it, Natsunosuke!*
**[14:40] ann**
Having Bonda back is a major
win for the Spiders, huh?
**[14:46] toku**
Yeah, good thing he made it back in time.
**[14:49] toku**
He was their ace middle reliever
before he broke his wrist.
**[14:55] toku**
And the last four months have
probably been really hard on him.
**[15:01] toku**
Hopefully, he'll make up for the
four months he spent out of action.
**[15:06] ono**
*That's right.*
**[15:07] ono**
*Go for it, Senpai!*
**[15:09] shibu**
Take him out, Natsunosuke!
**[15:13] shi**
Time to get a fresh start.
**[15:15] shi**
Crawl your way back to the top, Natsunosuke.
***SIGN*** 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th
**[15:19] bon**
* It's the top of the 8th,*
* and the game is tied.*
**[15:22] bon**
*There's two outs and a runner on second.*
**[15:26] bon**
* This is definitely a place where*
* a pitcher earns his keep.*
**[15:30] bon**
*I guess the management really does trust me!*
**[15:46] bon**
*I'm gonna get you out!*
**[16:01] bon**
I've got it! I've got it!
**[16:03] bon**
*Got him! Pop fly to second!*
**[16:07] hide**
No, I've got it! Leave it to me!
**[16:10] bon**
No, second! Second!
**[16:13] bon**
Itsuki, leave this to me!
**[16:21] ann**
The runner scores from second!
**[16:22] ann**
The Mops take the lead!
***SIGN*** 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th
**[16:25] ann**
A clutch hit to shallow right field!
**[16:28] bon**
*A hit!*
**[16:30] bon**
* I... I gave up the hit*
* that put them in the lead!*
**[16:35] bon**
*Itsuki!*
**[16:36] bon**
* Don't say you're gonna catch it*
* and then pull out!*
**[16:40] yui**
Roppa-kun...
**[16:41] dad**
Sonny boy...
**[16:43] ugu**
* The Spiders are announcing*
* a change of pitcher.*
**[16:47] ugu**
*Segawa will be pitching for Bonda.*
**[16:47] bon**
*Determination.*
**[16:50] bon**
* Itsuki, you don't have enough*
* determination for catching the ball.*
**[16:56] bon**
* Someone with determination*
* would never pull out on the catch.*
**[17:01] bon**
* They'd go for it,*
* even if it meant a collision!*
**[17:06] bon**
*That ended up being the winning run.*
**[17:09] bon**
*With the pennant on the line,*
**[17:12] bon**
*I was unable to help my team today.*
**[17:18] [SONG] sign**
Piyopiyo Honpo
**[17:19] hi**
Papa's fourth at-bat
was a ground out to first!
**[17:22] hi**
He wasn't able to get his first pro hit.
**[17:26] dad**
But, Hiroshi, Papa will get his hit tomorrow!
**[17:31] hide**
If they let me play, that is!
**[17:34] dad**
Given how you played today,
I'm sure they will.
**[17:37] hide**
Hiroshi, Papa's big boy Hiroshi!
**[17:39] hide**
Will Papa play tomorrow? What do you think?
**[17:45] dad**
* Sonny boy's been so worked up*
* since he learned the baby was a boy.*
**[17:51] dad**
* He's even picked out the name,*
* and they both call him that.*
**[17:55] yui**
But actually, Roppa-kun,
at my check-up today...
**[17:59] hide**
What happened at your check-up?
**[18:02] yui**
We found out the baby is breech.
**[18:05] hide**
B-Breech?
**[18:07] hide**
But he was just fine last month...
**[18:10] hide**
Is that something that can just
happen in the ninth month?
**[18:12] yui**
Rarely, but it does happen.
**[18:16] yui**
They might have to do a C-section.
**[18:21] hide**
A-A C-section?!
**[18:24] hide**
I-I'd rather avoid that.
**[18:26] hide**
They'll open you up with a scalpel, right?
**[18:29] yui**
It's very likely they'll have to.
**[18:33] hide**
How can it turn breech in the ninth month?
**[18:36] hide**
Please be born safely, Hiroshi!
**[18:40] hide**
Papa's working hard so you
can watch him play ball!
**[18:45] hide**
Hiroshi!
**[18:49] bon**
*When I thought back on today's match,*
**[18:52] bon**
* I got so annoyed, I didn't want to*
* go back to my empty apartment.*
**[18:58] bon**
* I was finally back in the majors.*
* I got my appearance today.*
**[19:02] bon**
*And more than anything...*
**[19:04] bon**
*I wanted to be healed by her smile!*
***SIGN*** Kitchen Ajihei
**[19:10] sign**
*It's been five months, I think.*
**[19:12] sign**
* I didn't want her to see me*
* with my bandages on...*
**[19:15] sign**
*But I hope she hasn't quit in the meantime.*
**[19:23] yuki**
Welcome!
**[19:25] yuki**
Go ahead and grab an empty seat.
**[19:25] bon**
*She's here! Yuki-chan!*
**[19:30] yuki**
Do you know what you'd like?
**[19:33] bon**
F-Fried chicken 'n' rice!
**[19:36] yuki**
One fried chicken 'n' rice!
**[19:38] ---**
Okay, one chicken 'n' rice!
**[19:42] bon**
*She didn't ask me anything but my order,*
**[19:46] bon**
* but just seeing her smile*
* sets my heart at peace!*
**[19:50] cas**
* The Jingu Spiders and Bunkyo*
* Mops were tied up in the 8th,*
***SIGN*** Baseball News
**[19:56] sign**
*when Pitcher Bonda, returning
after four months with an injury,*
**[20:01] sign**
* gave up a hit to player Tomoto,*
* allowing a 6-5 Mops victory.*
**[20:06] man**
Wow, Bonda got hurt?
**[20:09] man**
Did we have a pitcher named Bonda?
**[20:11] man**
Yeah, the left-handed reliever
with the horn-rimmed glasses.
**[20:15] man**
Oh, him!
**[20:17] bon**
*I'm sitting right here, darn it!*
**[20:18] cas**
*The first-place Tempters lost today,*
**[20:20] bon**
*Well, it's not like they know what I look like...*
**[20:20] cas**
*so the Mops have pulled into
first place by half a game.*
**[20:23] cas**
* The Spiders are now 1.5 games*
* behind the Mops, in third place.*
***SIGN*** Central League Standings
***SIGN*** W L T GB
***SIGN*** Tempters
**[20:23] [SONG] sign**
Mops
***SIGN*** Spiders
**[20:28] yuki**
Aw, the Tempters fell to second place?
**[20:32] man**
Hey, don't sweat it, Yuki-chan.
**[20:34] man**
The Mops'll get knocked down again soon.
**[20:36] man**
And the Spiders are totally done for.
**[20:39] man**
Yeah, it's totally the Tempters this year!
**[20:42] yuki**
Well, I sure hope you're right...
**[20:44] bon**
*No, no! I'm not giving in that easily!*
**[20:48] bon**
*Sorry, Yuki-chan,*
**[20:50] bon**
* but I'm going to work like crazy*
* in the 19 games left in the season,*
**[20:53] bon**
*and help my team win the pennant!*
**[20:57] bon**
*I need to make up for these last four months!*
**[21:01] yuki**
Here's your fried chicken 'n' rice!
**[21:05] bon**
Thanks!
**[21:06] bon**
*Wow, what a great smell!*
**[21:09] bon**
* That's Yuki-chan's personal recipe,*
* fried chicken 'n' rice!*
**[21:13] bon**
*Now, we start with the rice...*
**[21:19] bon**
*Delicious!*
**[21:20] bon**
*This is the flavor!*
**[21:22] bon**
*I'm charged up with love and energy!*
**[21:25] bon**
*Tomorrow's the day!*
**[21:26] bon**
*Money pitch!*
**[23:01] bon**
Natsunosuke here.
**[23:03] bon**
Itsuki Roppa is knocking it
out of the park in practice,
**[23:07] bon**
but he just can't hit in the clutch!
**[23:09] bon**
He's messing us up on defense, too,
and he got me a loss as a pitcher!
**[23:14] bon**
The manager's sick of it, too,
**[23:16] bon**
and he's thinking of sending
him down to the minors.
**[23:18] bon**
I'm trying a lecture to get him
motivated again, but...
**[23:23] bon**
Next time: "Rising to First"!
**[23:25] bon**
Seize tomorrow's success and today's money!
***SIGN*** Rising to First!
**[23:27] bon**
Money Pitch!