14 - The Softy Source: Crunchyroll Translator: Editor: Timer: QC: (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!