7 - A Minor League Player in the Majors

Source: Crunchyroll
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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.)
SIGN    Meiji Jingu Stadium
[01:35] toko
    I haven't been to Jingu since last September.
[01:38] toko
    I'm going to stay here longer this time.
SIGN    A Minor League Player in the Majors
[01:57] bon
    Hup!
[02:01] man
    There.
[02:02] bon
    This practice is pretty rough...
[02:06] toko
    Hey.
[02:08] toko
    You can go. I'll stand in.
[02:10] cat
    Thanks.
[02:11] bon
    Tohko-san! You're back in the majors?
[02:14] toko
    Looks like.
[02:17] toko
    Here you go, Natsunosuke.
[02:21] bon
    Tohko Junji-san, thirty-two years old.
[02:24] bon
    Catcher.
[02:28] bon
    In pro baseball, each major league team
    normally keeps three catchers on their bench.
[02:34] bon
    Since no other player
    can sub in for a catcher,
[02:41] bon
    Tohko-san in the minors is
    basically our fourth catcher.
[02:46] bon
    Yesterday, our young catcher prospect
    was dropped down to the minors,
[02:51] bon
    and Tohko-san was brought up in his place.
[02:54] bon
    His contract is 5 million yen.
[02:56] bon
    5 million at thirty-two years of age...
[02:59] bon
    If he plays, it probably won't be
    as catcher, but as a righty pinch hitter...
[03:05] toko
    I know what you're thinking, Natsunosuke.
[03:08] toko
    You're wrong. I might not be here
    to pinch hit, but rather to catch.
[03:17] toko
    Ogami, the backup,
    jammed his finger yesterday, right?
[03:20] toko
    So I might even end up in the battery
    with you during a game, Natsunosuke.
[03:24] bon
    Yeah, I see!
[03:27] bon
    That's totally possible, sure!
SIGN    Jingu Indoor Practice Facility
[03:38] kita
    Hey!
[03:39] kita
    Bonda-kun, good to see you!
[03:41] bon
    Oh, hey.
[03:42] bon
    Hey.
[03:45] bon
    That's Kitamura-san,
    ace reporter for Doyo Sports*.
[03:49] kita
    Hello there!
[03:49] bon
    He's extremely affable and outgoing.
[03:51] kita
    Hello!
[03:52] bon
    That's what makes him so*
    good at getting scoops.
[03:53] kita
    Oh, hey!
[03:58] toko
    Kita!
[04:00] kita
    Junji...
[04:01] toko
    Hey, don't look so surprised.
[04:04] toko
    You knew I was coming up, didn't you?
[04:06] kita
    Well, yeah...
[04:08] bon
    Uh-oh, I gotta hit the can!
[04:10] kita
    Bonda-kun!
[04:14] kita
    If Junji's catching when you take
    the mound today, you'd better be careful!
[04:20] kita
    You'll have to call your own pitches.
[04:22] kita
    You just can't trust this guy's signs.
[04:27] toko
    You shut your filthy mouth!
[04:31] bon
    These two...
[04:36] bon
    They spent their college years together
    in the baseball team.
[04:39] bon
    They were both catchers, too.
[04:43] bon
    Tohko-san was a college-ball superstar.
[04:47] bon
    He was our first pick in the draft.
[04:50] bon
    Kitamura-san was the second-string catcher.
[04:52] bon
    In four years, he never once
    got brought up to the bench.
[04:57] bon
    After they graduated college
    and entered real life,
[05:02] bon
    one became a minor league player in the pros,
[05:05] bon
    while the other became a major reporter
    in the sports media.
[05:09] toko
    Why, you...
[05:11] bon
    And I recently heard something
    from one of the senior pros...
SIGN    Of course, it varies a lot by publication,
SIGN    but I hear those in sports media really make bank.
SIGN    By your mid-thirties,
SIGN    you can make as much as 10 million in some places!
SIGN    T-Ten million a year?!
SIGN    And they can keep the job up well into retirement age.
SIGN    It's a much better lifelong prospect than us lousy ball players.
SIGN    Then what about Kitamura-san with DoyoSpo?
SIGN    DoyoSpo's a big name,
    and Kitamura's their ace reporter...
SIGN    He's probably making 10 million.
SIGN    Even at his young age.
[05:54] bon
    He was a major player in high school.
SIGN    Minor
[05:58] bon
    Now he's in the minors.
[06:00] bon
    He was a minor player in college,
[06:02] bon
    but he got a normal job,
SIGN    Major
[06:04] bon
    and now he's in the majors.
[06:06] bon
    One makes double the other.
[06:08] bon
    And while Kitamura-san will also have
    a steady income into retirement age,
[06:12] bon
    Tohko-san has to walk the
    uncertain path of the athlete...
[06:18] bon
    That day, Tohko-san got a chance to pinch hit.
[06:31] ann
    Fly ball to center!
[06:37] ann
    No runs this time, and we move on to the 8th.
SIGN    1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th
[06:43] ann
    Pinch hitter Tohko
    puts the catcher's mask on.
[06:48] ann
    Top of the 8th with the Tempters.
[06:50] ann
    Their leadoff batter gets on base.
[06:52] ann
    Now they're bringing
    out a southpaw pinch hitter.
[06:55] ann
    That means there's movement
    on the Spiders' bench.
[07:01] ann
    Pitching for Ichioka,
[07:05] ann
    Bonda, jersey number 39.
[07:21] bon
    Just as Tohko-san thought, I'm in
    the battery with him right off the bat.
[07:27] toko
    That's right, Natsunosuke.
    Give me the best you've got.
[07:34] ann
    Oh! Here's some more movement!
[07:36] ann
    The Tempters bring in a pinch hitter
    for their pinch hitter, a righty!
[07:42] ann
    He's running!
[07:43] ann
    The batter swings to protect the runner!
[07:46] toko
    Second!
[07:48] ann
    He's safe with time to spare!
[07:49] ann
    It's a successful steal!
[07:55] bon
    It's not good to let a steal
    happen that easily.
[08:00] bon
    The pitcher's a lefty.
[08:02] bon
    The batter's a righty.
[08:05] bon
    It's hard for the runner to get a lead,
[08:07] bon
    and easy for the catcher to throw.
[08:11] bon
    Tohko-san's smart, and he's a decent hitter.
[08:15] bon
    But there's a reason he spends
    most of his time in the minors:
[08:18] bon
    he has a lousy arm.
[08:20] bon
    Our current stock of catchers in the majors
[08:22] bon
    includes our regular catcher
    and today's starter, Terasugi-san.
[08:27] bon
    He's a well-rounded catcher in all respects.
[08:30] bon
    Our second catcher,
    who jammed his finger yesterday,
[08:33] bon
    is Ogami, who has punch as a pinch hitter.
[08:36] bon
    Our third catcher is a prospect, Harada,
    who was sent down to the minors yesterday.
[08:41] bon
    To be honest, Tohko-san is
    a jack of all trades, master of none.
[08:45] bon
    And he's past the age where
    he can be expected to improve.
[08:50] bon
    A-Again?
[08:58] ann
    It's through!
[09:05] ann
    It's an RBI single!
SIGN    1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th
[09:06] ann
    Bonda gives up a hit!
    The lead is down to one!
[09:10] ann
    The Spiders are announcing
    a change of pitchers.
[09:15] bon
    I disagreed with Tohko-san's sign.
SIGN    You just can't trust this guy's signs.
[09:25] bon
    The pitchers after me
    managed to hold them off,
[09:28] bon
    and we escaped with the win, but...
[09:36] kita
    Asking Bonda-kun for another fastball
    was clearly the wrong call there.
[09:41] kita
    Any major league catcher would have
    signaled for a breaking ball, no question.
[09:47] toh
    K-Kita!
[09:49] kita
    And it wasn't the pitcher's fault
    that guy stole the base, either.
[09:53] kita
    Bonda-kun pitched from the stretch,
    like he was supposed to.
[09:57] kita
    If you give up second that easily,
    you won't stand a chance in the majors.
[10:03] ---
    What...
[10:04] toh
    What would a reporter like you know about it?
[10:07] toh
    Don't talk down to me!
[10:09] kita
    Junji, you're used to being
    around minor leaguers.
[10:14] kita
    I'm used to being around major leaguers.
[10:16] kita
    When it comes to major league baseball,
[10:18] kita
    I know it better than you.
[10:20] toh
    Kita!
[10:23] kita
    Of course,
[10:24] kita
    the team might need you
    in the majors from time to time,
[10:28] kita
    but you can't cut it
    in the pros at this point.
[10:31] kita
    You should retire after this season.
[10:35] kita
    On second thought...
[10:36] kita
    Forget "after this year."
    You should retire immediately.
[10:52] bon
    Oh no...
[10:53] kita
    Bonda-kun...
[10:54] kita
    Natsunosuke...
[10:57] bon
    Uh, well...
[11:20] toh
    Were you listening to that?
[11:24] bon
    Er, well...
[11:25] bon
    I wasn't trying to, but I might have heard.
[11:31] kita
    Perfect timing, Bonda-kun.
[11:33] kita
    Give us your judgment
    as a major league pitcher.
[11:38] kita
    You might have to pitch to Junji
    again tomorrow night.
[11:43] kita
    If he messes up once more,
    let loose and give him a piece of your mind!
[11:47] kita
    Tell him he can't be a pro anymore!
[11:53] toh
    Natsunosuke. I-I'm sorry.
[11:56] bon
    Th-That's okay...
[11:58] ---
    S...
[11:59] bon
    S-So awkward!
[12:03] bon
    These two have a history between them.
[12:06] bon
    And Kitamura-san is a first-rate reporter,
    so his opinion is certainly credible.
[12:12] toh
    I-I'm sure you're a bit confused
    after hearing all that, but oh well.
[12:19] toh
    Natsunosuke, I'm going to
    tell you what this is about.
[12:24] toh
    He wants me to get a job.
[12:26] bon
    G-Get a job?
[12:28] toh
    His family runs a
    pharmaceutical import business.
[12:33] toh
    It's not a large firm, but it's stable.
[12:36] toh
    He wants me to do sales with them.
[12:39] toh
    He's the second son, so he
    won't inherit the business,
[12:43] toh
    but he can guarantee a salary
    equal to my current contract.
[12:49] bon
    5 million yen?!
[12:51] bon
    That's one heck of a deal!
[12:53] bon
    Wait, they're willing to pay someone
    with no specialized knowledge that much?
[12:59] bon
    Some might even call that outrageous!
[13:01] toh
    They'd mostly want me to handle
    the sports and fitness-related stuff.
[13:05] toh
    Hence the pay.
[13:07] toh
    But this is what he said:
[13:10] toh
    "Start as young as you can
    if you want to adapt to the work quickly.
[13:14] toh
    In fact, every month—
    every day—is of the essence."
[13:18] bon
    That all makes a lot of sense.
[13:21] toh
    If I get any older, he can't guarantee
    that same starting salary.
[13:26] bon
    Th-That's super harsh!
[13:30] toh
    He's probably just looking out
    for me, in his own way.
[13:34] bon
    Wait, Kitamura-san might be
    right on the money!
[13:40] bon
    I mean, will our team really
    re-sign Tohko-san after this year?
[13:47] bon
    Next year, Tohko-san will be thirty-three.
[13:52] bon
    It's not possible!
[13:54] bon
    It's honestly impressive
    he's kept his contract for this long!
[13:57] bon
    Retiring now wouldn't be a bad choice at all!
[14:02] toh
    But...
[14:03] toh
    I won't be joining his family's company.
[14:08] toh
    Natsunosuke.
[14:09] toh
    If I'm useless in the majors,
    like he says, just tell me.
[14:15] toh
    There's a real chance we might
    get matched up tomorrow.
[14:18] bon
    I-I know, but...
[14:20] toh
    No, I think we will.
[14:23] toh
    Tomorrow, I'll be the starting catcher.
[14:26] toh
    They want to give Tera,
    our regular, the day off.
[14:30] bon
    Really?
[14:32] toh
    And I was on a real hot streak
    down in the minors.
[14:36] toh
    That's why they brought me back up.
[14:45] ann
    Batting eighth, the catcher, Tohko.
[14:49] sta
    How long has it been since
    Tohko started? A year?
[14:53] sta
    Two years?
[14:55] bon
    Our starter today is a seasoned veteran,
    thirty-eight-year-old Kawasaki-san.
[15:04] toh
    Second!
[15:06] short
    Okay! Nice throw!
[15:10] hagi
    We stole second off of Tohko
    easily yesterday,
[15:13] hagi
    so I'm giving all of you the green light
    from the first inning today.
[15:18] bon
    However...
[15:19] bon
    Kawasaki-san's on his game today,
[15:21] bon
    and he sits down the side
    in order in the first.
[15:24] toh
    Nice pitching, Kawasaki-san.
[15:29] rep
    Tohko's calling was good, too.
[15:31] rep
    I think you're right.
[15:33] kita
    Junji's calling?
[15:35] kita
    I doubt that.
[15:37] kita
    Kawasaki's just pitching well today.
[15:40] ann
    Bottom of the first!
[15:45] ann
    The Spiders take a three-run lead
    with a flurry of hits!
[15:49] ann
    Now, with one out and the bases loaded,
[15:53] ann
    catcher Tohko comes up to the plate!
[16:01] ann
    Through the gap in right-center!
[16:04] ann
    The runner on third,
[16:06] ann
    the runner on second,
[16:08] ann
    and the runner on first all score!
[16:12] ann
    Tohko clears the bases with a triple!
[16:19] shi
    Hey, Tohko-san got a hit!
[16:22] shi
    Tohko-san, nice one!
[16:24] shi
    He failed yesterday, but he was telling
    the truth about being on a hot streak!
[16:30] bon
    Tohko-san, the catcher with the weak arm.
[16:32] bon
    But with a lead like that on the board,
[16:35] bon
    the opponents probably
    won't go for any more steals.
[16:39] toh
    Second!
[16:41] kichi
    This catcher's got a weak arm!
[16:44] kichi
    I'm going to run.
[16:46] bon
    This guy's going for the stolen bases title.
[16:49] kichi
    Better rack them up while I have the chance.
[16:58] bon
    Kawasaki-san held them off with
    another one-two-three inning.
[17:02] bon
    Tohko-san is crazy today!
[17:05] bon
    His second at bat:
[17:07] bon
    a double!
[17:09] bon
    His third at bat:
[17:10] bon
    a single!
[17:12] bon
    Incredible!
[17:14] bon
    Tohko-san, if you can get a home run,
[17:17] bon
    you'll have hit for the cycle!
[17:22] kita
    Junji...
[17:23] rep
    Tohko's on fire!
[17:25] rep
    He's calling a great game
    for the veteran Kawasaki, too.
SIGN    1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th
[17:30] ann
    Now it's eight to nothing!
[17:31] ann
    The Spiders have a big lead!
[17:34] kawa
    All right. That's a win in the bag.
[17:37] sako
    All right.
[17:38] sako
    We'll take out Mr. Veteran after the sixth.
[17:41] sako
    Let's split up the remaining innings
    among the relievers.
[17:45] all
    Right.
[17:47] sako
    Natsunosuke, you handle the seventh.
[17:50] bon
    Yes, sir.
[17:51] bon
    Then, in the seventh inning...
[17:55] bon
    Ball!
[17:56] ---
    Now then!
[17:58] bon
    Bonda comes in this inning and immediately
    walks the leadoff hitter, Shunsoku Yoshiki!
[18:03] bon
    Yoshiki has stolen twelve bases this season!
[18:07] yoshi
    I finally got on base.
[18:11] yoshi
    Kawasaki-san's just been too good.
[18:13] yoshi
    I don't know if I'll get the record,
    but I'm going to run either way.
[18:18] bon
    The same situation as yesterday.
[18:20] bon
    A runner on first.
[18:23] bon
    A right-handed batter.
[18:25] bon
    But the difference today is that
    the runner has confidence in his speed.
[18:31] toh
    Natsunosuke, don't worry about it.
[18:33] toh
    Let him run if he wants to.
    You don't have to pitch from the stretch.
[18:37] bon
    Okay...
[18:38] bon
    Well, if you insist.
[18:42] ann
    The runner takes off!
[18:44] yoshi
    They're not even gonna try, are they?
[18:49] ump
    He's out!
[18:53] ann
    Tohko's on fire today!
[18:56] ann
    He throws out Shunsoku Yoshiki!
[19:03] kita
    You really lulled Yoshiki into
    a false sense of security, huh?
[19:07] kita
    During throwing practice, you intentionally
    made your throws to second look slow.
[19:13] kita
    Since you've been in the minors,
    Yoshiki-kun doesn't know you.
[19:17] kita
    You even fooled your partner Bonda,
    asking him to pitch from the windup.
[19:22] toh
    When I want to, I can make
    a throw like that easily enough.
[19:26] toh
    Well?
[19:27] kita
    Well, there's nothing praiseworthy about
    throwing out a runner in that situation.
[19:34] toh
    Maybe not.
[19:35] kita
    The press box today was full of praise
    for the game you called for Kawasaki.
[19:42] kita
    But if you ask me, they're wrong.
[19:46] kita
    Kawasaki was just in the zone today.
[19:50] toh
    Yeah, that's right.
[19:52] toh
    I didn't call an especially good game.
[19:55] kita
    The triple, double, and single, too...
[19:58] kita
    Every batter has a good hitting
    day every now and then.
[20:02] toh
    Yeah, sometimes a player
    just gets a lot of hits.
[20:05] toh
    And sometimes they get
    a home run after all that.
[20:30] kita
    Hitting for the cycle...
[20:33] kita
    That's crazy!
[20:35] toh
    My breakout season's coming
    at thirty-two years old.
[20:44] kita
    Wrong!
[20:45] kita
    Wrong, wrong!
[20:46] kita
    Today was just a coincidence!
[20:49] kita
    You'll go right back to
    sucking tomorrow, I bet!
[20:51] kita
    Better write that resignation letter!
[20:57] bon
    There's one thing that "first-rate reporter"
    Kitamura-san doesn't understand.
[21:04] bon
    It's understandable, since he
    doesn't watch minor league ball.
[21:15] bon
    That's right.
[21:19] bon
    In pro baseball, you usually only get
    promoted to the majors when you're on fire.
[23:00] bon
    Natsunosuke here.
[23:02] bon
    There's a cap to how many foreigners
    you can have on your roster,
[23:05] bon
    which means some players don't get to play.
[23:07] bon
    One of those is perpetual
    minor leaguer Thomas.
[23:10] bon
    He's always freaking out that
    he might get fired at any time,
[23:15] bon
    but then he's always losing
    his temper on the mound!
[23:17] bon
    That same Thomas is brought onto the mound
    in an emergency situation in Yokohama.
[23:22] bon
    Next Time: "The Commute to the Stadium"!
[23:25] bon
    Seize tomorrow's success and today's money!
SIGN    The Commute to the Stadium
[23:28] bon
    Money Pitch!