# 7 - A Minor League Player in the Majors
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.)
***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!