Chan-ho, Please Pitch Reincarnation

Park Chan-ho (29, Texan Rangers), the Korean star MLB player, has recently posted a short essay on his personal home page >. The title is “Short Trace” and the main idea is ‘Joy and sadness is not everlasting. I will keep challenging, which does not change forever.

He might have obtained a new wisdom of life, just before becoming 30 of age when it is said that a person establishes his/her own view of life. He might have realized that the process of facing and overcoming new challenges is more important than obsession with joy and sadness which are temporary in nature.

Wondering whether Chan-ho can pitch without any obsession, as he wrote in his essay, in the Aug. 24th game against New York Yankees starting at 8:05 a.m. KST. N.Y. Yankees do not need much explanation. The name itself tells everything about it. It has won the World Series 26 times so far. The total of the salaries Yankees’ players receive is the largest among the 30 Major League teams. Also in this season, Yankees are aiming at the World Series again with the powerful batting of the players. In the team home run race, Yankees top the list with 187 with the AL and the NL included. In addition, each of the 4 players of Yankees’ line-up has made two-digit homers this season.

For the first time throughout his Major League career, Park faces Yankess in the upcoming game. Humbleness rather than enthusiasm may help him. Yankees’ hitters, for one, are powerful. In addition, the Yankees’ starting pitcher Mike has gained 15 wins this season, the best record among Yankees’ pitchers. Therefore, it would be tough for Rangers’ batters to help Park with many scores. On top of all these, Park performed poorly in a recent Minor League game. In the game, he lost 9 points during 3 innings.

Nonetheless, the upcoming game will be a turning point for Park who is going through the worst year in his career from repeated injuries and unqualified performance therefrom. He may be able to gain good results when he faces Yankees’ hitters without any burden in his mind. If the result should be a win which would come after 18 fruitless games, the result would be a best one for Park. But, regardless of the results, the game will be meaningful as long as he faces challenges with his utmost ability. Then, Chan-ho will regain confidence in himself that will lasts for the rest of this season.

The Yankees’ Stadium! This is a ground of dream for all baseball players. Will it become a stadium of dream for Park, too?

Jong-Seok Kim kjs0123@donga.com