Original subtitles

Safe!

You really can't lower your guard in the Majors.

Shigeno is at his limit.

Why isn't the boss subbing him out?

Get a good taste of this, Shigeno.

The wall of the Majors starts here.

Up till now, I've only concentrated on polishing my fastball, but...

with just that, I can't break through the wall of the Majors.

I don't know how far I can go, having been originally right-handed, but...

I have to find a breaking ball that fits me!

Play!

Sorry, but...

I'm not planning on staying at this shabby stage for many months!

Time to hurry up, produce some results, and rise up to the Majors!

Strike!

He's throwing quite the fastball.

But,

it's not a pitch I can't hit!

Curve!?

Strike out!

I've just had problems finding a breaking ball that fits me till now.

Strike!

If I learn how to use breaking balls,

I can also...

pitch this way!

Strike out!

Out!

Okay!

All right!

Out!

Strike out!

All right!

Nice pitching!

You're doing great, rookie!

Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!

Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!

Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!

You're so great, Shigeno!

You've finished the five innings you were responsible for, but...

do you want to continue?

He's asking if you want to continue.

Oh, okay, okay! It's not a problem at all.

Rather, it's basically the pitcher's responsibility

to pitch the game from beginning to end.

What a promising rookie!

This guy is unexpectedly skillful.

To think he could learn to throw breaking balls this well in just a couple of days...

But...

Damn!

How could we only get one hit in five innings against a rookie!?

There's no reason to worry, boss.

Gibson!

That guy is an imitation of a pitcher.

We'll most likely catch him soon.

If it suits you,

I'm prepared to enter the batter's box anytime.

Well then, in the exhibition game between the Falcons and the Cougars...

Right now they're finishing the bottom half of the

sixth inning, with the Cougars leading with 3-0!

The Cougars' starting pitcher, the rookie Shigeno,

has shown pitching prowess that has held the Falcons' batters to one hit.

However,

this time the Falcons lead off with the heart

of their order, starting from the two spot.

What kind of pitching will the rookie, Shigeno, show?

Play!

The first time through you cornered them with

fastballs and finished them with breaking balls.

I think you should make fastballs the main constituent

the second time through and lure them with breaking balls.

Then what about the third time through...

After all, they're the lower Triple A...

If I just mix in some breaking balls,

they won't be able to...

do anything!

- All right! - Yes!

He hit it really well.

Coach, he's thrown 100 pitches with the last one.

It's only the second hit, but he is a rookie after all.

It would be best if he left feeling good about his first time taking the mound.

Feeling good!?

Leaving the mound with such a muddied impression isn't the best thing for him.

Okay, Gibson! Go for it after this one!

Yes, sir.

It took time to adjust to his variety of

pitches and timing the first time seeing him.

Also, the second time through the order, we needed

to identify what kind of pitches would come.

Ball!

Ball two!

If you don't have the control to properly guide breaking

balls to their location, they won't have any cut.

It seems that only his fastball is fast, but...

in the Minors,

a pitcher of your level,

there're 50,000 just like you!

Safe!

C-Coach!

What are you doing, rookie?

Put your spirit into it!

Damn!

What's happening?

My pitching that worked so well till now...

In this inning, it isn't working at all!

Attention please! Batting, number one,

Joe Gibson Junior!

J...

Junior?

Joe Gibson...

Junior, he said?

Shigeno!

This won't work any longer.

They've completely seen through your breaking balls.

It was too early to use them in a real game, after all.

Fox...

Joe Gibson Jr...

Who is he?

What do you mean, "who"? It's Gibson Jr!

That great ace, with 300 victories...

He's Joe Gibson's son.

Gibson's...

son?

In last year's All-American Draft,

he was picked by the Falcons' Texas Raiders:

A highly touted rookie.

It's what you'd expect from Gibson's son.

While he's only 19 years old,

it's widely believed that he's going to rise to the Majors as soon as this year.

During the season, he's an annoying pinch hitter who plays third base.

Anyway, lure him with your breaking balls.

Then use your fastball, which you've got confidence in, for the real duel.

G-Gibson had...

a son like that?

I never imagined...

that in a place like this,

before I faced Gibson,

I could have a showdown with his son!

This is a free fansub.

Not for sale or rent.

I came here aiming for where Joe Gibson is, the Major League.

I don't have any grudges or hard feelings for him killing my father any longer.

I only want to...

show my grown-up figure to that man.

No, I have to show him.

So I can prove that Honda Shigeharu's heir is here!

Play!

No outs and the bases loaded...

Lacking control and cut, your breaking ball won't work.

Use your fastball!

Use your supreme fastball and overcome this barrier!

Joe Gibson Jr, huh?

For now,

if this could be called my preliminary before facing Gibson,

I can't lose to his kid here!

He hit it in the sweet part of the bat and lifted it up...

Well, it'll be a good experience.

Umpire!

We're changing pitchers!

Nice batting! It's what you'd expect from the first pick in the All-American Draft.

Someone like me, who got in through the tryouts, can't beat someone like you.

But,

it definitely won't end like this!

Tell your dad too!

That Honda Jr is definitely coming to the Majors to defeat you, father and son!

What? Damn it!

Why am I crying?

Honda?

That is...

Honda Jr!?

Is that true?

This is surprising!

He speaks Japanese?

So that's how it was.

So you...

were that dead idiot's son?

What was that?

What did you say just now!?

Try and say it again!

I'll say it as many times as you'd like.

Who would've thought that the son of the idiotic

player who died from having a bean ball hit his head,

would come to America to play baseball?

It's no wonder I can't feel an ounce of talent in you, you third-rate pitcher.

Hurry up, return to Japan, and die playing pretend baseball, just like your father.

I'll kill you!

I won't forgive anyone who makes fun of my father!

What is he doing?

This is bad!

Hey, hey, what's with that attitude?

Because your stupid dad died,

I was stuck living on that island country for two years afterwards.

Rather than this, shouldn't you apologize for your papa?

Bastard!

Let me go, damn it!

Wait! Damn you!

Let go of me!

Fox?

You really put on a show back there.

I don't know what kind of connection you have with Gibson Jr, but...

that disorderly conduct was bad.

Instead of the grand slam home run you gave up to the other team,

that'll be the bigger problem.

Well, first of all, you won't be able to

avoid being fined or put under house arrest.

If you're unlucky, you'll drop down to Double A.

Also be prepared for a release as the worst case scenario.

Release?

What's a release?

It means you'll be fired.

Fired!?

Tell your dad too!

That Honda Jr is definitely coming to the Majors to defeat you, father and son!

Honda Jr, huh?

Wha-!?

100 dollar fine?

Only?

Yeah.

Well, it's your first offense after all, and we can see that you

show remorse for what you did, so we decided on a kind punishment.

During the season we couldn't do this.

He's saying you're getting a kind punishment.

Isn't that great, Shigeno?

Yahoo!

Thank you! Thank you!

Thank you! Thank you!

Thank you very much, boss!

But, in the end, this was just the punishment for the disorderly conduct.

The essential skill, your pitching, was lacking.

In your first game you managed to deceive your opponents till

the sixth inning, but next time they'll figure it out quicker.

N-No, don't be so pessimistic!

It's only that I still lack training with breaking balls.

If I just continue to work on them-

Shigeno.

It's unfortunate, but you're released.

What are you saying?

You're discharging Shigeno?

Is there a problem with that?

B-But, didn't the owner approve of the plan to develop

the Japanese player, Shigeno, as a long term goal?

Miller-kun.

You know about the Los Angeles Pegasus' Japanese pitcher, Onodera, right?

What? Yes, of course.

He's joining our team.

Onodera is?

Exactly.

In other words, he's not an immediately "usable weapon,"

and doesn't attract Japanese fans.

Not to mention that he caused a public disturbance.

We no longer have any need for Shigeno.

W-Wait a moment!

This is inconvenient, really inconvenient for me!

Double A-No, Single A is okay! Please don't fire me!

It's an order from the owner.

It's a pity, but it's already been decided.

Though, there are still some other teams that

are holding special Minor League tryouts.

It's in Tennessee though, but I've prepared a letter of introduction.

Take this with you and visit them.

I hope to see you shine on a new field.

What a mess.

What have I been doing?

I came to America in high spirits...

and had never been to tryouts before.

At the Major League camp,

Sanchez showed me the difference in power between us, and I lost my confidence.

And, sure enough, in the exhibition game, I was

showered with blows and was demoted to the Minors.

Trying to do something about it, the breaking balls I learned didn't work.

And this is the result.

Who would've thought that the son of the idiotic

player who died from having a bean ball hit his head,

would come to America to play baseball?

It's no wonder I can't feel an ounce of talent in you, you third-rate pitcher.

Hurry up, return to Japan, and die playing pretend baseball, just like your father.

Not only did I totally lack power,

but he even insulted my father as well!

Forgive me... father.

Forgive me... father.

Maybe joining the Majors after just

finishing high school was too much after all.

What do you think you're doing, Shigeno!?

Leaving without saying anything!

I told you that I'd accompany you to the airport!

Fox!?

Get in. You're acting distant!

Even if it was only for a short time, we're comrades who formed a battery!

Sorry, Fox.

S-Sanchez!?

Yo.

Well, I heard that the idiot got fired.

Since he was off today, he thought that he could come

ridicule you while he was doing an errand anyway, it seems.

W-What's that?

W-What's that?

I'm just joking.

Just joking.

I heard you got hit by Gibson Jr and flared up.

The sad thing is, it's your disposition that led you to this.

After our quarrel,

it seems you worked on breaking balls.

He says that you've been working on breaking balls.

What? You got a problem with that?

Don't underestimate the Majors!

With such an idea, you will never become a Major Leaguer.

Do you think I could pitch this well when I was your age?

It took me over ten years to attain the skill level I have today.

No,

as I got weaker, I had no other way than to learn this skill.

Unlike in my youth, when I could challenge my opponents with just fastballs.

You're still young.

Rather than imitating an old man, concentrate on your fastball more!

If you can gain true control over your serious fastballs,

you'll be able to strike out even Bolton and Gibson Jr!

Take your time and work on your game!

I know you can dig up the results.

Make your way up slowly... but surely!

I'll be waiting for you... in the Majors!

I have no time to be depressed!

I've been fired!

What am I going to do from now on?

Oh well, I can't keep worrying about it forever.

I'll make a fresh start in a new place!

Next time, on Major:

Perfect Score in Courage!

Run to the stage of your dreams!