Chapter 15

Short Summary
The Eagles switch pitchers to Mizuhashi, and Tokuchi manipulates him into having a tell when he pitches sliders.

Long Summary
In their game against the Eagles, The Lycaons have managed to close the gap to 7 points. They’re feeling confident until the Eagles announce a pitching change to Mizuhashi, who is currently the league’s top reliever. Imai says they’re done for now that he’s pitching. Tokuchi observes that Mizuhashi only pitches sliders and fastballs and asks if it’s really that hard to hit. Ideguchi tells him that his slider and fastball come from the same angle, making them impossible to tell apart. With a 1.02 ERA last year, the chance of scoring a run against him is extremely low. Tokuchi responds, ‘the only important thing about a low probability is it’s not zero.’

In the eighth inning, Tokuchi asks if Mizuhashi has any tells or habits that give his pitch away, and Imai and Ideguchi tell him he doesn’t. Tokuchi says they can use this to their advantage. He calls over the next batter during a time out and tells him something that the Eagles catcher overhears. The catcher goes to the mound to tell Mizuhashi that he heard Tokuchi saying he has a habit of opening his glove when he pitches a slider. Mizuhashi says he’ll be more careful.

At the next pitch, Mizuhashi pitches a slider, but the batter hits it. The Lycaons get five hits in a row, closing the gap to four runs.

The Lycaons batters ask Tokuchi how he spotted Mizuhashi’s habit of closing his glove when pitching a slider. Tokuchi reveals there was no habit. He wanted the catcher to overhear him and tell Mizuhashi he opened his glove during sliders. This caused Mizuhashi to overcompensate by closing his glove, creating a tell he didn’t have before.

The owner is angry that the Lycaons have caught up so much. He calls Yoshida and tells him to get back on the field, even if he has to beg Tokuchi. Yoshida asks Tokuchi to let him play and Tokuchi allows him to go back on defence.

Tokuchi pitches and the batter gets a hit, the ball travelling in Yoshida’s direction. Yoshida catches it and gets a double play.