Chapter 11

Short Summary
Tokuchi establishes a ‘One Outs’ contract with the Owner of the Lycaons, earning 5 million for every out, and giving up 50 million for every run. In their first game against the Bloomers, Tokuchi shuts out 21 batters.

Long Summary
In March 1999, Big Mama is at her bar. Someone questions why she didn’t see Tokuchi off, but she doesn’t respond.

Saikawa Tsuneo, the owner of the Lycaons, discusses their new member with his secretary and public relations manager. Saikawa refers to Tokuchi as a ‘piece of garbage.’

Tokuchi describes his new uniform as ‘lame’ to Kinosaki, who ignores him. He tells him Kojima made a special deal with the owner to get him on the team. Tokuchi receives dirty looks from several of his team-mates, and Kinosaki tells him not to start trouble as the other team members blame Tokuchi for Kojima’s injury. Talking amongst themselves, one of the other team members, Ideguchi Satoshi, says he saw Tokuchi’s practice throws and thought his pitches were ‘worse than a high schooler’s.’

About to discuss his contract with the owner, Kinosaki tells Tokuchi ‘not to get his hopes up’ as he’s an inexperienced player and the owner only cares about making money, He blames Saikawa for the team’s poor performance as he hasn’t been putting any money into developing the players. Tokuchi laughs at Kinosaki for blaming everything on the Owner.

In the Owner’s office, Tokuchi slouches in his chair and puts his feet up on the table. When Oikawa, the public relations manager, objects, Tokuchi responds, ’you said to make yourself at home’. Saikawa shrugs Tokuchi’s behaviour off and tells him they have nothing to base his salary off since he has no achievements in baseball. Tokuchi says he doesn’t want a salary and suggests a ‘One Outs’ contract. For every batter he strikes out, he gets 5 million yen. Saikawa is shocked, but when Tokuchi tells him he’ll pay 50 million yen for every run he gives up, the owner considers it and accepts. As Tokuchi leaves, Saikawa thinks him a fool.

Saikawa asks Oikawa and his secretary which pitcher had the lowest ERA (Earned Run Average) last season (meaning which pitcher gave up the fewest runs). The answer is The Eagles’ Yoshida, with 2.73. They work out that, assuming Tokuchi is as good as the best pitcher in the league currently, the balance would cancel out to zero. Saikawa predicts Tokuchi will lose 2 or 3 runs and then, ‘come crying to us in debt.’

After the game, Saikawa’s secretary delivers the results of the Lycaons' first game with the Bloomers. The Lycaons lost 8-0, and Tokuchi started pitching in the third inning until the ninth. The Owners guesses he didn’t do well, and is shocked when the secretary informs him he shut out all 21 batters. He gives Saikawa a bill from Tokuchi for 105,000,000 yen. The Owner is very surprised but laughs and describes him as interesting.