In the third chapter of the novel, the narrator compares stubbornness and pride to a single shooting star. He says that the last pitch that Hiroshige threw to him was "clearly overpowered" . The narrator tells the audience that the players are already facing the situation head on. They need to keep Hirohige back, he says, because he's "self-destructing" and they need to hold him back. They're afraid that if he does get a hit, the other team will tie the game. They think he'll strike out the first three batters he faces, but the second pitch he faces is a fastball, and the third pitch is a change-up. They feel like they've got to keep him away from the strike zone, because the other pitcher will overpower him with his fastballs. The men are worried that the pitch count is going to go back to 1-1, and they're worried that they'll lose the game if they don't get Hirohiga out. They also worry that the other pitchers are getting too cautious with their pitches, and that they won't be able to decide on the right pitch to keep the game tied.