A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 288

Chapter 71: The Third Member (4)

About 30 minutes later.

A friendly atmosphere filled the Chinese restaurant [Bruce Lee, a popular chain], near Tropicana Field.

“It feels like the gears are meshing perfectly, you know? That’s how our team’s been feeling lately.”

Tampa Bay Rays’ main pitching coach, Thomas Culkin, said.

“With Victor Johnson reliably filling a starting spot, it feels like the team’s overall pitching management can finally breathe. We can give the bullpen pitchers timely rest, and we have the leeway to look after the other starting pitchers.”

Coach Thomas Culkin downed a glass of alcohol poured by John Lama with a hearty gulp.

“No matter what, the core of baseball is the starting pitcher. If the starting pitcher can’t hold the team’s center, all other strategies are useless! Don’t you think? Haha!”

The Tampa Bay Rays secured a victory in the previous game, thanks to the outstanding pitching of their ‘ace,’ Victor Johnson Jr.

Perhaps because they succeeded in escaping the bottom ranks after a severe slump in the early season, Coach Thomas Culkin seemed genuinely pleased.

He accepted the strong liquor offered by John Lama without hesitation, but then, as if suddenly remembering something, he turned to Jiseop.

“Ah, that’s right…….”

“Kim!”

Coach Thomas Culkin blinked his eyes, which had become bleary with the alcohol, and asked.

“Didn’t you say you had something important to ask me earlier? I’m starting to feel the alcohol, so I think it would be good to hear it before I get too drunk.”

“Ah, you mean that?”

‘It’s a bit of a funny story, but…’

At this moment, David Wilson, belonging to the [Baseball R&D Team], seemed to have a slight expectation.

‘Kim…… Could it be for me?!’

Could he be saying a word to Coach Thomas Culkin on his behalf, knowing that he wants to return to the field?

Could he be trying to repay him like this, since he took care of the ‘Yellow Book Project’ handover?

An expectation that keeps making him flinch and raise his head, even though he doesn’t want to.

‘……Hmm?’

But what.

The moment David Wilson saw the item Jiseop took out of his bag, his face turned pale.

“Coach, actually, our Future Strategy Planning Division…… has been put in charge of this.”

With that, Jiseop held out a document with a yellow cover to Coach Thomas Culkin.

“Wait a minute, this is…… the Yellow Book?”

A shadow fell over Coach Thomas Culkin’s face, which had been so cheerful.

“You guys have been put in charge of this?”

* * *

The moment Jiseop took out the ‘Yellow Book,’ David Wilson realized he had made a mistake.

‘Damn, I should have hurried more.’

Appealing his existence to the Tampa Bay Rays’ pitching coach.

So that his name would be mentioned when the manager puts together a new coaching staff in the future.

David Wilson regretted hesitating for a while, trying to choose the timing to join the conversation.

‘Appealing to the coach is only possible when the atmosphere is good, but once that document appears, it will be difficult to even bring it up…….’

Sure enough.

Coach Thomas Culkin sighed deeply, as if the ground was sinking, while holding his forehead.

“No…… Kim! How can someone who knows everything do this?”

The pitching coach looked at Jiseop with resentful eyes.

“Didn’t I give you a hint back then? How our coaching staff, including the manager, feels about this project?”

“Yes, you told me. Actually, I knew the general atmosphere even before you told me. But…….”

Jiseop gave an awkward smile.

“We couldn’t help it either. The general manager called the two of us in and gave us direct instructions……. We couldn’t bring ourselves to say we couldn’t do it in front of him.”

“The, the general manager’s instructions?”

Coach Thomas Culkin clicked his tongue.

The general manager gave direct instructions, so what could he, a mere pitching coach, say?

However, he couldn’t leave the eyesore project to continue.

Coach Thomas Culkin leaned towards Jiseop and opened his mouth with a subtle expression.

“Kim, then let’s do this.”

“Yes?”

“The report, just fill it with appropriate content and send it to us, how about that?”

He tried to lower his voice, but then realized that David Wilson sitting next to him was also from the [Baseball R&D Team], and continued, relieved.

“David, I think his name was? This friend knows it well. He only wrote and sent content that wouldn’t be a big problem even in the [Baseball R&D Team]. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes, that, that’s right, but…….”

As David Wilson answered hesitantly, Coach Thomas Culkin winked at Jiseop, saying, ‘See?’

“I understand the general manager’s intentions, but this is a project that could be a seed of discord. The [Baseball R&D Team] knows that too, so they wrote and sent the report smoothly.”

“…….”

“So let’s not create trouble for no reason. The front office and the field staff? It’s perfect as it is now. Instead, I’ll talk to the manager and make sure to give a good evaluation of the Future Strategy Planning Division. Huh? How about it?”

Watching the pitching coach speak in a subtle voice, David Wilson was inwardly surprised.

Coach Thomas Culkin was known for his cautious personality. He was careful not only in his actions but also in every word he said.

Such a cautious person was revealing all his inner thoughts in front of this Kim person.

‘No, is that okay? Kim has only been with our team for about a month…….’

Was Coach Thomas Culkin more frivolous than the rumors suggested, or did he trust this Kim guy that much?

While David Wilson was constantly tilting his head, Jiseop, who had received the pitching coach’s proposal, raised his head.

“I’m sorry, Coach.”

His answer was firm.

“That’s going to be difficult.”

“Difficult?”

“Yes, we’ve also coordinated opinions with Taylor. Our Future Strategy Planning Division…… is really planning to dive into this project properly.”

“What, what did you say?”

Coach Thomas Culkin looked more frustrated than angry.

“Seriously, did you even hear my words? The atmosphere on the field is really bad, you know? If you guys start submitting reports, all that resentment and dissatisfaction will be directed at the Future Strategy Planning Division……. Are you going to take all that?”

“Yes, we’re planning to close our eyes and endure it.”

“Why? What for?”

As Coach Thomas Culkin asked urgently, the assistant director of the Future Strategy Planning Division quietly picked up the bottle of alcohol.

He filled the pitching coach’s glass, then raised his eyes and said a word.

“Because we have confidence.”

Jiseop said.

“We are confident that we can bring more victories to Tampa Bay through this project. We are also confident that we can completely change people’s perception of our Future Strategy Planning Division. But there’s no need to waste time writing a mundane report, is there?”

Ah, of course.

Jiseop put down the bottle.

“This is assuming that you, Coach, will help our Future Strategy Planning Division.”

“Help?”

Coach Thomas Culkin raised his eyebrows while holding his glass.

“Help how?”

“We’re not asking for much.”

Jiseop continued.

“After taking over, it seems we’ll inevitably have to touch on game strategy and player management. The harder we work, the more we’ll inevitably rub the manager and other coaches the wrong way. So…….”

“I think I know what you mean.”

The pitching coach tossed back his drink.

“You want me to subtly take your side when the manager or other coaches complain, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Jiseop smiled brightly.

“I’ve heard that you, Coach, are trusted by the manager and other field staff. Many players respect you. And that’s not all. Front office staff also say ‘Thomas Culkin’ and…….”

Jiseop was about to add more praise for Thomas Culkin, but the pitching coach firmly waved his hand.

“Okay, okay! There’s no need to say any more of those flattering words…….”

Coach Thomas Culkin crossed his arms and made a ‘hmm’ sound.

At this moment, David Wilson, who had been quietly watching this situation from the side, was inwardly wearing a bitter smile.

‘This Kim guy…… he’s got a surprisingly reckless side, doesn’t he?’

That was his honest feeling.

‘Coach Thomas Culkin isn’t someone who can ignore what others think……. Did he really think he could get the coach’s cooperation with just a few words like that?’

He thought he was someone who didn’t know anything.

Really someone who didn’t know anything.

He thought that only someone like that could bring up such a brazen story-.

“Hey, Kim!”

The next moment, what came into David Wilson’s view was Coach Thomas Culkin holding the bottle and filling Jiseop’s glass.

“Are you really confident?”

He was asking Jiseop.

“If I help you a little bit from the side…… does that mean you can definitely make results with this project?”

* * *

Another hour later.

David Wilson was pacing in front of the main entrance of the Chinese restaurant [Bruce Lee].

“…….”

Originally, Coach Thomas Culkin was supposed to pay for the meal that day.

However, as they were talking, it became a situation where the Future Strategy Planning Division had to treat.

Coach Thomas Culkin tried to take out his wallet, but Jiseop and John Lama adamantly stopped him.

In the end, while the two people from the Future Strategy Planning Division were paying, Coach Thomas Culkin and David Wilson ended up waiting for them in front of the store.

“…….”

“…….”

With Jiseop and John Lama gone, David Wilson was feeling very awkward.

The former field staff member of the [Baseball R&D Team] couldn’t properly start a conversation and just stared at the occasional passing cars.

Then, Coach Thomas Culkin approached him and asked.

“Hey…… do you happen to have a light?”

“Ah, yes, I do.”

David Wilson rummaged through his pocket and took out a lighter.

When Coach Thomas Culkin lit a cigarette and exhaled, David Wilson opened his mouth as if not wanting to miss the timing.

“Coach.”

“Hmm?”

Coach Thomas Culkin diligently fanned his hand, as if not wanting to send the cigarette smoke his way.

“What is it?”

“Have you known Kim for a long time?”

“Kim? No, I met him recently because of Victor Johnson……. I don’t think it’s been even a month yet?”

The pitching coach answered without much thought.

However, he noticed the question mark on David Wilson’s face and chuckled.

“I guess you don’t understand?”

“Yes?”

“Why I’m trying to help the Future Strategy Planning Division?”

“No, it’s not that…….”

David Wilson reflexively waved his hand, then slowly nodded.

“Yes, I’m a little confused.”

He said.

“Kim didn’t say anything special, did he? Our [Baseball R&D Team] has repeatedly said that this project would be helpful to the team. But why are you only offering to cooperate with Kim…….”

“Well…… isn’t it because words change depending on who says them?”

Coach Thomas Culkin quickly corrected himself.

“Ah, don’t misunderstand. It’s not that I can’t trust the words of the [Baseball R&D Team]. Rather, it’s that Kim’s insight he showed me was so outstanding.”

“Insight?”

“Yes, it was a great insight.”

About Victor Johnson.

The pitching coach continued.

“When everyone was only thinking about sending Victor Johnson down to the minor leagues, Kim identified the guy’s problem at a glance. He solved all the problems just by having a few conversations.”

“Kim…… did?”

“Yes! Our coaches, as well as the entire front office, couldn’t solve the problem, but that friend solved it in less than a day, you know?”

Coach Thomas Culkin couldn’t help but admire.

“That friend is confident, isn’t he? He said he would be helpful to our team, didn’t he? Kim is saying that, so……. How can I not help him? Of course, I have to help him.”

“Kim…… is that great?”

As David Wilson tilted his head, Coach Thomas Culkin showed a surprised reaction.

“Didn’t you already know that? I thought you joined the Future Strategy Planning Division knowing everything?”

“Yes?”

David Wilson blinked.

“The Future Strategy Planning Division? Ah, actually, I still…….”

“You thought well. You really thought well.”

Coach Thomas Culkin didn’t seem to hear David Wilson’s words.

“I guarantee it. The experience in the Future Strategy Planning Division will be a great help to your career in the future.”

In fact, David Wilson was half-doubtful until this point.

However, the next moment, a word that captivated his heart came out.

“And that’s not all? You’ll be able to drink free alcohol every month, so that alone is a considerable benefit, isn’t it?”

“Free alcohol? What’s that suddenly about…….”

“Hey, friend, what were you listening to earlier?”

The pitching coach nudged David Wilson’s shoulder.

“Kim told me to help him, didn’t he? To smooth out the relationship with the manager and other coaches.”

“Yes, I heard that, but…….”

“Yes, smoothing out the relationship! Does that happen without any effort?”

Coach Thomas Culkin gave a strange smile.

“We have to meet often, drink alcohol, and talk about baseball! And once in a while, we have to get into a fight!”

“Th, then…….”

“Yes, I’m planning to arrange meetings with the coaches often. That way, even if unnecessary misunderstandings arise, we can resolve them quickly! So that we can get to know each other better!”

‘So that we can get to know each other better.’

Just as David Wilson was quietly pondering those words, a familiar voice came from behind.

“Coach!”

“David!”

It was the people from the Future Strategy Planning Division.

Jiseop and John Lama were approaching, each putting their wallets in their pockets, as if they had split the bill.

“Did it come out a lot?”

In response to Coach Thomas Culkin’s question, John Lama quickly waved his hand.

“No! Our corporate card can easily handle this much!”

“Thank you for today, Coach. And we look forward to working with you in the future.”

As Jiseop and John Lama slightly bowed their heads, Coach Thomas Culkin raised his hand high.

“Don’t worry! Once I’ve decided to help, I’ll help wholeheartedly!”

Then, he patted the two people’s shoulders.

“Then I’ll go first! Next time, I’ll really pay, so both of you…… no!”

The pitching coach winked slightly at David Wilson as well.

“All three of you just wait and see!”

“Okay!”

“Thank you!”

“G, go…… in!”

Hahaha.

As Coach Thomas Culkin burst into laughter and disappeared, the eyes of the people from the Future Strategy Planning Division turned to David Wilson.

“David, you’ve worked hard.”

“It’s gotten much later than I thought. Will you be okay tomorrow?”

“Ah, yes, I’m okay.”

David Wilson nodded awkwardly.

It was Jiseop who spoke to him.

“Ah, that’s right! Come to think of it, we…… had a story we didn’t finish?”

“Yes?”

“The offer we gave you. To join the Future Strategy Planning Division…….”

Jiseop asked.

“How is it, have you made up your mind?”

“Th, that’s…….”

In a short moment, many thoughts flashed through David Wilson’s mind.

The advice that the director of the [Baseball R&D Team] had given him also came to mind.

Various rumors about the Future Strategy Planning Division also came to mind.

The image of him wandering around the bars near the stadium, trying to have a beer with the coaching staff, also came to mind.

But at the last moment, what came to his eyes was the wide ground of the Tampa Bay Rays.

In order to return to that vast ground, in order to work as a field staff member, what is the best choice?

“Yes, I’ve made up my mind.”

David Wilson said.

“If it’s okay with you…… I’ll join the Future Strategy Planning Division.”

* * *

The next day morning.

The people from the Future Strategy Planning Division, including Jiseop, were sweating profusely.

“Be careful! Watch your feet, watch your feet!”

“Balance! You have to balance it!”

The people were shouting as they went down the narrow basement stairs.

In their hands, the three of them were carrying a large desk.

Since a new member had joined, it was necessary to procure a desk for him.

“Ugh! All the energy is draining out of my body!”

“Kim, that’s what I said! I told you to just bring any prefabricated one.”

“Right! Was it really necessary to bring such a big desk?”

The moment they put the desk in ‘Storage D,’ voices of dissatisfaction were heard from here and there.

However, Jiseop only showed a faint smile.

“How can we bring a prefabricated one? This is the desk that the person who will become the ace of our Future Strategy Planning Division will use!”

“Well, that’s true, but…….”

Even after bringing the desk, the Future Strategy Planning Division was busy for a while.

If they brought the desk, they had to bring the chair, and after bringing the chair, they had to bring the bookshelf.

When all the necessary supplies were gathered, John Lama said, dragging the whiteboard, ‘rolling.’

“Alright, then, Future Strategy Planning Division! Let’s hold the long-awaited first strategy meeting!”

John Lama continued, looking at his phone screen.

“While we were gathering supplies, General Manager Brian Spon informed us of the first series we will analyze!”

“Ah, has it already come out?”

As David Wilson reacted, John Lama nodded with a serious expression.

“Yes, it’s out! The team that will be the first victim of our Future Strategy Planning Division! The very team that will infinitely enhance the reputation of our Future Strategy Planning Division! That team is…….”

John Lama’s eyes sparkled.

“Our Tampa Bay Rays’ greatest rival, the New York Yankees!!!”

“The New York Yankees? Are you talking about the weekend series with the Yankees the week after next?”

A short sigh escaped from David Wilson’s mouth.

“Damn, it feels like we’re meeting the final boss from the start.”