A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 304

73. How to Feed a Carrot (7)

It’s not a widely known fact, but the Tampa Bay Rays had contracts with several sports pubs in downtown St. Petersburg.

The terms were simple: display Tampa Bay Rays games on their TVs every day at 7 PM, instead of showing other teams.

Given their relatively small fan base, and consequently, the limited number of places to watch their games, it was a necessary measure.

[Big Fergus’s Beer House] was one of those sports pubs with a contract.

Located across from Parking Lot 6 of Tropicana Field, this somewhat run-down bar was surprisingly packed that night.

“……”

Sitting prominently in the middle was the Tampa Bay Rays’ youngest manager, Mike Klemblas.

Surrounding him were the Tampa Bay coaching staff, including pitching coach Thomas Culkin.

“……Ahem!”

“Ahem, ahem!”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the atmosphere was initially quite awkward.

Ordering beer and fries went smoothly, but once that was done, the conversation seemed to vanish into thin air.

Silence. A long, heavy silence. So profound that even the sound of someone shifting in their seat was clearly audible.

‘This isn’t going to be easy.’

Manager Mike Klemblas tried to maintain a serious expression, but inwardly, he felt quite self-conscious.

‘Looks like I have to break the ice……’

What should I say?

That was the manager’s dilemma.

Should I start by addressing the protest to the umpire during the game?

Or should I begin by thanking them for keeping the team together after my ejection?

Or should I just cut to the chase and announce that I’m looking for an ‘advisor’ to help the team win?

Just as he was struggling to find the right words, Manager Klemblas noticed an odd movement.

‘……Hmm?’

It was Jiseop.

The Asian employee who had promised Manager Klemblas a ‘free and comfortable dinner’.

While everyone else was awkwardly clearing their throats, he seemed remarkably busy.

He nudged pitching coach Thomas Culkin in the ribs and gestured towards the manager with his chin.

After some back-and-forth, pitching coach Thomas Culkin finally relented, ‘Okay, okay, I get it!’

Then Manager Klemblas saw the pitching coach hesitantly stand up.

“Um…… Ahem, Manager.”

Thomas Culkin cleared his throat several times before continuing.

“Before we get started, would you mind if I made a suggestion?”

“A suggestion? What is it?”

The pitching coach seemed unable to articulate his thoughts and kept glancing at Jiseop.

When Jiseop quietly nodded, Thomas Culkin, with an ‘I don’t care anymore’ look, finally spoke.

“Um, I was wondering if we could set aside the manager-coach dynamic just for today and talk as fellow baseball enthusiasts…… What do you think?”

“Ah, fellow baseball enthusiasts?”

In that brief moment, Manager Mike Klemblas could sense it.

The awkwardness of Thomas Culkin, who had been strong-armed into taking the lead.
The anxiety of the coaches, whose eyes widened at his bold suggestion.

And, most of all, the meaningful look in the eyes of the Asian employee from the future strategy planning department.

‘Manager, the stage is set.’

His eyes seemed to convey.

‘All you have to do is respond.’

The stage was indeed set.

Honestly, I thought it was impossible; I thought I would be stuck in a cold, tense atmosphere with the coaches.

But, to my surprise, the atmosphere was such that the relaxed dinner I had hoped for was now within reach with just a single word from me.

‘……Amazing.’

It was amazing. Truly amazing.

What on earth did that Asian employee do to make this happen?

How could he get the coaches, who would normally shy away from me, to say such things?

I was amazed and a little dumbfounded, but Manager Mike Klemblas decided to set those feelings aside for the moment.

If the ‘stage’ is set, shouldn’t I give an appropriate response?

“Hmm, that’s a good idea.”

Manager Mike Klemblas readily agreed.

“Okay. Let’s do that. Today, not as manager and coaches…… but as people who are suffering because of this damn baseball.”

Just as the waiter brought the ordered beer, the manager picked up a bottle and asked.

“Then we should change our titles here. It would be awkward to call you ‘Mr. Culkin’ as usual. Thomas? Tommy? Ah, I’ve got it.”

I’ll call you this today.

Manager Mike Klemblas continued, opening the beer with a ‘hiss’.

“Bro.”

“Bro?”

“Yes, bro. Because the coaches and I are like brothers, bound together by baseball.”

For the first time, a faint smile appeared on the manager’s face.

“Well, then, please accept this.”

Bro.

My brother.

* * *

Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle-

Splash-

After Manager Mike Klemblas filled Thomas Culkin’s glass to the brim.

[Big Fergus’s Beer House] was filled with a more amicable atmosphere than ever before.

“Kuh! Ah, that’s good?”

“The beer goes down so smoothly, huh?! Hahaha!”

There were things they were upset about, things they regretted, and the awkwardness of having a younger manager.

The coaches, burdened by a complex mix of emotions, felt everything melt away with that one word from the manager.

“Hey, bro! You need another drink quickly?”

“Hey, hey! Hey, Mike! It’s my turn this time! I have to pour it for you!”

The cold atmosphere of the conference room felt like a distant memory as people laughed and shared drinks.

The first round of beers was quickly emptied, and as they waited for the next, they reached for the fries on the table.

The coaches, their faces slightly flushed, began to share stories they hadn’t been able to tell before.

“Honestly, yeah! Mike? You’re a really tough guy! I’ve worked with a lot of managers, but you’re the toughest I’ve ever seen!”

“Who says you’re not? What’s the point of preparing meticulously? When you go into the meeting, you’re going to get ripped apart anyway!”

“I even pray before I go to bed sometimes! I hope I get a fever tomorrow. If I get the flu, I can skip the meeting!”

“Hahaha, me too! I think it’s the first time I’ve prayed so seriously since I was in elementary school?”

Really tough. Too picky. The people working under him can’t even breathe properly.

For a while, these complaints continued, but after another glass of beer, other stories emerged.

“But we all know that our manager is really suffering!”

“Hey, bro! We agreed not to call him manager today, didn’t we?”

“But we have to call him manager when we’re talking about this! Don’t you all agree?”

“That’s right. He’s suffering so much. When he develops an ace pitcher, they trade him away, and when the cleanup hitter settles in, he gets sold again…… We all know that the manager’s heart is breaking!”

“So, Manager, sometimes you should complain to us. Who else is there? We’re the only coaches who understand how you feel!!”

They expressed anger at the club for readily selling off players and smiled at stories of players who had improved and grown.

The coaches were so talkative that it was hard to believe they had been living in silence, pouring drinks for each other, accepting drinks, and occasionally wiping spilled beer off the table with their sleeves.

A comfortable expression seemed to appear on Manager Mike Klemblas’s face.

That relaxed and carefree expression that he had rarely shown since becoming manager.

“……”

Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed like it would last until sunrise, but the dinner didn’t even last two hours.

There was no particular reason. It was simply that the coaching staff, exhausted from the game, passed out before they could even finish a few bottles of beer.

With the manager being ejected in the first inning, the coaches had to navigate the game in an even more stressful situation than usual.

The stamina of the coaches, who had just finished that game, was already depleted.

“Oh, Kim! I’m so sorry about this? I was supposed to call a taxi for you……”

Therefore, before 1 a.m. that day, Jiseop was able to send the coaches home in taxis.

“Go home, coaches! Go straight to sleep. Remember, we’re meeting at the airport at 9 a.m. tomorrow, right?”

“Of course, I know! Thanks for tonight! You should go home and get some rest too!”

On the way back after seeing off Thomas Culkin last.

Just as he was wiping off the liquid of unknown origin—whether it was saliva or beer—on his clothes, Jiseop noticed a familiar figure.

A man in his late 30s, standing slightly unsteady, likely because he had had a bit too much to drink.

It was Manager Mike Klemblas.

“Did you send everyone off?”

“Ah, yes, Manager.”

Jiseop took out his cell phone.

“What are you planning to do, Manager? Should I call you a taxi?”

“No, no.”

The manager quietly waved his hand.

“I’m just going to rest in the manager’s office tonight. It’s too much of a hassle to go home now, and the countermeasures against Vincent Hiyama haven’t been decided yet.”

Vincent Hiyama was the star player for the Baltimore Orioles, their opponent in the upcoming weekend series.

So, does that mean Klemblas is going to start thinking about the next game now?

As someone said, I couldn’t help but think, ‘He’s tough,’ but Jiseop smiled and replied.

“Well, Vincent’s video footage will take twice as long to review. Because he’s both a hitter and a pitcher.”

“Hehe, that’s right. It takes exactly twice as long. It’s hard for him, but it’s not easy for us either.”

Manager Mike Klemblas slowly nodded at Jiseop’s words.

He sighed out an alcohol-laced breath and spoke again.

“Kim, thank you for tonight……”

He continued.

“It was a much more productive evening than I expected. I regret not doing this sooner.”

“You’re welcome.”

Jiseop bowed slightly.

“If you’re okay with it, Manager, I’ll arrange these kinds of gatherings more often in the future. The coaches seemed to enjoy it, and more importantly……”

One of the most important points.

“If you want to find the ‘advisor’ you need…… shouldn’t we have more of these meetings in the future?”

Tonight felt more like releasing pent-up emotions.

There wasn’t enough time to discuss things like player selection, thoughts on winning, or postseason strategies.

Therefore, Jiseop thought that more time was needed-

“No, that’s okay.”

The Tampa Bay Rays manager’s response was a bit unexpected.

“It’s good to have dinners with the coaches from time to time, but you don’t have to worry about the ‘advisor’ anymore. I think I’ve already found the answer.”

“You’ve…… found the answer?”

Jiseop was inwardly surprised.

I don’t think we’ve had any particularly insightful conversations, so how did he find someone who could be an advisor?

If you’re talented enough to be the youngest manager in the major leagues, do you have that kind of intuition?

“May I ask who it is?”

Jiseop was curious.

“Is it pitching coach Thomas Culkin after all? Or is it coach Sam Harrison?”

The pitching coach and the hitting coach.

Jiseop mentioned the two individuals who could be considered the core of the Tampa Bay coaching staff, but Manager Mike Klemblas slowly shook his head.

“No. They are both great coaches, but there is someone more suitable for the role of advising me.”

He continued.

“Someone who has the full trust of the coaches, who can change their firm minds, and who can provide ideas that I haven’t even considered……”

Kim.

The manager called Jiseop.

“Can I entrust that role to you?”