A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 481

The New Guy in the Baseball Team is Too Good 481

The New Guy in the Baseball Team is Too Good 481

102 Let Them Come (1)

Two days later.

The club’s official announcement was released.

-The Tampa Bay Rays are about to begin the final stage of our new stadium construction project.

This was announced by CEO Brian Sphan at an official press conference that was broadcast live on the club’s YouTube channel.

-Under the guidance of Zeus Analytics Group, we will undergo a club valuation process for the next three months.

-Our goal is to achieve an A++ rating. By receiving the highest rating, we aim to prove the feasibility of this project to the citizens of St. Petersburg…….

The Tampa Bay Rays fans began to stir at the ambitious plan announced directly by the CEO.

-Club valuation? Does that mean we can build a new stadium if we get that?

-Well, can we trust this? The new stadium construction plan has failed repeatedly, hasn’t it?

-In my opinion, they’re just talking again. Aren’t they just trying to get attention like that?

Because it was a project that had been dragging on for a long time, some fans did not trust the club’s announcement.

-Zeus Analytics Group? Isn’t that a really tough place? I’ve heard that there are many places that have overturned the deal while working with Zeus?

-Hey, why did you entrust the work to Zeus of all people? Would it be better if you entrusted it to some more laid-back guys?

-I’m saying! If we don’t get certified, then a few more years will just pass by.

There were quite a few people who expressed concern at the news that Zeus Analytics was in charge of the certification process.

However,

the vast majority of fans who watched the press conference that day were a little different.

-Jackpot!!!

-Finally doing it!!!

-Shout it out, new stadium!!!

It was truly a hot reaction.

This was probably because Tropicana Field was an object of both love and hate for Tampa Bay fans.

The home stadium of their beloved baseball team, a place that Tampa Bay fans inevitably considered a sacred place.

However, there were chronic accessibility problems, old and outdated facilities, and even with a lot of fandom, the exterior was hard to call beautiful.

No wonder fans called it Tumoricana Field, ‘Tumor Tropicana Field’.

Since a way to leave such a place has been prepared, the fans’ joy cannot be expressed in words.

-It’s the final stage, the final stage! If we get over this, we’re going to a new stadium!

-That’s right! I think this is the first time I’ve seen such a concrete plan?

-Wow, this day is finally coming! This day is coming!!

The club’s YouTube channel was buffering greatly for a while, with endless messages of welcome pouring in.

There was also talk that the team’s performance could be somewhat sluggish due to the certification process, but the fans didn’t seem to care much.

A one-step retreat for a two-step advance, or rather a three- or four-step advance. It was an atmosphere where they could wait as long as it took.

-Just move the stadium! Build an amazing stadium! Then we can understand for about a season!

-We just won the championship last year! Isn’t this the dignity of a champion?

-By the way, who the hell is it? This tremendous driving force……. Anyone can see that it’s not Brian Sphan?

-I have a reporter friend, and he told me! There’s someone in the Tampa Bay front office. Someone is getting rid of the tumor called Tropicana Field?

-Is that true? It makes me wonder when I hear it? Who is doing that?

Who is it? Who the hell is it?

The person who is getting rid of the tumor of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Just when curiosity about him was spreading little by little among the fans-

“…….”

Without even knowing it, Ji-seop, who was becoming Mr. Miracle, ‘the man of miracles’, was facing the troubled faces of the baseball operations department people.

“That’s…… too difficult.”

After a long, really long silence, it was the answer that came back to Ji-seop.

“Kim, I’m very sorry to say this…… but can’t you push for renegotiation with Zeus Analytics?”

The amateur scout part director of the baseball operations department looked at Ji-seop with desperate eyes.

“To secure an additional database of 500 promising players within three months……. That’s impossible. No one can do it!”

* * *

That’s right. This was it.

One of the evaluation criteria presented by Ji-seop’s old colleague, Tommy Damon, on the day he visited the headquarters of Zeus Analytics.

It was to secure an additional database of 500 amateur prospects before the certification process was over.

‘Tommy, you son of a bitch.’

Ji-seop couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

‘I heard that you have no intention of being lenient just because you’re a friend……. I guess that was real?’

I feel like no one would say anything even if I gave you a little bit of convenience.

Did I pretend to be doing something like ‘the process of making a better team’? I’m regretting it a little.

However, one interesting thing at this time was that the people in the baseball operations department also realized it at once.

Why did Tommy Damon make such a request? Why does the Tampa Bay Rays need to secure information on amateur prospects?

“Well, to be honest……. It was a part that was often talked about in our baseball operations department.”

It was a confession that the director of the player development part made with a short sigh.

“Why didn’t Vincent Hiyama come out of our Tampa Bay Rays?”

I think it was at this moment that Ji-seop smiled inwardly.

The director of the player development part was saying exactly the same thing as Tommy Damon.

“As you know, the Tampa Bay Rays are a team with a knack for development. We have enough know-how and state-of-the-art equipment. Thanks to this, great players come up from the minor leagues almost every year.”

He continued.

“But unfortunately……. It is also true that there have been few superstars who can dominate the league. We have to admit that.”

“Superstar?”

“Yes, a player like Vincent Hiyama. A player who can change the direction of the series just by his presence, and furthermore, change the entire landscape of the league…….”

The director of the player development part narrowed his brow while scratching his chin.

“The Tampa Bay Rays’ passive scouting policy must have had an impact on why such a player did not come out.”

In simple terms, it was a matter of probability.

For about 10 years, the Tampa Bay Rays had been steadily reducing the scouting part.

In the past, the scouting team perfectly covered not only the entire United States, but also Central and South American regions such as Dominica, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico, and even Asian regions.

However, while steadily reducing manpower, the number of scouts, which originally numbered about 100, had been reduced to only about 20.

Other teams have at least 70 to 80 people roaming around, but Tampa Bay only has 20.

Naturally, there is a difference in the number of promising players that can be secured, and the probability of finding the best promising player also differs greatly.

Why didn’t the Tampa Bay Rays create Vincent Hiyama? This was the answer to that question.

“But that was a choice and concentration.”

Another employee offered an opinion.

“To put it bluntly, our club doesn’t have money, does it? We care about scouting, we care about development……. It is difficult to catch two rabbits.”

There was even a slightly unfair look on his face.

“So we focused on what we were good at. Development! We have the potential to transform ordinary players into great major league players! But if you make that a problem now…….”

“Hey, Ruben! Don’t get too excited. Does Kim not know that? He knows more about the Tampa Bay Rays than we do.”

The director of the player development part washed his face with a dry face with a frustrated expression.

“Kim, can you give us some time?”

He turned to Ji-seop and said.

“I know what Zeus’s intention is. If we can’t reorganize the scouting organization right away, it means we should at least secure enough information on promising players, right?”

When Ji-seop nodded silently, the director took out a notebook and continued.

“We will also gather opinions internally. I think we can report to you tomorrow or the day after tomorrow……. Would that be okay?”

“Yes, please do so. I don’t think it’s a simple problem either.”

“Thank you, then…….”

With the director taking out his notebook as a signal, the people in the baseball operations department began to get up from their seats hesitantly.

While looking into their eyes, Ji-seop seemed to realize anew.

That Zeus Analytics is a formidable opponent. That they have pierced the core of the Tampa Bay Rays.

‘It’s definitely a difficult mission…… but it’s also a mountain that must be overcome.’

Ji-seop also knew empirically.

It is true that the Tampa Bay Rays can turn ordinary players into ‘great major leaguers’.

However, in order to remain competitive in the future and to continue attracting audiences to the new stadium.

The Tampa Bay Rays needed another Vincent Hiyama. A superstar who can surprise everyone.

‘To do that, we need to expand the database of promising players, but how do we secure that……. Hmm?’

And just then, Ji-seop noticed that someone who was not so unfamiliar was still in his seat.

Among the people in the baseball operations department who were rushing out like a tide, one person was sitting with his arms crossed and his mouth tightly shut.

“……Do you have anything to say?”

Ji-seop asked him.

“Deputy Director Rebecca Carney?”

* * *

It was a moment when Ji-seop also felt a little strange.

Rebecca Carney, Deputy Director of the Baseball R&D Team of the Baseball Operations Department.

The right-hand man of CEO Brian Sphan, and the very person who was also nominated as a candidate along with Ji-seop in this club valuation process.

But she hadn’t said a word at the meeting that day, and had just been closing her eyes and keeping silent.

“Yes, I have something to say. But I don’t think it’s something I can say in front of many people.”

The future strategy planning department office, which had become quiet after everyone had left.

In the midst of only the faint sound of players’ batting practice being heard from a distance.

The Tampa Bay Rays’ ace-level front [front office executive] was speaking to Ji-seop in a calm voice.

“Kim, there is a way.”

“A way?”

“Yes, a way to secure a database of promising players in a short period of time.”

She had a slightly troubled expression.

“To be honest, I was a little worried. How will this be received? I wonder if it will be seen as a shallow trick to defeat a competitor.”

“Yes? No, what kind of method is it…….”

Ji-seop chuckled.

“It’s okay. Please tell me. Right now, our future strategy planning department has a fire on our feet [is facing a crisis]. It’s a situation where we have to go into a deep swamp, not a shallow trick.”

“Is that so? If Kim says so…….”

Deputy Director Rebecca Carney hesitated until the end, and then opened her mouth as if she had finally made up her mind.

And the advice that flowed from her mouth was quite unconventional.

“Kim, that’s how the world works. In the end, there is nothing that money can’t do.”

“Money?”

“Yes, if Kim is prepared to take a little risk, it means that he can purchase a large amount of promising players’ databases.”

Buy a database.

Because it was a concept I was hearing for the first time, Ji-seop was leaning forward without realizing it.

“You can buy players’ data? Is that possible? I heard it’s not allowed under the regulations…….”

“It’s difficult in the United States. Dominica and Puerto Rico are not easy either. But there is one exception.”

Venezuela.

She mentioned another country famous as the home of major leaguers.

“The Venezuelan Baseball Association allows the trading of information. If it’s there, it’s possible to secure a large amount of databases.”

“…….”

“Of course, there are disadvantages such as poor security and a lot of cunning agents. But if Kim is willing to take that risk, I wonder if I should give you a contact…….”

What do you think?

She was asking Ji-seop.