A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 491

The Newcomer to the Baseball Team is Too Good 491

104 Everyone’s Wish (1)

This day’s game was held at Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins.

The Tampa Bay Rays emerged victorious. The final score was 2-0.

Woo-hoo!!!

The game produced many talking points. The press room remained lit for quite some time even after the bottom of the ninth.

The fact that a large crowd turned out for a weekday game and that a popular movie star in America visited the stadium were factors, but the most notable aspect for sports media that day was this:

-This is the first time this season that the Minnesota Twins have failed to score a single point in all nine innings.

The Minnesota Twins, leading the American League Central Division with their powerful offense.

For them, boasting a team batting average of over .300, the final score of 2-0 seemed quite shocking.

-It’s also the first time they’ve allowed 10 or more strikeouts and only managed two hits. It’s fair to say that the Tampa Bay pitchers completely overwhelmed the Minnesota lineup today.

The Tampa Bay Rays hadn’t been in great form recently.

They were barely maintaining a .500 winning percentage and hadn’t surged forward like they did last season.

In times like these, the pitchers’ strong performance is welcome. It was being seen as a good turning point for the Tampa Bay Rays as they approached the mid-season mark, but-

“…….”

Victor Johnson Jr., who was selected as the MVP of the game, was facing Jiseop with a rather gloomy expression.

“Kim, I’m sorry.”

He said this to Jiseop, who visited the clubhouse to encourage the players after the game.

“I couldn’t keep my promise after all.”

“Promise?”

“Yes, the promise to create a truly amazing game with just three pure events.”

Sigh.

Victor Johnson sighed deeply.

“I didn’t get enough strikeouts, and I allowed too many balls in play. More than anything, I wanted to create an impressive game, but it feels like it ended up being just an ordinary one.”

“An ordinary game?!”

Tommy Damon, standing next to Jiseop, looked dumbfounded.

“No, didn’t you record 7 innings with 1 hit and no runs, and 13 strikeouts? If that’s an ordinary game, then what on earth is an impressive game…….”

“If I hadn’t allowed a hit in the bottom of the 3rd, I could have aimed for a no-hitter.”

Victor stated very firmly.

“If I had managed my stamina from the beginning, I could have aimed for a complete game shutout, and if I had pushed harder with power, I could have gotten even more strikeouts……. Anyway, there were many ways to give Zeus Analytics a hard time.”

“No-hitter? Complete game shutout?!”

It was at this moment that Tommy Damon nudged Jiseop in the side.

It seemed to mean that it was time to reveal the truth.

That the Zeus Analytics Group hadn’t objected to the Tampa Bay Rays’ game strategy. That there was no need to set such high standards.

However, at this moment, Jiseop simply looked around at the players with a gentle smile on his face.

He had noticed that they had some cards left to play.

As expected.

“Kim, so about that…….”

Before long, Victor Johnson opened his mouth with a determined expression.

“Could you give me one more chance? A chance to push through with three pure events.”

“Give you a chance?”

“Yes, I feel a bit resentful to quit like this. Once I’ve made up my mind, I feel like I have to get results somehow.”

Looking into Victor’s earnest eyes, Jiseop nodded slightly.

“Alright. There’s nothing bad for me in that. It’s not even something you need my permission for in the first place.”

Jiseop continued.

“Should I take it as you’re going to try again in the next game? Should I just wait until then?”

And in the next moment, Jiseop could sense that the part he had been very carefully hoping for had hit the mark.

“No, Kim. I don’t mean to show results right away in the next game.”

“Then?”

To Jiseop’s question, Victor Johnson confidently raised one finger.

“One month. Wait just one month, no more, no less.”

“One month?”

Jiseop smiled.

“That’s longer than I thought? I would have expected you to try to settle it in the next game……. Is there any particular reason?”

“This guy told me. That this isn’t something I can do alone.”

Victor Johnson nudged the shoulder of Alex Montero, the starting catcher standing next to him.

“This is a matter of game strategy, right? So he said that the process of all the players perfectly understanding the team’s strategy has to come first.”

Strategy · Understanding · Precedence.

High-level words that Victor Johnson would never have uttered in the past were coming out one after another.

“So, for the next month, I’m planning to have enough conversations with my teammates about our team’s game strategy.”

“Oh, Victor Johnson is?”

At Tommy Damon’s surprised reaction, Victor scratched under his nose as if embarrassed.

“The coaches are there, and we can get help from the front office, but wouldn’t it be more helpful for us players to talk to each other? Because we can talk more comfortably.”

“Of course! That’s obvious!”

As Tommy Damon nodded, Victor seemed to puff out his chest for no reason.

“After having enough conversations and understanding enough……. I’m thinking of trying again then.”

Victor’s eyes sparkled.

“I think that would help persuade Zeus Analytics and have a positive impact on our Tampa Bay’s performance……. What do you think? Could you wait about a month?”

“A month…….”

Jiseop and Tommy Damon. These two looked at each other as if they had made a promise.

Victor Johnson Jr., the very player who once only focused on discovering new pitches without regard for the team’s circumstances.

But now he was different. Thinking about the team’s game strategy and worrying about how to make his teammates understand it.

A player who could think about the whole team, going one step further than worrying about his own baseball skills.

Because he was exactly the type of player the two had been desperately looking for, Jiseop and Tommy Damon were readily nodding their heads.

“Alright. We’ll wait for you.”

Tommy Damon said.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what changes Victor Johnson Jr. will bring to the Tampa Bay Rays.”

Is there someone to lead the team following in the footsteps of the legendary Brett Evans?

The moment one of Zeus Analytics’ evaluation criteria was perfectly met.

* * *

Around the time Jiseop was facing Victor Johnson Jr.’s changed appearance.

More precisely, at the very time he was moving to his accommodation after finishing his meeting with Victor Johnson.

Another ace in the Future Strategy Planning Division, ‘The Great Showman’ Charles Flex, was visiting a mansion on the outskirts of St. Petersburg.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I just got a message.”

Carefully putting down the teacup he was drinking from, Charles Flex took out his cell phone from his pocket.

Tap, tap. A subtle smile spread across his face as he tapped the phone screen to check the message content.

“Oh, it’s a message from our team leader.”

Charles Flex said.

“He says things in Minnesota went very well. The people at Zeus Analytics were also satisfied.”

Hmm, let’s see. Then?

Charles Flex reached out towards the documents on the table.

“I’ll need to revise the report a bit.”

Charles Flex took out a gold-shining fountain pen from his pocket.

“If we include the results from Minnesota today, the evaluation criteria that our Tampa Bay Rays have met so far are 168 out of a total of 174…….”

He lightly clapped his knee.

“Oh my, at this pace, we might be able to meet all the evaluation criteria within this month?”

Swish.

Charles Flex’s gray eyes turned towards the old man sitting across from him.

“What do you think, Mr. Joseph Carter?”

That’s right. The person Charles Flex had come to meet that day was none other than Joseph Carter himself.

The inaugural owner of the Tampa Bay Rays. A city advisory board member of St. Petersburg.

And the very person who was currently blocking the Tampa Bay Rays’ new stadium construction project.

Perhaps the news Charles Flex delivered wasn’t to his liking, Joseph Carter was pouting his lips.

“Damn it, I chose the wrong person.”

He snorted lightly.

“Was it Tommy Damon? The director of Zeus Analytics. I thought that guy had some backbone, but……. Turns out he’s just a pushover.”

“A pushover, you say?”

“I mean he’s soft, the guy’s soft! Even if he’s been friends with the Tampa Bay team leader for a long time, can he just do his job so carelessly like this? He should be even stricter if it’s a friend he’s dealing with. That’s how you avoid any backlash later on, isn’t it?”

“Ah, backlash?”

Joseph Carter’s attitude was very threatening, but Charles Flex’s face was full of composure as he faced it.

“Mr. Carter, are you a little disappointed?”

“Disappointed, what about?”

“Aren’t you a veteran of the St. Petersburg sports scene? No matter what anyone says, you’re a legendary figure who brought a Major League team here.”

Charles Flex continued smoothly.

“For such a person, the last card you’ve prepared……. is just trying to exploit the old connection between Kim and Tommy Damon. Isn’t that too petty?”

“What, petty?! Hey, you…….”

“Ah, don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying that to criticize you, Mr. Carter. In a way, I’m glad.”

Charles Flex spread his arms.

“Originally, I was active in Las Vegas. I spent nearly 20 years in the dirtiest and most petty schemes in this American land.”

“Las Vegas?”

“Yes, I was secretly regretting that I couldn’t use the know-how I learned there……. Haha, isn’t it a good thing instead?”

Charles Flex raised the corners of his lips.

“Several methods that I couldn’t implement because of Kim’s opposition……. If Mr. Carter comes out petty, I can try using them to my heart’s content without worrying about Kim.”

“T-to your heart’s content…….”

Ahem, ahem.

It was at this moment that Joseph Carter repeatedly cleared his throat and picked up his teacup.

He seemed a little embarrassed. He never knew that such a formidable opponent had joined the Tampa Bay Rays.

For someone who had lived his whole life in sunny Florida, picking a fight with someone from the harsh Las Vegas was like hitting a rock with an egg [attempting something futile].

Relinquishing his lingering attachment to the ‘last card’ he had prepared, Joseph Carter looked at the man sitting across from him.

“Listen, Charles. That Kim guy…… is he that great?”

“Yes?”

Charles Flex asked back.

“Why are you suddenly saying that…….”

“Didn’t you just say? That you couldn’t use the methods you wanted because of Kim’s opposition. That if I use petty methods, you don’t have to worry about Kim……. It’s strange that someone like you follows a little chick who’s barely over thirty so much.”

Joseph Carter continued.

“Actually, it’s not just you. Tommy Damon of Zeus Analytics and Brian Spann of the Tampa Bay Rays also talk a lot about Kim. And that’s not all? My grandson Louis also tells me to help Kim whenever possible…….”

Joseph Carter smacked his lips.

“So, wouldn’t you be curious? How great that Kim guy is, why everyone is so eager to help him.”

“Haha, I see. I never thought that Mr. Joseph Carter would be curious about our team leader.”

“He’s a wonderful friend.”

“He’s a good friend.”

Charles Flex stated firmly.

“I can tell you anything about Kim……. But before that, can you promise me just one thing?”

“Promise?”

“Should I say it’s more of a confirmation than a promise?”

Charles Flex showed a faint smile.

“A confirmation that you will report to the city council without delay once Zeus Analytics completes the certification process. Actually, I came here today to hear that answer.”

“Hmph, isn’t that my authority? According to the regulations, I just have to upload it within 48 hours, so whenever I upload it is my freedom!”

Joseph Carter was being difficult.

“Besides, just to hear about that little chick friend, I have to make a promise on purpose? Can that be said to be a fair exchange condition?”

“Ah, is that so? Now that I hear it, I can’t say it’s very fair.”

As Charles Flex, who had taken a step back, was quietly bringing the teacup to his lips.

Joseph Carter, who had been hesitating for a long time, was twitching his bulldog-like thick lips and opening his mouth.

“Go on and…… tell me.”

“Yes?”

“I’ll promise to report to the city council without delay, so tell me the story.”

“No, didn’t you say a little while ago that it wasn’t a fair condition?”

“Damn it, how many things in the world are fair?”

“I need to know too.”