A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 495

Rookie of the Baseball Team Is Too Good 495

Rookie of the Baseball Team Is Too Good 495

104 Everyone’s Wish (5)

Baseball teams are busiest on Saturdays.

It’s the day with the most visitors, the highest sales, and, proportionally, the most troublesome incidents.

Tampa Bay Rays were no exception, so on Saturdays, the staff moved more busily than usual.

They had to check the stock of team merchandise, manage the supply of food and beverages, and inspect safety issues in the parking lot and throughout the stadium.

That was the hectic scene at Tropicana Field on Saturday mornings, but-

This day,

Was a little different.

“Woohoo! This day has finally come!”

“Wow, it’s really high up here! Can you see the game from here?”

“I heard it’s great for cheering! The sound echoes and feels more grand!”

Around 11 a.m., the Tampa Bay Rays staff were up on the third-floor upper deck of Tropicana Field.

There were front office staff, partner company employees, and coaching staff including manager Mike Clemm Blass, and some players centered around Victor Johnson Jr.

The busiest time of the week, the most hectic time. Still, there was a reason people willingly came up to this high place.

The so-called light-up event.

To commemorate the reopening of the third-floor upper deck of Tropicana Field, an event was planned to install lighting here.

It wasn’t an event prepared for the audience since the entrance gate wasn’t open yet.

It was an event for the people involved with the Tampa Bay Rays. It was an achievement made with their efforts and affection.

“Mr. President, should you say a few words?”

When the atmosphere was ripe enough, Jisub approached Brian Spann, the general manager.

“Originally, the whole event today was just about unlocking the padlock here and turning on the lights at the same time……”

Jisub looked at the chains and locks installed in the central corridor of the third-floor upper deck.

It was a kind of symbol. A symbol showing that this upper deck had been closed for a long time.

“But shouldn’t we have a commemorative speech from the president? There are reporters here to cover it……”

“Haha, I’m sorry, but I’ll decline. I don’t really like standing in front of people.”

The general manager smiled gently.

“If you need a scene to show the reporters… How about a countdown? If everyone shouts the numbers, it might create a pretty good picture.”

“A countdown, that sounds like a good idea. Then let’s do that……”

“Okay, please.”

Jisub, who had received approval from the general manager, signaled to the employee in charge of the event.

As the staff hurriedly finished some preparations, people’s voices began to echo in the third-floor upper deck.

“10! 9! 8! 7!”

Everyone shouted the countdown loudly.

When the number reached ‘zero,’ the general manager opened the large padlock with the key he was holding-

Bang! Bang! Pow!

Along with the sound of the lights turning on, the third-floor upper deck, which had been submerged in darkness, began to brighten.

“Ooh!”

“Oooooh?!”

Under the dazzling lights, the orderly appearance of the newly installed seats came into view.

On the large LED panel installed on the wall, the Tampa Bay team logo and the message [Welcome to the Upper Deck!] were displayed.

In addition, the stores on the third-floor upper deck, which started 영업 [business/operations] today, brightly lit up, and people’s eyes widened.

“Wow, this is beyond imagination! Tropicana Field suddenly feels huge!”

“It’s much cleaner than before! There are monitors installed everywhere, so it’ll be great for watching the game!”

“Wait a minute, this isn’t the time to be doing this? Let’s take some pictures! We need to get in the mood before the guests come?!”

No one held back.

People took out their cell phones from their pockets and started taking 기념 [commemorative] pictures in groups of three or five.

While everyone was enjoying the atmosphere with the third-floor upper deck, now transformed into a large stadium with 45,000 seats, as the background.

“Kim, what are your thoughts?”

General Manager Brian Spann quietly looked around at all those people and spoke to Jisub.

“I’m more curious about Kim’s thoughts than anyone else right now. How does it feel to have created a miracle?”

“A miracle, what are you talking about……”

Jisub just smiled.

“I’m happy. I feel proud. But… Hehe, you know it too, Mr. President, right? Today is a day when we can’t let our guard down until the end.”

At Jisub’s words, the general manager also slowly nodded.

“Haha, that’s right. It wasn’t the right time to ask for your thoughts yet. The highlight of today is still a few hours away.”

It meant the city council vote held at St. Petersburg City Hall this afternoon.

The Tampa Bay Rays’ new stadium construction project, which had been going on for nearly 20 years, would be concluded here.

Of course, it was expected to pass with a 99% probability, but Jisub and General Manager Brian Spann could not let go of their tension until the end.

“Hmm, it’s almost time. I think I should go pick up the team owner now.”

The general manager said, checking his wristwatch.

“The city council is scheduled to start around 2 p.m. They said it usually takes about an hour or two, so I’ll probably be back before today’s game starts. So Kim, please take good care of things here until then.”

“Yes, leave it to me.”

Jisub’s eyes sparkled.

“I’ll be waiting for good news in Tropicana Field, filled with 45,000 spectators.”

* * *

In fact, around lunchtime that day, the Future Strategy Planning Division office was filled with quite luxurious food.

It was prepared by John Larma Taylor, the only son of the Tampa Bay team owner, for his colleagues.

To celebrate the opening of the third-floor upper deck, he had ordered delivery from his favorite Hong Kong-style Chinese restaurant.

“I don’t think we’ll have time to go out for lunch.”

That was his reason.

“Of course, we’ll have a 회식 [company dinner] separately after all the events are over, but it’s a special day for us, right? It’s a shame to skip lunch on a day like this!”

John Larma seemed to have ordered the food with great care.

Menus that generously included expensive ingredients but were easy to eat while working.

But unfortunately, no one tasted this luxurious menu while it was still warm.

“Larma, thank you! Thanks to you, I get to try such luxurious food… Yes, Kim! It’s David!!”

“Huh, did David get called again? I can’t help it. I’ll try this soup… Oh, R. J! What’s wrong?”

It was for the reason that everyone could have predicted.

From 25,000 to 45,000 people. As the number of spectators increased, so did the amount of work that the front office had to handle.

There were players who couldn’t get to work on time because of the heavy traffic, and the complicated entrance gate had to be closed for nearly 20 minutes because a lost child appeared.

People flocked to the visiting team’s goods shop, so they urgently dispatched manpower, and a drunk spectator fell into the tank where the rays live, causing a commotion.

Thanks to the unexpected troubles that kept popping up, the people in the Future Strategy Planning Division were able to take a breather around the third inning of the game.

“Hoo.”

“Wow, this is no joke.”

Of course, the food that had been delivered to them that day was already cold.

It wasn’t just cold. Some people had run out leaving the lids open, so the noodle dishes were hard and a mess.

“Haha, Kim! Look at this! When I pick it up with a fork, it all comes up together?”

“That’s right. Isn’t it the true meaning of fast food? You can eat it all up quickly with just a bite or two.”

Even with the cold food in front of them, the expressions of the people in the Future Strategy Planning Division were very bright.

Tropicana Field, filled with 45,000 people, was truly a spectacle.

“Wow, really… It’s like a dream.”

John Larma said, taking a bite of the cold shrimp tempura.

“I never imagined that so many people would gather at Tropicana Field… I couldn’t even imagine it around this time last year.”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

David also had a pretty emotional expression.

“When my friends from Boston or the Yankees talked about the audience, I wondered why they were making such a fuss… But now that I see it, I understand. The feeling of 20,000 and 40,000 people is completely different, right?”

“By the way…”

John Larma looked around.

“Where did Flex go? He was making a fuss about eating 게살 [crab meat] soup when the game started?”

“Charles went to Fred’s Nacho Revolution. You know, the nacho 가게 [shop] that used to be famous on the third-floor upper deck.”

David chuckled.

“I heard he was going to buy nachos for stadium guide Natalie Harpin? He said he’d be back soon, but I haven’t heard from him yet.”

“No, he’s been handling so much work since early this morning… And he even made an appointment with 여사님 [madam/Ms. Harpin]?”

“That’s right. What did he say? Work and love, I don’t want to miss either… He said it very firmly.”

“Did you see that, Kim?”

John Larma looked at Jisub.

“Kim, you need to follow Flex’s example, huh? Don’t keep refusing the blind dates that I set up for you with the excuse that you’re busy… Hmm?”

It was at this moment that a sense of tension flowed through the office, which had been almost festive.

A phone call was coming in on Jisub’s cell phone, which had been placed on the table.

Brrr- Brrr- Brrr-

The caller was General Manager Brian Spann.

The phone call at this time meant only one thing.

“Has the city council vote ended? Then the results are out?”

Without a word, Jisub nodded at John Larma’s question and picked up his cell phone with trembling hands.

“Mr. President, it’s Kim.”

-Oh, Kim! I’m sorry for the late contact. The meeting took much longer than expected…

The general manager’s voice was also trembling slightly.

Even this meticulous person is nervous, I thought.

-Where are you now? Is it the Future Strategy Planning Division office?

“Yes, that’s right. John Larma and David Wilson are also here.”

-Ah, is that so? That’s good. Can you switch to speakerphone? I want to tell everyone if possible.

“Yes, please wait a moment.”

Jisub switched the cell phone to speakerphone mode and placed it on the table.

Then John Larma and David Wilson also perked up their ears and gathered around Jisub.

It was a fleeting moment, but everyone was barely breathing.

What happened? What decision did the St. Petersburg City Council make? What will happen to the future of the Tampa Bay Rays?

The only answer to those many questions was heard immediately after.

-Future Strategy Planning Division, thank you for your hard work.

Good news.

The general manager continued.

-With 7 votes in favor and 2 votes against, our Tampa Bay Rays’ new stadium construction plan…

The general manager took a breath.

-The new stadium construction plan has passed the city council! We’re building a new stadium!!!

* * *

The plan has passed.

We’re building a new stadium.

After General Manager Brian Spann’s words were heard in my ear, about 3 minutes of memory are not 남아 [remaining] in Jisub’s memory.

“It’s done!!!”

“Passed! Passed! City council passed!!!”

“Kim, we did it! We did it! What the hell is going on!!!”

There was no holding back. Everyone was out of their mind.

Shouting, waving fists in the air, hugging each other and spinning around.

Jisub, who prided himself on not even raising an eyebrow at most things now, could feel a drop of hot tears welling up in his eyes at this moment.

How long had the three big men been stirring up the office like that.

-Kim, are you okay? Are you okay?

At the general manager’s voice heard over the speakerphone, Jisub and the people in the Future Strategy Planning Division barely regained their composure.

“I’m sorry, Mr. President. Oh, it was such good news that……”

-Yes, it’s understandable. If I didn’t have people watching, I would have danced wildly.

What would the president’s dance moves be like?

Just as that thought flashed through Jisub’s mind, the general manager continued in a calm voice.

-There’s no doubt that it’s a really happy and meaningful thing… But there’s still work to be done, right?

“Ah, yes, I know.”

It was the highlight of the day.

Informing the 45,000 spectators who are currently filling Tropicana Field that the construction of the Tampa Bay Rays’ new stadium has been confirmed.

To inform the fans of this fact first, the Tampa Bay media response team had even asked each media company to refrain from breaking news.

-Kim, the original plan was after the end of the 5th inning, right? I think it was supposed to be announced using the ground maintenance time.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Jisub stretched his neck and looked at the situation on the ground.

The game was in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Bottom of the 3rd with runners on first and second, Tampa Bay Rays’ attack.

“If you leave now, you should be able to make it in time.”

Jisub continued.

“It takes less than 10 minutes by car from City Hall to Tropicana Field. I’ll contact the stadium operations department.”

Then the planned event could proceed sufficiently.

Announcing the new beginning of the Tampa Bay Rays in front of 45,000 spectators.

Just imagining it made my heart pound, so Jisub was unknowingly speaking faster.

-No, I don’t think we’ll be able to make it.

The answer that came back was something Jisub hadn’t even expected.

“Yes? You can’t make it, what do you mean?”

-Haha, Kim! Isn’t it obvious? The full-scale project is just beginning. We have to move quickly.

The general manager continued.

-The team owner and I are going to meet the mayor soon. We’re going to have a simple cup of tea and discuss future measures.

“Ah, the mayor……”

Jisub’s mind became complicated.

“I understand. Then I’ll postpone the official announcement until after the 7th inning. If you can come by then, we can proceed sufficiently……”

-What, after the 7th inning? Haha, Kim! Why are you, of all people, saying such clueless things?

The general manager’s clear laughter was transmitted through the speaker.

-Don’t you still understand? I’m giving you a role right now.

“A role? Wait, then……”

The next moment, John Larma and David Wilson’s faces lit up.

-That’s right, Kim. It’s you. You’re doing it. Go out to the ground with the microphone and.

The general manager said.

-The fact that the Tampa Bay Rays’ new stadium is being built, the fact that a new era is opening for our team… Please deliver it directly to our fans.

This is my instruction,

And the team owner’s instructions.

The general manager’s firm voice was heard in Jisub’s ear.