A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 543

The Overperforming Rookie 543

The Overperforming Rookie 543

114. Please Pick a Number (4)

[Hotel North Kenwood], about a 5-minute drive from Clockwise Field.

After the new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays was completed, Jisub rented some rooms in this hotel to use as a kind of forward base.

It was used to discuss projects requiring security, to provide a resting place for employees who couldn’t leave work, and-

“Sometimes, like today, it’s used for quiet conversations when guests come to visit.”

“Ah, it’s quite a useful space, isn’t it?”

The Cannons people looked around as they entered the suite provided to the general manager.

And I think it was around this time. Jisub, who was leading the guests, took out his cell phone.

“Yes, this is Kim.”

Jisub urged the Cannons people to sit down quickly, but on the other hand, he narrowed his eyes and focused on the phone call.

“Ah, really? From the Future Strategy Planning Department? Let me see, I think it’s been quite a while already…….”

Jisub, who stretched his neck and looked at the clock on the wall, soon clicked his tongue, saying, ‘I can’t help it.’

“Then I’ll leave as soon as things are settled here. I think I can get to the club’s office by midnight……. Yes, that’s right. Then please take care of things until then. Thank you!”

Click.

As soon as he hung up, Jisub began to convey a few messages to the employees standing next to him.

Go Changdeok, Team Leader Ahn, and General Manager Daniel Hamilton were watching the scene with interest.

At this time, only one person among the group, CEO Joo Sungmin, was folding his arms and raising one eyebrow.

‘He’s going to be there by midnight?’

He checked the time on his cell phone.

The current time is 11:11 PM.

‘Even if the home stadium is close, it’ll take at least 20 minutes to get to the club’s office……. Then what, there’s less than 30 minutes left?’

Isn’t that a bit much?

That was CEO Joo’s honest feeling.

‘I guess the general manager of a Major League club must be incredibly busy. And we forced him to do this. But if that’s the case, we came all the way from Korea, right? People who have been on a plane for over 20 hours.’

But that general manager was declaring that he would leave this place in just 30 minutes.

What kind of rudeness is this? What is he doing without even a word of understanding? CEO Joo was a little dumbfounded.

‘Okay, let’s say that’s how it is for me. But wasn’t he a classmate of Chief Go when they joined the Cannons? And he has a long relationship with Team Leader Yang. To treat even those people like this…….’

What was even more absurd was what happened after that.

If he could only spare 30 minutes, he should use that time to the fullest, but the general manager of the Tampa Bay Rays was as relaxed as could be.

“Hmm, it’s too late for coffee……. How about some herbal tea?”

Jisub was looking back at the guests while filling the electric kettle with water.

He could have skipped this, but he opened the cupboard wide and started to worry.

“Let’s see, there’s peppermint and chamomile. No, I think chamomile makes you sleepy…….”

Hehe, I guess not.

Jisub smiled awkwardly and put all the glass bottles containing tea bags on the table.

“I have trouble deciding, so I can’t choose. Pick one each. Herbal tea is just a matter of pouring hot water into a tea bag.”

“Oh, really? Thanks to General Manager Kim, I’ll get to taste tea in the Major League!”

“Hey, tea is all the same, what’s so great about it?”

The Cannons people were looking at the glass bottles that Jisub had taken out in a truly friendly atmosphere.

I like this one, the scent is really good, I’m sorry, but is there any instant coffee?

While such trivial conversations were going on, the clock was ticking steadily.

‘These, these guys are really…….’

It was when CEO Joo Sungmin, who had been suppressing the bubbling anger, raised his head abruptly.

What are you doing? Didn’t you say you didn’t have time? Right at that moment when he was about to shout.

“Ah, that’s right! General Manager Hamilton?”

Jisub, who was taking his share of herbal tea bags, turned his gaze to the Cannons’ general manager.

“You said you had a document to show me earlier, right? A document on the future direction of KH Cannons’ operations.”

“Ah, yes! I have it!”

When the Cannons’ general manager jumped up from his seat, Jisub gestured lightly.

“Can I see it now? Anyway, we have to wait until the water boils.”

“O, of course. Here…….”

“Thank you.”

Jisub, who received the document, took out a blue highlighter from his jacket pocket.

After biting the pen cap off with his teeth, he read the document at a rapid pace.

The hotel room, which had been noisy until just a moment ago, had become an atmosphere where it was difficult to even swallow a dry gulp.

“Hmm.”

How many minutes had it been since everyone was holding their breath and looking only at the face of the Tampa Bay general manager?

After drawing a few lines with the highlighter, Jisub slowly raised his head.

Then, he stared at General Manager Daniel Hamilton’s eyes and said a word with a short sigh.

“General Manager Hamilton?”

“Yes.”

“How about drinking chamomile?”

Jisub pointed to the Korean instant coffee placed in front of General Manager Hamilton.

Damn it, another herbal tea song? Just as annoyance was about to flash across CEO Joo Sungmin’s face.

“If you take caffeine again now, your stomach will be completely turned upside down. Then it will last for several days. Are you okay with that?”

Jisub continued with a worried expression.

“Looking at the document, it’s been at least three days……. No, if it’s this much, you probably haven’t slept much since you became the general manager of the Cannons. Isn’t that right?”

* * *

At first, I thought it was nonsense.

It was CEO Joo who even snorted.

‘Geez, how can he be so confident in making such a wrong guess?’

For the past three years, General Manager Daniel Hamilton, whom he had seen, was an energetic person.

He always came to work early in the morning with a cheerful face, and his office was lit up late at night.

A man who had always done his best with a smiling face.

A man who had overcome any difficulties with dignity.

That was Mr. Daniel Hamilton.

There was a reason why CEO Joo Sungmin was trying to give him another chance.

For some reason, Hamilton’s reaction at this time was quite different from CEO Joo’s expectations.

“H, how did you know…….”

He blinked his eyes like someone who had met a skilled shaman [a person who is believed to have special powers to communicate with spirits], and then scratched the back of his head and showed a hollow smile.

“It’s just as you said. I haven’t been able to sleep deeply for the past few years. When I lie in bed, all sorts of thoughts confuse my mind…….”

Without realizing that CEO Joo was widening his eyes next to him, Hamilton continued.

“But how did Kim know that? I don’t remember writing such a story in the document…….”

“This case is so common.”

Jisub glanced at the electric kettle, which was not yet boiling.

“The principles of data analysis and development parts are very simple and clear, but when it comes to applying this to the players, the explanation suddenly becomes long and verbose.”

“……Ah.”

“So I got a sense of it. Which part General Manager Hamilton was confident in, and which part he was having difficulty with.”

Jisub gave a good-natured smile.

“But don’t blame yourself too much. It’s a common trouble that number crunchers often experience. There are many cases where problems that are perfectly solved by numerical calculations are not the case in the field.”

“That’s right! That’s exactly what I was frustrated about!”

Hamilton beat his chest.

“The calculation results were obvious, right? The answer was obviously this way, right? But everyone was vehemently opposed to it! Not only the players, but also the coaching staff and front office staff…….”

Oh, my God.

He sighed, covering his head with the back of his hand, then turned his gaze back to Jisub.

“Then what should I do?”

At this point, he was almost in a well-behaved student mode.

“Aren’t there many general managers from number crunchers in the Major League? How did they overcome it?”

“Well, the answer is actually set.”

Field experience.

Jisub said firmly.

“It will be necessary to gain about 2-3 years of field experience. It’s good to manage the clubhouse, and it’s also good to take on the role of the team’s away manager.”

“…….”

“In fact, Major League clubs are already doing that. Employees who are about to be promoted from number crunchers are always sent to the field.”

Here, Jisub tilted his head.

“General Manager Hamilton said that he also has Major League experience, right? Then you should have received some of these suggestions?”

“I, I received it. It was a role to help train minor league players. At that time, I thought I was being kicked out to a dead-end job, so I got angry and threw my resignation…….”

General Manager Hamilton gave a hollow laugh.

“Listening to Kim’s words, I think I was too hasty. I skipped a few steps that I had to take as a front office member.”

It was at this time that he began to stare at the ceiling with a blank expression.

He regretted his haste, and he was ashamed of the foolishness he had not realized.

More than anything, he seemed to be recalling the past three years, and then he looked at CEO Joo Sungmin with a determined expression.

“CEO, no…… Samuel?”

The Cannons people seemed to have learned at this time that CEO Joo’s English name was ‘Samuel.’

“Thank you so much for believing in me all this time. The joy I felt when you offered me the general manager position still remains in my heart.”

“…….”

CEO Joo also seemed to have a sense of what Daniel Hamilton was trying to say.

“I have done my best to repay your kindness, but now I have come to realize that I am not ready yet.”

“Does that mean…….”

“Yes, I want to try it as Kim said. Whether it’s the Major League or the Minor League, I’m going to go to a place that accepts me and gain field experience.”

I’m sorry, I’m really sorry.

General Manager Hamilton bowed his head.

“I have caused too much trouble to the Cannons with my immature skills. To the players, to the staff, and to the fans. Originally, I should have compensated for all of that before leaving, but as I am now, there is no other way…….”

He said with a heavy expression.

“Samuel, would you allow me to step down from the general manager position today?”

“…….”

In response to General Manager Hamilton’s earnest appeal, CEO Joo was unable to say anything for a while.

He must have felt sorry. He was also embarrassed by the fact that his full support had rather become a disadvantage.

However, at this very moment, the emotion that occupied the largest part of CEO Joo’s mind was surprisingly surprise.

‘How…… how?’

Surprise at the general manager of the Tampa Bay Rays, that very person.

‘How can he see through the heart of a person he met for the first time so thoroughly?’

That was so amazing. It was amazing. It felt like a slight chill was running down his spine.

That’s why Sakhalin Park’s mouth was agape whenever that friend’s story came up, and that’s why the Cannons people mentioned Jisub so often.

Just as CEO Joo was marveling, the electric pot, which was still unchanged, came into his sight.

‘Wow, then what? Did he change a person before the water even boiled in the electric pot?’

That’s really awesome. That’s amazing.

At this rate, even the hero Guan Yu [a famous general from the Three Kingdoms period in Chinese history] in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms would nod his head and go.

Just as CEO Joo’s unique fuss was about to begin, Go Changdeok’s voice was heard from over there.

“Excuse me, President Kim? Everything is good, but…….”

Go Changdeok smiled bitterly as he picked up the plug of the electric pot.

“Don’t you think you should plug in the plug to boil water?”

What.

Was that what it was?

* * *

The Cannons people, who had visited St. Petersburg to be introduced to a new general manager candidate.

It was a little past 11:40 PM that day when they came out after finishing the meeting with Jisub.

“…….”

“…….”

It was definitely a short meeting. It didn’t even take 30 minutes. Chief Go Changdeok and Team Leader Yang Minwoo seemed to be regretful that they couldn’t even have a light drink.

However, after seeing Jisub off as he returned to the home stadium, the expressions of the Cannons people heading to the parking lot were brighter than ever.

“This is…… what should I say.”

It was Chief Go Changdeok’s words.

“Team Leader, don’t you feel like you’ve come out of a sauna?”

“Right? I felt exactly that way too.”

Watching Team Leader Yang Minwoo nodding, CEO Joo Sungmin almost shouted ‘Me too!’ without realizing it.

That’s exactly how he felt. A feeling like he had warmed his body in a hot sauna. A feeling like he had taken a clean shower in cold water.

Although it was a meeting that did not exceed 30 minutes, the general manager of the Tampa Bay Rays had presented the Cannons with a truly excellent solution.

“To be honest, I even felt sorry for General Manager Kim. I didn’t know he had prepared so much for our Cannons…….”

Team Leader Yang carefully took out the contact information that Jisub had given him.

“There are people who have experience as general managers in the Major League, and there are people who I seem to have seen often in news articles……. Moreover, all of these people have shown interest in the Cannons’ general manager position.”

“Haha, rather than being interested……. Wouldn’t everyone have fallen for General Manager Kim’s coaxing?”

Go Changdeok smiled bashfully next to him.

“With General Manager Kim’s personality, would he have just made a list? Of course, he would have made a phone call to each of them. How about working in Korea, a really good opportunity has come up.”

“Haha, is that so? Well, with General Manager Kim’s eloquence, anyone would have no choice but to fall for it…….”

Team Leader Yang, who was looking at the list of general manager candidates with a pleased gaze.

He spoke to CEO Joo, who was walking one step ahead.

“CEO, then what are you going to do?”

“Yes?”

CEO Joo stopped walking.

“Since you’ve come all the way to the United States, I was wondering if you’d like to meet the people on the list.”

“Ah.”

CEO Joo Sungmin making an incomprehensible sound.

Team Leader Yang, who accepted this as a positive, quickly continued.

“First of all, how about meeting Aaron Vinson, who served as the deputy general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies? He seems to be not far from here.”

“…….”

“Or how about Director Rebecca Carney, who is working at the Major League headquarters? If it’s New York, there’s a direct flight from here.”

“…….”

CEO Joo Sungmin not giving an answer whether he likes it or not.

Why is he being like that? Just as Team Leader Yang was tilting his head.

CEO Joo opened his mouth while looking at the two people’s faces.

“Okay, honestly, I think it sounds crazy even if I think about it…….”

“Yes?”

And the following words were enough to surprise the two people.

“Team Leader Yang, is there any way to bring General Manager Kim to our Cannons?”

“G, General Manager Kim?!”

He was an experienced Team Leader Yang.

He was a person who had been solving problems smoothly even under a bulldozer-like person like Sakhalin Park.

However, even Team Leader Yang could only give a hollow laugh at this time.

“CEO, no matter what you say, that’s realistically…….”

Team Leader Yang wiped his cold sweat.

“General Manager Kim is currently the most recognized front office member in the Major League. It’s no exaggeration to say that he’s the best. Moreover, he has a contract with the Tampa Bay Rays, right? In this state, it’s a bit…….”

“Right? Yes, well, I think so too.”

Sigh, haa.

CEO Joo took a long sigh.

“A person’s heart is really fickle. I know very well that the candidates on the list are really great people, but……. Once I meet General Manager Kim, I keep having lingering feelings.”

“I fully understand that feeling.”

When Team Leader Yang showed his reluctance, CEO Joo also smiled bitterly and replied.

“Haha, I understand. I’ve been bothering Team Leader Yang a lot, so I shouldn’t insist anymore. Then first of all…….”

Let’s go to New York.

Let’s meet the candidates there.

Just as CEO Joo was about to swallow his disappointment and speak.

“Excuse me…….”

Go Changdeok opened his mouth.

“It’s not that there’s no way at all.”

“Yes?”

CEO Joo turned his head.

“Chief Go, what do you mean by that? There’s no way? Is there a possibility?”

“Ah, of course, it’s not at the stage to recklessly talk about the possibility. But it means that there is at least some room for contract issues.”

Go Changdeok raised his eyes.

“I heard from General Manager Kim a while ago that there was this special clause in the contract with the Tampa Bay Rays.”

And the following words.

“If you achieve three World Series wins within the contract period, you can request the termination of the existing contract.”

Originally, it was meant to give a better contract as a reward for winning the World Series.

But if you think about it slightly differently-

“The moment General Manager Kim wins the World Series this year, it means he will be completely free.”

And the following words.

“Which club General Manager Kim, who has become a free agent, will go to……. It’s entirely up to his heart.”