A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 161

The Rookie of the Baseball Team is Too Good-Episode 161

The Rookie of the Baseball Team is Too Good Episode 161

Chapter 42: How to Choose a Trading Partner (3)

Around 8 PM that evening.

Jisup was in the manager’s office.

Having a simple meal with Manager Seo Chang-ki while watching the game had become Jisup’s recent evening routine.

The menu for the day was Jjampong [spicy Korean noodle soup with seafood] and Sweet and Sour Pork from [40 Years Tradition Beijing Restaurant], a famous local restaurant known for being the only one in the area that doesn’t charge a delivery fee.

“…….”

“…….”

Whether you’re making it or eating it, ‘speed’ is crucial when it comes to Chinese food.

Why else would it be? If the noodles get soggy and the soup cools down, the taste just isn’t the same.

They must have known this basic fact, but the people gathered in the manager’s office that day were having a hard time focusing on their meal.

This was because the KH Cannons’ game was unfolding so dynamically.

-Ah, Manager Arthur Freeman is coming up to the mound himself! Does this mean he’s going to replace the pitcher?

-Yes, Na Jun-ho’s pitch count has already exceeded 40. It’s the right time to make a change… Ugh, the Cannons are having a tough game today. You can really feel the impact of the starting pitcher collapsing early.

In fact, at the beginning of the game, they thought they could easily secure a victory.

From the bottom of the first inning, the Cannons’ lineup exploded, scoring a whopping 7 points and successfully seizing the initiative.

At this time, the Cannons’ front office staff were bickering over whether to pour or dip the sweet and sour pork.

However, in the top of the second inning, the Cannons’ starting pitcher Kim Min-jun suddenly lost his control, giving up 4 runs and being taken off the mound in an instant.

As the game unfolded in a way that no one could predict, the Cannons’ people lost their appetite.

“Baseball is really difficult, Manager.”

Still, they had to eat.

The PR team leader stirred his soggy Jjampong and opened his mouth.

“I was always worried about the bullpen, but I didn’t think there would be any major problems with the starters… Aigo [expression of frustration], I can’t believe Min-jun, who I trusted, would ride such a roller coaster.”

“To say baseball is difficult with just this much. Loss of control is like a cold to pitchers.”

Even as he said that, Manager Seo Chang-ki had a pretty frustrated expression.

“However, now that the situation has become like this, Yong-gi’s elbow injury feels even more regrettable.”

Starting pitcher Lee Yong-gi.

He was referring to that friend who caused an accident while drinking during the day and turned the Cannons’ front office upside down.

“If he hadn’t been injured, he would have joined the first team roster in time for the opening game, and if that had happened, we wouldn’t have had to deal with this unnecessary gossip…”

Manager Seo Chang-ki couldn’t seem to take his eyes off Lee Yong-gi’s gloomy face, and he couldn’t bring himself to put a piece of sweet and sour pork in his mouth.

Then, something suddenly came to his mind. He turned his gaze to Jisup, who was sitting across from him.

“Hey, Mr. Kim Special Advisor.”

“Ah, yes, Manager!”

Jisup quickly chewed and swallowed the Jjampong noodles he had been eating.

“What is it?”

“Um, that Kwak Dae-ju from [Korea Sports]… was it? The reporter who shielded our Yong-gi. What was he like when you met him?”

Manager Seo narrowed his eyes.

“He’s been in the business for quite a while, right? Then it’s hard to see him writing such an article out of simple justice or sympathy… What did that friend seem to want? Did he ask for any information separately?”

“No, there were no special requests. He said he was just doing his duty as a reporter.”

Duty as a reporter.

A strange smile appeared on Manager Seo’s face as he listened to Jisup’s words.

“You wouldn’t have fallen for such sweet talk, would you?”

“Hehe, of course not.”

Jisup smiled slightly and then opened his mouth again with a serious expression.

“Reporter Kwak Dae-ju… seemed to be aiming for the position of Hwang Young-ju from [Sports Hanseong].”

“Hwang’s position?”

“Yes.”

Jisup nodded.

“I’m talking about the head of our Cannons press corps position.”

* * *

When Manager Seo Chang-ki heard Jisup’s words, his reaction was as follows.

“Hehe, it’s a sign of the times.”

Manager Seo finally put a piece of sweet and sour pork in his mouth.

“In the past, there were no applicants, so it would be vacant for months… Now, they’re all fighting to get it.”

“All… fighting?”

When Jisup asked, tilting his head, the PR team leader opened his mouth in place of Manager Seo.

“Ah, Jisup, you didn’t know? The atmosphere among the reporters is no joke right now. They’re all trying to take the position of head of the Cannons press corps.”

Including Kwak Dae-ju from [Korea Sports], nearly ten people had already conveyed similar intentions.

They had subtly approached Manager Seo and the PR team leader, saying, ‘Please be my strength.’ [asking for their support]

“In principle, our Cannons can’t interfere in the press corps’ affairs. But if the competition among reporters becomes this fierce, we naturally have a say. And a very strong one at that.”

The PR team leader seemed quite pleased with the current situation.

That’s because the Cannons PR team had always been in the position of ‘Eul’ [subordinate] in front of the reporters.

Now that the reporters, who used to be so stiff, were reaching out and saying, ‘Please help me,’ the PR team leader couldn’t help but feel happy.

“But what happened among the reporters? Why are they suddenly fighting for the position of head of the press corps?”

“Hey, isn’t it obvious? Our Cannons are doing well!”

The PR team leader shook his wooden chopsticks like a baton and continued.

“The team’s performance is improving, the number of spectators is increasing, and people’s attention is focused on us… Then the number of views for articles about the Cannons must be soaring compared to before.”

“I guess so?”

“In this situation, the head of the Cannons press corps becomes important. The head of the press corps meets with the front office often, right? Then it becomes easier to find out internal information, and the possibility of writing exclusive articles naturally increases.”

“Ah, exclusive?”

The legendary two words that make reporters jump out of bed even in their sleep, ‘exclusive’.

The reporters in charge of the Cannons seemed to be risking their lives for the head position in order to secure that exclusive article.

“Speaking of which… Manager, shouldn’t we start taking a position soon?”

The PR team leader continued.

“There’s a dinner scheduled with the press corps this weekend. I heard that the issue of replacing the head will be discussed at that meeting…”

“I see. What’s Team Leader Bae’s opinion?”

Manager Seo asked, fixing his gaze on the TV broadcast screen.

“Was the PR team in favor of replacing the head?”

“Yes, we can’t afford to miss this opportunity.”

The PR team leader quickly replied.

“Thanks to the competition among the reporters, our Cannons’ voice has become very strong. If we do well, we can get a reporter who suits our taste into the head position.”

“…….”

“Reporter Hwang Young-ju… isn’t she a difficult opponent? Even if she’s smiling in front of you, you never know what kind of coverage she’s doing behind your back.”

The PR team leader trembled slightly.

It seemed that the recent article about Lee Yong-gi had come to mind.

“I’ve known her for almost 10 years, but she’s never once looked out for our Cannons’ situation. Anyway, if she thinks it’ll get views, she’ll jump in without looking back… Ugh, honestly, I want to work with someone who’s a little easier now.”

“Hmm, that’s right. I understand that feeling well enough. It’s not like I haven’t been in the PR team before.”

With that, Manager Seo turned his gaze to Jisup.

“Mr. Kim Special Advisor, what’s your opinion?”

“Yes?”

“Come on, an advisor should offer his opinion from time to time. About the head of the Cannons press corps.”

Manager Seo picked up a chopstick of Jjampong.

“You’ve been visiting the press room often these days, so I think you have something in mind?”

“Ah, if it’s about that…”

Jisup remained silent for a while.

It was because he needed time to organize his thoughts.

Hwang Young-ju or Kwak Dae-ju, or another third person.

Which person would be beneficial to the Cannons to support as the head of the press corps?

No, in the first place, what kind of relationship should the baseball team’s front office and the reporters have?

“Well, I’m not sure…”

After being lost in thought for a while, Jisup began to express his opinion with a cautious expression.

“…….”

A gentle smile was already appearing on Manager Seo Chang-ki’s face as he listened to his words.

* * *

A few days later.

Jisup was at a dinner with the Cannons press corps.

Press reporters were subtly known to be picky about their food.

The PR team staff put more effort than usual into selecting the menu, and as a result, the venue for the dinner was a Pyeongyang cold noodle restaurant near Yeongsan City Hall.

As a dish called ‘Eobok Jaengban’ [a platter of sliced meat and vegetables], a menu that Jisup had never even heard of, was bubbling away-

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the KH Cannons front office officials who have arranged this event today.”

Kwak Dae-ju from [Korea Sports] stood up and began to give a speech.

It was at this moment that a slight sense of tension filled Jisup’s face, who had been completely focused on the ‘Eobok Jaengban’.

‘Ah, it looks like he’s about to bring it up.’

The story about replacing the head of the press corps.

As Jisup expected, Kwak Dae-ju was subtly building up the story.

“I am very pleased that the Cannons have been performing well recently. But until a few years ago, the Cannons were unable to break through the bottom ranks.”

Said Kwak Dae-ju.

“There were many reasons for this… But I think our reporters were also partly responsible.”

“Aigo, Reporter! What are you talking about!”

The PR team leader made a fuss as if he was surprised, but Kwak shook his head silently.

“No, that’s the truth. When the team wasn’t doing well, we reporters were the ones who attacked them more fiercely than anyone else.”

Up to this point, the story was a bit rough, but it could be passed over appropriately.

Kwak’s ‘build-up’ began in earnest the next moment.

“Is that all? There were also articles that poured cold water on the atmosphere when it was at its peak. There was a similar incident a while ago.”

Jisup could feel the reporters’ gazes focusing on one side.

Hwang Young-ju from [Sports Hanseong], who was sitting in the far corner.

Whether her fellow reporters were looking at her or not, the great Hwang Young-ju was silently slurping the Eobok Jaengban soup.

“The reason why these things happen frequently is that ‘rapport’ is not properly formed. There is no relationship of trust between the coverage destination and the reporter.”

So, about that.

Kwak brought up the main point.

“I think it would be a good idea to change the composition of the Cannons press corps this time and pay more attention to building a relationship of trust with the club… What do my fellow reporters think?”

“Wait a minute, Reporter Kwak?”

It was at this moment that Manager Seo Chang-ki, who had been silent until now, raised his hand.

“Wouldn’t it be better to postpone that story for a while? Once the meal is over, we’ll provide a separate place for the reporters to discuss comfortably.”

At Manager Seo’s words, Kwak nodded without much hesitation.

“Ah, I see! I was short-sighted. Talking about the press corps’ internal affairs in a place where the Cannons people are present…”

With that, Kwak picked up the soju [Korean distilled rice liquor] bottle in front of him.

It was a natural flow as if he had come here thinking about this.

“Manager, it’s a bit awkward for me to sit still like this. Since I’m standing up, I’ll offer you a drink. Please accept it!”

“No. First of all, I’m not good at drinking… I think it’s polite for me to offer a drink to the reporters first in this kind of setting. Give me the bottle.”

“Ah, yes! Then…”

As Kwak Dae-ju handed over the soju bottle, Jisup could feel the reporters’ expressions becoming quite serious.

[Damn it, it’s nothing… But it’s making me nervous for no reason?]

[Hmm, who is Manager Seo going to pour a drink for first?]

[It’s better if he gives it to the person who’s close to him first, but if he gives it to the person who’s far away first… That means the Cannons front office supports that reporter?]

The reporters were on edge, paying close attention to Manager Seo’s movements.

However, what Manager Seo did was not pour a drink for someone.

He hesitated for a moment with the bottle in his hand, then called out Jisup’s name, ‘Mr. Kim Special Advisor’.

“Mr. Kim Special Advisor? Mr. Jisup?”

“Yes, Manager!”

“I should pour it for you myself, but it’s too narrow to go all the way over there. You pour some drinks.”

Manager Seo Chang-ki pointed to the far corner of the table.

The person sitting in that seat right now was Hwang Young-ju.