A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 226

58. A Great Man Doesn’t Study (1)

The KH Cannons achieved their first regular season championship in their history.

Amidst the flood of interview requests, General Manager Seo Chang-gi’s firm statement was as follows:

-We will not be satisfied here.

-The joy of winning the regular season is only for today. From tomorrow, we will do our best to win the Korean Series.

Perhaps it was a natural thing to say.

Unlike the United States or Japan, where the regular season championship is also highly valued, the Korean professional baseball league places more weight on winning the Korean Series [the championship series of the KBO League].

There’s no need to look at anything else. Even the official data from the Korean professional baseball league office only records the Korean Series winning team as the ‘champion.’

In that context, it would have been best for the KH Cannons’ front office to immediately switch to ‘Korean Series preparation mode’—but, as human beings, we all need a break from time to time.

The day after winning the regular season championship, a more relaxed atmosphere than usual was evident in the KH Cannons’ team office.

“Seriously? Is that true?”

“Yeah, I heard there’s even talk of wedding invitations coming out this year?”

The PR and marketing teams were gathered around, chatting away.

“Wow, Manager Kim! Are you really going to do this? Are you replacing the pitcher here?”

“Hehe, sorry. I’m originally a small ball kind of guy!” [A baseball strategy that emphasizes getting on base, advancing runners, and scoring runs through means other than home runs.]

The operations and international affairs teams had even brought in a large arcade game and were risking their lunch money on a game.

“Team Leader, are you sleeping? Are you asleep?”

“Wow, completely deep sleep?”

Besides them, there were people who couldn’t overcome the aftereffects of the previous day’s celebration and had fallen asleep, people using the ping-pong table that was almost always empty, and people heading out early for lunch.

As all the Cannons people were enjoying their fleeting moments of leisure in their own ways.

“I’ve refilled the popcorn!”

“Oh, Ji-seop! Thank you, thank you!”

Ji-seop’s choice that day was to watch a Major League Baseball game with the scouting team.

The game, taking place in the western United States, started around 10:30 AM Korean time.

It was definitely the best program to watch while skipping out on morning work hours.

“How’s it going? Did the Padres score any points?”

“Points? No way, they haven’t even gotten a hit. They’ve been completely shut down since the hit in the first inning.”

“The Dodgers’ starting pitcher is too good. When a 100-mile-per-hour ball comes in like that… what can the Padres do?”

The people pointed at the pitcher on the TV screen, constantly making ‘Kuh’ sounds [an expression of awe or admiration].

Just as another out was being recorded due to that incredible pitching, a story that made Ji-seop prick up his ears came out.

“Hmm, if this keeps up… should we consider this year’s Major League to be a two-team race between the LA Dodgers and the Boston Red Sox?”

“Shouldn’t we? Both teams have such solid rosters.”

“I heard that there’s talk in the US that there will be a pretty big backlash if they don’t win the championship. Both teams spent so much money last winter…”

Boston Red Sox.

The very team that KH Cannons had a business agreement with.

It was also the team where Ji-seop’s old colleague, Tommy Damon, was working, and the team that had been subtly sending Ji-seop ‘love calls’ since last winter.

‘I wonder how Tommy is doing? I haven’t been able to contact him for a while because I’ve been busy.’

I was wondering if I should send him a message today.

He must be busy with the ranking competition, so maybe it would be better to wait a little longer.

Just as he was thinking about his old colleague, Go Chang-deok, who was sitting next to him, nudged Ji-seop.

“Ji-seop, what are you thinking so hard about?”

“No, why do you ask?”

“Well, I was wondering if we should order lunch soon… what about you?”

Go Chang-deok continued.

“Are you going to eat with us? Or do you have to have lunch with the General Manager?”

“Ah, I’ll eat here.”

Ji-seop replied.

“The General Manager went to meet the Warriors’ CEO today with the owner’s proxy.”

“Yuseong Warriors?”

Go Chang-deok nodded slowly as he turned on the delivery app.

“Ah, well… it’s about that time.”

* * *

Although it is rare for it to be reported in the media, the heads of the 10 Korean professional baseball teams often meet.

Sometimes the representatives of each team meet individually, and sometimes three or four teams gather together.

Even teams that don’t get along very well have a tradition of eating together about twice a year.

Once around the start of the regular season, and again around the end of the season.

Go Chang-deok’s comment that ‘it was about that time’ was referring to this.

“Come on, have another drink!”

“Oh my! Thank you, Vice Chairman!”

KH Cannons, who won the regular season championship, and Yuseong Warriors, who fell to 9th place without any reward for their fierce competition.

The place where the leaders of these two teams sat face to face that day was a Chinese restaurant in Gangnam, Seoul.

The participants from KH Cannons were ‘Sakhalin Park’ Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju and General Manager Seo Chang-gi.

The participants from Yuseong Warriors were CEO Kim Dong-min and General Manager Hong Yu-il.

“So, how is the new stadium construction going? It’s been a while since I saw the blueprints, hasn’t it?”

“Haha, with the local elections coming up… it’s almost completely stopped now. The mayor, who was going to actively push for it, can’t use his power, so it’s not easy to even lay a single brick.”

“Ahem.”

“Why? Is Cannons also interested in building a new stadium?”

“Yes, we are reviewing it little by little. The facilities themselves are quite old, after all…”

From congratulations on winning the regular season championship to rumors about the new president of the league office, to the new stadium construction plans of both teams.

While various topics were being discussed, General Manager Seo Chang-gi, who had been listening quietly, brought up the main topic of the day.

“I must express my gratitude.”

It was right after the restaurant employee brought out a new bottle of liquor.

“Thanks to the active help from Warriors, our Cannons have been able to fully prepare for the Korean Series. I sincerely appreciate this.”

It was about the practice game that had been decided last time.

While all the other teams were reluctant, Yuseong Warriors was the first to propose a practice game.

Of course, Ji-seop’s ‘behind-the-scenes maneuvering’ was added to this, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t express his gratitude.

“Haha, you’re welcome. We just thought that we would gain a lot through the practice game with Cannons.”

It was CEO Kim of Warriors who spoke.

“And to be honest… it wasn’t me or General Manager Hong here who proposed the practice game.”

“Oh, really?”

Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju showed interest.

“Then who is it?”

“It’s scheduled to be announced after the final game of the season… but it was actually the intention of Coach Baek Seung-nam, who has been appointed as the new coach of our team.”

“Coach Baek Seung-nam? Ah, the one who’s doing commentary on the broadcasts these days?”

Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju clapped his knees.

“Our CEO Kim has recruited a great person. Coach Baek Seung-nam is considered one of the best strategists in our league, isn’t he?”

“Hearing Vice Chairman’s words, I am convinced that we have found a really good person. Thank you.”

It was at this moment that the CEO of Warriors hesitated slightly.

He couldn’t decide whether to speak or not for a while.

Then, he opened his mouth again when Sakhalin Park offered him another drink.

“Um… Vice Chairman.”

“Yes, please speak.”

“I’m saying this because the story of our new coach came up…”

The CEO of Warriors continued as he received the bottle of liquor.

“Actually, Coach Baek has made a very earnest request to me.”

“A request? A request from the new coach? Oh, then we have to listen to it. Otherwise, there will be gossip later, right?”

Up until this point, Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju was laughing heartily as he received the drink.

But in the next moment, the smile that had been on his lips disappeared completely.

“Kim Ji-seop, who is serving as a special advisor to the Cannons’ General Manager…”

The CEO of Warriors continued cautiously.

“Could you send that friend to our Warriors?”

* * *

Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju and General Manager Seo Chang-gi.

It was about an hour later that these two people left the restaurant and got into the car.

“Hey, Secretary Yang!”

“Yes, Vice Chairman.”

Secretary Yang, who was sitting in the passenger seat, turned around to look back.

“Didn’t we have a good Pyongyang cold noodle place around here?”

“Yes, we do. It’s about 10 minutes from here.”

“Ah, really?”

Vice Chairman Park looked back at General Manager Seo Chang-gi and smiled.

“General Manager Seo, how about it? Since we’re out sightseeing in Seoul, should we go have some hangover food together?”

“Ah, yes, I’m fine with that.”

“Good? That’s a relief. Secretary Yang!”

“Yes, I’ll take you there.”

With Secretary Yang’s refreshing answer, the car slowly began to move.

Vice Chairman Park, who had a happy expression on his face at the thought of cold noodles, looked at General Manager Seo, who was sitting next to him, and asked.

“General Manager Seo, what’s wrong?”

“Yes?”

“Why have you been glancing at me since a while ago? Is there something you want to say?”

“No, it’s nothing special, but…”

General Manager Seo straightened his posture and continued.

“To be honest, I thought Vice Chairman would be very angry.”

“Angry? Why would I be?”

“Special Advisor Kim… you care about him a lot, don’t you.”

General Manager Seo licked his dry lips.

“When you think about it, he’s like a friend that Vice Chairman raised, and they asked you to hand over such a talent so readily…”

“Haha, does our General Manager Seo see this Park Hong-ju as a very nasty guy?”

“Yes? Oh, no, not at all!”

General Manager Seo almost jumped up, but Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju simply smiled.

“What’s the point of getting angry over something like that? I was actually feeling very good. What should I say… it was like a stock I bought a long time ago hitting the daily limit every day?” [A metaphor for a successful investment.]

“…”

“But General Manager Seo, please pay a little attention to that guy.”

Vice Chairman Park said calmly.

“CEO Kim of Warriors is not very interested in running the baseball team. The fact that such a person mentioned Qingtao [Kim Ji-seop’s nickname] means… that guy’s reputation in the baseball world has risen considerably, doesn’t it?”

“That’s right. I often hear similar stories.”

“That guy won’t leave Cannons on his own, but still, so that he doesn’t feel unfairly treated… do you know what I mean?”

“Yes, I understand. You don’t have to worry about that, but…”

General Manager Seo Chang-gi hesitated for a moment.

It was at this moment that he seemed to have made up his mind and opened his mouth again with a determined expression.

“Vice Chairman.”

“Hmm?”

“Actually… there is another group of people who want Special Advisor Kim Ji-seop.”

“Haha! That Qingtao guy has really made it big? It feels like just yesterday that he was struggling at a social baseball lesson…”

Vice Chairman Park shrugged his shoulders.

“So, where is it this time? Guardians? Or Knights?”

“No, it’s not a Korean team…”

General Manager Seo swallowed hard and then gave his answer.

“It’s the Boston Red Sox.”

“Boston?”

Even the great Sakhalin Park didn’t expect that far, and his thick eyebrows twitched once.

“Boston Red Sox? Are you talking about that team in Major League Baseball in the United States?”

“Yes, Special Advisor Kim helped Boston with some work at last year’s Winter Meetings… and the general manager there seems to have thought very highly of Special Advisor Kim.”

General Manager Seo continued.

“From what I’ve gathered, the Boston side has made several recruitment offers to Special Advisor Kim…”

“So, what was Qingtao’s reaction?”

“I haven’t asked him about the exact situation yet. But… it’s Major League, after all, isn’t it?”

General Manager Seo stroked his chin.

“Anyone who works in a baseball team dreams of Major League, and especially in the case of Special Advisor Kim…”

“Are you saying that he can play his part sufficiently even if he goes to Major League?”

“Yes, I think so.”

“Really? Qingtao received a recruitment offer from a Major League team…”

Vice Chairman Park folded his arms and fell into deep thought.

General Manager Seo Chang-gi was inwardly anxious as he watched him.

‘He might get very angry this time.’

Vice Chairman Park had always had a special affection for Ji-seop.

Just a moment ago, he said that ‘that guy won’t leave Cannons on his own,’ didn’t he?

The reason why General Manager Seo had kept the Boston’s move a secret for quite a long time, even though he knew about it, was all because of that.

‘But now is the time to tell him. If our Cannons win the Korean Series… Special Advisor Kim will also choose his own path.’

It can’t be helped even if Vice Chairman Park gets angry.

It’s something that we have to go through someday.

General Manager Seo thought that it was his duty to stay with Cannons and run the team, but-

“Haha, this is really…”

What followed was Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju’s hollow laugh.

“That Qingtao guy, when you look at him, he was born with luck? How can he time things so perfectly like this?”

“Luck… did you say?”

General Manager Seo blinked.

“What do you mean by that?”