A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 237

60. Under the Protection of the Himalayas (3)

A few days later.

Practice games to prepare for the Korean Series were in full swing at the KH Cannons Field.

“Okay, okay, okay! Don’t rush, stay calm… That’s it!”

“Nice! Nice play!”

“Wow, Subeen’s throw is good!”

Last month, Jiseop and the Cannons front office met with the Yuseong Warriors to arrange a practice game.

At the time, they agreed to play four practice games, and today was the last of the four.

Perhaps because it was the last one, the game went all the way to the bottom of the 9th inning and ended in a 6-6 tie.

“Thank you for your hard work!”

“Thank you, Manager!”

Immediately after the game, the managers of both teams came out from behind home plate and shook hands firmly.

Arthur Freeman, the manager of the Cannons, came out with an interpreter, and Baek Seung-nam, the manager of the Yuseong Warriors, took off his hat and smiled brightly.

That’s right. It was the same person who had been a commentator until this season and recently took office as the new manager of the Yuseong Warriors.

“The Cannons players seem to be in very good condition. Their movements are light, and the fighting spirit coming from the dugout is full of energy.”

Perhaps because he still had the habits of his broadcasting days, Manager Baek Seung-nam was critiquing like a commentator.

“Leaving aside the upcoming Korean Series, I’m worried about next season. I’m already dreading how many wins we’ll have to give up to the Cannons.”

“Haha, what are you talking about?”

Arthur Freeman, after hearing Baek’s words from the interpreter, laughed and replied.

“Today, we had our best members out, but the Warriors mainly had their second-string and rookie players. And yet, it was a tie… I’m more afraid of the Yuseong Warriors’ next season.”

Oh my, I’m getting goosebumps.

Don’t mention it, we’re more worried.

After the managers’ typical boasting, Freeman said with a serious expression.

“Thank you, Manager Baek.”

Freeman offered another handshake.

“Thanks to the help from the Yuseong Warriors, our players were able to improve their game sense a lot.”

“Oh, don’t mention it. I also received a lot of help.”

Manager Baek waved his hand.

“It helped me understand the team, and it motivated the young players. It made me think that there’s no better training than a practice game, just like Special Advisor Kim said… Hmm?”

Baek, who had been speaking with a bright expression, suddenly tilted his head and looked around.

“Speaking of which… Manager, I don’t see Special Advisor Kim today? He was out on the field as a batboy and ball boy until the last game.”

“Ah, Special Advisor Kim?”

Freeman smiled.

“I heard he came to work this morning, but the general manager sent him home. He didn’t look like he was in good condition.”

“No, how bad could he be that they sent someone who came to work home? Did he catch a cold or something?”

“No, it’s not that…”

Freeman continued.

“It seems he’s been drinking a bit too much these past few days.”

“Drinking?”

Manager Baek’s eyes widened.

“No, at this point, with the Korean Series just around the corner?!”

* * *

On the way to the parking lot after finishing all the schedules at KH Cannons Field.

Manager Baek Seung-nam was inwardly dwelling on a slight disappointment.

‘Did I misjudge him?’

He was thinking about the Cannons’ general manager’s special advisor.

‘I thought he was a smart guy, but he’s in such a state that he can’t work because of alcohol…’

In fact, when you work for a baseball team, you can’t help but be close to alcohol. Manager Baek knew that much.

There are many players who like to drink, and there are many coaches who don’t reveal their true feelings unless they have a drink.

But that should be within the limits that you can handle, and if it interferes with your work the next day, it’s a big problem.

‘I should give him a stern word of advice. He’s a guy who’s going to do something later… It’s no good if he’s already drowning in alcohol.’

Strike while the iron is hot.

As he made up his mind, Manager Baek Seung-nam took out his cell phone from his pocket.

Just as he was looking for the name of the Cannons’ general manager’s special advisor in the contact list, he heard someone running breathlessly from behind.

“Oh my, Manager!”

“Oh, Coach Ryu.”

The person who approached Manager Baek was the battery coach [coach specializing in catchers and pitchers] of the Yuseong Warriors.

“Why are you here, Coach Ryu? Shouldn’t everyone be on the team bus?”

“Ah, that’s…”

In a professional baseball team, the manager is the king, and it’s not polite for a coach to show up later than the manager.

Perhaps that’s why the battery coach’s face was filled with embarrassment.

“I’m sorry. I was trying to move quickly, but… the reporters grabbed me and wouldn’t let me go.”

“Reporters?”

Manager Baek smiled faintly.

“Ah, it must have been because of Jeongyun on our team? Well, his shoulder was excellent today. He’s a guy I’m looking forward to next season.”

Manager Baek thought that his promising player had received media attention, but the answer that came back was slightly different from what he thought.

“No, it wasn’t because of Jeongyun.”

“Hmm? Then what is it?”

“You know, the SH Knights’ backup catcher. The one who’s been on fire in this postseason…”

“Ah, Kwon Jeongmin?”

“Yes.”

The battery coach looked around, then lowered his voice and opened his mouth.

“The reporters say… the Cannons’ scouting team has discovered Kwon Jeongmin’s weakness.”

“Really?”

Manager Baek also showed interest.

“That guy’s batting sense is no joke these days. How can you suppress a batter who’s on such a roll?”

“Yes, that’s why I was caught by the reporters just now.”

The battery coach continued.

“There are rumors that they found a weakness, but no one knows what it is? They say that even if you ask the Cannons people, they keep their mouths shut like clams…”

“Haha, keep their mouths shut like clams.”

Manager Baek had been working in broadcasting until just a few weeks ago.

He knew exactly how the sports media worked, so he couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Coach Ryu, that’s all nonsense. Do you know how ruthless reporters are? Even if they don’t show it on the outside, they actually have five or six reliable sources in each team.”

So there can be no secrets in the baseball world.

The information about Kwon Jeongmin is probably already circulating secretly.

The reporters who clung to Coach Ryu were probably just the dregs who couldn’t even secure such sources.

Thinking so, Manager Baek moved his steps, but the battery coach didn’t seem to be convinced.

“Is that so? Some of the reporters said that the Cannons had imposed information control?”

“Information control?”

“Yes, the scouting team staff are locked up in a hotel, and the information about Kwon Jeongmin has not yet been delivered to the players or coaches…”

“What?”

At this point, Manager Baek was so dumbfounded that he couldn’t even laugh.

“That makes even less sense. The front office is blocking information—is that even possible? The coaches will be furious, saying that they don’t trust us, and the players will be so anxious that they won’t be able to concentrate on training?”

“Is, is that so?”

“Of course. If you make a mistake, the teamwork that you’ve built up for a long time can be broken. How can you silence the outcry of so many people?”

“It sounds like a very difficult task to listen to.”

The battery coach seemed to have finally understood.

“Well, I think I’d feel really bad too. Information control… Unless the front office sends a trustworthy friend to buy them a hearty drink, it’s not easy to accept.”

“Hmm?”

It was at this moment that Baek Seung-nam stopped walking.

“What did you just say?”

“Yes?”

The battery coach blinked.

“Ah, alcohol? Ah, Manager! I don’t drink that much these days! The finishing camp is in full swing; how can I drink alcohol.”

“No, not that,”

Baek Seung-nam was recalling the battery coach’s words from a moment ago.

‘Unless a trustworthy friend comes and buys them a drink…?’

Several pieces of information were quickly combined in Manager Baek’s head.

The Cannons’ information control, the Cannons coaches who were no different from usual, the Cannons players who were more energetic than usual, and—

‘The general manager’s special advisor who is lying down with a hangover.’

I see, that’s what it was.

Manager Baek Seung-nam, with a very satisfied expression, started walking again.

The battery coach followed him and asked.

“Why? Your expression suddenly brightened…”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

Manager Baek replied lightly.

“I just think… I’m really good at seeing people.”

“Yes?”

Oh my, Manager.

The battery coach suddenly waved his hand and started to feel embarrassed.

“Hey, it’s not like I’ve completely cut off alcohol… I’m embarrassed if you praise me so much, Manager.”

“Hmm?”

“Yes?”

The two looked at each other and blinked.

The battery coach asked the manager.

“No, what you just said about seeing people… wasn’t that to me? That I reduced drinking.”

“Ah! Uh, uh, yeah, yeah. Yeah! Good job, good job.”

There was no reason to confuse the coach, so Baek Seung-nam smiled and patted him on the back.

Then he brought up a word.

“Playoff Game 3… was tomorrow, right?”

“Yes, there are many stories that the game will be decided tomorrow. The SH Knights, who took the first two wins, are not easy to deal with.”

“Hehe, I hope the Korean Series starts soon.”

Expectations were already filling Baek Seung-nam’s eyes.

“I can’t stand being curious about what solution the Cannons have found.”

* * *

Manager Baek Seung-nam seemed to want the Korean Series team to be decided in the third game, but that’s not how the situation unfolded.

The UB Guardians are also a team with some potential, and they succeeded in striking the SH Knights in the third game.

-We won’t just back down! We will definitely win the fourth game and take the game to the fifth game!

The Guardians’ manager clenched his fists and burned with determination, but that was it.

The Guardians, who had used too many pitchers in the third game, completely collapsed in the next day’s game.

It was such an overwhelming game that most of the away fans had already left the stadium when the 5th inning was over.

Final score 11-2, the person who led the Knights’ advance to the Korean Series for the third consecutive year was, of course, the Knights’ new ‘autumn gizzard shad’ [a player who performs exceptionally well in the fall season].

It was Kwon Jeongmin.

His tremendous performance of 4 hits, 3 at-bats, 2 home runs, and 5 RBIs on this day.

Following the semi-playoffs, the MVP of the playoffs was also Kwon Jeongmin’s.

“Wow, that friend Kwon Jeongmin… was on a roll? He was really on a roll!”

After the game ended.

It was a word that came out among the coaches gathered in the first conference room of KH Cannons Field.

“His batting is good, his defense is okay, and above all, the young guy knows how to soothe the pitchers…”

“Fortunately, the Guardians dragged it to the fourth game, so we were able to gain a physical advantage… but it seems that a tricky opponent has appeared for sure.”

“That’s right. Above all, the Knights are experiencing the Korean Series for the third year in a row, right? Compared to that, we are facing the Korean Series for the first time…”

The Cannons coaches’ faces looked worried.

The first Korean Series in the team’s history, an experienced opponent, and even a ‘fall guy’ who appeared in that team.

However, it didn’t take long for the shadows to disappear from all of their faces.

“Manager, shouldn’t we have briefed Kwon Jeongmin early on? I nodded after hearing Jiseop’s story, but.”

“Actually, I’m worried about that analysis. Is it really enough to shake the entire Knights…”

When the coaches were looking back at Arthur Freeman, who was sitting at the head of the table, and saying one thing or another.

Bang-

A group of people burst into the conference room as the door opened.

At the head was team leader Seo Chang-gi, followed by Kang Yu-seok, head of the scouting team, and then the scouting team staff holding A4 files in their arms.

All of their expressions were very calm, so the coaches who were complaining also quietly closed their mouths, but-

“Oh my, it’s so heavy!”

It was a man who came in next that completely dispelled even the slightest anxiety from their minds.

The Cannons’ general manager’s aide, carrying a box full of drinks, came in with a confident gait.

“Hello!!!”

Jiseop put the box on the platform and said to the coaches.

“You’ve been waiting a long time. As I told you in advance, from now on…”

We will start the briefing on SH Knights.

Jiseop’s clear and powerful voice was heard in the coaches’ ears.