A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 252

64. News from America (3)

The World Series Game 7.

A go-ahead home run in the top of the 14th inning.

The Cannons’ scouting team’s assessment of the Boston Red Sox, who were in crisis, was as follows:

“It should be seen as a misjudgment by the manager.”

That was team leader Kang Yu-seok’s opinion.

“Red Sox’s Miguel Fermin… He’s a great pitcher. His stuff is excellent, and he has a lot of experience in big games for his age. But entrusting him with 3 innings? Especially in a high-pressure game like Game 7 of the World Series? That’s crossing the line.”

The report added that the Red Sox manager’s ‘use-only-the-best’ tendency provided the opportunity for the comeback.

‘Use-only-the-best.’ The tendency to only use a few players the manager trusts and rarely give opportunities to the rest.

Team leader Kang reached into the bag of potato chips and continued.

“It’s not just Miguel. It’s Eric McConnell, Robert Tyler… If the manager hadn’t been so stubborn, the Red Sox would have won the championship by now.”

“So?”

‘Black Curtain Cha Cha’ Cha Yun-jin, the operations team leader, subtly joined the conversation.

“What’s your opinion, Team leader Kang? If the series ends like this, will the Red Sox manager be fired? It seems like there’s some talk about that in the United States.”

There was a reason why the Cannons’ operations team leader was interested in the situation across the Pacific.

“The Red Sox manager was very interested in Jang-ho, right? If the manager is replaced, I’m wondering if it will affect Jang-ho’s posting [potential transfer to a foreign team].”

“Well? I’ve only heard stories second-hand…”

Team leader Kang scratched his chin.

“But friends who are familiar with the situation in the United States say that it seems like it won’t end with just sorting out the manager. It seems like the general manager will also have to take responsibility.”

It was at this moment that Ji-seop’s ears perked up.

“Even the general manager? No, the manager is the one who blew the series, so why should the general manager also be held responsible?”

“Hey, how much money did the Red Sox pour in this season to win the championship? That responsibility falls entirely on the general manager.”

Team leader Kang shrugged his shoulders.

“And this is just a rumor… but it seems like there are a lot of internal conflicts within the Red Sox? Trouble between the manager and the general manager, or between the general manager and the team’s board of directors.”

“Major League Baseball is always noisy, isn’t it? It seems difficult to see things go smoothly.”

“Hehe, right? Compared to Major League Baseball, our Cannons have a really peaceful atmosphere, you know?”

The two team leaders turned their attention to the TV screen after that conversation, but Ji-seop couldn’t concentrate on the game.

‘Ah, so that’s what was going on?’

Hours earlier, Tommy Damon’s words seemed to echo in his ears.

‘Friend, I need support. I need it a little desperately.’

When he heard the story, he thought it was just the tension before Game 7, but it seemed like there was a different current behind it.

‘It means that a lot could change depending on the outcome of the World Series.’

Ji-seop had also heard stories from Sakhalin Park several times.

Employees in the baseball operations department of Major League Baseball teams share the same fate as the general manager.

If the general manager performs well, the employees’ status also rises, and if the general manager fails, the employees also share the responsibility.

In that case, the outcome of this World Series could also change Tommy Damon’s position.

‘They’re completely on thin ice. The team employees in Major League Baseball…’

When you think about it, his trip to the United States also started with the favor of the current Red Sox general manager and Tommy Damon.

Ji-seop also started watching the TV screen with a slightly anxious heart-

‘Hmm?’

This time, an old baseball adage gave Ji-seop strength.

That very adage that has become a bit stale because it’s so old or has been mentioned so many times.

It ain’t over,

until it’s over.

* * *

It happened in the bottom of the 14th inning with the score tied 9-8, after one out.

The Boston Red Sox’s number 3 hitter walked after a full-count battle.

Wow!

Wow!

The Red Sox cheering section began to stir as the tying runner got on base.

However, the atmosphere didn’t heat up easily.

That’s because Eric McConnell was the next batter.

The ‘troublemaker’ number 4 hitter who had only managed two hits in the entire World Series.

-It seems like the Red Sox don’t have any other options? All the pinch hitters have been used up during the 14 innings.

-Well, it wouldn’t have made much of a difference even if there were players to use as pinch hitters. The Red Sox manager has been saying that he will trust McConnell until the end of this series.

-McConnell, who hasn’t been able to repay the manager’s trust, will he be able to show a different side this time? Now, we’ll watch the first pitch!

Whoosh- Pow!

Whoosh- Pow!

Whoosh- Pow!

What followed was the sound of the catcher’s mitt being pierced.

Eric McConnell’s bat repeatedly cut through the air against the four-seam fastball that exceeded 155 km/h [approximately 96 mph].

With the count at 1-2, the TV screen began to show Red Sox fans tearing their hair out.

‘Ah, it’s going to be a little difficult.’

At this moment, Ji-seop couldn’t have high expectations either.

‘The approach seemed roughly similar… The pitcher’s stuff was better than the hitter thought. Damn it, there’s no way to do anything about it if this happens.’

Eric McConnell was a veteran hitter who had 2,000 career hits.

He was once the hitter with the best athleticism in Major League Baseball, but that’s all in the past now.

There would be a slight chance if the approach was right, but now he had used up all the cards in his hand.

Then the only thing left was ‘prayer meta’ [relying on luck], hoping that one would luckily work out.

“Huh?!”

“H-huh?!”

At that moment, the eyes of the Cannons people watching the game widened.

The moment the opposing pitcher’s ball rushed toward the catcher’s mitt, Eric McConnell pulled his bat down.

‘A, a bunt?’

‘A bunt in this situation?!’

That’s right. It was a bunt.

A bunt in a two-strike situation.

A situation where he would be out if it became a foul, a bunt suddenly attempted by a team’s number 4 hitter.

Thud!

Ji-seop and the Cannons people were surprised and opened their mouths wide, but the shock couldn’t have been greater than what the opposing team’s infielders received.

“!!!”

“!!!”

Looking back now, it seems like it was an ordinary bunt.

The course itself, flowing along the third base line, was excellent, but perhaps because he was too focused on the course, he couldn’t kill the ball’s momentum properly.

If the third baseman had calmly picked up the ball, he could have targeted not only the batter-runner but also the runner on second base.

However, at this time, the third baseman didn’t seem to have the word ‘bunt defense’ in his head.

“Ugh!”

He rushed forward, but the third baseman failed to catch the ball in one go.

In fact, until this point, there was still a possibility of catching the batter-runner, but the ensuing throw to first base went wrong.

-Argh!!! He couldn’t catch it! The first baseman couldn’t catch it! The third baseman’s bad throw is coming out here!

A bad throw that went far over the first baseman’s head.

The ball hit the fence and bounced, rolling toward the outfield, and in the meantime, the Red Sox’s lead runner rounded third base and dug into home.

-The right fielder catches the ball and throws it home! At home, at home, at home… Safe! It’s safe! The Boston Red Sox are tying the score like this!

Wow!!!

Wow!!!

Amid the crowd’s enthusiastic cheers, the announcer’s voice was also swept up in excitement.

-The number 4 hitter, who had been silent throughout the series, proved his worth at the last moment. The score is tied, runner on second with one out! Now the Boston Red Sox have a chance to end it!

Let’s go Red Sox! Bbam bbam bba-bam!

Let’s go Red Sox! Bbam bbam bba-bam!

As the Red Sox fans’ voices grew louder, the opposing team also rushed to respond.

The manager went directly to the mound to encourage the pitcher, and also conveyed a message of encouragement to the third baseman who made the absurd error.

However, the shock of being completely caught off guard cannot be calmed down with a few words from the manager.

Shoooo- Pow!

Shoooo- Pow!

In the resumed game, the opposing team’s pitcher struggled to get strikes and shook greatly.

This confusion became a good prey for the Red Sox’s strong hitter, Robert Tyler, who appeared at the plate next.

Ttaaaaaak!

A timely hit that completely split the center field.

A walk-off hit in the bottom of the 14th inning.

The Boston Red Sox won the World Series.

* * *

“It’s a shame, a little bit of a shame.”

After the end of the World Series Game 7, Cannons’ general manager Seo Chang-ki said to Ji-seop.

“The Red Sox are a team that has a business partnership with us… but I was hoping they would be eliminated around this point this year.”

“Is that so?”

As Ji-seop tilted his head, general manager Seo raised the corners of his mouth.

“That’s how it is from my perspective. Next year, it’s likely that you or Jang-ho… our Cannons people will join the team.”

General manager Seo seemed to be drawing a big picture.

A big picture in which the Boston Red Sox would be unfortunately eliminated this year, and then challenge again next year and win the championship.

Of course, Ryu Jang-ho and Kim Ji-seop would have been at the heart of the victory in the picture drawn by general manager Seo.

“It would have been more dramatic and better if you and Jang-ho were there when they won the championship… Ah, baseball doesn’t go my way after all?”

Ji-seop simply smiled at general manager Seo’s grumbling.

There was no reason to bring up Tommy Damon’s story in a situation where they had won the World Series.

Just as he was about to be satisfied with the fact that everything was going well, general manager Seo asked Ji-seop.

“Was it Damon? Your friend who’s with the Red Sox… did you send him a message?”

“A message?”

“Yeah, a congratulatory message.”

General manager Seo continued.

“You know you have to send that at the right timing, right? In a little while, that friend might turn off his phone, you know?”

It was a story that Ji-seop had experience with.

When you win the championship, congratulatory messages come in from places you never even thought of.

So many messages that it becomes difficult to use the phone.

That’s why baseball team people turn off their phones for a while after winning the championship.

“Yes, I sent it right when the walk-off hit came out. I congratulated him and said let’s have a drink if we meet in the United States.”

Of course, it seemed like he would have to wait a long time for a reply.

He would have turned off his phone by now because of the flood of congratulatory messages.

Even after turning the phone back on, it’s polite to reply to the closest people first.

He thought he would have to wait a day or two for a reply to Ji-seop-

“Hmm?”

One email notification coming to his phone.

After checking the contents, Ji-seop could vaguely grasp how much Tommy Damon was looking forward to reuniting with his Korean friend.

-Hey, Ji-seop! I’m sending this by email because it’s hard to use the phone right now.

The email content had typos here and there, as if he had written it in a hurry.

-Let’s thank you for the congratulations when we meet later, and for now, I’ll pass on the information I received confirmation from our boss.

It was the news that the Boston Red Sox general manager had formalized the recruitment of Ryu Jang-ho.

It also added that the team’s board of directors had instructed him to recruit him at all costs, even if there were some sacrifices.

This alone was good news enough, but what made Ji-seop’s heart flutter was the next paragraph.

-Ji-seop, please check the attached file.

-It contains the recruitment proposal that our Boston Red Sox is sending to you.

-Please check the contents and reply as soon as possible.

The Boston Red Sox’s recruitment proposal.

The Major League stage, which he once couldn’t even dare to dream of, was beckoning greatly to Ji-seop.