A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 332

Baseball Team Rookie Is Too Good – Episode 332

Baseball Team Rookie Is Too Good – Episode 332

78. The Road Not Taken (6)

The moment Ji-seop put down the ‘recorder,’ a thrill ran through the Tropicana Field conference room.

‘A, a recorder?’

‘He recorded all that?’

‘What is he trying to do…?’

The Tampa Bay Rays fandom was sure to be turned upside down the moment the files in the recorder were released.

It was a story that came up every single day: Tampa Bay has a hard time winning, and making it to the postseason is the only realistic goal.

But the words that come self-deprecatingly from the fans and the words spat out by the current board of directors of the Tampa Bay Rays carry different weight, don’t they?

A situation where a large-scale boycott from the entire fandom, and even sanctions from the league headquarters, could occur with a single misstep.

While everyone was gaping and unable to say anything, one man barely managed to regain his composure.

“Hey, you! Do you even know what you’re doing right now?”

It was Director Romano Campisi.

The very person who owned 22% of the Tampa Bay Rays’ shares.

He was the most aggressive speaker that day, so it was understandable that he would come to his senses quickly.

“Didn’t you sign a non-disclosure agreement when you joined the company? It’s legally problematic to leak internal information outside the company!”

He began to threaten fiercely.

“Not only will you not be able to work in the baseball industry anymore, but you may have to spend the rest of your life preparing a huge amount of compensation. Are you still going to release the recording?”

They often say ‘to be daunted,’ right?

That was exactly how Ji-seop felt at this moment.

Having to leave the baseball scene and having to pay a huge amount of compensation—frankly, those words made his head spin.

But the sword had already been drawn, and now he had to cut something, even if it was just a radish [meaning even if the result is insignificant, he had to follow through].

Ji-seop tried to make as calm an expression as possible as he retorted.

“So what? I’ll just pay the compensation if I have to.”

“Wh, what?”

Director Campisi slightly backed away as the other party came out confidently.

Ji-seop didn’t miss this opportunity and started to push.

“And I don’t think my actions are a leak of internal information.”

It was a confident voice.

“Didn’t I tell you? I’m going to hand over this recording to our Tampa Bay fandom. How are the fans outsiders? Strictly speaking, they are also insiders… no, they should be seen as interested parties.”

“Interested parties?”

“Aren’t they? I think they are.”

Ji-seop was starting to feel like his tongue was getting oiled up [meaning he was becoming more eloquent and confident in his speech].

“The Tampa Bay Rays can exist entirely thanks to the fans. Isn’t that practically the case, not just as a matter of courtesy?”

Director Campisi couldn’t refute this statement.

“Whether it’s ticket revenue or advertising revenue, it all comes from the fans’ wallets in the big picture. So why do fans pay money to the Tampa Bay Rays? Simply because they like it? Of course, there’s that feeling too, but… isn’t this the key?”

Someday, we will win.

Someday, we will reach the top and repay the support we have received.

Ji-seop said with emphasis.

“I learned that this is the major premise that defines the relationship between the baseball team and the fans: The baseball team does its best to win, and the fans expect to win and spare no money and time… That’s the principle. That’s the basics.”

“……”

“But unfortunately, the Tampa Bay Rays I saw today had that basic premise broken. So shouldn’t we report it to the fans? Shouldn’t we notify them that the most important part of the contract has been changed? I think that’s a natural duty.”

The major premise was broken.

The basics were violated.

Director Romano Campisi’s face turned red at Ji-seop’s words.

He tried to argue something more with that flushed face, but there was someone who calmly calmed him down.

“Stop it, Mr. Campisi. You’ve already said too much. Wouldn’t you be misunderstood if the recording is released?”

“T, Taylor?”

It was Jeffrey Taylor.

The head of the Tampa Bay Rays, who had been watching the debate between Ji-seop and Director Campisi with a strange expression.

With a single word, he suppressed Director Campisi and turned his gray eyes to Ji-seop.

“Kim, that was a moving speech.”

It didn’t sound like a sarcastic remark.

“That’s right. Challenging for the championship is the basic duty of the baseball team. It’s a good thing to say… but can I ask you just one thing?”

“What is it?”

“Why are you so passionate about this? Is there a reason to recklessly carry out something that could be a legal problem?”

He stroked his chin quietly.

“To keep the promise with the fans? Well, I don’t know. There’s not that much loyalty between you and our Tampa Bay fans, is there? You haven’t been with our team for very long, and above all…”

Ji-seop flinched slightly here.

“I heard that you came from a Korean professional baseball team on a math dispatch [loan or temporary assignment]? On the condition that you return to Korea someday.”

In the end, isn’t Ji-seop an outsider to the Tampa Bay Rays?

Ji-seop couldn’t help but be a little embarrassed by the unexpected revelation.

‘How does the owner know about me? It’s practically the first time we’ve met today….’

He was curious about the source of the information, but it wasn’t the time to question it.

Because the conference room was a little agitated by the fact that Ji-seop was practically an outsider.

At this timing, he could be seen as an eccentric who interferes in other people’s affairs if he made a mistake.

But fortunately, Ji-seop already had an answer to this question.

“That’s right. It would be ridiculous for me, who hasn’t been with the team for very long, to talk about ‘promises with fans.’”

Ji-seop straightened his back.

“The reason I insist on signing Vincent Hiyama is to keep a promise with myself.”

“A promise with yourself?”

The owner’s eyes lit up with interest.

“Specifically, what kind of promise?”

“To lead the Tampa Bay Rays to the championship, to succeed in something that no one has ever done before, and to make my name known throughout Major League Baseball… That’s the kind of promise.”

“Aha.”

The owner crossed his arms and leaned forward.

“It’s a very personal desire, more than I thought. I don’t think it’s enough justification for this kind of thing?”

“No, it’s enough. I think it’s more than enough justification. Because…”

Ji-seop looked around the conference room and continued.

“Everyone here must have thought the same thing as me at least once.”

?!!

The agitated conference room became quiet at this moment.

“The Tampa Bay Rays, as the director said, is a small team: few fans, few spectators, low salaries… and a terribly large amount of work.”

The owner smiled bitterly but didn’t refute it.

“The reason you chose the Tampa Bay Rays despite that is because I think you had the same thought as me.”

Let’s achieve the championship.

Let’s achieve the first championship in the team’s history.

Ji-seop emphasized once again.

“Of course, some people may be hazy because it’s been so long. Some people may have already given up. Maybe there were people who scolded their juniors who said things like me, ‘Don’t even dream about that.’”

“……”

“But I know. Dreams don’t disappear easily. Even if you seem to have completely forgotten about them when you’re busy, that guy called Dream suddenly comes and makes people suffer when you think you’re free.”

At this point, the Tampa Bay people were completely silent.

Ji-seop looked into the eyes of each and every one of them.

“I don’t think we need to mention the fans here. There’s no reason to bring up the players either. I just want you to think about the dream you once had.”

Ji-seop continued.

“Can we just let this opportunity we have now pass by like this? Can we just welcome the fall like we do every year? In this situation where we have a 11.6% chance of winning, the highest probability ever recorded?”

Vincent Hiyama, let’s sign him.

Let’s sign him and challenge for the championship.

“This is not for anything else but to fulfill the dream that you yourselves once had.”

* * *

Ji-seop, who had finished his story, stood there as if he was stuck in that spot for a while.

He wanted to go back to his seat. He felt like all the strength was draining from his body from acting and giving a long speech that he doesn’t usually do.

But he couldn’t do as he pleased because the atmosphere in the conference room at this time was unusual.

“……”

“……”

Silence. A long silence.

Everyone had their mouths shut and seemed to be deep in thought.

[Tampa Bay’s championship… That’s right, I definitely had that thought once.]

[I used to look at my seniors and criticize them for not being ambitious….]

As Ji-seop said, everyone seemed to have dreamed of the Tampa Bay Rays winning the championship at least once.

Even so, the reason they couldn’t open their mouths easily was the lingering sense of unease.

[Still, it’s a bit… to express agreement here.]

[We don’t know what the owner’s intentions are? We should just go along with it appropriately, unlike Kim.]

It was at that moment that everyone was hesitating, looking at each other.

It was at that moment when his desperate persuasion seemed to be in vain.

It was at that moment when even Ji-seop had given up hope by half, that someone raised their hand.

“I’m in favor! I’m very much in favor!”

This reckless young man who doesn’t understand the atmosphere and shouts loudly.

It was John Rahma. Who else but this guy could break this silence?

“Hey, what are you all worried about? Kim took the lead, right? I know him because I’ve worked with him, and Kim is never a man who bets on a losing game.”

Then, he made an unsolicited declaration.

“I’ll bet on Kim! If we sign Vincent this time and still don’t win the championship, I’ll give up all my shares in the team! Can you all trust Kim with this much?”

The Tampa Bay employees widened their eyes at the sound of giving up shares.

The owner’s thick eyebrows, which had been silently watching, also twitched greatly once.

Of course, there was someone in the Future Strategy Planning Division who could stop the owner’s son from running wild.

“Rahma, don’t say unnecessary things. That’s a story that can be heard as coercion by others.”

It was David Wilson.

He was making John Rahma shut his mouth with a stern expression, but his position didn’t seem to be much different from his colleagues.

“But well… I agree too. It’s true that it’s a hard opportunity to miss. An 11.6% chance of winning is not an easy figure to obtain.”

A declaration of support from the two colleagues in the Future Strategy Planning Division.

Ji-seop felt reassured just by that, but in fact, that was just the beginning.

“I agree too.”

It was pitching coach Thomas Culkin.

“Kim is like the person who saved our team’s ace, Victor Johnson. If he takes care of him, Vincent Hiyama will be able to maintain his best condition.”

“I… think the same.”

Coach Jose Cruz, who was sitting next to him, also chimed in.

“Without Kim, there would be no Alex Montero this season. Considering that he has been a strength to our coaching staff, I can’t just stand still here.”

The moment Jose Cruz expressed his opinion and sat down, he felt the atmosphere change.

People who had been with the Future Strategy Planning Division began to express their agreement one by one.

The coaching staff and the Baseball R&D team, who had a relationship with the ‘Yellow Book Project,’ and the stadium operations division and facility management team, who had a relationship in the parking lot at the beginning of the season.

And the person who put the finishing touches on the declaration of support that followed was this person—

“Owner, I have the same opinion as these people.”

It was the Tampa Bay Rays’ manager, Mike Clemblas.

“I have been entrusting the front office entirely with player recruitment, but… since this opportunity has arisen, I will say this: I hope you will sign Vincent Hiyama.”

It was the manager, not anyone else.

The manager’s one word is powerful.

“If you sign Vincent Hiyama, I will mobilize all my capabilities. As Kim said a little while ago…”

Swish.

Manager Clemblas looking at Ji-seop.

It was closer to looking at an old friend than looking at a mere front office employee.

“I, too, am aiming for the Tampa Bay Rays’ first championship.”

The moment Clemblas’ support came out, Ji-seop could feel the atmosphere turning towards him.

‘E, even the manager?’

‘Then… there’s no reason to be careful anymore, right?’

‘If this happens, I have to get on the bandwagon! It’s too late to say it after it’s decided?!’

The next moment, what came into Ji-seop’s view was the sight of people raising their hands.

Let’s do it. Let’s try it. Let’s sign Vincent and let’s try that damn championship too.

When almost everyone in the conference room raised their hands, owner Jeffrey Taylor smiled awkwardly.

“Oh, my….”

His gaze was directed at Director Romano Campisi, who was sitting with a displeased expression.

“Mr. Campisi, what do you think? Looking at the atmosphere, the general opinion seems to be leaning towards signing Vincent….”

“Oh, there’s no way to avoid it.”

Even Director Campisi, who had been so high and mighty, didn’t seem to have the means to go against the opinions of the people.

“I… will agree too.”

“Ah, is that so?”

Then it’s decided.

It was at this moment that owner Jeffrey Taylor got up.

“Okay. Then let’s conclude today’s meeting.”

The owner continued.

“Accepting your opinions, we will proceed with signing Vincent Hiyama.”

Wow!!!

The cheers of the people erupted, but the owner didn’t seem to have the leisure to enjoy the atmosphere.

Because he immediately began to issue instructions for the next move.

“I will delegate the negotiations to President Brian Spann. I hope everyone will actively support Brian.”

While President Brian Spann nodded lightly, the owner’s gaze turned to Ji-seop.

“Kim.”

“Ah, yes, owner!”

Ji-seop, who was nervous for a moment, unknowingly stood at attention.

“You’ve chosen a difficult path. You were already doing enough by leading John Rahma.”

“……”

As expected, the owner seemed to be watching Ji-seop.

“But it’s already spilled water [meaning the decision has been made and cannot be reversed], so do your best. As you said, this is a rare opportunity.”

“T, thank you.”

“Okay, you’ve worked hard today….”

The next moment, Ji-seop realized that owner Jeffrey Taylor was also a formidable person.

“Don’t forget to take that recorder over there.”

The owner had a meaningful smile on his face.

“But that recorder, no matter how I look at it, looks like a USB memory stick?”