A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 354

Baseball Team’s New Recruit Is Too Good – 354

Baseball Team’s New Recruit Is Too Good 354

82 A Classy Meal (5)

At that moment, Ji-seop was recalling his time with the KH Cannons.

There were many players in Korean professional baseball who changed positions depending on the team’s circumstances.

Players who were clearly classified as starters but ended up playing in the bullpen when the season started. Sometimes, players even had to ‘moonlight’ as closers.

He retraced his memories. What were the swingmen in Korea thinking back then as they moved around the field?

“Dexter Sullivan is probably thinking this right now.”

Ji-seop said, turning to his colleagues in the Future Strategy Planning Department.

“The club sees me as a disposable commodity. They see me as a player to be used moderately for a season or two and then discarded.”

*Well, that’s not unreasonable.*

Ji-seop sighed briefly.

“Changing positions doesn’t really help a player’s career. In fact, many swingmen are released within two or three years.”

“But Kim, shouldn’t we consider Dexter Sullivan a bit of a special case?”

John Ramer stepped forward.

“He’s still a young pitcher at only 26 years old… and the coaches seem to have high expectations for him, right? They’re expecting him to be a key part of the starting rotation next year.”

“I think that’s a fair point.”

David Wilson agreed.

“Vincent Hyama will become a free agent next year and leave the team. Brett Evans is also old enough that he could announce his retirement at any time. If both of them leave the team at the same time…”

Dexter Sullivan is a valuable asset to the Tampa Bay Rays.

*At least, he’s not a player who will face the ‘release crisis’ in the next 2-3 years.*

Ji-seop nodded.

“Yes, that’s the logical conclusion. But Dexter Sullivan is known as a hothead, even within our team… It’ll be difficult to have a calm conversation with him right now.”

*If so,*

*There’s only one conclusion.*

“If we can’t persuade him with logic, shouldn’t we try appealing to his emotions?”

“Ah, so that’s why the dinner?”

John Ramer snapped his fingers.

“I get it now. To make him feel somewhat respected? To make him feel valued? You’re saying we should prepare something that can make him feel that way?”

“Yes, exactly.”

Ji-seop scratched his chin slightly.

“I don’t know about David, but I was very touched by yesterday’s dinner. More than anything, the fact that John Ramer personally prepared the meal for us.”

“Hey, touched by what! There’s no need to praise me so much.”

John Ramer waved his hands, but he was grinning from ear to ear.

“When should we do it then? It seems like it would be best to handle this as quickly as possible.”

“Would tomorrow evening be possible? Would there be any problems with the preparation?”

“Of course, no problem! Nate Howard said he would help with anything related to the Tampa Bay Rays!”

*Leave it to me, Kim!*

John Ramer thumped his chest with his fist.

“I’ll prepare a truly amazing meal so that Kim’s words can really hit home.”

“Yes, please do.”

At that moment, John Ramer didn’t seem to realize.

Ji-seop was slightly bowing his head towards him.

A very subtle smile was spreading across his lips.

* * *

From that afternoon until the next morning, John Ramer was very busy.

“Hey, Nate! It’s Ramer! How’s it going? Did what I mentioned yesterday come into the store?”

“Oh, Ann! My best friend! I’m calling you today because I have a big favor to ask!”

*I want to do something too. I want to be helpful to the team. I want to fulfill a role like Kim or David.*

There seemed to be no falsehood in the feelings that Ji-seop had read in his heart.

As soon as he was given a plausible ‘role,’ John Ramer began to burn with more enthusiasm than ever before.

Checking Dexter Sullivan’s preferred foods, using his connections to find good liquor, meeting Nate to discuss the meal’s composition.

He ran around so much that he wore down the office threshold, and he gave Ji-seop a ‘final report’ around lunchtime the next day.

“Kim, as I mentioned this morning, I’ve scheduled it for 6 PM today. Just come to my house by then.”

“To your house?”

Ji-seop tilted his head.

“Wasn’t it supposed to be at Nate Howard’s store? It would be very troublesome to have guests at your house, wouldn’t it?”

“That’s true, but… Kim, do you happen to know Mark Lamping, the former owner of the Florida Marlins?”

Ji-seop didn’t recognize the name.

“I heard that he invited players to his house, and the players were completely touched. The team came together and won the Marlins championship…”

John Ramer, recalling the story, gave a confident smile.

“I’m going to try to imitate that. Kim, you know how great the view is from my house.”

John Ramer seemed to be putting in a lot of effort.

Ji-seop didn’t try to object to his efforts.

“That’s a good idea. I understand. I’ll finish up my work and leave right away.”

“Yes, then I’ll go ahead and get ready. Oh, I’ve already contacted Dexter Sullivan in advance, so don’t worry!”

*See you later!!*

As John Ramer hurriedly left the office, David Wilson, who was sitting across from him, looked up.

“What on earth has gotten into him?”

He seemed to find John Ramer’s behavior very unfamiliar.

“He’s like a fish in water. I’ve never seen John Ramer’s eyes sparkle like that.”

David Wilson, staring at the spot where the owner’s son had disappeared, chuckled to himself repeatedly.

Then, as if he had thought of something, he leaned towards Ji-seop and said.

“Wait a minute, Kim! Didn’t John Ramer just say 6 PM? That’s the time we’re supposed to meet Dexter Sullivan today.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

When Ji-seop answered calmly, David Wilson’s eyes widened.

“Kim, are you okay? Didn’t you fix the meeting with the Baseball R&D team for 5 PM?”

He calculated the time with his fingers.

“The meeting will take at least 30 minutes, and if you leave then, the traffic on 8th Avenue will be terrible, right? It’s impossible to get there by 6 PM.”

“Oh, really?”

David Wilson spoke urgently, but Ji-seop reacted indifferently.

“Is 8th Avenue that congested? Damn, I didn’t even think about that?”

“No, what are you suddenly talking about? We use 8th Avenue every time we go to the airport… um?”

And the next moment, David Wilson also seemed to realize something.

“…Kim.”

He said to Ji-seop.

“Don’t tell me you deliberately scheduled the meeting at that time?”

* * *

Several hours later.

At John Ramer’s house, preparations for welcoming guests were in full swing.

*Sizzle! Sizzle!*

*Simmer, simmer.*

Ji-seop had requested that they ‘prepare only as much as we had last time,’ but John Ramer couldn’t do that.

Compared to two days ago, he had more dishes and better liquor, and he was waiting for the soon-to-arrive guests.

There were so many dishes prepared that Nate Howard, who had come to help John Ramer that day, had dark circles under his eyes.

“Mmm! It’s good! The taste is just right. You really have a knack for making broth, Ramer.”

“Hehe, right? I think the sauce I made this time is pretty good too.”

John Ramer, closing the lid of the pot, smiled slightly at Nate.

“Thank you, Nate.”

“Hmm? For what?”

“Nate must be busy with his store, but he always comes to help me like this.”

At John Ramer’s words of gratitude, the veteran chef stroked his beard and laughed heartily.

“Gratitude for what! Where did you hear my words? I said I would help with anything for Tampa Bay in the future.”

Then, Nate Howard raised his eyebrows.

“But Ramer, are you okay with this?”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“Well, in terms of hierarchy, you’re number two in the Tampa Bay Rays, right? After owner Jeffrey Taylor!”

He lowered the heat on the gas stove and continued.

“Then shouldn’t you be doing something more plausible than cooking here…? Meeting other team owners, or negotiating trades.”

“The trade deadline has already passed.”

“No, not that, I mean…”

Nate Howard stepped forward, frustrated, but John Ramer lightly raised his hand.

“I know what you mean. I also want to be more deeply involved in the team’s work. But I’ve never been particularly good at anything…”

John Ramer looked embarrassed.

“It’s not easy to handle programs, and I don’t know much about baseball statistics beyond WAR [Wins Above Replacement, a comprehensive baseball statistic]… I should have studied harder when I was in school.”

“But you should look for something more diligently, right? There must be at least one thing that you can call John Ramer’s specialty.”

Nate gave friendly advice, but John Ramer just scratched his cheek with his finger.

“Yes, I’ll try.”

A slightly unsure voice.

“Hmm… Should we finish what we have to do today first? It seems like it’s time to start setting the table.”

“Ah, is that so? Then let’s get started quickly. The tablecloth should be in my bag over there, so take it out and spread it out.”

“Yes, leave it to me!”

That’s when John Ramer and Nate Howard were getting back to work.

Right when he was taking out the tablecloth he had brought from the store and spreading it out on the table.

A phone call came to John Ramer’s cell phone, which he had put in his pocket.

“Ah, Kim!”

It was a call from Ji-seop.

“Where are you coming from? We’ve almost finished preparing here. Now we just need to do some simple setting…”

And the next moment.

Perhaps the news was like a bolt from the blue for John Ramer.

“Huh?!”

John Ramer’s eyes widened.

“The meeting hasn’t ended yet… What do you mean? Didn’t you say you didn’t have any other schedules earlier?”

A few excuses were heard over the receiver.

John Ramer’s expression grew darker and darker.

“Then what about here? If Kim doesn’t come, who will be in charge of persuading Dexter Sullivan? David? Is David coming?”

*…Me?*

John Ramer’s face turned white.

“No, no, no, Kim!!! That’s not right! How can I persuade a guy who doesn’t listen to the manager or answer the coach’s calls? Huh? No, fighting, what the hell is fighting… Hello? Kim? Kiiiim!!!”

*Click.*

As the caller hung up after saying what he wanted to say, John Ramer was left with a blank expression.

“Hey, Ramer! What’s wrong?”

Nate’s voice came from the kitchen.

“Why? Kim can’t come?”

“Yes, he said the meeting is likely to be longer, so he won’t be able to come here.”

Nate, who only knew about the Future Strategy Planning Department from hearsay, seemed to grasp what the situation was.

“Then what should we do? Weren’t we just supposed to trust Kim? If we prepare the food well, Kim will take care of the rest.”

“Yes, that’s right. That’s what I was thinking too…”

*Kim is not coming.*

*I can’t get his help.*

John Ramer felt his mind go blank in a situation he had never considered.

To make matters worse, the doorbell started ringing at the front door.

*Ding- Dong- Ding- Dong-*

Nate Howard, checking the visitor with the video phone, turned to John Ramer with a flustered expression.

“Ramer, it’s Dexter! Dexter’s here!”

*Damn it.*

He came 20 minutes early.

Nate asked John Ramer.

“What should we do? Should we tell him to wait outside for a bit? Or should I go out and stall for time?”

“Ah, th, th, that’s…”

John Ramer hesitated.

What should I do? How should I persuade Dexter? The method didn’t come to mind easily.

But after hesitating for a moment, John Ramer gritted his teeth and said this.

“Op… Open the door.”

The water had already been spilled.

There was no turning back now.

*Well, if that’s how things are going-*

“There’s no other way.”

Dexter Sullivan.

The Tampa Bay Rays’ swingman.

“I’ll try to persuade him.”