A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 357

Baseball Newbie Is Too Good – Episode 357

Chapter 82: A Classy Meal (8)

Of course, baseball isn’t just about momentum.

Especially not in Major League Baseball, the world’s best league.

Dexter Sullivan experienced this firsthand that day.

Thwack!!!

He came to the mound full of vigor, which was great, but he gave up a home run to the very first batter.

The Tampa Bay outfielders didn’t even bother chasing the ball. It was one of those no-doubt home runs where you just knew it was gone the moment it was hit.

Okay, fine, but then Dexter Sullivan allowed an infield hit to the next batter.

A home run and a hit right off the bat. Even among the Tampa Bay fans, who are generally pretty mild, grumbling started to emerge.

“What the heck are these guys doing?”

“The score is already 11-0! Are they really going to play like this?!”

“What’s the point of being first in the division! They’re playing like this against Baltimore!”

The score had widened to the point of no return, and the audience’s uproar was growing louder.

When the first pitch to the next batter was called a ball, the Tampa Bay dugout couldn’t just stand by.

“Time! Time!”

The pitching coach hurriedly called time and ran to the mound.

He put his hand on Dexter Sullivan’s shoulder and asked.

“Are you okay?”

The pitching coach’s expression was more worried than frustrated.

Dexter Sullivan hadn’t pitched in a real game for the past two weeks.

His appearance that day might have been a bit of a gamble. The pitching coach was considering replacing him if necessary, but-

“I guess I’m not like Vincent or Evans.”

Vincent Hiyama and Brett Evans.

Dexter Sullivan mentioned the two pitchers who had pushed him to the bullpen and gave a bitter smile.

“I wanted to show you that I could do as well as those two, but I guess there’s a difference in class.”

“Hey, what are you talking about…….”

They were both Major League pitchers, so how much of a difference in class could there be?

Right now, the opposing batter had just gotten a good hit.

The pitching coach was about to offer a word of encouragement almost reflexively, but Dexter Sullivan lightly shook his head.

“No, I’m fine.”

He said calmly.

“Rather, after getting hit like that, I feel like my last bit of resentment is gone. Now, I’m really going to pitch for the team.”

“……Pitch for the team?”

“Yes, I happen to be someone who dines with the team owner’s family. So, shouldn’t I put on a good show for them?”

“Dining with the team owner’s family? You’ve been talking nonsense since earlier…….”

The pitching coach tilted his head, not understanding, but Dexter Sullivan just adjusted the rosin bag and raised one corner of his mouth.

“Coach, you don’t have to worry about changing pitchers for today’s game.”

The score was heavily skewed at 11-0, and the atmosphere was gloomy. Who would want to endure this unpleasant situation?

At least for today’s game, it meant that those worries could be put aside.

The reason was simple.

“I’ll take care of the remaining innings. There will be no more bullpen usage.”

With that, Dexter Sullivan dropped the rosin bag next to the pitcher’s plate.

As the white rosin powder billowed up, his eyes sparkled, making him look quite dashing.

The pitching coach, who had been watching with a blank expression, ended up smacking him on the back of the head.

“Bullshit, you crazy bastard.”

The pitching coach chuckled.

“You just gave up a three-run home run as soon as you came up, what are you being so confident about?”

“……Ah.”

Dexter Sullivan also laughed awkwardly.

“That’s…… true.”

* * *

The final game of the three-game home series against the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field.
The Tampa Bay Rays, who had been on a four-game winning streak and solidifying their first-place position, ended up losing that day.

“…….”

It was a loss that could be considered understandable.

The starting pitcher only lasted three innings before being pulled, and they allowed a whopping 11 runs by the 5th inning.

However, after the game ended and all the doors of Tropicana Field were wide open, the faces of the fans leaving the stadium weren’t so dark.

“Damn, that was close, wasn’t it?”

“I know, right? I thought we were going to see a legendary comeback today…….”

Despite watching a game where they gave up 11 points by the 5th inning, people were leaving with relatively satisfied expressions.

There was a good reason for that. The final score of the game was 11-9, and the Tampa Bay Rays had hung in there until the very end.

The Baltimore dugout had been managing the game casually due to the large point difference from the beginning, and the Tampa Bay lineup’s hitting had been terrifyingly hot recently.

But what fueled the Tampa Bay Rays’ comeback attempt was this man.

-Strikeout, strikeout! Dexter Sullivan records his fifth strikeout of the game today!

It was ‘Swingman’ Dexter Sullivan.

He gave up a home run as soon as he came up in the top of the 5th, but he had been excellent ever since.

Whoosh- Pow!

Whoosh- Pow!

Whoosh- Pow!!!

It certainly wasn’t the pitching of an ace. His top speed stayed around 94 mph, and his control wasn’t exactly precise.

But the way he silently threw his pitches no matter how chaotic the situation around him, the way he confidently threw his best pitches even after giving up hits and home runs, was inspiring.

And when the Tampa Bay Rays had a chance to attack, he even got a cowbell from somewhere and cheered vigorously.

“Let’s go! Let’s go!”

Clang Clang Clang Clang!

“Hey, Vincent! From what I see, there’s nothing to it! Just swing!”

Clang Clang Clang Clang!

“Julio! Just run him over if you have to! You know I’m specialized in bench clearing [a baseball term for when players rush onto the field during a fight], right?”

Clang Clang Clang Clang!

It was hard to believe that he was the same person who had sulked for the past two weeks in protest of being sent to the bullpen.

Mike Clemmblas, the manager, and the coaching staff, as well as the front office people who had a vague idea of what was going on, were all happy with the change.

But the one who was most pleased with this change was probably John Llama in the Future Strategy Planning Department.

“…….”

John Llama, who used to make a fuss over even the smallest things, was unusually quiet that day.

He didn’t run around busily, and he didn’t loudly boast about his achievements.

He just watched Dexter Sullivan’s performance with a faint smile on his face.

Since his true feelings could be understood without having to look into his eyes, Jisub subtly brought up the subject.

“Coach Thomas Culkin was asking.”

This happened after the game was over and they were heading to the parking lot to go home.

“He asked what happened to Dexter Sullivan. He asked what you did to change him so much.”

“Oh, really?”

John Llama’s eyes lit up at Dexter’s story.

Jisub nodded happily and continued.

“He said he was spouting stories that even the coach couldn’t understand, saying things like he had to work hard for the team, and that he was someone who dined with the team owner’s family.”

“The team owner’s family?”

Jisub and John Llama were the only ones who knew exactly what that meant.

As a proud smile spread across John Llama’s face, Jisub lightly patted him on the shoulder.

“You’ve done a great job.”

He wasn’t just saying it.

“Actually, that’s how baseball is. It’s not often that 1+1 equals exactly 2.”

“Is it a math problem?”

“It’s a player problem.”

Jisub smiled.

“When we bring in a player from the outside, there are many cases where the increase in power isn’t as great as we thought.”

It’s common sense that 1+1 should equal 2.

However, in the case of player recruitment, the result of 1+1 was often 1.5, 1.6, or even 0.8 in reverse.

“The player we recruited may not have played his role properly. But it’s really fatal when an existing player loses motivation or fails to adapt to a new role.”

“…….”

“In that respect, you’ve done a really great job this time. You brought Dexter Sullivan, who could have been excluded from the team, back into the fold.”

Perhaps Tampa Bay Rays could get more than 1+1=2 with this incident.

Because players like Dexter Sullivan, who ‘play for the team,’ can be expected to perform well in the postseason.

With that in mind, Jisub continued to offer words of encouragement, but John Llama’s expression was quite serious as he listened.

“I’m glad you’re praising me, but…… I’m a little regretful.”

John Llama smacked his lips.

“If I had known that I had this much influence in the Tampa Bay Rays sooner…… I wouldn’t have spent my time chasing alligators.”

“Ah, honestly, the alligator thing was too much. I thought I was going to explode at first, you know?”

“……I’m sorry.”

John Llama scratched his head.

“So, Kim.”

“Yes, please speak.”

“From now on…… could you take me off of overtime?”

“Overtime?”

As Jisub raised his eyebrows, John Llama quickly began to explain.

“Actually, I’m not very helpful when it comes to programming or player analysis, am I? When I work overtime, I just bring snacks or dinner.”

“Well, that’s true.”

“So, I was thinking earlier. It’s good to help the people in the Future Strategy Planning Department, but at least until the postseason starts, what if I do what I’m good at?”

What I’m good at.

John Llama emphasized this.

“I think there might be other cases like Dexter on the team. There may be people who are dissatisfied with the team’s actions, or people who have good ideas but are hesitant to express them.”

“Hmm.”

“Whether it’s a player or a front office employee…… I was wondering if I could listen to their stories while providing a meal.”

You know, Kim?

John Llama clenched his fist.

“I may not be good at anything else, but I’m great at being friendly, right? Dexter told me things he couldn’t even tell the manager…….”

“That’s a good idea.”

Jisub replied readily.

“I have a feeling that David will be very disappointed…… but I’m basically in favor. It’s a time when that’s needed.”

“Really? Is it a good idea?”

“Yes, give it a try. If there’s anything you need my help with, please let me know.”

Jisub was proud.

The guy who used to chase alligators was now finding his role as the team owner’s son.

But John Llama was basically laid-back. At that very moment, Jisub thought that something that would leave a strong impression on the guy’s mind was needed for a more definite change.

“……Ah.”

Jisub’s sight caught a suitable person.

“The person loading luggage into the trunk…… isn’t that Dexter?”

“Oh, it is?”

Dexter Sullivan.

John Llama seemed to recognize him too.

“I heard he had a separate meeting with the manager, so I guess he’s leaving now.”

“Well, if something like today happened, the manager would have called him in separately to praise him.”

Jisub nodded slowly and ‘tapped’ John Llama on the shoulder.

“How about it? Why don’t you go and give Dexter a word of encouragement?”

“Me?”

John Llama blinked.

“Oh, well, is there really a need for me to step in? I think the manager’s praise is enough…….”

“Hey, don’t be like that.”

Jisub reached into his bag and took out a baseball.

An item prepared for people who usually ask if they can get a ball.

But today, it could be used for a slightly different purpose.

“If it’s awkward to just talk to him, try approaching him by asking him to sign this.”

“A signature?”

“Yes, make up some words appropriately. That one of your acquaintances watched today’s game impressively, or…….”

Jisub shrugged.

“Then Dexter would be proud, right? Because it means that someone watched his game impressively.”

“Oh, that’s right! Maybe that would be okay?”

“Okay.”

John Llama accepted the ball.

“I’ll do as Kim said. Oh, if you’re busy, you can leave first.”

“Yes, good luck.”

Jisub thought that this could remain as an impressive memory for John Llama.

Facing someone who has changed because of him. Hearing words of gratitude directly from him.

Jisub had also had a similar experience.

“Hey, Dexter!”

John Llama was waving a baseball and calling out Dexter Sullivan’s name loudly.

Jisub was watching this scene with expectant eyes.