A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 358

New Recruit of Baseball Team Is Too Good – Episode 358

New Recruit of Baseball Team Is Too Good 358

83 The Ghost of the Ground (1)

A few weeks later.

It was mid-September.

Jisub was visiting the office of Brian Span, the general manager.

It was to submit the weekly game prediction report, the ‘Yellow Book.’

“Hmm, I see.”

Flip, flip, flip.

The general manager, with his reading glasses perched on his nose, flipped through the reports from the Future Strategy Planning Department one by one.

It had been several months since he took on the Yellow Book project, but it was still a moment that Jisub couldn’t get used to.

He was confident in the content of the report, but he couldn’t help but be nervous because the other party was the general manager.

On this day, he was outwardly calm but inwardly anxious, when…

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Brian Span, the general manager, said as he took off his reading glasses.

“From my perspective, there doesn’t seem to be anything to point out. It should be fine to pass it on to the Baseball Operations Department as is.”

It was an okay sign.

Jisub, who had been waiting for that one word, clenched his fist behind his back.

But whether it’s English or Korean, you have to listen to what people have to say until the end.

“But…….”

The general manager raised his head.

“This report is a bit late this time. I think I asked you to submit it on Thursday if possible?”

“Ah, is that what you mean?”

It was the general manager’s first criticism in a while, but fortunately, Jisub had an explanation.

“I’m sorry. It’s nothing else… I thought of a point to check separately just before submitting it, so it took some time to supplement that part.”

“A point to check?”

“Yes, didn’t we talk about it at last week’s meeting? The stadium operations department is planning to reorganize the ground this weekend.”

“Ah, you mean that? The work to reinforce the crumb rubber?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Crumb rubber.

It meant materials made by finely cutting waste tires into powder. In the Korean baseball world, it was simply called ‘rubber powder.’ [Crumb rubber is used in artificial turf fields to provide cushioning.]

This was used to fill in place of soil in stadiums that use artificial turf, such as Tropicana Field.

It was a relatively durable material, but it was said that reinforcement work had to be done three or four times a year to avoid injuries to the players.

The work to reinforce this crumb rubber was scheduled to be carried out before the post-season.

“Generally, it’s a job that doesn’t cause big problems, but I’ve heard that some players have a hard time adapting. So I referred to some past data and reflected it…….”

“Ah, is that so?”

The general manager nodded.

With a very satisfied face.

“After all, we have to acknowledge Kim’s meticulousness. It’s not easy for a pitcher to understand the difficulties of infielders.”

At this point, Jisub’s work skills were common knowledge within the club.

It seemed that Jisub had shown a sharp eye again. The general manager was thinking that.

Unexpectedly, at this time, Jisub was shaking his head with a faint smile.

“No, sir. I had very little to do with this matter.”

“Yes? What does that…….”

“It was Taylor who found out about the crumb rubber.”

“……Taylor? John Llama?”

John Llama Taylor.

When that name was mentioned, Brian Span, the general manager, made an ‘Oho’ sound and stroked his chin.

“I heard that John has been inviting club people to dinner these days… Is this also related to that?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Jisub replied.

“I had dinner with Mr. Brown, who is in charge of ground keeping, a few days ago, and it seems that the story came up there.”

“Hehe, this is really something.”

He was a general manager called a legend in the industry, but even he couldn’t easily believe this story.

“I’ve really lived a long time to see this. Just a few months ago, there was no such troublemaker in the world…….”

Kim, what’s the secret?

The general manager asked Jisub.

“What on earth did you do to change that guy so much? This is almost worthy of a thesis! Didn’t Port Myers University tell you to write it as a thesis and submit it?”

“You’re welcome. What could I have done? Taylor has always been looking for his own way…….”

“Kim, I’ve known that guy since he was five years old. He’s not the kind of guy who will find his own way.”

The general manager, who was chuckling, returned Jisub’s report and said.

“Anyway, please keep an eye on that guy in the future. There are many great talents in the world… but Kim, you’re probably the only one who can lead John.”

“I’ll do my best.”

Even after Jisub nodded firmly, the general manager was still chuckling.

He couldn’t believe that John Llama was trying to do something.

Brian Span, the general manager, shook his head and checked a few things.

Then, suddenly remembering something, he turned to Jisub and said.

“Ah, come to think of it… wasn’t today’s Homecoming event also decided on John’s suggestion?”

Haiguya [an exclamation of disbelief or amazement].

The general manager clicked his tongue.

“Today is completely John’s day.”

* * *

The general manager’s words were true.

Today, Tropicana Field was scheduled to host a Homecoming Day.

An event to invite and honor players who used to play for the Tampa Bay Rays.

In fact, it was an event that Major League clubs held once or twice a year, but it was said that this was the first time in a long time that the Tampa Bay Rays had held it.

-There aren’t many players on our team who can be called legends.

It was David Wilson’s words.

-Isn’t that right? Everyone leaves the team like ghosts when they become free agents… Even if a player comes back, the club often has a bad relationship with them due to salary issues in their later years.

This was also a problem that could be seen as a limitation of the small market.

Clubs like the New York Yankees, which treat players well, could hold Homecoming Day several times with a theme.

On the other hand, it was said that the Tampa Bay Rays could count on one hand the number of retired players who would answer the club’s calls.

Anyway, for Tampa Bay, Homecoming Day was like a long-cherished project.

This time, John Llama had solved one of those troublesome missions in a flash.

-Really? Retired players don’t answer the phone? Why?

The owner’s son, who learned about the problems of retired players at a dinner with marketing department staff.

He picked up his cell phone with an expression that he couldn’t understand, and the moment he checked his contact information and pressed the [Call] button.

-Hello, Mr. Brown! Yes, this is Llama!

As if pulling a stem and harvesting sweet potatoes from an autumn field.

As if a fish was caught on a fishing line with bait.

The retired Tampa Bay players, who had not been able to be contacted, answered the phone one after another.

-……헐 [Korean slang expressing disbelief or shock].

The director of the event planning team widened his eyes at the miracle that unfolded before his eyes.

In fact, Jisub vaguely guessed the reason why this was possible.

‘Llama is… he’s always been known as a pushover in the industry.’

When the club treated the players unfairly, John Llama had always taken the players’ side.

Even while being scolded by his father, owner Jeffrey Taylor, and receiving worried glances from general manager Brian Span.

He was a person who tried to open the way somehow, saying, ‘We can’t kick out the people who have worked hard all this time.’

‘When I first heard the story, I wondered why he was doing that…….’

That long pushover act had become a kind of build-up, and now it seemed to be a great help to him.

As for Jisub, who happened to be packaged with him, there was nothing particularly bad about the story.

‘Maybe I was holding on to a pretty good lifeline.’

As Jisub was thinking that and moving his steps, he saw John Llama in the distance.

“Kim, welcome!”

John Llama shouted.

“The players are all here already!”

* * *

There were two main reasons why Major League clubs held Homecoming Day.

The first reason was a kind of promotion. The purpose was to increase the attention of the audience by inviting players who had made a name for themselves in the past.

The second was a kind of tutoring. The purpose was to pass on the experience of retired players to the players who are currently active.

“Ah, is that really true?”

“I’m telling you? At that time, the parking lot was completely full…….”

As Jisub didn’t know much about marketing, he didn’t know whether the first goal had been achieved.

He would be able to receive a brief briefing when he entered the regular strategy meeting later.

However, he was sure that the second goal had been achieved.

Before the game on this day, retired players and active players sat face to face in the clubhouse.

Truly beneficial stories were being exchanged in this place.

“You should all be sure to familiarize yourself with the local rules of Tropicana Field. It was a great help to me to memorize them!”

Retired players were explaining what they had experienced during their active careers step by step.

“For example… that’s right! The bullpen! Do you know that if a batted ball falls into our outfield bullpen, it’s in play?”

“Really? Is it in play?”

“I’m telling you? It’s on the league office website. Check it out once in a while. You never know what might happen in the post-season…….”

They told them the points to keep in mind before the post-season, and they also told them how to control their condition.

The active players took out their cell phones and diligently recorded the stories of the retired players.

It was a very timely event for the Tampa Bay Rays, who had to win the championship this season, when…

“Excuse me… Mr. Brown?”

Brett Evans, who had been listening to the retired player’s story, carefully raised his hand.

“Oh, Brett! What is it?”

The man who was perhaps the most desperate for a championship among the people in this place, ‘Professor’ Brett Evans.

He seemed to want to get rid of the last obstacle to winning this opportunity.

“I heard that Mr. Brown played in the Tampa Bay Rays’ first World Series, is that right?”

“Yes, I played as a starting shortstop. All games up to the 7th game.”

The retired player called ‘Mr. Brown’ had a proud smile on his face.

However, the moment he heard Brett Evans’ question, his face became quite serious.

“What do you think is the reason, Mr. Brown? The most decisive reason why our Tampa Bay didn’t win the championship at that time.”

“Decisive reason?”

At Brown’s question, Brett Evans narrowed his brows and continued.

“Yes, the Tampa Bay Rays at the time also had considerable power, didn’t they? I heard that the club even prepared a championship celebration parade… I’m curious as to why they didn’t win the championship.”

The moment Brett Evans’ question came out, the eyes of the active players were focused on Mr. Brown.

It wasn’t just the active players. Front office staff, as well as people from the Future Strategy Planning Department, were watching him.

‘Yeah, what was the reason?’

‘The power was great back then, too.’

The former starting shortstop of the Tampa Bay Rays, scratching the back of his head with a slightly embarrassed expression, as if everyone’s eyes were burdensome.

The answer he gave after a long pause was something that even Jisub had not expected.

“Yes, I was going to tell you that story anyway.”

Mr. Brown swept around his mouth with his large palm, and then opened his mouth with a serious expression.

“Everyone be careful. There is… a ghost on this Tropicana Field ground.”

And one more word.

“The reason we didn’t win the championship at that time was entirely because of that ghost.”

What is this again,

What are you talking about?