A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 383

Baseball Team’s New Recruit Is Too Good – 383

Baseball Team’s New Recruit Is Too Good 383

86 Powerful, Truly Powerful (6)

There’s no need to adjust the pitching form.

It can be used in reverse.

When Ji-seop read David Wilson’s inner thoughts, he clenched his fist under the desk.

‘This guy has something in mind, doesn’t he?’

David Wilson had been the idea bank for the Future Strategy Planning Department this season.

Being a former minor league player, he has extensive information about American baseball. He has been striving to become a manager, so his knowledge of data is also excellent.

How many times have his ideas been put into practice and led to good results?

‘I can create a similar flow this time,’ Ji-seop thought confidently, but—

“…….”

One unexpected thing was that David Wilson was reluctant to open his mouth that day.

‘What were you thinking about during the meeting? Do you have any good ideas separately?’

Usually, if asked a question like this, he would chirp, ‘Ah, that’s it,’ and give an answer.

But that day, he was silent, as if his mouth was clamped shut.

“David, are you really going to do this?”

“What am I doing?”

“Ah, there’s definitely something there, isn’t there?”

“You’re mistaken.”

Of course, Ji-seop was not one to give up and back down in the face of such difficulties.

Patience is Ji-seop’s greatest weapon. He stuck right next to David Wilson and started a waiting game.

After about an hour of persuasion with support from John Llama.

Eventually, David Wilson, unable to withstand it, let out a long sigh and began to speak his mind.

“It’s nothing special.”

This was his habit.

“I was just listening to the meeting and suddenly… Randy Johnson’s case came to mind.”

“Randy Johnson?”

It was John Llama who reacted.

“Randy Johnson, you mean… the Hall of Fame left-handed pitcher? The one who won the Cy Young Award [awarded annually to the best pitchers in each league] four times?”

“Exactly five times. He won four of them in four consecutive years.”

Randy Johnson, the best ace in Major League Baseball from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s.

Why did David Wilson suddenly bring up the name of that legendary pitcher?

“It’s because of his pitching habit.”

He continued.

“Randy Johnson’s pitching habit was widely known to Major League hitters at the time.”

David Wilson picked up the glove on his desk.

“At the moment of throwing the ball… if he closed his glove like this, it was a fastball, and if he opened it, it was a slider.”

“No, was it that obvious?”

John Llama’s eyes widened, but David’s expression was calm.

“Yes, so the hitters at the time knew exactly what kind of ball Randy Johnson was going to throw… but still, there were hardly any hitters who properly attacked his ball.”

At this moment,

Ji-seop was able to grasp what David Wilson was thinking.

“His pitching was really amazing.”

David Wilson said.

“A four-seam fastball with a top speed of 102 miles per hour and a slider that easily exceeded 90 miles per hour… these two pitches were impossible to hit even if you knew them.”

“Then, then…….”

As John Llama cautiously looked around, David Wilson nodded, saying, ‘That’s right.’

“I believe that Vincent Hiyama’s problem can be solved in the same context.”

David, who put down his glove, came over with his tablet PC, which was like his alter ego.

“Look. This season, Vincent’s four-seam fastball was the strongest in the league. His batting average against was only in the mid-10% range, and his strikeout rate exceeded 55%. As a starting pitcher, not a closer, there has been no comparable player in recent years.”

“Well, that’s true, but…….”

John Llama trailed off.

“It’s true that the four-seam fastball was heavily targeted in yesterday’s game, right? He gave up two home runs.”

“Yes, I’m concerned about that part too. I’m worried. But I think the only one that was really hit properly was the first home run given to the Phillies’ eighth hitter.”

David flipped through the tablet screen.

“Actually, after the first home run, Vincent’s speed dropped by about 2 miles. The drop in the number of revolutions per minute was even greater. Perhaps the shock of the first home run had a significant impact on Vincent’s mentality.”

“…….”

“If Vincent could have maintained his pace without being bothered by the home run… Yes, I think he could have held it to about 3 runs in 6 innings. And in the next appearance as well.”

In the end, it’s a matter of choice.

David put down his tablet.

“Will we trust Vincent’s pitching and accept the exposure of his pitching habits? Or will we attempt to adjust his pitching form for a more perfect game?”

“David’s opinion is the former, right? Even if he gives up 3 runs in 6 innings, or more.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Hmm, 3 runs in 6 innings…….”

Ji-seop was lost in thought for a while.

If it were Ji-seop’s usual style, it would have been right to go with the former unconditionally.

Trusting the player. Trusting and leaving it to them. That was Ji-seop’s baseball style.

But it was the World Series, where a lot was at stake, so it was a situation where he couldn’t come to a simple conclusion.

Just when Ji-seop’s worries were getting a little longer, a strange story came out of David’s mouth.

“……Kim.”

“Yes?”

“May I say something?”

Ji-seop turned around.

“Yes, please speak.”

“It’s a little funny that I’m saying this, after having passionately argued that we should trust Vincent until now, but I think I should definitely say it this time.”

‘What should I say?’

At this time, David’s face had an unusually serious expression.

And with that serious expression, he said to Ji-seop.

“Kim, this time, why don’t you just not give any opinions… and just watch the situation?”

“Yes?!”

Ji-seop’s eyebrows twitched.

“Watch the situation… what do you mean?”

“That’s right, David!”

John Llama interjected.

“How can you stay silent here? This is the most important point in this World Series! Shouldn’t you be giving your opinion?”

The two people looked at David Wilson with expressions that they couldn’t understand at all.

David Wilson shook his head at their innocent eyes.

“Yes, I knew you two would say that. Damn it, that’s why I was really trying not to say anything this time…….”

‘My mouth is the problem.’

‘My mouth is the problem.’

David, who sighed briefly, looked at Ji-seop with a complicated expression.

“Kim, a fastball battle is not always the answer, is it?”

“Fastball battle?”

“Yes, sometimes mix in breaking balls, take long intervals, throw check pitches [pitches thrown to keep a runner close to the base]… If you’re a pitcher, you know that much, right?”

“……These days, if you take a long interval, you get called for a ball [due to pace-of-play rules].”

When John Llama interjected, David glared at him slightly and looked at Ji-seop again.

“This season, Kim’s performance has been really great, but… not everyone sees Kim in a good light.”

He had been with Tampa Bay since his minor league days.

He knew the atmosphere within the team better than Ji-seop.

“Although it’s only a part, there are people who don’t really like Kim’s style.”

David didn’t mention it specifically, but Ji-seop could read his mind and knew everything.

Some say that he is proceeding too aggressively, some say that he is challenging for the championship unreasonably, and some criticize that an Oriental who suddenly rolled in is messing up the game.

“Not everyone wants to win as desperately as Kim or General Manager Brian Spann. Some people are satisfied with just advancing to the postseason.”

‘That’s why I’m telling you.’

David lowered his voice.

“If you give your opinion here and something goes wrong… Kim’s position could be in danger. Do you think the people who have been quiet because of the team’s performance will stay still?”

“…….”

“At that time, the general manager won’t be able to help Kim much either. If we fail to win the championship, he will also be on the path to resignation.”

It was a season with a lot of investment.

It was a season that he jumped into without looking back.

Even if they won the championship, there would be some complaints, so if they didn’t win, the outcome was obvious.

“Kim, this is the point.”

David took a step forward.

“You’ve already shown a great performance. Everyone in the Tampa Bay Rays knows your ability. So, you don’t have to go all the way, do you? It’s better to take a step back at the most dangerous point…….”

“Will it be safe? If you think about next season?”

“Yes, I think so.”

Looking at David Wilson nodding his head, Ji-seop was a little puzzled at first.

‘Why is this guy like this?’

David Wilson, as Ji-seop remembers him, was a pretty cold man.

He joined the Future Strategy Planning Department entirely because he thought it would help his career.

But his remarks that day were very different from his usual cold appearance.

‘Did he eat something wrong… um?’

Tilting his head slightly and looking into his eyes, Ji-seop had a faint smile on his lips.

[Here… I have to stop Kim.]

That was David’s inner thought.

[I don’t have to worry about John Llama. He’s the owner’s son. But if Kim gets more blame here, he might really lose his head.]

‘Oh, my.’

[Kim has already moved teams once from Boston. If he moves teams again here, strange rumors might spread. And above all…….]

And the next moment, Ji-seop felt grateful for his ability to read other people’s minds.

[If possible, I want to work in the Future Strategy Planning Department next year too.]

[In the same form as the current Future Strategy Planning Department.]

[To do that… yes, Kim must be in this damn basement office.]

David Wilson’s inner thoughts were vividly heard in his ear.

Ji-seop was grateful. He hadn’t spent that long together, but the fact that he cared about him so much.

But for the exact same reason, Ji-seop had decided that he would have to reject David’s earnest request.

If it was someone who trusted him this much, someone who didn’t hesitate to give him advice for his sake.

Shouldn’t Ji-seop also repay him?

‘If I become the deputy head… it will be possible to make suggestions subtly, right?’

David Wilson’s dream of joining the field staff that he so desperately wanted.

To help him achieve his dream of wearing a Major League uniform as a hitting coach or a battery coach.

Ji-seop decided to choose a bold fastball battle.

“David, I’m sorry.”

“Yes?”

“I know what you mean, but… I don’t think I can accept your offer.”

David, hearing Ji-seop’s words, looked like he was dying of frustration.

“No, Kim! Don’t you understand even if I tell you that? It’s dangerous to give your opinion now…….”

“I know it’s dangerous, but I can’t help it. No matter how I think about it, I think your opinion is right.”

“M, my opinion?”

“Of course. Aren’t you the idea bank of our Future Strategy Planning Department? I’ve come this far following your ideas.”

“Ah, no, even so…….”

David, who can’t hide his satisfaction with the fact that his opinion is right.

Ji-seop, who was quietly looking at the simple guy, took out a piece of paper from the desk and handed it to him.

“David, could you write down the list?”

“The list?”

“Yes, it’s not easy to mention these issues in a meeting, is it?”

Preliminary work is needed.

Communication is needed.

“Please make a list of who I should meet.”

“There will be quite a few… are you okay with that?”

Ji-seop said to David, who asked, tilting his head.

“I’m more than okay!”

It was a cool answer.

“I’ve bet my baseball life on this World Series.”