A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 429

The New Guy in the Baseball Team is Too Good 429

93 Boys, Be Ambitious (6)

A few days later.

The main executives and employees of the Tampa Bay Rays were gathering in the conference room at Tropicana Field.

It was January 2nd, the first day of work for the Tampa Bay Rays. Therefore, the greetings exchanged between people were slightly different from usual.

“Happy New Year.”

“Oh, Happy New Year!”

Although Christmas decorations still remained in various parts of the conference room, the fact that it was a ‘New Year’ was injecting a new energy into people.

With brighter expressions than usual, and more energetically than usual, they exchanged greetings with each other.

“Hmm?”

“What is it?”

There was one person who caught the attention of the employees attending the meeting.

It was R. J. Higgins, the Vice President of Marketing for the Tampa Bay Rays.

He had come into the conference room early and had been touching his face here and there for a while now.

“Ugh, ugh, ugh.”

He pressed his temples with his thumbs and opened and closed his mouth wide.

His bizarre behavior on the first day of the new year made people tilt their heads and ask.

“Mr. Higgins, what’s wrong?”

“Do you have a headache? Should I get you a painkiller?”

As people approached with worried expressions, Vice President R. J. Higgins finally shook his lips ‘purururu’ and smiled.

“No, no, I’m fine. I don’t need painkillers. It’s not that I’m sick.”

“Really? But why are you making those faces since this morning…….”

As the Director of Stadium Operations sat next to him and asked, Vice President Higgins shrugged his shoulders and replied.

“It’s facial expression practice.”

“Facial expression practice?”

“Yes, I heard on my way to work that the Future Strategy Planning Department is going to announce a major project today.”

A major project.

People nodded their heads.

“Hmm, there’s been some talk about that. I heard the atmosphere in the Future Strategy Planning Department has been unusual these past few days…….”

“I saw it yesterday too. The lights in the office weren’t turned off. John Ramer was busily going back and forth with coffee.”

“Well, the Future Strategy Planning Department is the core department of our Tampa Bay front office now, isn’t it? It’s a good thing they’re coming up with a new project…….”

Ssssk.

People’s heads turned.

“But what does that have to do with Mr. Higgins’ facial expression practice?”

“Hey, it’s related.”

Vice President Higgins pointed to his forehead with his finger.

“I need to practice in advance so that I can maintain a solemn expression when the project is announced later.”

“……Huh?”

What is he talking about?

People blinked their eyes, but Vice President Higgins seemed quite serious.

“When I was in a video conference a while ago… I realized I was reacting too strongly to Kim’s story, you know?”

He was widening his eyes.

He was clapping like a seal.

Vice President Higgins continued.

“Honestly, I shouldn’t be doing that, right? If you’re a vice president of a team, you need to have a bit of gravitas. Fluttering like a thin piece of paper… It doesn’t look good.”

“Ah, so? So you’ve been practicing making expressions?”

The surrounding colleagues had expressions that made it hard to hold back their laughter, but Vice President Higgins didn’t seem to realize it.

“When you think about it, I’m in a position where I need to put the brakes on the Future Strategy Planning Department appropriately… I need to be faithful to that role. Now that it’s the new year.”

So today will be different.

He will evaluate the Future Strategy Planning Department’s project really coldly and sharply.

Vice President R. J. Higgins, who showed such a firm determination while straightening his clothes-

“Luxury… lounge? You’re saying you can build a luxury lounge at Clock Wise?!!”

Exactly one hour later.

Before the Future Strategy Planning Department’s presentation was even over, he had 벌떡 [baldeok – suddenly] gotten up from his seat.

“Is that really possible? How? As far as I know, Don Chronos of Clock Wise has connections with the Yankees?”

This is a huge opportunity.

It’s an opportunity we can’t miss.

Looking at Vice President Higgins, who was sparkling his eyes, Jiseop clenched his fist inside, thinking, ‘됐다 [dwaetda – Got it].’

‘If Vice President Higgins is so 적극적으로 [jeokgeukjeogeuro – proactive], it won’t be too difficult to persuade the others.’

It was a truly fortunate thing for the Future Strategy Planning Department, but on the other hand, Jiseop couldn’t help but tilt his head.

‘But… why is everyone 히죽히죽 [hijeukhijuk – grinning] from earlier?’

People 키득키득 [kideukkideuk – giggling] while glancing at R. J. Higgins.

It is said that Jiseop realized the meaning of it after successfully completing the presentation that day.

* * *

The Future Strategy Planning Department obtained permission to proceed with the project around 4 p.m. on the same day.

Of course, there was some debate. With ‘Flamingo’ Richard Stelmezek having been recruited not long ago, should they provoke the Yankees again?

The conservative executives of the club expressed the opinion that pace control was necessary, but Vice President R. J. Higgins refuted this head-on.

-I think now is the time to push things forward more boldly.

He said in a firm tone.

-If you 추진 [chujin – promote] this kind of thing ambiguously, it can be interpreted as real hostility. We have to push it so shamelessly that the other party realizes that this is part of marketing.

It was an analysis worthy of ‘Tropicana’s Bulldozer’.

-Besides, the construction of the luxury lounge has been a long-cherished desire of our club, hasn’t it? These days, which brand you partner with is directly related to the club’s image. Clock Wise is a partner we should never miss.

With Vice President R. J. Higgins’ 적극적인 [jeokgeukjeogin – active] expression of opinion, the executives who had been showing 유보적인 [yubojeogin – reserved] attitudes nodded their heads.

In the end, President Brian Sphan gave permission to proceed with the cooperation project with Clock Wise.

“Okay, then our marketing department will take care of the practical preparations.”

After the meeting ended, it was Higgins who visited the Future Strategy Planning Department and said that.

“Kim, please lead the negotiations with Don Chronos well. It was January 10th, right? The day the contract between the Yankees and Clock Wise ends?”

“Yes, we plan to submit a project proposal to Clock Wise at midnight on the 11th.”

“Good, thank you. I’ll be waiting for Kim’s okay sign.”

With Higgins lightly shaking hands with Jiseop and leaving the office, the work for the day ended.

The people in the Future Strategy Planning Department, who had been busy running around for the past few days, collapsed on their desks as if they had made a promise.

“Kim, we’re eating something delicious today, right?”

It was John Ramer who said that.

“I don’t have the energy to drive out and eat… Delivery! Let’s do delivery.”

“Are you going to have dinner?”

Jiseop blinked his eyes.

“Wouldn’t it be better to just go home today? The 기념 [ginyeom – celebratory] dinner can be held tomorrow….”

“Hey, who said we’re having a 기념 [ginyeom – celebratory] dinner? I’m just saying let’s eat.”

Charles Flex 끼어들었다 [kkieodeuleotda – interjected].

“The 회식 [hoesik – company dinner] is held when the project is completed… Let’s fill our stomachs first. I don’t think I’ll have the energy to go home like this.”

“Hehe, okay. Then I’ll pay for dinner tonight. Just decide on the menu and tell me.”

“Ooh.”

“Oh.”

“Ooh, ooh….”

Jiseop looked at his colleagues with a pitiful expression, who were too tired to cheer as usual.

As his colleagues, who barely mustered their strength, seriously started selecting the dinner menu, Jiseop quietly took out his cell phone.

“…….”

He was just as hungry as they were, but there was something he had to finish before eating.

“Ah, Nicholas?”

It was to convey the situation to Nicholas Byron II, the collaborator of the New York Yankees.

* * *

“I, is that really true?”

Nicholas had a blank expression for a while after receiving Jiseop’s call.

-Yes, the conclusion was reached a little while ago.

Jiseop’s voice flowed from Nicholas’ cell phone speaker.

-President Brian Sphan has 허락하신다 [heorakasinda – approved] the project.

Jiseop began to briefly convey the club’s decision.

The Future Strategy Planning Department will only be in charge of negotiations with Don Chronos, and other departments will take over after that.

They will attempt to negotiate with Don Chronos at midnight on January 11, when the contract with the Yankees expires.

Also, the story continued with expressing gratitude to Nicholas for providing this information, but-

“…….”

At this time, Nicholas was not able to concentrate on Jiseop’s story.

He was momentarily stunned by the much faster than expected result.

‘Today is January 2nd, right? Tampa Bay would have just started work today… Then Kim got the result in just one day?’

The next moment, Nicholas’ gaze turned to the documents piled up on his desk.

“…….”

Some of them were about routine tasks, but most of them were proposals that Nicholas had submitted and were rejected.

Proposals for the New York Yankees’ new development plan, proposals for improving the treatment of the coaching staff, or proposals for the Bleacher Creatures, etc.

When he picked up one of them, the words ‘June 12’ came into view. Nicholas couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

‘I was able to receive a response to the proposal I submitted last June only today.’

Of course, it could be due to the difference in the 성향 [seonghyang – tendencies] of the two clubs, the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Yankees, which boasts history and tradition, and the Tampa Bay, which is a 후발 주자 [hubal juja – latecomer], would have completely different decision-making processes.

But at this moment, Nicholas could 직감할 수 있었다 [jikgamhal su isseotda – sense] that this difference was not simply due to the atmosphere of the organization.

‘The weight of words is different.’

Nicholas thought.

‘Over the past year, Kim has achieved tremendous results in Tampa Bay. That achievement has made Kim a completely different person. Now, there is no one in Tampa Bay who can 무시할 수 있는 [musihal su inneun – ignore] Kim’s words.’

Nicholas was a little dumbfounded.

How could someone who entered this industry much later than himself get so far ahead?

It takes him months to review one proposal, but Kim can produce results in one day?

As Nicholas sighed softly, he heard Jiseop’s voice.

-Nicholas, are you listening?

“Ah, I’m sorry. I was thinking about something else for a moment….”

Nicholas hurriedly put down the proposal he was holding.

“What did you say?”

-Final confirmation.

Jiseop said.

-Hold a public press conference when the negotiations with Don Chronos are over… That was your request, wasn’t it?

“That’s right.”

-I wanted to ask if that’s really okay.

Jiseop’s tone was worried.

-According to our marketing vice president… Don Chronos, that friend, doesn’t 성향 [seonghyang – care] about the front and back, right? He might reveal everything that happened in the negotiation process with the Yankees.

“…….”

-I’m afraid the 불똥 [bulddong – blame] might fall on you. The fact that you leaked information to us might be 특정될지도 모르는데 [teukjeongdoeljido moreuneunde – identified]… Is this okay? Wouldn’t it be better to just issue a press release?

Nicholas was silent for a while after hearing Jiseop’s story.

“…….”

Honestly, he was not without fear.

He had always 이어온 [ieoon – continued] his career with the mind of 두드려 보는 [dodeuryeo boneun – tapping on] a stepping stone.

But Nicholas knew what he had to do. How can he turn these many ideas into practice? And how can he stand shoulder to shoulder with that Asian man?

And above all-

‘How can I clearly leave my name on the club called the New York Yankees?’

When his thoughts reached this point, Nicholas was sighing briefly.

And at the timing when that sigh ended, he slowly opened his mouth.

“Yes, it’s okay.”

Nicholas said.

“Whatever story comes out at the press conference… I will 감당하도록 하겠습니다 [gamdanghadorok hagetseumnida – handle it].”