A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 440

95. Spring Comes Like That (1)

During this off-season, the Future Strategy Planning Department had prepared extensively to boost the Tampa Bay Rays’ popularity.

They recruited ‘The Greatest Showman’ Charles Fleck, brought in Richard Stellmezek from the Yankees, and even created a luxury lounge in partnership with the fashion brand Clark Wise.

After months of such intense work, Jisub and his colleagues were now ready to play their final, decisive card.

This took place at the regular club meeting held at Charlotte Sports Park, exactly ten days before the start of the exhibition games.

“I would like to propose that we temporarily operate a merchandise shop specifically for visiting team fans.”

This idea stemmed from the connection they had with KH Cannons’ super rookie, Ban Hojin.

The concept was simple: create a souvenir shop catering to fans of the visiting team, with the Tampa Bay Rays directly handling the sale of their merchandise.

When Jisub presented this idea, the Tampa Bay front office staff reacted with considerable interest.

“Ah, a merchandise shop for the visiting team! That’s a great idea; we’ve discussed it a few times before!”

Some employees responded very positively.

“But… would that really work? Isn’t that something only done in professional baseball in Korea or Japan?”

Others expressed reservations.

However,

Surprisingly,

Most people that day-

“Merchandise shop? For the visiting team?”

“No, is that even possible?”

“It’s common in Korea and Japan?”

Reacted as if they were completely unaware of the concept.

Their faces suggested they’d just been told that baseball is played with a soccer ball in Korea or Japan, to put it dramatically.

It was such a foreign concept to them.

‘Hehe, it’s hard to know what to expect.’

These were people who knew more about major Korean players than Jisub did.

They could instantly recall their top speeds or the distances of their home runs.

Yet, these same people were completely ignorant of the existence of visiting team merchandise shops in Korea.

‘Well, even I didn’t realize that such a concept was non-existent in the United States….’

Regardless, it was an intriguing idea, and one he wanted to try at least once.

Jisub continued, using the laser pointer to advance the presentation slide.

“I believe everyone understands the goal of our Future Strategy Planning Department: to attract more visiting fans and increase overall popularity.”

“Ah, so that’s the rationale behind a visiting team merchandise shop. It could be quite popular with visiting fans who visit Tropicana Field,” one of the directors nodded.

“It sounds promising, but… my concern is this: Why haven’t we operated a visiting team merchandise shop until now? It doesn’t seem that complicated.”

He shifted his gaze.

“Didn’t we just mention it? It’s been discussed several times. But ultimately, it was never implemented….”

It was a pointed question, hinting at some underlying issue.

Something complex that those in the baseball-related departments couldn’t quite grasp.

As if waiting for his turn, the director from the marketing department stood up.

“That’s correct. It’s not as simple as it appears.”

He rose with a somewhat troubled expression, but the answer he provided was surprisingly straightforward.

“It’s not profitable.”

He stated definitively.

“First of all, there won’t be sufficient demand. According to data we collected a few years ago, visiting team fans aren’t particularly valuable customers.”

He elaborated that people who come to support the visiting team are typically deeply invested in baseball.

Such fans likely already possess a significant amount of team merchandise, thus reducing demand.

“Furthermore, the costs are substantial. There’s the shipping cost to transport the merchandise, the labor costs for the employees staffing the store, and, most importantly… isn’t this a business that requires payment to the opposing team [for the right to sell their merchandise]?”

This meant that distributing merchandise from other teams would be quite expensive.

As the atmosphere in the conference room subtly shifted, the director of the marketing department began to conclude his argument.

“Low demand coupled with high costs… this isn’t a viable business model. There’s a reason why we’ve discussed it repeatedly but never actually put it into practice.”

“Hmm, listening to the marketing department, there seems to be some validity to that….”

At that moment, the eyes of the Tampa Bay team members turned towards the Future Strategy Planning Department.

As if prearranged, everyone silently stared at Jisub and his colleagues.

They seemed to anticipate, based on past experience, that the Future Strategy Planning Department would have some kind of rebuttal, that they wouldn’t have entered this meeting without any countermeasures.

‘Haha, this is….’

If people have such expectations, it’s only natural to fulfill them, right?

Of course, at this point, Jisub had quite capable colleagues surrounding him.

This meant that Jisub didn’t have to personally step up and persuade the team members.

“…Mr. Fleck?”

“Hmm, just leave it to me!”

It was ‘The Greatest Showman’ Charles Fleck who rose at Jisub’s prompting.

The very person who had once spearheaded the legendary success of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Just by retrieving his magnifying glasses from his jacket pocket, the director of the marketing department appeared slightly apprehensive.

“Thank you for that insightful perspective. It wasn’t a bad argument. But in my opinion… there’s a slight flaw, wouldn’t you agree?”

He said, brandishing the laser pointer he had received from Jisub.

“First of all, let’s re-examine that ‘data,’ the data that the marketing department obtained a few years ago….”

“Hey, Peter.”

Charles Fleck quietly addressed the director of the marketing department by name.

“Do you recall the source of the data you cited?”

“Yes, it was data published by the Major League Baseball Secretariat. They stated that they compiled it by interviewing visiting spectators who attended games at 30 team stadiums over the course of a year….”

“That’s correct, but even with just this much information, it’s clear that there was an error in your statement, isn’t it?”

“Yes?”

Charles Fleck continued, observing the marketing director who was blinking in confusion.

“Have you forgotten? Our Tampa Bay is the only team where the proportion of visiting spectators exceeds 70%. That means the number of visiting spectators is enormous.”

“…Ah.”

“Ultimately, a profit model calculated based on the average of 30 teams cannot yield accurate predictions. We can’t accurately determine the demand, we can’t estimate the costs, and consequently, we can’t assess the feasibility of this business.”

“So, what should we do now?”

Charles Fleck smiled and surveyed the conference room.

“Of course, we have to try it, right? A more precise calculation, that is.”

Click.

As he pressed the button on the laser pointer, a new presentation file appeared on the wall of the conference room.

“Hmm?!”

The thick eyebrows of the marketing department director, upon seeing this, twitched noticeably.

* * *

The Tampa Bay Rays decided to pilot the visiting team merchandise shop around 4 p.m. on the same day.

The people who reviewed Charles Fleck’s calculations agreed to give it a try.

-Well, there have always been many visiting spectators at Tampa Bay Rays games. That’s an undeniable fact.

-Besides, aren’t those visiting spectators often residents of the Tampa Bay area? That needs to be considered as well.

-Above all, it’s just an exhibition game! Isn’t the exhibition game a time for trying new things?

The Tampa Bay directors voiced their support with these arguments, but in reality, Jisub was only half-listening, his mind already racing with the tasks ahead.

Immediately after the decision to operate the visiting team merchandise shop was made, a list of things to do began forming in his mind.

‘Let’s see, first I need to contact Nicholas from the Yankees, right? Inform him that the merchandise shop operation has been approved….’

Jisub was always busy, but the next few days were the peak of this off-season.

He had to meet with Nicholas Weiner, the special assistant to the general manager of the New York Yankees, to discuss the visiting team merchandise shop.

What products to bring in, how much quantity to bring, and how to settle the profit distribution issues between the two teams.

After the discussion, he had to return to Charlotte Sports Park immediately and review the installation plan of the merchandise shop with Charles Fleck.

“Fortunately, there was a suitable space. It was used as a warehouse until last season… I heard that there was a discussion about using it for a profit-making business, so they cleaned it up.”

“Hehe, we’re lucky. I was worried about setting up a tent outside the stadium.”

“The stadium operations department said they would start the interior work tomorrow. Well, they grumbled a lot, but still.”

From then on, it was a race against time.

While the stadium operations department was equipping the interior facilities, they were selecting employees to run the merchandise shop.

After completing the training of the employees, they received the goods sent from the Yankees logistics warehouse and packed them.

And finally, they displayed the products inside the merchandise shop with the help of the employees.

As soon as one task was finished, another problem arose, and when that problem was resolved, more work piled up.

Thanks to this, Jisub was only able to take a breather after completing all the preparations exactly on the 6th day after the operation of the merchandise shop was decided.

In other words, it was the night right before the first exhibition game of the Tampa Bay Rays.

“Haha, in the end… you did it.”

These were the words of Nicholas Weiner, the special assistant to the general manager, who had come to Charlotte Sports Park to help Jisub a little after 10 p.m.

“To be honest, when I first heard the story, I wondered if it would be possible… Jisub, I am once again amazed by your drive.”

“Oh, what are you talking about? It wasn’t something I did alone.”

Jisub said, taking a sip of the drink Nicholas handed him.

Kuh. He frowned slightly at the sharp carbonation that tickled his throat and asked the Yankees’ special assistant to the general manager.

“Nicholas, what do you think? Will the Yankees fans be satisfied with this?”

“Haha, it’s great. What more can I say?”

Nicholas looked around, opening his own can of soda.

“The overall facilities are clean, and the assortment of products is well-stocked. Of course, from my point of view, as I said before….”

“Here, around here.”

Nicholas gestured.

“If you put up a big picture of our Yankees’ new ace… Vincent Hiyama, the atmosphere would be even better.”

“Hey, what are you talking about? The picture is ready, isn’t it? It was Nicholas who insisted on not hanging it.”

Jisub pointed to a large frame placed in one corner of the store with his chin.

“It’s over there. A large photo of Vincent Hiyama. In the form of pitching, as you requested.”

“Geez, isn’t that last year’s picture! Wearing the Tampa Bay Rays uniform! How can I hang that picture here….”

“Anyway, you’re so diligent.”

“Where did you get that picture?”

Nicholas, fed up with Jisub’s teasing, spoke with a serious expression.

“If you exclude that one picture… Yes, it’s the best. It’s a shame that this is just a pilot operation.”

“Thank you.”

As Jisub slightly bowed his head, Nicholas raised one eyebrow and asked.

“Jisub, aren’t you nervous?”

“Yes?”

“You’ve always worked in the baseball operations side. This is almost your first time in marketing.”

He continued.

“Actually, I had that conversation with Jessica from Boston. ‘Kim’s guts are amazing,’ she said. ‘It’s amazing that he’s taking on a completely new job.'”

“Ah.”

“So, I’m asking. Aren’t you nervous? Aren’t you worried about what will happen if it doesn’t work out?”

“Well, honestly, I was a little nervous at first.”

That’s right. It’s not like Jisub can predict the future.

“But I’m okay now. I’ve done everything I can. I’ve put all the ideas that came to mind into practice. So that’s why now….”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Jisub said with a grin.

“What kind of results my efforts will bring, and how it will change our Tampa Bay Rays.”

“Hmm, looking forward to it.”

Nicholas nodded.

“Then you should slowly leave work now, right? You should welcome tomorrow that you’re so looking forward to… in good condition if possible, right?”

“Ah, should I? Well, it’s getting late.”

Jisub, accepting Nicholas’s suggestion, poured the carbonated drink he was holding into his mouth.

Gulp, gulp, gulp. In one breath, he emptied the can, and a trash can came into view in the distance.

“….”

After thinking about something for a moment, Jisub held the empty can and quietly stared at the trash can.

‘Should I… try to toss it in?’

It was hard to know what to expect.

He had confidently told Nicholas that he was ‘looking forward to it’.

But as he thought about going home after finishing all the preparations, he felt a little anxious.

Aiming at the trash can was probably a way to calm that feeling.

‘If this goes in… everything will be fine.’

If this goes in, it will be fine.

If this goes in, it will be fine.

While repeating this in his mind, Jisub threw the empty can with the same posture he used to throw to first base during his playing days.

Whoosh-

The empty can, flying in a high arc, landed in the trash can with a loud ‘clang!’, and Jisub clenched his fist.

“Nice throw!”

“Thank you, bro!”

After lightly bumping fists with Nicholas, Jisub was finally able to leave the stadium with a refreshed feeling.

This was at 10:36 p.m.

Until the first exhibition game of the Tampa Bay Rays was held.

Until the fans of the New York Yankees flocked to Charlotte Sports Park.

There were exactly 11 hours and 10 minutes left.