A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 46

The New Recruit of the Baseball Team is Too Good – Episode 46

#The New Recruit of the Baseball Team is Too Good Episode 46

Chapter 13: One Step Forward (2)

Arthur Freeman. 64 years old. From the United States.

Appointed as the new manager of the KH Cannons last November, he was known as one of the most experienced leaders in the American minor leagues.

After being appointed as the manager of a rookie league team under the LA Dodgers at the young age of 32, he had spent over 30 years as a minor league manager until last year.

During that time, he had fostered more than 50 Major League All-Star players, and about half a dozen teams had won the World Series with his guidance.

Although the fact that he had never served as a Major League manager was pointed out as his only drawback, he possessed a career resume that was top-tier among the foreign managers who had come to Korean professional baseball so far.

“Welcome. You must be Kim.”

The next morning, Jisub felt his mouth dry as he stepped into the KH Cannons field manager’s office for the first time.

The first topic that the ‘veteran’ in his sixties brought up to Jisub was this:

“Have you ever heard of the ‘butterfly effect’?”

“Excuse me?”

The question came abruptly, before he could even properly introduce himself.

Jisub was slightly taken aback at first, but he quickly regained his composure and responded.

“Ah, yes.”

It seemed he wasn’t simply asking if he had heard of it.

“The fluttering of a butterfly’s wings in Brazil can cause a tornado in the distant United States… I understand it as such.”

“That’s right. You understand it perfectly.”

Manager Arthur Freeman nodded.

“As I sat here this morning thinking, it occurred to me… that you becoming my translator might be an example of that ‘butterfly effect’.”

“Excuse me?”

“Mr. Jang over there… that gentleman has been my translator until now.”

Section Chief Jang Yong-moon from the International Affairs Team.

Jisub knew his face well.

‘Instead of Deputy Manager Cha Yoon-jin, who became the team leader of the International Affairs Team… Section Chief Jang was in charge of negotiations with overseas clubs, wasn’t he?’

As his thoughts reached this point, Jisub was able to grasp the context of why Manager Arthur Freeman had mentioned the ‘butterfly effect’.

‘It’s not a perfect analogy… but it’s not entirely wrong to call it a butterfly effect.’

Jisub had exposed the corruption of Jonathan Stewart, the Cannons’ local scout in the United States.

As a result, Deputy Director Jo Sung-beom of the International Affairs Team took all the responsibility and resigned.

Cha Yoon-jin, nicknamed ‘Black Curtain Chacha’ [a playful nickname alluding to her behind-the-scenes influence], filled Jo’s vacant position, and Section Chief Jang Yong-moon, who had been Freeman’s translator, filled her vacancy.

‘Finally, I filled Section Chief Jang’s vacancy… I think that’s the gist of it.’

Jisub couldn’t help but let out a wry smile inside.

He was already catching flak because of Deputy Director Jo Sung-beom’s resignation, so why bring up this whole chain of events to him?

Whether he knew Jisub’s feelings or not, ‘veteran’ Arthur Freeman continued with the story as he pleased.

“Kim, do you know that in America, tornadoes are practically a symbol of terror?”

Until a moment ago, he had been talking about Section Chief Jang, but now the topic had changed to tornadoes.

“A tremendous wind blows and sweeps away houses, cars, animals… everything into the sky. Many people die or get hurt in the process.”

The next moment, Jisub was able to grasp why Manager Arthur Freeman had mentioned the ‘butterfly effect’.

“But you know… even if such a terrible disaster happened in the United States, you can’t blame the butterfly in Brazil for it, can you?”

“…Ah.”

Section Chief Jang Yong-moon, who was sitting next to Jisub, made an ‘Ah’ sound.

He seemed to have understood what Manager Freeman was trying to say.

“The butterfly in Brazil was just flapping its wings. Whether it’s to find food or to escape the threat of a predator… anyway, it’s irrational to blame the butterfly for such actions.”

“That’s right, Manager.”

Section Chief Jang Yong-moon nodded.

“I think so too.”

“Is that so? But you know…”

As if he liked Section Chief Jang’s response, Manager Arthur Freeman continued with a faint smile.

“Let’s say the butterfly in Brazil heard about this. Let’s say it learned that its flapping had caused a disaster in a distant country.”

“…”

“Then what should the butterfly do now? Should it stop flapping its wings? Because if it flaps its wings, a tornado might strike again in a distant country?”

There would be several options.

Manager Arthur Freeman said.

“There will be idiots who stop flapping their wings, and there will be timid guys who flap their wings carefully… but I want to see a butterfly that flaps its wings more vigorously.”

The gray eyes of the veteran, who had endured 30 years in the minor leagues, turned to Jisub.

“A butterfly that flies vigorously, not caring what others say. So, a butterfly that eats more delicious food than others… I want to keep such a butterfly by my side and watch it.”

What type do you like?

That was the last thing Manager Arthur Freeman said to Jisub that day.

* * *

Flap your wings vigorously.

No matter what others say.

Section Chief Jang Yong-moon of the International Affairs Team seemed deeply impressed by Manager Arthur Freeman’s encouragement.

“Yes, Jisub! I think the manager is a thousand times right.”

On the way out of the manager’s office and into the adjacent office.

During that short time, Section Chief Jang nodded ‘yes, yes’ several times.

“It’s not Jisub’s fault at all! Rather, he’s made a great contribution! Thanks to Jisub, our Cannons will be able to recruit better foreign players in the future, right?”

“…Yes.”

“So, don’t worry about what others say! Just do as the manager says! Vigorously! Flap your wings! You know what I mean, right?”

Even after Jisub nodded, Section Chief Jang let out strange exclamations like ‘Kyaa’ and ‘Keu’.

A warm word of encouragement to a new recruit who has been marked with a black mark in the organization.

Even with a plausible metaphor like the ‘butterfly effect’.

It wasn’t that Jisub wasn’t grateful for Manager Arthur Freeman’s encouragement, but he wasn’t as deeply impressed as Section Chief Jang.

The reason was obvious.

The moment that one word that moved Section Chief Jang’s heart came out, Jisub had been ‘intently’ looking into Manager Arthur Freeman’s eyes.

[I don’t know the exact reason… but the acting owner seems to be very concerned about this guy.]

On the outside, a warm voice that moves people’s hearts.

However, the voice coming from within was nothing but cold.

[The KH Cannons team… is an organization where the acting owner’s influence is very strong.]

[In such a team, a new recruit who came in through the acting owner’s connections? He’s someone who can never be sent anywhere else.]

[Of course, his player career is insignificant, and his social life experience is close to zero… Hmmm, he’s not exactly a useful guy…]

In a way, he’s a person with a different exterior and interior.

But Jisub saw it a little differently.

‘Experience is not something to be ignored.’

He had a talent for capturing the hearts of his subordinates with his eloquent speech.

At the same time, he had already grasped how this damn baseball team works.

Here, he even has the political power to accept a ‘parachute’ [someone appointed to a position through connections] to maintain his relationship with the acting owner.

With such talent, it’s no wonder he’s been a manager in the minor leagues for over 30 years.

‘But if this happens… am I bound to be a useless person for the time being?’

Manager Arthur Freeman seemed to have concluded that Jisub was ‘not a useful guy’.

He may be judging that getting Ryu Jang-ho out of his slump and discovering Jonathan’s corruption were accomplishments achieved by using the ‘acting owner’s connections’.

If so, there’s a high possibility that he’ll be sitting around doing nothing for a while.

While Jisub was lost in thought, someone knocked ‘tap tap’ on the desk.

“Jisub, are you listening to me?”

It was Section Chief Jang Yong-moon.

“Ask me if you have any questions.”

“Questions… you mean?”

“Yeah.”

Section Chief Jang nodded.

“You can take over the work slowly from tomorrow… but for now, ask me if you have any questions separately.”

“Ah, yes, then…”

Instead of answering immediately, Jisub raised his eyes and looked around the office.

What can he do here to escape the ‘useless person’ mode as quickly as possible?

How can he impress the old man who only sees him as the ‘acting owner’s connection’?

‘…Oh?’

As Jisub was racking his brains, something ‘flashed’ into his view.

‘That is…’

It was the ‘machine’ that had given Jisub a few opportunities to start, even though he had been a batting ball pitcher in the American Independent League.

It was also the thing that made it possible for him to be appreciated by the coaching staff, even though he was constantly getting crushed every time he pitched in the Chinese league.

Going back in time, the reason why Jisub, who had ambiguous skills, was able to stand on the college stage was all thanks to that machine.

‘Yes, this is it.’

With the feeling of meeting a friend he had forgotten for a while, Jisub pointed to the ‘coffee machine’ placed on one side of the office with his finger.

“That’s a pretty good coffee machine, isn’t it?”

“Hmm? Ah, that?”

Section Chief Jang Yong-moon nodded.

“Yeah, it was one of the manager’s contract conditions. He wanted a good coffee machine in the office, no matter what else.”

“The manager must really like coffee?”

“What are you talking about? He’s crazy about it.”

A wry smile spread across Section Chief Jang Yong-moon’s face.

“He has a cup as soon as he gets to work in the morning, a cup while going into a meeting in the morning, and another cup before going into training in the afternoon… I think he’s almost addicted.”

Section Chief Jang continued.

“Our manager is really good at everything, but he’s a bit picky about coffee… I’ve had a hard time matching his taste.”

“Ah, is that so?”

Jisub nodded.

“Since we’re on the subject, I’ll teach you how to use it. Come over here for a moment?”

Section Chief Jang gestured as he got up, but Jisub just sat still and shook his head.

“It’s okay. I know how to use a coffee machine.”

“Really? Still, shouldn’t you know the manager’s favorite taste?”

Jisub smiled brightly at Section Chief Jang, who was tilting his head.

“It’s okay.”

A confident voice.

“Even if I don’t know anything else… I’m really good at making coffee.”