A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 472

Rookie of the Baseball Team is Too Good 472

100 Million Dollars Asks You (4)

The 36 preconditions that the St. Petersburg city government demanded in exchange for the construction of a new stadium.

After years of effort, the Tampa Bay Rays claimed to have met 35 of those conditions.

Now, only one remained. The final condition needed for the new stadium construction was [Team Value Certification].

“It means exactly what it says.”

Charles P Flex said.

“To get a solid certification on how much value the Tampa Bay Rays have, and whether they are qualified to receive public funds from the city government.”

It didn’t seem to be just a matter of checking the team’s profitability.

What is the value of the players the team owns? How efficiently is the development system operating?

How many dedicated fans have they secured, and what is their relationship with the local community?

Furthermore, what philosophy does the team owner have, and does it align with the public interest?

It was truly a comprehensive evaluation, a certification that came from examining all aspects of the Tampa Bay Rays.

“They even check the team owner’s philosophy? Seriously, do people who can do that even exist?”

“Haha, surprisingly, there are many. It’s a surprisingly lucrative business, you know? I’ve heard there are over thirty certification companies across the United States that specialize in sports teams.”

Charles P Flex scratched his chin.

“I heard that the Tampa Bay Rays also conducted an external audit before last season… So aren’t you guys familiar with it? Even with some differences, it’s roughly the same people doing the same things.”

“E, external audit?”

John LaMar looked dejected, as if a trauma had been triggered.

In the external audit conducted last year, John LaMar had received tremendous criticism.

At the time, the external analysis firm recommended dismantling the Future Strategy Planning Department, and John LaMar had a difficult time for a while.

“Ugh, it was a truly terrible time. Lawyers, accountants, university professors, and later even former players and front office staff… Tropicana Field was so crowded.”

“Yes, I remember it too.”

David Wilson’s expression wasn’t much brighter either.

“Strangers came and asked detailed questions about the team’s sensitive areas, so all the team members were sweating bullets. Haa, I don’t want to go through that again if I can help it, but…”

Well, it can’t be helped.

David clicked his tongue.

“We’ve met 35 out of the 36 conditions, haven’t we? No matter how uncomfortable it is, we can’t stop the project just because of the team value certification.”

“I guess so. The soup is all cooked, and now we just need to add pepper, so we can’t just throw away the pot now…”

It was at this moment that John LaMar, who had been nodding at David’s words, suddenly raised an eyebrow.

“But… Kim?”

“Yes?”

“Why do you look like that? You haven’t said anything for a while.”

John LaMar blinked.

“Are you uncomfortable with the team value certification? Or have you experienced it before in Korea?”

“No, it’s not that. There isn’t such a system in Korean professional baseball in the first place. But…”

Jisub raised his head.

“There’s something a little strange.”

“Strange? What?”

“David just said that, didn’t he? ‘Just’ team value certification.”

“W, well, I did…”

David scratched his cheek with his finger.

“Was there something strange about what I said? I just thought it was a much easier condition compared to opening the 3rd floor upper deck…”

“Yes, that’s right. I think the same way too. That’s why I’m saying this.”

Jisub continued.

“It’s a simple task, as David said. Among the 35 conditions our team has achieved so far, there were many more difficult tasks. But why have the team owner and the general manager put it off until now?”

There was another strange thing.

“Besides, if that’s the only condition left, they would have given instructions to implement it right away… But they haven’t even mentioned it at all, have they?”

“Oh, really?”

“That’s true?”

John LaMar and David Wilson tilted their heads after hearing Jisub’s words.

As everyone struggled to come up with an answer, Jisub could see a faint smile appearing on the face of just one person.

“…….”

The Great Showman,

It was Charles P Flex.

* * *

The Future Strategy Planning Department people came out of the sauna at around 10 PM that day.

“Ugh!”

“Hoo…”

Their bodies felt really refreshed. It felt like all the accumulated fatigue had disappeared. To exaggerate a little, it felt like they could fly away.

However, perhaps because of the question Jisub had raised, people’s expressions were not very bright.

“Kim, should I ask my father about it? What are your plans for the team value certification?”

Just before getting into the car, John LaMar asked this, but Jisub lightly shook his head.

“No. I’m sure the team owner has something in mind. I think it would be good to wait a few days.”

“Is that so? Well, if I ask, it’ll just stir up trouble… Alright. See you tomorrow!”

After sending John LaMar and David Wilson away, Jisub turned his gaze towards Charles P Flex.

“I’ll drive for you.”

“You will?”

“Yes, you said your eyes have been blurry for a while, didn’t you? Besides…”

Jisub slightly raised the corner of his mouth.

“It seems like you’re going to tell me some important information… Then it’s right for me to drive for you.”

“Heh, important information? I tried to hide it, but it seems like it was too obvious?”

Damn it, I can’t beat you.

Charles P Flex handed over the car keys with a wry smile on his face.

-Turn left at the next intersection. Use the first lane.

Of course, Jisub had a rough idea.

The reason why the Tampa Bay Rays had been postponing the team value certification. The reason why General Manager Brian Span hadn’t even mentioned it.

However, because it was too important to just guess and act, Jisub volunteered to be Charles P Flex’s chauffeur for the day.

“Sorry for holding back. But this is a very personal matter.”

It was Charles P Flex’s story that came out about 10 minutes after Jisub took the wheel.

“A personal matter?”

“Well, kind of. I wonder where I should start explaining this from…”

Charles P Flex looked out the window, where rain was starting to sprinkle, and opened his mouth while stroking his chin.

“I told you that there are companies that specialize in team value certification, right?”

“Yes, you did.”

“The selection of that certification company… The city advisory board of St. Petersburg has the authority.”

City advisory board.

Literally, they were people who gave various advice on the city government’s administration.

From politics, economy, society, culture, and even sports. People who could be called veterans in each sector were taking on that role.

“So, the sports sector advisor selects the company that will do the team value certification?”

“That’s right, it depends on the advisor. If that friend selects a lenient company, things will be easy, and if they select a strict company, the entire board could be overturned in the worst case scenario.”

The problem starts here.

Charles P Flex’s expression became strange.

“The sports sector advisor for St. Petersburg is an old man named Joseph Carter.”

“Joseph Carter?”

Joseph Carter, Joseph Carter.

I feel like I’ve heard that somewhere.

Jisub muttered the name to himself and suddenly made a ‘Huh?’ sound.

“Wait a minute, Flex! If it’s Joseph Carter… are you talking about that ‘One Dollar Joseph’ that I know?”

“Well, probably. Unless there’s another man with that nickname.”

One Dollar Joseph.

Charles P Flex chuckled.

“Isn’t it a shame for the founding owner of the Tampa Bay Rays… to have such a nickname?”

* * *

John LaMar’s father, Jeffrey Taylor, is the second owner of the Tampa Bay Rays.

The man who led the Tampa Bay Rays before Jeffrey Taylor, the man who virtually created the team called the Tampa Bay Rays.

That was Joseph Carter.

Although he was better known to people by the nickname ‘One Dollar Joseph’.

“I’ve heard the rumors too.”

Since the traffic light was red, Jisub said while stepping on the brake.

“He was from a construction family in St. Petersburg… I heard he was very frugal.”

“Frugal? Haha, hey! Are you acting prim and proper now that you’re the deputy general manager? How can you describe that as frugal?”

You should call him a miser.

Or say he’s crazy about money.

Charles P Flex laughed heartily.

“How did the nickname One Dollar Joseph come about in the first place? It came about because he insisted that even the students who came to perform at the opening game celebration had to buy tickets.”

Jisub had also heard about that legendary episode.

Was it in the late 1990s or early 2000s?

The students from a nearby high school who came to play the American national anthem at the opening game held at Tropicana Field.

Joseph Carter, who was the team owner at the time, shouted that even the students had to buy tickets to enter.

-Hey, teacher! Isn’t this basic common sense? You need a ticket to get into the baseball stadium! You can’t come in without a ticket!

The teachers protested that they had been invited by the team, but Joseph Carter was adamant.

When the reporters threatened to write an article about this incident, Joseph Carter finally took a step back.

-Damn it, damn reporters! Okay, I won’t take the full ticket price. But even if dirt gets in my eyes, I won’t give it away for free!

And that legendary phrase that came out.

-I’ll have them pay $1 per person! Even students should have that much money!

That’s how the nickname was attached.

One dollar. One Dollar Joseph.

“In the end, wasn’t he deprived of his position as team owner because of his habit of being obsessed with money? When he fell into financial crisis, no one tried to help him.”

It was around that time that Jeffrey Taylor, the current team owner, appeared.

Taylor, a wealthy trader, gradually secured Joseph Carter’s stake, who was in financial crisis.

At the same time as Brian Span, who was making a name for himself in New York, joined, he drove out Joseph Carter and became the owner of the Tampa Bay Rays.

“…So that’s why you said it was a personal matter.”

After hearing the story up to this point, Jisub felt like he could vaguely see the situation.

“It must be very uncomfortable for the team owner and the general manager. The former owner they kicked out is sitting as a city advisory board member.”

“Actually, you should see it as more than that.”

Charles P Flex clicked his tongue.

“I don’t know if he realized something after being kicked out of the team owner’s seat, but the current Joseph Carter has become a well-known philanthropist in this area.”

“Philanthropist? That One Dollar Joseph?”

“Ah, that’s right?”

This is driving me crazy.

Charles P Flex sighed.

“Joseph Carter is openly saying that he will block the construction of the Tampa Bay Rays’ new stadium. But since he donates so much and has a good image, we have no justification to kick him out.”

They can’t do this, and they can’t do that.

In the meantime, only time has passed meaninglessly.

“Even that smart Brian Span can’t seem to touch Joseph Carter…”

Swish.

It was at this moment that Charles P Flex’s gaze turned to Jisub in the driver’s seat.

“Kim, how about you?”

“Yes?”

“You’re really good at this one thing, aren’t you? To the point where I almost fall for it.”

Charles P Flex put his finger to his mouth and shook it.

“Even if it’s someone else, if Kim, you step up… I think a breakthrough might come out somehow.”