A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 478

The New Recruit of the Baseball Team is Too Good 478

101 A Final Piece of the Puzzle (4)

Around evening the next day.

Ji-seop was heading to Orlando, Florida, about a 2-hour drive from St. Petersburg.

Vroom-

It was around 6 PM.

An hour before the game started.

Usually, Ji-seop would have been blasting the [Pregame Show], a game preview program, on the radio.

But today, he didn’t even think about touching the radio power button, focusing silently on driving.

Of course, it was also because it was his first time on this road. Orlando is a city without even a minor league team, let alone a major league team. It was an unfamiliar city for a baseball team employee.

But a slightly more decisive reason was Charles Flex, sitting in the passenger seat.

“Ahem!”

The ‘Great Showman,’ who had come on this Orlando business trip with Ji-seop, had been wearing a constantly dissatisfied expression.

In fact, the reason wasn’t hard to guess.

Wasn’t it obvious? Ji-seop had rejected President Brian Spann’s offer. He hadn’t wavered from his intention to return to Korea someday.

For Charles Flex, who had been burning with enthusiasm to become Ji-seop’s ‘Kingmaker,’ it must have been quite disheartening.

“Anyway, these young people these days have no ambition! What good is being smart?”

How many times has he said that already?

“A person, huh?! Shouldn’t they try to do something big at least once? You have to know how to cut off personal feelings at a reasonable level!”

He even waved his fists around.

“It’s the same for you, but what’s even more frustrating is John Ramer and David! Those airheads, when you were called in by the president, they were looking up plane tickets to Korea online, can you believe it?”

“Plane tickets to Korea, you say?”

Ji-seop’s eyes widened.

What could it be? Does that mean they want to go with me when I go back to Korea?

David wouldn’t have much trouble finding a job in Korea, but it would be better for John Ramer to stay here in many ways.

While Ji-seop was lost in thought, Charles Flex crossed his arms and puffed out his cheeks.

“If the leader seems unreliable, you should quickly find another route. What are you going to do if you step into a clearly visible quagmire? What are they, penguins? When one jumps into the water, do they all jump in without looking back?!”

It was at this moment that a subtle smile appeared on Ji-seop’s face.

“It doesn’t seem like you’ve made a very wise choice either, Mr. Flex?”

“What?”

Charles Flex raised one eyebrow, but Ji-seop’s expression didn’t change.

“No, isn’t that right? Even though I rejected the president’s offer and came back, you’re still showing enthusiasm for this project…”

That’s right. It was tremendous enthusiasm.

He thought that if he rejected the president’s offer, he would lose interest and do nothing, but Charles Flex was moving even more busily.

Charles Flex was the one who greeted the city officials, and Charles Flex was the one who made dinner appointments with civic groups.

Even today’s trip to Orlando was Charles Flex’s achievement.

After searching here and there, he had found someone who had experienced Zeus Analytics’ team value certification last year.

“Ahem! Well… I still owe you quite a bit, so that’s why.”

Charles Flex couldn’t make eye contact with Ji-seop.

“And I haven’t given up yet. My plan to make you the president of the Tampa Bay Rays.”

“Oh ho.”

“If we successfully complete the team value certification, and if the new stadium construction project comes to an end… the team will make a new offer. That’s what I’m aiming for.”

Watching Charles Flex make a very determined expression, Ji-seop let out a soft ‘hehe’ laugh.

“Then you’re making a wise choice, Mr. Flex?”

“Of course! I’m a wise man. What do you think I got the nickname ‘Great Showman’ from playing poker?”

Then, Charles Flex’s large palm slapped Ji-seop’s shoulder.

“Enough, just drive.”

His finger pointed straight ahead.

“Mr. Orco’s house is to the left at the fork ahead.”

* * *

Nicola Orco. That was the name of the man Ji-seop met in Orlando that day.

He had been working in the front office for nearly 10 years since graduating from college, and last year he had collaborated with Zeus Analytics as part of the Washington Nationals’ minor league affiliate.

Let’s find out how Zeus Analytics works through this man, who was on sabbatical this year and had returned to his hometown.

This was Charles Flex’s plan.

“Oh, you’re going down a thorny path!”

As the name Nicola suggests, he was from an Italian immigrant family.

Perhaps because of that influence, he was conveying more information through gestures than through words.

From the beginning, he slapped his forehead with his palm and shuddered as if he was disgusted.

“It’s terrible. It’s really terrible! Getting certified by Zeus Analytics may be even harder than winning the World Series.”

He knew it was terrible.

The information Ji-seop needed was specifically how terrible it was.

“Basically, the standards are high. The standards for evaluating all areas—finance, marketing, facilities—are one or two levels higher than other certification companies.”

The standards are high.

It was a tricky part.

“But in my opinion, the most terrible part is the baseball-related part.”

“Baseball-related part?”

“Yes, how should I put this… That’s right, they have a very firm philosophy about baseball? Yes, this part will be very difficult for you.”

Mr. Orco continued.

“What is good baseball? In fact, this is a part where many answers can come out, right? But Zeus Analytics is very stubborn at this point. They just think their ideas are the best.”

“Haha, I feel like I can see the hardships ahead. Our team’s front office isn’t easy to deal with when it comes to baseball philosophy…”

Charles Flex also scratched his head as if he was in trouble, but Ji-seop was picking out a slightly different point here.

“Based on Mr. Orco’s experience, who is leading that ‘philosophy’?”

“Yes?”

As Nicola Orco blinked, Ji-seop tapped the table with his finger and continued.

“That’s how it is. The stronger the color of the team, the more likely there is one person inside who leads it.”

It was a story from his past experiences.

“Zeus also employs dozens of people, right? There’s no way that so many people have the same thoughts about baseball… In the end, there’s someone who holds the hegemony, right?”

If it was a baseball team, it could be the manager, the general manager, or, rarely, the owner.

So who is it at Zeus Analytics? Who is gathering the scattered opinions and leading them?

Nicola Orco’s reaction to Ji-seop’s question was-

“Tsk.”

He clicked his tongue as if he was displeased.

“Now that I hear it, that’s right. When I think about it, there seems to have been a guy who took on that role.”

“Really?”

Ji-seop’s expression brightened slightly.

If he could accurately grasp the tendencies of the person leading Zeus Analytics’ baseball philosophy, things would be much easier.

“What kind of person is he? I heard that the president of Zeus is from a non-baseball background.”

“Yes, not the president… A project director? He was called by such a title. He’s in his mid-30s.”

He must have been ripped off a lot by that ‘project director.’

Nicola Orco was frowning just thinking about his face.

“He applied absurd standards, and he wouldn’t let us proceed to the next stage unless we made corrections… And how quick-witted he was! I still grind my teeth when I think about it.”

“Haha, he must have been quite a troublesome person.”

Even at this point, Ji-seop was wearing a relaxed smile, but he tilted his head slightly at the following words.

“I heard he worked for the Boston Red Sox. Do you remember General Manager David Perkins, who led them to the championship two years ago? I heard he also worked as his right-hand man.”

“General Manager Perkins’ right-hand man, you say?”

Ji-seop’s eyebrows twitched.

Ji-seop had met General Manager David Perkins several times during his Cannons days.

Ji-seop had helped him in the process of recruiting FA [Free Agent] players, and in return, he had obtained business cooperation.

Above all, if it was someone who could be called his right-hand man, there was only one person in Ji-seop’s knowledge.

‘Then… could it be?’

I wonder if it’s the name I know.

Ji-seop felt his heart pounding and asked again.

“So, do you remember that friend’s name?”

“Of course, I remember! How could I forget that name! The director of Zeus Analytics…”

The next moment, a very faint smile appeared on Ji-seop’s face.

* * *

At the very same time that Ji-seop was hearing an unexpected name from Mr. Nicola Orco.

In a baseball field located in Jackson, Tennessee, a man’s boisterous voice was echoing.

“Now, look here!”

A middle-aged man, spreading his arms from side to side, showing off a proud expression.

He pointed to a large machine placed behind him and continued.

“This is the famous ! You must have heard of its reputation, right? It’s the training equipment that has been shaking up Major League Baseball!”

He lifted the suit pants that kept sagging due to his belly with both hands.

“With the touch of a button, you can vividly experience the balls of all the pitchers in the world! Whether it’s Vincent Hyama or Ruben Acosta, you can experience it right here!”

It was a more advanced form of pitching machine.

A form that combined a large LED monitor and a typical pitching machine.

The pitching motion of a pre-stored pitcher is displayed through the monitor, and at that timing, equipment that spits out a ball similar to the one thrown by the pitcher.

“How is it? Isn’t this a considerable level for a minor league team? I think it’s about time to move on to the next stage…”

As the middle-aged man smiled confidently, the employees in suits standing opposite him slowly nodded.

“Traject Arc… It’s not an easy piece of equipment to afford, but you managed to bring it in.”

“It’s such a famous piece of equipment that there’s no need to evaluate it separately. Certainly, at this level… we can try to push for a contract with a Major League team again.”

“As expected, it’s you, Zeus Analytics! As befits the best certification company, your eyes are very accurate! Hahaha!”

A middle-aged man who wants to create a new minor league team and sign a contract with a Major League team.

At the very moment when a triumphant smile appeared on the man’s face at the positive reaction of the Zeus Analytics people.

“Good equipment. It’s really good.”

A black man appeared from behind the training equipment in question.

“You have the latest version fully equipped. I am very grateful that you have met our requirements.”

“Oh, you’re welcome!”

The middle-aged man waved his hand.

“It has been my long-cherished dream to create a new minor league team here in Jackson. For that dream, this level of investment is not a waste.”

“Really? Since the president is showing such enthusiasm… I should give you something in return.”

“A reward?”

The team president, perked up.

But it didn’t last long.

While touching the shiny training equipment, the black man made this suggestion.

“Yes, I’ll enter the pitcher data that our Zeus Analytics has. It will be more helpful for the players’ training.”

“Ah! Data entry? That’s really appreciated, but…”

The team president hesitated slightly.

“How long will that data entry take? Will one day be enough?”

“Oh, one day? One player’s data exceeds 1TB [terabyte, a unit of digital storage]? It will take at least a month.”

“A, a month…”

The team president, sweating profusely, didn’t know what to do.

The black man’s face showed an expression that said, ‘I knew it.’

“President, what’s wrong? It’s no different from me filling out one part of the evaluation item for free.”

It was the most affectionate voice in the world.

“Let’s start today without dragging it out any longer. We can arrange a truck to carry the equipment in about an hour…”

“W, wait a minute! Tommy!!!”

The team president grabbed the man’s arm.

“Not today! Just a few days… Can you give me a few days of leeway? So I can negotiate…”

“Negotiate?”

The man called ‘Tommy’ raised his eyebrows.

“What negotiation? Is it a negotiation with the company that lent you the equipment? Was the rental period only for today? After today, our Zeus people will be away from Jackson for the time being?”

“T, that’s…”

The team president couldn’t say anything more at the man’s point.

That was the truth. The training equipment was something he had rented for only one day. In reality, it was not owned by the team president.

“I’m disappointed, President.”

The black man said, taking out his glasses from his shirt pocket and putting them on.

“I have repeatedly said that the price of the equipment is not important. In the end, ‘ownership’ is important. Because players must be able to use it at any time, and they must be able to adjust it freely at any time.”

An explanation was added that Major League teams also purchase the most important training equipment without fail.

“If you do this kind of trickery, the point at which your long-cherished dream comes true will only be pushed back. Do you understand?”

“…I, I understand.”

When the completely dejected president lowered his head with a mournful expression, the man patted him on the shoulder and approached his colleagues.

“Oh oh…”

“Wow…”

Colleagues looking at him with slightly surprised expressions.

But the man was just gesturing with a calm expression.

“Luke, can you bring me my report?”

“Yes, Director!”

A Zeus Analytics employee quickly picked up a file on the desk at the man’s command.

The cover of the document he picked up had the following name written on it.