A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 480

The Baseball Team’s New Recruit Is Too Good 480

The Baseball Team’s New Recruit Is Too Good 480

101 A Final Piece of the Puzzle (6)

Jisub and Tommy Damon.

Once upon a time, these two men shared the bench in the San Rafael Pacifics, an independent baseball team in the United States.

Almost two years later, they met again at the headquarters of Zeus Analytics Group three days later.

“…….”

“…….”

At first, they were quite awkward.

They didn’t even exchange proper eye contact.

This was because the conference room was filled with key figures related to the Tampa Bay Rays’ new stadium construction project.

Brian Spon, the general manager of the Tampa Bay Rays, Albert O’Connell, the CEO of Zeus Analytics Group.

And Joseph Carter, a city council advisory member from St. Petersburg, who emerged as the final hurdle for this project.

Due to the presence of such prominent figures, there was no room for private conversations among the staff.

Instead, the atmosphere was filled with a palpable tension, making it difficult to even utter a single word.

“Three months… That’s longer than I expected. I’m concerned it might significantly impact the team’s season operations.”

“Brian, please understand.”

This was Joseph Carter’s response.

“The new stadium construction project involves a substantial amount of public funds. As it involves our citizens’ hard-earned tax money, I have to pay special attention.”

He adjusted his glasses.

“But I promise you this. I will trust Zeus’s judgment 100%. I won’t demand additional investigations, nor will I involve other certification companies.”

“Haha, I suddenly feel a great weight on my shoulders. Mr. Joseph Carter trusts us so much…”

CEO O’Connell smiled gently.

“Brian, isn’t this a good deal? An opportunity to put an end to the new stadium construction project that has been going on for over 10 years.”

“Hmm, I agree. I am grateful to Mr. Carter in that regard. However, I have a few suggestions regarding the certification process…”

“Oh, really? What is it? If it’s something that can be handled here, let’s review it quickly.”

The general guidelines for the team valuation were established about an hour later.

Zeus Analytics was given exactly three months. Within that time, the Tampa Bay Rays had to meet the conditions required by the other party.

Once all conditions were met, the team valuation certification would be issued under the name of Zeus Analytics-

“Mr. Joseph Carter will report these results to the city council within 48 hours… Well, will this suffice?”

Looking around, CEO O’Connell clapped his hands once to signal the end of the first stage of negotiations.

“Good. Then let’s leave the remaining specific details to the staff… What do you say? Would you two like to join me for a cup of tea?”

“Hmm, it wouldn’t be bad. I’m feeling a bit thirsty anyway…”

As Joseph Carter readily got up from his seat, General Manager Brian Spon turned to Jisub and said.

“Kim, I’m counting on you.”

“Yes, leave it to me.”

As the three prominent figures and their supporting staff hurried out, the atmosphere in the conference room finally felt a bit lighter.

While his colleagues breathed sighs of relief and exchanged a few words, Jisub was checking his wristwatch.

‘It’ll be difficult to continue the discussion right now… It’s better to take a 30-minute break and then start.’

And it was probably at that moment.

A nonchalant voice came from across Jisub.

“Leave the remaining specific details to the staff… Ugh, our CEO is assigning us a difficult mission.”

A Black man, with his arms crossed, let out a long sigh.

It was only natural that the eyes of everyone in the conference room were focused on him.

“No, to discuss the specific details, shouldn’t the negotiation partner be well-versed in baseball? What can I talk about with someone who couldn’t even throw 80 miles per hour?”

“Heeey? Mr. Damon! What are you suddenly saying…”

Zeus’s employees were surprised and raised their heads, but Jisub’s face showed an expression of ‘Look at this guy?’

“Ah, 80 miles per hour? I don’t know when you’re going to stop using the same pattern?”

Jisub also crossed his arms and said.

“The person who’s saying that didn’t have great baseball skills either, right? Or is it a problem with baseball skills? Isn’t it a lack of basic social skills as a member of society in the first place?”

“Hmm?!”

This time, the Tampa Bay Rays’ employees widened their eyes, but Jisub continued without paying attention.

“You haven’t even replied to my texts since you got fired from Boston… Isn’t that a bit of a problem?”

“Oh, you’re going to point that out?”

“I don’t see why not?”

Then, the two negotiation representatives from both sides silently glared at each other.

Just as people who didn’t know what was going on were sweating and trying to mediate between the two.

A slight smile was appearing on the faces of the two people who had been stiff.

“…Tommy!”

“Kim!!!”

Jisub of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Tommy of Zeus Analytics.

It was immediately after that that the two men shook hands firmly with bright expressions.

* * *

Of course, he had to pay the price for embarrassing his colleagues with his clumsy acting.

After ordering each of his laughing colleagues a cup of coffee of their choice.

Jisub and Tommy Damon moved to the 7th-floor terrace and were catching up on their long-overdue stories.

“Ah, really? I was wondering why you were suddenly at a certification company… So it was Director Perkins’s introduction?”

“Yeah, it was a good offer in many ways. They offered a generous salary, and there was also a condition that they would send me back as soon as Director Perkins returned to the field.”

Tommy Damon shrugged his shoulders as he sipped his coffee.

“Of course, if I had known that someone living somewhere would achieve such great results, I would have tried to be nicer to that guy… Damn, a misjudgment.”

Jisub simply chuckled at his friend’s words.

Tommy Damon had a strong sense of pride. Unless he had achieved something significant, he wouldn’t have accepted Jisub’s offer simply because he had lost his job.

Just as he was about to scold him for saying things he didn’t mean, Tommy Damon spoke first.

“Kim, I was really surprised.”

He had a brighter expression than ever.

“To think that my friend would lead the Tampa Bay Rays to their first-ever championship and now be at the forefront of the new stadium construction project… Wow, it feels somewhat surreal even as I say it?”

Amazing. Really amazing.

Watching Tommy Damon sigh, Jisub simply smiled lightly.

“It’s thanks to you opening the way.”

Jisub was sincere.

“If I hadn’t met you at the Winter Meetings back then, and if I hadn’t developed the desire to work in Major League Baseball… I wouldn’t have been able to start at all.”

“Oh, really? Then I have some credit too? I can proudly boast to people from now on! I’m the one who raised Kim of Tampa Bay! Hahaha!”

“…Whatever.”

Jisub shook his head and put down his empty coffee cup, continuing.

“Anyway… Are you okay with it?”

“With what?”

“I was wondering if it’s okay for people to know that you and I used to play on the same team.”

Jisub was a little worried.

Joseph Carter was definitely in a hostile position towards the Tampa Bay Rays.

It would be troublesome if it became known that the person in charge of the team valuation certification was close friends with the Tampa Bay vice president.

He was worried that they might say something else about it later, but what came back was Tommy Damon’s deflating voice.

“You don’t have to worry about that. The person who brought me into this project in the first place was Joseph Carter.”

“Mr. Carter?”

“Yeah, that old man… He seems to be misunderstanding something.”

Tommy chuckled.

“Two people who used to play on the same team… But one is rising through the ranks as the vice president of Tampa Bay, while the other is drifting around certification companies, a kite with a broken string, right?”

“…Ah.”

Jisub felt like he understood what Joseph Carter was aiming for.

“He thought that if he put me in charge of the project, I would tear Tampa Bay apart with all my might. He mentioned my name to our CEO several times.”

Damn it, what does he take people for?

Tommy Damon clicked his tongue and adjusted his tie, continuing.

“Joseph Carter’s idea is completely off the mark… But that doesn’t mean, Kim, that I’m going to go easy on you.”

It was probably at this point that seriousness began to fill his face.

“I’m going to thoroughly verify it. Whether Tampa Bay Rays deserves to be given a high value.”

“Oh, so there’s no friendship or anything?”

“Yeah, this is quite important to me too.”

Tommy Damon replied calmly.

“I’ll be honest with you because it’s you. I said earlier that I was waiting for Director Perkins’s return, but the truth is, that’s difficult. It seems like the director has almost no intention of returning to the field.”

“…….”

“As you know, that’s how Major League Baseball is. It’s not easy for a front office member who has lost their line to return. So I… I’m going to take a chance here at Zeus Analytics.”

He was talking about getting recognized in the field of team valuation certification.

He was talking about aiming for the top in the field he was currently in.

“To do that, this work with the Tampa Bay Rays… There shouldn’t be any backlash. It was an accurate assessment, a definite conclusion. I need to receive that kind of evaluation so that I can have a future.”

“Hmm, a future, huh.”

“So, even if you’re the person in charge, I’m going to stick to my standards thoroughly. I wanted to tell you this in advance before the work starts.”

At this time, Tommy Damon seemed to have made some firm resolutions.

He also felt like he had let something go, and there was a slightly tired look on his face.

Jisub could easily understand why he was showing these subtle reactions.

[Even if it’s Kim… He’ll probably be quite disappointed this time.]

[From Kim’s perspective, he has to get the certification no matter what.]

[Huhu, this job isn’t easy either. I’m going to get on the bad side of one of my few remaining friends.]

Listening to the thoughts coming into his ears, Jisub quietly nodded.

He felt sorry for his friend, who was always full of energy, but at this time, a strange smile was appearing on Jisub’s face.

“Um, good! That’s the best news I’ve heard in a while.”

“What, what did you say?”

Tommy widened his eyes.

“What are you talking about? Are you teasing me?”

“I’m not teasing you… I’m serious. If you thoroughly verify it, there’s nothing better than that, actually.”

Jisub was nodding.

“The Tampa Bay Rays’ new stadium construction… It’s been repeatedly postponed for all sorts of reasons. I know of at least half a dozen times.”

“So?”

“You were famous for being meticulous in the Boston Red Sox, right? If you grit your teeth and verify it… No one will be able to argue with the results.”

That’s it.

That’s all he needed.

Jisub felt like he had found the last piece of the new stadium construction project puzzle.

“There will be no more delays, and no one will be able to find fault… Good, I like it. Do as you wish.”

“…….”

Tommy Damon couldn’t easily react to his friend’s answer.

The fact that he was so moved by this alone was quite touching, but the words that resonated most strongly in his heart came next.

“And if you think about the team valuation certification system itself, isn’t it ultimately about the team and the certification company putting their heads together?”

“Putting their heads together?”

“Yeah, to create a better team. To create a better team.”

Jisub tapped his paper cup.

“If you think about it that way, there’s no reason to refuse at all! You go wild as you see fit. I’ll try to stop it somehow.”

Come on in, come on in.

Seeing Jisub gesturing with a confident expression, Tommy Damon looked dumbfounded.

“Kim, you’re really…”

Yeah, that’s what he was like.

He was a friend who knew my heart like a ghost since before.

Once he realized what kind of person Jisub was, Tommy Damon felt like he was bursting with energy.

“Okay, I’ll do as you say.”

He nodded.

“I’ll make you regret those words. For the next three months, you probably won’t be able to sleep properly. You son of a bitch.”

“Oh, that sounds exciting?”

Jisub rubbed his hands together and smiled.

“Then how about giving me a preview? When you look at it, what’s the most urgent thing for the Tampa Bay Rays? What do we need to fix to get certified quickly?”

Honestly, it was a light question.

He had submitted the basic data, but Tommy Damon probably hadn’t grasped it in detail yet.

It was just a choice to change the subject, but this led to a strange situation.

“If you’re talking about the most urgent problem…”

Tommy Damon, who was stroking his chin, gave an unexpected answer.

“Wouldn’t it be the prospect development part?”

“Prospect development?”

Are you kidding me?

Jisub tilted his head.

“Hey, we’re the Tampa Bay Rays? The model of small-market operation, the Tampa Bay Rays!”

Jisub continued.

“We’re the team that’s most famous for developing prospects in Major League Baseball… You’re saying there’s a problem?!”