A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 488

The Newcomer to the Baseball Team is Too Good – Episode 488

Chapter 103: Three Pure Outcomes (3)

To be honest, I wasn’t really angry or anything.

It wasn’t about hurt pride, nor did I feel any resentment towards the other party.

This is the story of Victor Johnson Jr. on the team’s private plane after the game that day.

‘Well, everyone has their own way of looking at baseball, right?’

From the perspective of Zeus Analytics Group, I thought it was a perfectly reasonable opinion to voice.

You can’t leave out the flashy plays of the fielders in baseball. The runners’ fierce sprints were also one of Victor Johnson’s favorite things to watch.

Nevertheless, the reason Victor Johnson Jr. took such a firm stance that day…

The reason he asked Brett Evans and Richard Stelmetzeck to gather the other players…

In fact, there was no other reason.

‘Hmph, I wouldn’t care about anyone else… but I can’t just stand by and watch someone make Kim uncomfortable, can I?’

That’s right. That was it.

That afternoon, Jiseop’s face at the hot dog stand looked somehow different.

He was definitely joking around lightly when he entered the store, but as soon as that damn Zeus person said something, his expression quickly changed.

He looked like he had received a very difficult request, an expression that showed he couldn’t find an answer to how to solve it.

The moment he saw that expression, Victor Johnson Jr. felt like he couldn’t just stand still.

‘Kim always has a confident look on his face, right? But if he looked that serious…’

I wondered what on earth had happened, but the moment I heard Richard Stelmetzeck’s explanation, it hit me.

I see. So that’s what it was. He received instructions to completely change the Tampa Bay Rays’ game strategy.

This was a mission that even Kim wouldn’t be able to solve easily. How would he handle the backlash from the team staff, and how would he appease the players’ dissatisfaction?

When his thoughts reached this point, a firm resolution seemed to rise within Victor Johnson Jr.’s heart.

Okay, I’ll step up.

I’ll help Kim.

Was it early last season? Since we first met, I felt like I had only received help from Kim.

The coach and manager only told me to give up my desire for a new pitch, but Kim was the one who understood my aspirations.

At the same time, he gave me advice so that I could perform well during the game, so without Kim’s help, I might not be where I am now.

So how could I just stand by? If I ignored this, Victor Johnson Jr.’s name would be mud.

‘Okay, let’s give it a try. If it goes well, it could be a big help to Kim…’

Just as he was clenching his fists and making a resolution, the seat belt sign turned off with a ‘ding’ sound.

And almost simultaneously, two people unbuckled their seat belts, got up, and looked back at the players.

“Ahem! Just a moment, just a moment! Even those going to the bathroom, please wait a bit!”

The first person to speak was Brett Evans.

“Our Tampa Bay Rays’ ace has something to say to his teammates? Let’s hear what it is!”

The next person to shout was Richard Stelmetzeck.

“Victor has something to say?”

“Haha, there’s a first time for everything?”

The Tampa Bay players, who heard the two veteran players’ announcement, were full of curiosity.

Looking at their sparkling eyes, Victor Johnson Jr. was carefully getting up.

Come to think of it, this was almost the first time.

Victor Johnson Jr. standing in front of so many people.

He felt very awkward and embarrassed, but this was all to help the one person who had brought him this far.

Victor Johnson Jr. steeled himself and began to speak to his teammates.

“Everyone! Today, I want to make a crazy suggestion to you.”

“A crazy suggestion?”

At the news that Victor Johnson was giving a speech, the coaches also began to appear one by one from the front.

He felt like things were getting a little out of hand, but he couldn’t turn back now that he had come this far.

“Yes, the upcoming game where I’m starting? The away game against the Minnesota Twins. In that game, I…”

And the next moment, Victor Johnson presented his ‘good idea’ to his teammates.

“I’m going to strike out every batter! Even if I give up a lot of walks, I’m only going to aim for strikeouts!”

“What, what did you say?!”

“Only strikeouts?!”

While everyone was surprised, Victor Johnson continued to speak with a very confident expression.

“So I want you infielders to aim for home runs as much as possible.”

“No, what are you talking about?”

“Is that something you can just aim for!”

Everyone was shouting with expressions of disbelief, but there was one person who noticed his intention.

“Strikeouts, walks, and home runs?”

It was pitching coach Thomas Culkin.

“Hey, Victor! Don’t tell me… you’re trying to make a game out of only three pure outcomes [strikeouts, walks, and home runs]?”

“As expected, Coach, you know my heart well! That’s right, that’s it!”

Victor Johnson nodded.

“I heard that the Zeus Analytics guys were giving you trouble? They said that the Tampa Bay Rays’ baseball is not fun and that you can’t attract the audience’s interest with just three pure outcomes.”

So let’s give it a try!

“Let’s see how a game made up of only three pure outcomes will be received by people!”

Looking at Victor Johnson’s sparkling eyes, Coach Thomas Culkin was thinking of someone in his mind.

Since long ago, the only person in Tampa Bay who could control that guy’s madness was one person.

‘…Kim.’

He muttered.

‘I need to make a call to Kim as soon as I get off the plane.’

* * *

The plan is to strike out every batter.

I’m going to strike out even if I give up walks.

So I want you to aim for home runs. Aim for them as much as possible.

Strikeouts, walks, and home runs. Let’s make a game out of only three pure outcomes.

Victor Johnson Jr.’s ambitious declaration was known to Jiseop around 6 a.m. the next day.

Of course, Jiseop was not in his right mind at this time. He had to work late into the night due to negotiations with Zeus Analytics.

Was it because of that? Immediately after hearing Coach Thomas Culkin’s message, Jiseop’s reaction was as follows.

“Coach, are you… talking about a game right now?”

Jiseop was half-closing his eyes and wiping his face with his hands.

“Isn’t it a video game story? You know, the game console installed in the clubhouse. You’re saying you’re going to do something with that, right?”

-Oh, what are you talking about! If it was a video game story, would I have called you this early in the morning?!

I’m talking about a real game!

The upcoming Minnesota away game!

At Coach Thomas Culkin’s urgent voice, Jiseop felt like he was waking up.

“Is that… does that make sense? To play a game with only strikeouts, is that even possible?”

-It’s not! It’s impossible! That’s why I’m so frustrated?!

The pitching coach sighed deeply.

-I was trying to persuade him until just now… Ah, that guy is so stubborn! He says he has to give Zeus a proper blow [show them what’s what]?

“Zeus? Zeus Analytics?”

-Yeah, I heard that Zeus Analytics made some troublesome demands of you? That the Tampa Bay Rays are only pursuing three pure outcomes, so it’s not fun, so you need to change that strategy or something…

“Game strategy?”

It was at this moment that Jiseop completely woke up.

Brushing up his messy hair, he pondered.

What is the context of this story? What on earth is Victor Johnson Jr. thinking?

When he got out of bed and picked up the bottle of mineral water he had been drinking last night, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

‘That’s right, the hot dog stand yesterday… Victor Johnson’s car was parked behind the store, right?’

Once his thoughts reached this point, it seemed like everything was falling into place.

Why is Victor Johnson so excited? Why is he suddenly burning with animosity towards Zeus Analytics?

‘Oh, Victor, Victor…’

Jiseop smiled bitterly and put the water bottle on the table.

Then, with a short sigh, he said to Coach Thomas Culkin.

“First of all… it’s a misunderstanding.”

-A misunderstanding?

“Yes, Zeus Analytics has never asked us to modify our game strategy. It seems that some incorrect information has been conveyed to the team.”

-Oh, really? Is that so? Ah, those guys really!

Coach Thomas Culkin seemed relieved just by the fact that Zeus Analytics had not made any demands.

-I thought it was a bit strange! If there was talk about the game strategy, it would have been conveyed to us, right? Damn it, who spread this nonsense…

“It’s true that Zeus Analytics values the experience of the audience, but they understood the uniqueness of the Tampa Bay Rays. So I hope you can spread that to the team.”

-Um, I see. Wait a minute… then you don’t have to call me, right?

The pitching coach’s voice brightened.

-If Zeus didn’t cause any trouble, then Victor doesn’t need to get so worked up.

“Right?”

-Okay, I’ll tell Victor. Oh, I’m relieved! I was able to fix things before the story got to the manager’s ears!

I’m sorry for calling you so early in the morning.

Get some rest.

Coach Thomas Culkin was about to hang up, but Jiseop, who had been thinking for a while, continued to speak.

“Wait a minute, Coach.”

-Um?

“When Victor brought up that story… what was the players’ reaction?”

-Reaction?

The coach seemed to be recalling.

-Well, at first, they made a fuss, saying it was nonsense… Damn it, isn’t this also funny?

“Funny?”

-Yeah, because Victor was so passionate, because he asked them to help him just once… the atmosphere changed a bit later?

If Victor wants it that much, it wouldn’t hurt to help him once.

It wouldn’t be fun to give Zeus Analytics a blow.

That’s the kind of atmosphere that was created.

-Of course, the coaches were watching from behind, so there were no guys who said it openly… but that’s how I felt. Some of them were persuaded.

“Ah, really? There were players who wanted to follow Victor’s story? To that absurd story of getting 27 outs with strikeouts?”

Smirk.

It was at this moment that a strange smile appeared on Jiseop’s lips.

“Then, Coach, can I ask you for a really difficult favor just once?”

-Don’t do it! I already have a headache because of that Victor guy…

The pitching coach said bluntly, but Jiseop was not one to be deterred by such a refusal.

“Please help me just once. It’s because of the evaluation criteria presented by Zeus Analytics.”

-Evaluation criteria?

“Yes, Zeus pointed it out. That Brett Evans will be retiring soon.”

Jiseop continued.

“After Brett Evans leaves the team, there is a leader who can lead the team… They were worried about that part.”

-Lea, leader?

“The Tampa Bay Rays are a team with a unique game strategy. The team’s leader must not only gather the players’ hearts, but also have an understanding of that unique game strategy… Who will take on that role?”

Jiseop continued.

“To be honest, I was worried about who to entrust it to… but if we do well, we might be able to find an answer.”

-Entrust it to Victor? You’re saying you’re going to entrust Brett Evans’ position to Victor Johnson?

“Yes, so once… how about leaving him alone and watching what he does?”

Whether the players really follow him.

Whether there are players who follow this absurd proposal.

“If such players come out, if a game is created in some form… wouldn’t we get a really big harvest?”

Jiseop smiled slightly.

“Because we will find a player to succeed Brett Evans… that giant.”