A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 494

The New Recruit of the Baseball Team is Too Good 494

104 Everyone’s Wish (4)

Later that afternoon.

Joseph Carter, the inaugural owner of the Tampa Bay Rays, appeared for a press interview.

The interview was held at St. Petersburg City Hall and broadcast live on a local television channel.

“Just now, I was leaving the City Council Secretariat after submitting our city government advisory committee’s opinion on the construction of the Tampa Bay Rays’ new stadium.”

The reporters gathered at City Hall bombarded him with questions.

What is the position of the city government advisory committee? What is the future schedule? There were rumors that you did not attend the meeting at first, what happened? and so on.

The atmosphere was chaotic enough to overwhelm anyone, but Joseph Carter was a significant figure in his own right.

After adjusting his tie for a moment, he continued his reply in a calm tone.

“The Tampa Bay Rays have been recognized for their value by Zeus Analytics, the best certification authority in the industry. The city government advisory committee highly values this.”

[Tampa Bay Rays, ‘Green Light’ for New Stadium Construction Project]

This was a quote that was later published under this title.

“The new stadium construction is already on the agenda thanks to the proposal of Councilman Dana Sears of District 9. The vote is expected to take place within this week… The exact schedule will probably be announced within an hour or two.”

[“D-Day is Approaching”… Tampa Bay New Stadium, Conclusion This Weekend]

This was a quote that was later published under this title.

“The reason I was late for the meeting was… Yes, let me be honest. It was because I had something important to discuss with Tampa Bay officials. As you all know, there was a long and unfortunate relationship between me and Tampa Bay.”

“Does your presence here today mean that the unfortunate relationship has been resolved to some extent…? Is it okay to recognize it that way?”

In response to the reporter’s question, Joseph Carter nodded with a rather relieved expression.

“Yes, you can think of it that way.”

It was a pleasant answer.

“I would also like to put aside my long-held feelings and support the new beginning of the Tampa Bay Rays.”

[Tampa Bay Resolves Internal Issues… ‘Dramatic Reconciliation’ with Inaugural Owner]

At the very moment when this quote, which was later heavily reported under this title, was being broadcast-

“I’ve been thinking about this for a while…”

Ji-seop was listening to Tommy Damon’s pointless jokes at the Tropicana Field’s in-house cafe.

“Kim, you might have been better suited as a hitter than a pitcher. After experiencing today, I’m convinced of that.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

Ji-seop took a sip of his half-finished coffee with an indifferent expression.

There’s no need to reveal here the secret that he had tried to switch to a hitter several times without anyone knowing.

“If you were a hitter, wouldn’t we have seen an incredible RBI [Runs Batted In] feast?”

“I’m asking what you’re talking about.”

“No, listen to me. This time, all we had to do was get the team value certification. All we had to do was submit it to the city government advisory committee.”

Tommy shrugged his shoulders.

“But you… you even got Joseph Carter to declare his surrender? In the end, you made him visit the City Council himself! You even made him do an interview like that.”

If this isn’t greed, what is it?

Isn’t that a lot of greed?

Tommy shook his head as if he was fed up.

“If such a greedy guy were a hitter, he would have shown a truly terrifying batting average in scoring position… The Korean baseball world has lost a great talent! Huh? They lost a great talent!”

Looking at his friend, who was making a fuss, Ji-seop made a sound of air escaping.

“Are you very tired? Your pointless talk is going on for a bit long?”

“Pointless talk? I’m making a sharp analysis as the director of Zeus Analytics?”

Tommy, who was poking Ji-seop’s side, soon let out a long sigh.

“But… my shoulder has been a bit stiff since earlier. I wonder if it’s because the tension has been relieved.”

“You worked hard, really.”

Ji-seop tapped his friend’s shoulder.

“Your help was great. If you hadn’t pointed out the guidelines from time to time, we would have experienced quite a bit of confusion. There would have been a lot of internal conflicts.”

“It’s nice to hear, but… Haha, I wonder if there was anything special I did.”

Tommy Damon smiled awkwardly.

“I was very comfortable? Everyone was friendly. It hasn’t been long since I started this job, but this is the first time I’ve completed the certification process without raising my voice once.”

“That’s right, our team people are generous. Maybe it’s because they are a team based in Florida.”

“Haha, is that really the case? I think it’s because of the trust in the ‘Deputy General Manager of Future Strategy Planning’?”

Tommy’s eyes narrowed.

“Even the stubborn people followed without complaint when they said they had reached an agreement with Kim? My fellow employees were surprised.”

“…Really?”

“You’re a really amazing guy, even though you’re my friend. How can you get so many people on your side? Even though you haven’t been with the team for two years?!

Tommy Damon looked at Ji-seop as if he had seen a magical trick.

Ji-seop, who was burdened by his sparkling eyes, quickly waved his hand.

“Do you have time today?”

Ji-seop asked.

“Let’s have a simple beer after work. With the people from the Future Strategy Planning Department. You have to go back to New York tomorrow.”

Ji-seop was trying to send off his friend, who had been busy for nearly three months, with a hearty dinner, but what came back was his friend’s scoffing.

“I’m okay? Let’s have a beer next time.”

“Why? Do you have a prior engagement?”

“It’s not a prior engagement… I’m a perceptive person, my friend.”

Tommy Damon smiled bitterly.

“I heard from John Larma earlier. This Saturday? The opening of the 3rd floor upper deck of Tropicana Field.”

“Ah, that?”

“Almost twice as many spectators as usual will come in, can you drink with peace of mind? It’s better to postpone it to the next time.”

Tommy’s words were true.

The opening of the 3rd floor upper deck, which was achieved thanks to the efforts of the Future Strategy Planning Department in the early part of this season.

After several months of preparation, the 3rd floor upper deck was about to be officially opened.

The moment when 45,000 spectators would come to Tropicana Field was approaching.

“Wow, 45,000 people… Now the Tampa Bay Rays can no longer be called an unpopular team.”

Tommy Damon was impressed.

“Wait a minute, this Saturday? Then what’s the schedule?”

“Schedule?”

“I mean the decision of the City Council. Didn’t they say they would vote on the new stadium construction this weekend?”

“Ah, that’s right?”

Ji-seop licked his dry lips with his tongue.

Which will come first, the opening of the 3rd floor upper deck or the City Council’s vote?

This was a bit of a concern.

“Depending on which comes first, shouldn’t the nature of the event change a bit?”

“That’s right? It could be an event to commemorate the construction of a new stadium, or it could feel like putting pressure on the City Council… Oh?”

“Hmm?!”

Ji-seop and Tommy Damon.

It was at this moment that the two of them took out their cell phones as if they had promised.

“…”

A message that came to the cell phone.

A business communication from the St. Petersburg City Council.

The two of them quietly read the contents and looked at each other without saying a word.

“Wow, this Saturday… It will be an unforgettable day for the Tampa Bay Rays.”

In response to Tommy Damon’s words, Ji-seop was quietly nodding his head.

The upcoming Saturday.

The opening of the 3rd floor upper deck of Tropicana Field. And the vote on the construction of the new stadium by the St. Petersburg City Council.

Both,

It’s on the same day.

* * *

“There’s nothing bad about it. Shouldn’t we see it as a good thing?”

About an hour later.

An emergency meeting was being held in the general manager’s office at Tropicana Field.

The City Council had notified them of the date of the vote on the new stadium construction, so it was a meeting to discuss countermeasures.

“If we can’t predict the decision of the City Council, it would be quite a headache… But this time, well.”

People’s eyes turned to Ji-seop, who was sitting in the corner seat.

“Isn’t it a situation where we can expect almost 100% approval? Then it’s like a double celebration.”

“Yes, I agree with Vice President Higgins’ opinion.”

It was Rebecca Carney, the director of the baseball operations division.

“Fortunately, St. Petersburg City Hall and Tropicana Field are within a 30-minute walk.”

She continued.

“The team owner and the general manager should first attend the City Council, and when the results come out from there, they can come back to Tropicana Field and participate in the 3rd floor upper deck opening ceremony.”

“Wow, the construction of the new stadium will be announced in front of 45,000 spectators… It’s not intentional, but it’s a really great production?”

The Tampa Bay front office people who attended the meeting all had proud expressions on their faces.

It was a moment they had been waiting for a long time. The Tampa Bay Rays regaining their former popularity, and building a new stadium.

They couldn’t believe that their long-cherished wish would come true like this, even as they were talking.

“If we do well, ‘Front Office of the Year Award’… Aren’t we going to get it?”

“Haha, maybe? Last year, Benjamin Oznovich was deprived of the award because it was said that the award was too focused on one team…”

While the awards season, which was still a long way off, was being talked about.

Brian Sphan, the general manager, who had been listening to everyone’s story with a calm expression, took off his glasses.

“Okay. Then the team owner and I will show our faces at both events…”

He looked around.

“We need to divide the work of the rest of the people. In terms of importance, we can’t prioritize the two events.”

The person who will go to the City Council to support the final discussion process.

And the person who will remain at Tropicana Field to direct the opening of the 3rd floor upper deck.

One interesting thing is that the general manager’s gaze turned to Ji-seop immediately after that.

“Kim, how should we divide it?”

Also impressive was that no one felt anything strange about the general manager’s question.

“Ah, are you asking for my opinion?”

In that natural flow, Ji-seop himself was the only one who was embarrassed.

“Haha, Kim! Isn’t it obvious? You are the one who persuaded the City Council and opened the 3rd floor upper deck!”

R. J. Higgins, the vice president of marketing, said with a hearty laugh.

“The person who knows the work well should divide the work. I have no objection either.”

Rebecca Carney, the director of baseball operations, was also giving a faint smile.

While everyone else was adding a word, Ji-seop narrowed his brows slightly and opened his mouth.

“The number of attendees is limited on the City Council side anyway. So most of them should take care of it at Tropicana Field…”

As Vice President Higgins said, Ji-seop was the one who played a key role in both tasks.

Thanks to this, it was not difficult for him to determine the positions of each executive.

The people who received Ji-seop’s instructions all nodded as if they were convinced. Just as the plan for the upcoming Saturday was about to be established.

“Hmm, everything is good, but…”

Brian Sphan, the general manager, interrupted Ji-seop’s words.

“Kim, it would be better for you to stay at Tropicana Field instead of following me.”

“Yes?”

Ji-seop blinked his eyes.

“Wouldn’t it be better for me to stick to the City Council side? I know quite a few faces there.”

“No. Stay here. Let the people from the Future Strategy Planning Department wait at Tropicana Field as well.”

At this time, Ji-seop had a slightly dazed expression.

Should I call him a typical Major League elite? Brian Sphan was always logical and rational.

He was the type to clearly point out the reason even when giving one instruction. But at this time, he felt like he was pushing it a bit recklessly.

“No, still…”

“Let’s just do that. I’ve already talked to the team owner about it.”