A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 527

The Baseball Team’s New Recruit Is Too Good 527

The Baseball Team’s New Recruit Is Too Good 527

111 Received as is (7)

Two days later.

In the conference room of the Tampa Bay Rays’ new stadium, Clockwise Field, a full board meeting was being held.

A meeting held every two months to gather shareholders’ opinions on the team’s operations.

Contrary to popular belief, these meetings usually proceeded in a very amicable atmosphere.

“Oh, the director is here!”

In Ji-seop’s view, this was entirely due to the acting owner, John Ramer Taylor.

He was just such a nice guy. He had a talent for brightening the atmosphere. Besides, most of the board members had been active since Jeffrey Taylor’s time.

In other words, a meeting held in front of the acting owner, who was like a nephew. Perhaps that’s why the directors also refrained from making aggressive remarks and tried to wrap things up amicably, but-

Today’s meeting,

The atmosphere was quite different.

“Acting owner, please explain properly! What on earth is going on!”

Even before John Ramer could make his opening remarks, the directors were already protesting fiercely.

Almost no one was sitting down. Everyone was gathered around the platform, each shouting out their piece.

“Vincent Hiyama is on the injured list! There was no talk of that until yesterday!”

“What on earth is the coaching staff doing with player management? At this rate, how can we even make the postseason, let alone win the championship?!”

This atmosphere had been sparked by the team’s official announcement a few hours earlier.

The Tampa Bay Rays had officially announced that Vincent Hiyama had been placed on the injured list.

Just two days after he had everyone cheering with his 99-mph fastball, this shocking news suddenly broke.

Amid the directors’ fierce protests, John Ramer was sweating profusely as he tried to defuse the situation.

“Oh, please calm down. It’s not something to get so worked up about, is it?”

You’ve been watching baseball for more than just a day or two.

John Ramer continued with a bashful smile.

“It’s just a 15-day list [a short-term injured list in baseball]. That means it’s not a major injury! In fact, Vincent said that a day or two of rest would be enough, but I heard that the manager made this decision to protect the player.”

“T, the manager’s decision?”

Even the directors couldn’t speak carelessly to a Hall of Famer.

When John Ramer mentioned Brett Evans, the directors hesitated and took a step back.

Just when he thought he could catch his breath, a sharp voice came from the back.

“Acting owner, is that really true?”

A young white man with thick horn-rimmed glasses pushed his way through the crowd and walked out confidently.

“You’re saying something a little different from what I’ve personally gathered?”

“S, Stuart?”

John Ramer swallowed hard.

Stuart Ender, the only member of the board from the media.

Based on his information-gathering skills as a former journalist, he had been strongly critical of the team’s operations.

Today, too, he was staring at John Ramer with a fierce look.

“Acting owner, I’ll ask you again. What is the reason Vincent Hiyama is on the injured list?”

No, no.

Should I ask it this way?

Stuart said, taking off his glasses.

“Why did our general manager put Vincent Hiyama, who isn’t even hurt, on the injured list?”

“Wait, what?!”

At Stuart’s question, the directors around him reacted first.

“Stuart, what are you talking about? Vincent isn’t hurt? The official announcement said he had elbow pain?”

“And why is Kim coming up here? Why Kim? Does that mean Kim is up to something again?”

As the directors kept pouring out questions, Stuart raised both hands to calm them down.

Then, taking out his cell phone, he began to shout.

“Everyone, I heard directly from the dedicated reporter at [Florida Today, a local newspaper]. Contrary to the team’s announcement, Vincent Hiyama is not injured! A day or two of rest is needed? That’s ridiculous! Vincent completed more than 8 hours of intensive training yesterday!”

“I, intensive training? Then…….”

“Yes, are you getting a sense of it now?”

Stuart raised his voice.

“Vincent Hiyama is perfectly fine. He’s in a state where he can go out and perform wonderfully in the game today. But for some reason, our general manager has excluded him from the roster! Do you understand this?”

As soon as Stuart’s bombshell announcement came out, the directors’ eyes turned to John Ramer.

What’s going on? Is that true? If it’s true, what was the intention behind it?

Amid the directors’ fierce reactions, John Ramer was at a loss for what to do, when-

“Oh, is there any other reason?”

Squeak.

As the door of the conference room opened, a confident-looking Asian man strode in.

“Is the front office doing something incomprehensible? Then it’s probably a strategy for winning the championship.”

“……Kim?!”

John Ramer’s expression brightened, while a slight tension filled Stuart Ender’s face.

Ji-seop was passing through the directors with a relaxed smile, heading to his seat.

“I’m sorry I’m late.”

Ji-seop said politely.

“General manager, I’ve just arrived.”

* * *

According to the original agenda, there should have been an opening declaration by the acting owner.

Then, a video message from owner Jeffrey Taylor would be shown, followed by highlights of the Tampa Bay Rays’ major games.

Originally, various events would have taken place at that time, but unfortunately, the situation was what it was.

Today’s Tampa Bay Rays board meeting was becoming a kind of hearing for the general manager.

“General manager, can I ask you to confirm the facts?”

In response to Stuart Ender’s question, Ji-seop pressed the microphone button and answered.

“Of course. Go ahead.”

“According to the information I have obtained, the general manager has decided not to field Vincent Hiyama for the rest of the regular season… Is the information I heard correct?”

“That’s correct.”

At Ji-seop’s nonchalant answer, the conference room began to stir slightly.

Not going to use Vincent? A pitcher who can throw 99 mph?

As the directors whispered among themselves, Stuart asked again.

“And the reason for that decision is that Vincent Hiyama is currently in need of a major balance adjustment… Is that also true?”

“Yes, that’s also true.”

This time, when Ji-seop answered calmly, the conference room became even more noisy.

Needs a balance adjustment? Can’t use him now? Then why did you bring Vincent in?

As the directors’ dissatisfaction created an atmosphere that seemed about to explode, John Ramer quickly stepped in to mediate.

“Hey, Kim! Information security is important, but you should explain it to our directors in detail, shouldn’t you?”

As he grabbed the microphone, the acting owner said,

“Everyone, don’t worry too much! What kind of person is our Kim? He has a plan.”

“A plan, what plan?”

“Haha, don’t be surprised when you hear this! Our Tampa Bay Rays have found a way to bring back Vincent Hiyama’s prime! It’s a balance adjustment for that… That’s what I mean!”

John Ramer continued.

“Vincent will prepare thoroughly during the remaining regular season and return in time for the postseason! In other words, it’s a secret weapon for winning the championship for the third year in a row!”

At this time, John Ramer was slightly smug.

He looked at Stuart with an expression that said, ‘You didn’t know this, did you?’

However, Stuart snorted lightly, and the other directors also showed an unusual reaction.

“Vincent… back to his old self?”

“Gave him time for that?”

3 seconds, no, was it about 2 seconds?

During that short time, a serious expression filled the directors’ faces.

John Ramer also flinched slightly, thinking, ‘I, is this not it?’ Just then, everyone’s emotions exploded.

“General manager!!!”

It was the directors’ voices.

“What confidence do you have! Does baseball look that easy to you?!”

“Bring Vincent back, is that even possible? Even the great Yankees couldn’t do it in the end!”

“If Vincent doesn’t come back in the postseason, what are you going to do then! Then we’ll ruin this season!!!”

People were screaming as if their feet were on fire.

Surprisingly, it was Director Stuart Ender who calmed them down.

After raising both hands to suppress the fierce momentum of the people, he said with a faint smile.

“Everyone, let’s be a little more rational. The core of the problem right now is not Vincent. It’s time to address the real important issue.”

“The real important issue?”

As the directors blinked, Stuart nodded and continued.

“Vincent’s recovery? You can try! You can prepare a secret weapon, as the acting owner said! But, in my opinion, the biggest problem in this case is…….”

Why did you decide this alone,

Stuart looked back at Ji-seop.

“General manager, you knew, didn’t you? That today’s board meeting was being held, that our directors with experience and expertise would be gathered in one place.”

“…….”

“If you were going to proceed with such a dangerous project, shouldn’t you have sought advice from our board of directors? I think that makes sense.”

Looking at Director Stuart Ender’s sly expression, Ji-seop was quietly smiling inside.

‘Hehe, he never gets tired of it.’

Wanting to be involved in team operations. This has been a consistent requirement of the Tampa Bay Rays board of directors since Brian Span’s time.

In fact, it’s not just a story limited to the Tampa Bay Rays. This conflict exists in every major league team.

Ji-seop didn’t understand it either. Because they were the ones who paid the money, the ones who were pouring in huge funds.

‘Well, I guess they want to give some advice on team operations.’

But this was not a matter of compromise.

How many teams have been ruined by the influence of the board of directors?

How many teams have fallen to the bottom, dancing frantically to the random demands?

Ji-seop, who knew this well, had no choice but to play the villain again this time.

“I have said several times over the past five years, but I have no intention of taking your opinions into consideration.”

That was Ji-seop’s answer.

“This is something I was promised from the beginning by owner Jeffrey Taylor. In any situation, I have the right to push forward with the baseball I think is right.”

“Ah, the baseball that Kim thinks is right? Like a baseball philosophy?”

At this time, Stuart Ender was making an expression as if he had ‘caught something.’

“Kim, let’s ask you while we’re at it. What is the baseball you think about?”

He shrugged.

“You’ve heard the public’s opinion, haven’t you? People say that you’re just good at improvising. It’s been five years since you became general manager, but you don’t have a clear color.”

“Ah, no color?”

“If you think about it, this is a similar context, isn’t it? Pursuing big ball, or pursuing small ball! If the color is so clear, the person watching can predict it!”

Frankly speaking, until a few days ago, Ji-seop would not have been able to answer this question properly.

Stuart was right, at least in this part. Until now, Ji-seop had been running the team with improvisation.

The general manager of the Tampa Bay Rays. It was sometimes considered a bit of a burden, and there was a lot of pressure to not fall behind Brian Span’s reputation.

So it was improvisation. Solving the problems that came up, and dealing with the aftermath. There was no time to think about what kind of baseball to pursue.

But now that he has received the ‘bag of wisdom’ from General Manager Brian Span, and now that he has calmly organized his thoughts by accepting his advice.

Ji-seop,

Had the answer.

“What I aim for is… baseball that returns what I have received as is.”

“Hmm?”

As everyone tilted their heads, Ji-seop continued calmly.

“Whether it’s big ball or small ball [different baseball strategies], it changes depending on the team’s situation. It’s a bit much to call that a baseball philosophy.”

“So you’re saying you’ll return what you received as is? What does that mean?”

“It means exactly what it says?”

Ji-seop chuckled.

“I aim for baseball that returns as much love as the fans have given us. I aim for baseball that returns as much compensation as the front office staff has put into the team.”

“…….”

“The same goes for the players. I will treat them as much as they have contributed to the Tampa Bay Rays.”

Vincent is the same.

Ji-seop looked back at the directors.

“He is the man who brought our team its first championship. He is also the player who attracted a huge fan base and laid the foundation for the new stadium construction project. Since he has done so much for us, I have given him the opportunity to regain his former self. Despite the many risks you have pointed out.”

I won’t say 100%.

I don’t even have that confidence.

Ji-seop said firmly.

“But I am sure that this decision will be a message to our players.”

The Tampa Bay Rays is a team that treats you as much as you have done.

If I achieve results here, the Tampa Bay Rays will give me the appropriate respect.

So at least while wearing this team’s uniform-

“Without any worries, without any hesitation, let’s just do our best.”

Ji-seop crossed his arms and nodded lightly.

“Even if Vincent fails, I am confident that I will win the hearts of the players with this and eventually achieve it.”

Another World Series championship.

Three consecutive World Series championships.

“And until the Tampa Bay Rays is recognized as the best prestigious team of our time.”

The moment Ji-seop’s ambitious declaration came out, silence flowed through the Clockwise Field conference room for a while.

“…….”

“…….”

The directors, who had been screaming so much, were just blinking their eyes with their mouths wide open.

Stuart, who had been facing Ji-seop with an arrogant attitude, was just swallowing hard.

When everyone was not even daring to say anything, one of the directors quietly raised his hand from behind.

“……Kim.”

He had a slightly frightened expression.

“Aren’t you worried? Winning the World Series isn’t that easy, how can you be so confident…….”

“Oh, I’m worried. Of course, I’m worried! To be honest, my head is still complicated. Because I have to find a way to fill Vincent’s vacancy during the regular season.”

I’m wondering if I should contact Venezuela.

I’m wondering if I should call the Triple-A team [Minor league baseball team].

Ji-seop made a seemingly difficult expression, but soon he was raising the corners of his mouth with a smirk.

“But at least you people here… I don’t think you need to worry like me?”

Everyone, what are you worried about?

Ji-seop smiled his signature smile and placed his hand on his chest.

“Your general manager, the general manager of the Tampa Bay Rays… is me.”

And one more word that follows.

“I’m the one who has already won the World Series for two consecutive years.”