A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 552

The Baseball Team’s New Recruit Is Too Good 552

116 The Last Step (5)

“Is your baseball complete?”

If Pablo Rodriguez had asked Ji-seop this question to his face, he probably would have burst out laughing.

He would have slapped the Deputy Director of Future Strategy Planning on the back while laughing, and then earnestly told him never to say such a thing again.

For Ji-seop, baseball was still difficult and utterly incomprehensible.

Like when he first got hit with a home run in elementary school, or when he wandered around after not being drafted professionally, or like the day he was notified of his release from the Chinese semi-pro league.

“……”

If there was one area where Ji-seop had gained some understanding, it was the direction of the team’s management.

He once thought he could change many things, like Billy Bean of ‘Moneyball,’ like Theo Epstein, the ‘curse breaker,’ or even like his direct superior, former General Manager Brian Spann.

However, after several trials and errors, Ji-seop realized that he couldn’t achieve anything alone, and that even the legendary front offices of Major League Baseball always had colleagues.

Thus, after spending five years as the General Manager of the Tampa Bay Rays, the guiding principle of team management that settled in Ji-seop’s mind was this:

Everyone has their own baseball.

Superstars wanted baseball for superstars. For them, the most wonderful baseball was to challenge for the championship every year with a lineup centered around starting players.

Conversely, backup players wanted baseball for backup players. For them, giving more players opportunities and focusing on development was even more wonderful baseball.

And that wasn’t just limited to the players. Everyone involved with the baseball team had their own baseball.

From owner Jeffrey Taylor, to directors with over 10 years of experience, to interns just starting their careers.

From the people at the partner companies who were reconnecting with the team, to the journalists from the media, and perhaps most importantly, to the longtime fans of the Tampa Bay Rays.

‘……That’s a lot of people, huh?’

Ji-seop’s job was to align the ‘baseball’ of those many people in one direction as much as possible.

He would subtly connect people who had similar ideas. If he saw people with completely different ideas, he would slip in between them and find a suitable compromise.

It was rare for things to be resolved as cleanly as when he first started working in the front office. Really, little by little. Carefully, with the feeling of adjusting the subtle center of gravity of a wooden bat.

Of course, there were days when he felt like he was going to explode. There were times when months of work would collapse overnight.

Every time that happened, he would cook three packs of ramen, setting a new record of gaining 12 kg in a month.

-Kim, is it just my imagination? Lately, when I see Kim, I keep thinking of a round snowman?

-Pablo, I’m running hard every morning… Just stick to the first verse, okay?

That’s how he had accumulated five years.

That’s how he had gathered five years of effort.

Everyone has their own baseball. Let’s try to lead that baseball in one direction as much as possible.

The one guiding principle that had settled in Ji-seop’s mind was finally returning as an achievement.

A team that doesn’t waver in any situation. A team that can move towards victory in any situation.

-Johannes van Benshoten, one out away from the final out count!

And this baseball thing is truly a fascinating thing.

-Van Benshoten carefully exchanges signs. Finally goes into his windup… And throws!

If you silently endure those difficult days, it really throws you unexpected gifts.

-Strike, batter out!! The 27th out count, the final out count of today’s game is made like this!!!

A gift that neither Ji-seop nor anyone else in the Tampa Bay Rays had ever imagined.

-Unbelievable! I can’t believe it! Johannes van Benshoten, a perfect game!

-A rookie pitcher who came up to the major leagues just two months ago achieves a perfect game on the postseason stage!!!

-The second record in Major League Baseball postseason history since Don Larsen in the 1956 season! The Tampa Bay Rays’ starting pitcher is making tonight a night of miracles to be remembered forever!!

Waaaaah!!!

A perfect game in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series.

Watching Johannes van Benshoten almost sobbing on the mound and the Tampa Bay Rays players surrounding him and screaming like crazy.

Ji-seop took off his glasses and lightly wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.

“Oh, really……”

Yes, really, this baseball thing-

“Is a real devil, isn’t it?”

A devil that shakes people’s hearts.

* * *

According to what Ji-seop felt after coming to the United States, people here tend to be subtly obsessed with past history.

This tendency is the same in baseball, so when something happens, they always mention whether something similar has happened in the past.

Therefore, after the end of ALCS [American League Championship Series] Game 3, the story of the 2004 Boston Red Sox should have been the most talked about.

Look, there was a team that advanced to the World Series by winning four games in a row after losing the first three. So, the current New York Yankees still have a chance left, don’t they?

Yes, in a normal situation, that kind of story should have been pouring out of all kinds of media.

Ji-seop vaguely heard that some commentators who were active as players at the time had even finished preparing for special interviews.

But this time,

the situation was completely different.

No one could talk about the 2004 Boston Red Sox. Even the commentators who had prepared and appeared on the broadcast did not mention their former team.

It seemed that miracles could only be recalled if there was a glimmer of possibility left. It was shocking enough to lose three games in a row, but the third game was a perfect game that would remain in Major League Baseball history.

Perhaps that’s why Yankee Stadium, where the Championship Series Game 4 was held the next day, had almost the atmosphere of the Tampa Bay Rays’ home stadium.

Rays on fire! Bbam bbam bba babam!

Set the stages! Bbam bbam bba babam!

The Tampa Bay Rays are completely on fire.

Set up the stage to go to the World Series.

As the Tampa Bay Rays’ new cheering slogan echoed loudly in the New York Yankees’ home stadium.

“……”

The Yankees’ notoriously famous cheering squad, the ‘Bleacher Creatures,’ also kept their mouths shut on this day.

They had expressions as if they couldn’t believe what they were seeing. The day would come when their pride, Yankee Stadium, would be filled with Tampa Bay fans.

The atmosphere would have improved a little if the New York Yankees had shown even a glimmer of possibility, but unfortunately, that didn’t happen.

Ttaak!

Ttaaaaak!

The Tampa Bay Rays scored five runs in the top of the first inning, seizing the victory early on.

Shuuuuuu- Paang!

Shuuuuuu- Paaaang!

Warren Livingston’s slider, who started for Tampa Bay on this day, went in almost perfectly, further reducing the probability of a reversal.

“Wow, are we really going to be eliminated without a single win? Is this even allowed!”

“Damn it, what happened to our Yankees? We weren’t such a hopeless team, were we?!”

Around the time these complaints were coming from Yankees fans, there was one intense hit that eliminated their last hope.

Ttaaaaak!

It was Vincent Hiyama in the top of the 9th inning.

The two-way ace, who played as the Tampa Bay Rays’ second designated hitter on this day, hit a three-run home run that soared over the right field fence.

The score was now 8-0. The Tampa Bay Rays were on the verge of advancing to the World Series for the third consecutive year, and the New York Yankees were facing a humiliating series sweep at that very moment-

“……Chairman?”

In the owner’s office at Yankee Stadium, the voices of the team’s directors were cautious.

“It would be better to stop watching the game now and start the meeting, wouldn’t it? I’m worried it might harm the chairman’s health.”

“That’s right, Chairman! Please sit down! The important thing is always the future… Isn’t that what you always say?”

On this day, a board of directors meeting was being held in the owner’s office of the New York Yankees.

Of course, it was an emergency meeting that was held at the request of owner Richard Steinbrenner.

Victory and defeat are commonplace in military affairs, and winning and losing are really nothing out of the ordinary for a baseball team.

However, one thing that should not have happened occurred in this Championship Series, didn’t it?

This emergency meeting was held to decide on follow-up measures for that very thing.

“As you all know, the reason we are gathered here today is because of the issue of disposing of General Manager Nicholas Weigner.”

The standing director, who was in charge of the meeting on this day, opened his mouth as the owner waved his hand to ‘proceed with the meeting.’

“Prior to this Championship Series, General Manager Weigner made inappropriate remarks in an interview with the media.”

As she pressed the ‘click’ button on the remote control, articles that had turned the baseball world upside down a few days ago came to mind.

“The media response team has temporarily contained it as ‘misinformation,’ but the remarks have already spread throughout the team. Moreover……”

Again, the sound of ‘click, click’ was heard.

“Two days ago, General Manager Nicholas Weigner also took over the game management rights from manager Doug Benji. The manager said it was a personal decision, but that is also an action that violates the team’s internal regulations.”

These are the two issues for discussion.

What kind of disciplinary action would be appropriate?

As soon as the brief briefing on General Manager Nicholas Weigner’s mistakes was over, fierce criticism from the directors began to pour out.

“Actually, I don’t think there was any reason for these directors to gather! Shouldn’t he be stepping down from the general manager position, of course?”

One of the directors continued, waving his fist.

“Frankly, the process doesn’t matter! What if the media interview is a mess, and what if the manager’s authority is taken away? But the result is the worst! The most important result!”

“That’s right. It looks too bad this time, in my opinion.”

Another director chimed in.

“Even if it’s the same 4-game sweep, there would be room for reconsideration if we had lost in a more ordinary way. But the perfect game in Game 3 was too much!”

“The atmosphere among the fans is unusual, and the faces of the advertisers are not very good either. If we make a mistake, it could be a problem for the New York Yankees team brand itself.”

After that, the directors continued to pour out criticism of Nicholas Weigner, their faces flushed.

Everyone seemed very angry. The discussion about the level of discipline itself was not even taking place.

Nicholas Weigner’s dismissal is natural. There is a need to find a successor as soon as possible. As the directors’ opinions were being organized in that way.

“Hmm, well……”

Owner Richard Steinbrenner, who was standing by the window watching the game, slowly returned to his seat.

“It seems that Nicholas was a bit petty as a person? How come there isn’t a single person who is on his side in this situation?”

It was at this moment that the expressions of the directors, who had been very excited, changed slightly.

The owner’s tone was slightly subtle.

Of course, they thought he would burst into anger as soon as he sat down, but somehow it felt like he was protecting the general manager.

Owner Richard Steinbrenner, who has considerable influence throughout the New York Yankees, as well as Major League Baseball as a whole.

The directors had no choice but to ask his thoughts.

“Chairman, what do you mean……”

“What are you asking? It’s exactly what you’re guessing.”

Here, the owner brought up a story that was quite different from everyone’s expectations.

“Let me tell you the conclusion first. I have no intention of firing Nicholas. I’m thinking of entrusting him with the general manager position next season as well.”

“Yes?!”

The directors widened their eyes, but the owner had a rather calm expression.

“He’s young, that’s why. When you’re young, you make a lot of mistakes. If we grab onto the things he did out of impulsiveness and fire everyone……. Wouldn’t our Yankees be full of old people like me?”

The owner continued.

“And if I had to point it out, you all made big mistakes in the past, didn’t you? I was the one who covered it up at the time, so you were able to get to where you are today, right?”

“Well, that’s true, but……”

One of the directors said.

“Chairman, Nicholas is already at the pinnacle of the baseball team. If such a person does not take responsibility for this situation, there will be considerable public backlash, won’t there?”

“Moreover, there is no guarantee that this will not happen again in the future, is there? What if he does something similar next season……”

At the directors’ worried voices, the owner raised one eyebrow.

“A way to appease public backlash, and a way to definitely wake up Nicholas……. Are you telling me to come up with that?”

“No, I didn’t mean to say that……”

As the directors scratched the back of their heads and stepped back slightly, the owner stood up from his seat again and looked at the distant electronic display board.

The game was already two outs in the bottom of the 9th inning. The score had already widened to 10-0.

At the very moment when the great humiliation that would remain in the history of the New York Yankees was about to become a reality.

The owner opened his mouth while fixing his gaze on the electronic display board.

“I have a way in mind. A sure way that even you picky people won’t be able to complain about.”

And then, one word followed.

“Kim.”

“Yes?”

“Kim, the General Manager of the Tampa Bay Rays. If we recruit that guy, wouldn’t everything be solved?”

The criticisms pouring out from inside and outside the team.

The anxiety about General Manager Nicholas.

At owner Richard Steinbrenner’s words, the expressions of the New York Yankees’ directors changed.

“That’s right, Kim! I think that guy would definitely be a perfect alternative, but……”

“It won’t be easy to recruit him, but if we just recruit him, it’s the best choice!”

“That’s right. Who would say that he isn’t the most outstanding front office in Major League Baseball right now?”

Kim would be able to do it.

He would be able to bring glory back to the New York Yankees.

As hopeful voices were heard here and there-

“But…… Chairman?”

One young director sitting in the far corner raised his hand.

“I also agree with bringing Kim in. But a little while ago…… Didn’t you say that you would entrust Nicholas with the general manager position next year as well?”

“Hmm?”

“That’s right?”

The directors whispered.

“Chairman, even if it’s the New York Yankees, I think that’s a bit much.”

“Much? What’s too much?”

“Didn’t you mean to recruit Kim as an advisor to our team? So that he can help General Manager Nicholas Weigner from the side……”

“Kim is only 39 years old. I don’t think such a guy would retire from the front lines already……”

Traditionally, the head of the New York Yankees front office was the GM, the general manager.

Since there is already an owner in that general manager position, the story is that they are trying to give him a different position.

Hearing this, the Yankees’ owner burst into hearty laughter.

“Haha, now that I see it, everyone has a talent for jokes? Listen up! Even if I’m a reckless old man, how can I throw the team advisor position at someone like Kim.”

“Then……”

At the very moment when the directors’ gazes were focused on the owner, a shout of ‘Waaaaah’ erupted from the stadium.

It seemed that the game had ended. The Tampa Bay Rays’ victory, the New York Yankees’ defeat.

At the very moment when the Tampa Bay players were hugging each other and celebrating their advance to the World Series, owner Richard Steinbrenner said.

“I’m thinking of entrusting him with the position of President of Baseball Operations.”

He said in a determined voice.

“The first President of Baseball Operations in our New York Yankees history……. I have made up my mind to entrust that position to Kim.”