Became the Problem Child of MLB - Chapter 197



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Episode 197 That guy, that guy, that guy (6)

There is an unwritten rule in the world of baseball.

For example, batters should refrain from excessive celebrations even when hitting a home run, or they should not use their bats or feet when fighting. Some unwritten rules have become less enforceable over time, but that doesn’t mean they have completely disappeared.

And just as major leaguers follow unwritten rules, there are also unspoken rules in the world of reporters covering teams. Breaking these rules doesn’t mean you’ll be removed from the press list or put on the team’s blacklist overnight, but it’s essential to be considerate of each other in order to elicit quality answers from players within a limited time.

In short, it is basic among the basics not to ask questions similar to those already asked by other reporters. A sensible follow-up question can soften the interview atmosphere, but if you interfere too much, you are likely to receive glares from the surrounding reporters.

In addition, you should not interfere with the movement of the busy club members, and it is polite to visit the starting pitcher of the day after the game, not before.

In the meantime, if you get an exclusive story that isn’t the same as other reporters’, that day is a so-called ‘jackpot’. Of course, if you cross the line in your greed for reporting and get out of favor with the player, it will be difficult to report in the future, but veteran reporters use their own tips to avoid it.

And the wisdom gained through direct experience in the field was usually passed down to the next generation through word of mouth.

“Okay, Brewers are done here. Now it’s the Cubs… Open your ears and listen carefully. There will already be reporters swarming around the players who are willing to be interviewed. Avoid them and aim for the rookies first. It’s even better if they’re the ones who are sneaking glances around and making that ‘Why isn’t anyone coming to me?’ expression. And also….”

Tom Spencer, who received the pass with trembling hands, heard the words of the shooter pouring into his ears without stopping. These words were clearly golden and jade for his future career as a reporter, but for a rookie who was just being sent to the field for the first time, they were all too much to keep up with.

“… Right? And if Sejay Suarez takes his headphones out of his locker, that means we’ll call it a day for the interview. If we try to hold him back any longer, we’ll just find out how much he knows about heavy metal, so give up. With Andy McGregor, it’s better to get to the point quickly. He likes reporters who can quickly get to the point rather than reporters who keep rambling.”

“Uh… yes.”

“And if you get a chance, get to know Victor Arouswell. He may be a rough talker, but he’s a nice guy.”

“I’ll try. … It won’t be easy, though.”

Tom Spencer nodded as he crossed the line that led directly to the clubhouse, where general fans were restricted from entering. Now, the real reporting began. He had finally taken his first step as a baseball reporter.

“Okay. I think I’ve told you most of the important stuff. Is there anything else you’re curious about?”

“yes.”

Tom Spencer, who was trying to look confident and glancing at the players passing by, answered. There was definitely a player missing from the information that was quickly passing by his ears.

“Huh? What is it?”

“What about Jay?”

“Who? Jay?”

“Yes, Jay.”

Tom Spencer couldn’t understand why his shooter gave him the look that said, “Oh, right. The Cubs had a guy like that.”

Why would you leave out Han Je-yi, of all the other players? A player who is so popular that he dominated the entertainment news with just one appearance on a TV show?

And that’s not all. Rumor has it that he’s cooperative with reporters, but honestly, when I look at how he’s portrayed in the media, I’m a little hesitant.

Wouldn’t he break a bat in two with his knee in front of the crowd, and if he got caught, wouldn’t he knock guys much bigger than him to the ground?

‘Reporter, what did you just say?’

‘… Euaaaah!’

‘Could you say that again?’

‘Ugh, ugh, ugh!’

There was no guarantee that he wouldn’t end up like those players. Tom Spencer shuddered involuntarily as he imagined Hanjei lifting him up and slamming him to the ground.

“Well, there’s nothing in particular?”

“yes?”

“There’s nothing to be afraid of. There’s probably no player in the league easier to interview than Jay.”

And then, looking at the shooter who answered indifferently, he asked back with a bewildered expression. There is nothing to be careful about? When you said something about other players that was over 10 pages of A4 paper?

“Even if I ask Jay a question that crosses the line… I guess I’ll just feel a little embarrassed.”

“Huh? Are you embarrassed?”

“Yeah. It must have been a refreshing experience. ‘At this age, and a reporter losing to a 19-year-old! And that kid was the only one who was elegant until the end!’ That’s kind of it.”

“…….”

“It’s okay, it’s okay. Just kick the blanket a few times before going to bed and forget about it.”

Tom Spencer finally couldn’t contain his curiosity at the strangely lively words of the shooter and asked.

“Is this by any chance an experience?”

“…Wow. Time has passed so quickly. Let’s go in.”

… That’s a story from experience. Tom Spencer, who quickly came to a conclusion, followed the shooter into the locker room. And he wandered around the clubhouse with a bewildered expression throughout the pregame interview.

“Hey, wake up. You’re not sleeping, are you?”

“…Yes? Yes, yes. Of course. You’re sleeping.”

“Then get up. The game is over.”

“yes yes!”

And when I came to my senses, the game was already over.

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Since it was the last game of the series, the away team, the Cubs, had to go straight to the next stadium. The reporters who had to get a word from the players also had to get busy.

“Let’s just quickly send the match results and go down. I’ll go to the manager’s side, so you take care of the players.”

The game ended with a 3-2 Cubs victory. The Cubs won the series and maintained their status as the top NL winning percentage, but the game itself was not like that.

When the score is not broken in a situation where it should be, baseball fans often beat their chests with their fists, saying that the batting line is constipated. The Cubs were no different that day. The tight batting line did not break through until the end of the game, and the game ended with 3 runs, which was a bit small compared to the double-digit hits.

In these types of games, not only the fans but also the players who played in the game feel frustrated.

“Jay, how do you feel about getting on base in your last at-bat today? You seemed a little taken aback in your last at-bat. If I misunderstood, please let me know. Haha.”

Moreover, Han Je-yi, who had been the target of intense attention from the Brewers pitchers after hitting a double in his first at-bat, was sure to suffer even more. Tom Spencer, who was pushed back by the other reporters, waited for Han Je-yi to open his mouth.

“Me? No way. I think you misunderstood my expression of joy. Please write that in the article. To me, this is a happy expression.”

And then, looking at Han Jae, who was frowning playfully, I opened my mouth slightly. Just now, I don’t know for sure, but it felt like a very sensitive question had been asked.

When I came to my senses, even the reporter who asked the question was laughing.

“Haha. Okay. I can’t believe it, but I’ll write it like that. Let’s talk about the 6th inning. You got on base, but there was no follow-up hit, and the game almost ended. How did you feel then?”

“Do I have to answer honestly?”

“Then that’s good.”

“If you turn off the recorder here, I will answer honestly.”

“haha.”

“It’s a joke, so what? Not all chances lead to runs. If they did, there would be no such thing as a runner left on base in baseball.”

“But Cubs fans say that there is no such thing as a runner left on base in your dictionary?”

Then Han Je-yi nodded to a reporter in the back row.

“Oh, I like that sentence. I should write it down in my diary later.”

Tom Spencer witnessed a curious sight: the mouths of the most demanding journalists melting in laughter.

The funny thing is that his expression wasn’t much different. It wasn’t bad to see Han Je-yi, who probably never wrote a diary, acting like a fool in front of reporters.

“Hehehe.”

Tom Spencer, who was relaxed, also snickered. Unlike other rookies who pretended to be relaxed, Han Jae-yi was full of naturalness without any pretense. The point was that he did not seem arrogant.

To be honest, it would be annoying to see a player with such an overwhelming record. It was nice to see Young-Geon, who had everyone’s expectations on him, brimming with confidence.

Although it was only his first day at the club, it was immediately clear that Hanje was a completely different creature from other rookies.

The interview was over, and Tom Spencer turned off the recorder with a slightly recalled expression. He wanted to quickly record what he had experienced today before he forgot it.

“…I won. That fool has created another fan boy.”

When a player who has done his part to the fullest and even overdone it lifts the mood of the reporters on the front lines, the burden on the players who have been less active is somewhat relieved.

Unless they are psychopaths, it would be difficult for the reporters who were just laughing and talking to each other to suddenly change their faces and treat other players like criminals.

“Oh, me.”

In the overly warm locker room atmosphere, Victor Arouswell felt a little strange.

“What do you know to do that?”

I wonder what he’s thinking inside his head, and I also find it funny that he’s a rookie who pretends to be a veteran when he’s only in his second year.

But the undeniable fact was that he felt proud when he saw Han Jae-yi.

Victor felt creeped out by himself, but soon accepted it with reluctance. If he were to count all the exceptions that were allowed only to that bastard, it would take more than two hands to do so.

As the reporters streamed out of the locker room, Victor snickered and slapped Hanjei on the back.

“Hey, when did you grow up so much? You’re ready to get married now.”

“I was originally bigger than Victor, wasn’t I?”

“You shouldn’t be saying that now.”

“Don’t forget, I have always been superior in ‘everything’.”

“…I’m going crazy. Now he’s trash-talking me all the time.”

“I was telling the truth.”

“Shut up.”

Anyway.

Victor Aroswell, who was secretly proud of the rookie who was growing day by day, was in the first game of the three-game series against the Pirates.

Boo-woong—

3rd inning.

Han Je-yi, who swung and missed on a changeup that went out without a hitch in his second at-bat, looked at the pitcher as if to say, “Why? What? What did I do wrong?” and burst into laughter.

“What’s the big deal, that idiot is really…….”

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