The Turkeys' Ruthless Hierarchy
So, dissolution trades... That might mean drifting apart from the seniors I'd just started getting close to...
"Hu-seong, do you know about the detailed hierarchy in our team?"
Gu Min-seok asked just as I was mulling it over a bit.
"Huh? Hierarchy? Not really."
"Then let me ask in a simpler way—what do you think is the most respected rank?"
Hmm... I'd heard something about this before.
"The Turkeys are a broke team, so... isn't it the players who post to MLB and bring back money?"
Gu Min-seok nodded as if he'd been waiting for it.
"Exactly right. So the guy getting the best treatment right now is Jeong I-hun. He's basically locked in for a MLB contract next year. That's why the team didn't stop him when he suddenly bulked up and changed his swing this season. They even actively supported it to make him look good for MLB."
"I see."
"Kim Han-seong gets a bit of that too, since he might go in two years. Natural order so far. Easy, right? Who's next?"
Tricky. So who gets good treatment after that?
"Players up for FA?"
Gu Min-seok shook his head immediately.
"Nope. Players who could get big FA money are hard for us to keep, so they're lower priority. Veterans who are cheap, do all the odd jobs for the team—they rank higher."
Then... I glanced at Son Tae-ho in the distance.
"Bingo! That's why Tae-ho hyung gets pretty good treatment. Captain, sets the mood, reasonable salary."
Wow... This team is cost-effective down to the bone.
Gu Min-seok leaned forward and asked again.
"So, who's next?"
I had a feel for it now.
"Hmm... Players who could bring back a haul in a trade?"
Gu Min-seok nodded.
"Right again."
"But doesn't that cover most of the first-team starters and backups?"
"Correct. But first-team starters and backups aren't as high as you think. So where's the difference? Players who suddenly start killing it."
"Huh?"
"If they suddenly get hot, they're gone soon."
... Sigh. Feels like the sound of a cow heading to slaughter?
"You weren't thinking of a cow at the slaughterhouse, were you?"
"Cough."
"Most guys like going out. Kids from Seoul like staying, but some want to go to popular teams and get cheered like crazy. Or they get traded because their spot opened up, just to get playing time."
Ah...
"So, who's next? Think about it."
I could see the answer now, but it left a bad taste.
Still, I answered.
"Players who perform well for cheap?"
At that moment, the corner of Gu Min-seok's mouth slowly curved up. Like he'd been waiting.
He poked my chest with his finger.
"Exactly. Guys just like you. Unless you get drunk and flop, they'll give you some perks—so take what you can."
"Uh..."
"You're hardworking, that's good, but you lack street smarts. Learn to ask for breaks from training. Not like Hwang Do-yoon skipping everything—just don't idiotically do it all and break down. You're high-risk. Hope you don't burn out by summer's end."
I stood there, mouth agape, speechless.
"Hmm... Tough, huh?"
"That's why you gotta think about it. You're a pro. Know your position and milk it. Even if you grind alone and win, if you get hurt, the team might ditch you. Be careful."
"...Got it."
As our long-overdue chat with Gu Min-seok wrapped up, Son Tae-ho approached.
"Infielders, assemble!"
Manager Kim Young-ho was checking the lineup with a few coaches.
The chief coach spoke first.
"With Gu Min-seok back, the lineup's rock solid now. From 1 to 9, everyone's hitting around .300."
Kim Young-ho rested his chin on his hand and nodded slowly.
"Hmm... Not sure if this kid can hit that, but since others can... Put Kim Hu-seong at third for leadoff, Gu Min-seok at two."
"Sounds good. Min-seok fits one-hole too, but Hu-seong lacks tactical smarts."
The talk naturally shifted to three and beyond.
"This part's tricky. Lots of solid hitters, gotta consider egos."
The hitting coach chimed in.
"Director, we need to be cold-blooded. Base it on current stats and form."
Kim Young-ho raised an eyebrow at the hitting coach.
"Hmm... Not a bad idea. How would you slot 'em?"
The hitting coach unfolded his prepared notes.
"Three: Kim Han-seong. Steadiest bat feel on the team. Solid contact, recent line-drive rate up—low risk."
"Kim Han-seong at three? Hmm... Go on."
He moved his finger to the next spot.
"Four: Son Tae-ho. Cleanup needs someone who can handle pressure—the captain's perfect. Highest slugging too."
The manager nodded and listened.
The hitting coach pointed to the next naturally.
"Five: Jeong I-hun fits best."
"That's iffy. I see him at three. He wants it too—might demand more at-bats?"
The hitting coach was firm.
"His form change kills his old average, but power's up. Used to be contact guy; now ball quality's better—ideal for five."
The manager pondered, then nodded slowly in agreement.
"Fair point. Rest?"
The hitting coach was ready.
"Six: first baseman Hwang Do-yoon. Seven: right fielder Lee Sang-hyeon. Eight: shortstop Edison. Nine: catcher Jang Ha-jun."
Kim Young-ho pressed his forehead and let out a hollow laugh.
"Hah... Merc at eight... Unreal."
The hitting coach said quietly.
"No choice. Defense is elite, but bat's weak. Domestic guys are hot—can't help it. No new mercs anyway. Tell him to use it as a springboard; perform and we'll promote."
"Merc at eight... Doesn't sit right, but seems best."
At captain Son Tae-ho's call, the fielders gathered.
"Lots dropped to two-army suddenly, so lots came up. Our infield's just Min-seok back—no big change. But I'm calling you to explain why all this shuffling."
Everyone nodded silently.
"Mid-season, but word is they're overhauling the pitchers. Brass is pulling out the sword for real. We score, but pitchers give up more—lost that way plenty, right?"
A few fielders drew sharp breaths.
Looks like I'm not the only one pissed.
Son Tae-ho scanned around.
"Some had beef with pitcher management before too. Games ruined, wasted energy. But big purge now—bear with it a bit. They say it'll be ruthless ahead. All pitchers stressed—cut 'em some slack. Got it?"
Basically, suck it up. Same as always... But if they're cracking down, guys'll endure.
"We do our jobs. Starters start and produce. Backups step up when called. Summer now—even backups get games. Show your stuff. Okay?"
"Got it."
Son Tae-ho nodded at the response.
"We're tenth now, but we're rolling. Feels like last year's second-place run. For real. Let's crush from here and hit fall ball again."
Fall ball...
"Our club's cheap—miss playoffs, they cut pay. Stingy as hell if there's any excuse. Hate that, right?"
Yes. Hate it!
"So let's ball out. That's all. Finish training right, crush Changwon Larus tomorrow."
"Got it!"
"Dismissed!"