Atmosphere Reformation

"Hey. Did you drink again? Focus on training."

"Ah, sorry, sunbae. I was just in such a good mood yesterday. Haha!"

In one corner ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of the training field, veteran Park Byung-hyun was chewing out Lee Woo-ram. Park Byung-hyun, born in '88, was trying to discipline Lee Woo-ram, born in '92, but Lee Woo-ram wasn't even pretending to listen. Despite the senior's scolding, he just grinned like an idiot.

"Ha... seriously, cut it out."

"Yes sir! Got it! Head on in!"

Lee Woo-ram saluted mockingly as he spoke to Park Byung-hyun. It sounded respectful at first glance, but the tone was pure sarcasm. Park Byung-hyun shook his head and walked away.

"Ha... fucking thinks he's all that just 'cause he's a sunbae?"

The moment Park Byung-hyun was gone, Lee Woo-ram flipped, spitting curses. Just as Coach Lee Cheol-gang had said, discipline between seniors and juniors had gone to hell. But as manager, I didn't want to micromanage every little thing. Drinking the night before and slacking on training, though—that was a different story.

I watched Lee Woo-ram quietly.

The stats weren't bad. But even the status window pointed out his lack of effort. Last year, he'd hit .300 in 291 plate appearances. This year, .284 in 368. Not bad for a rookie. The stats backed that up. But without effort, even potential wouldn't turn into results.

It was time for me to step in and fix that attitude.

I walked to the center of the training field, clapped loudly, and gathered the players.

"Assembly!"

At the manager's call, the players sluggishly gathered in front of me.

"You can't play proper baseball without stamina backing it up. Starting now, under my watch, we'll do running before every ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠training session to build stamina and prevent injuries. Get ready!"

A few players' faces fell immediately. I made a mental note of them. Plenty of baseball players skip running, but it was essential for preventing hamstring strains and other injuries. For pitchers and hitters alike, lower body strength was the foundation. Everywhere you went, legs were key.

The coaches reluctantly lined up the players and prepped for the run. A manager who didn't join wouldn't set an example, so I got ready to run alongside them.

But Lee Woo-ram and two others hung back, dragging their feet. Lee Woo-ram, Jang Young-jin, Kim Myung-yoon. Jang was a '90 baby, Kim a '94—all young guys. But acting like this while the veterans geared up? Not right.

"You three! Catch up now!"

My shout made the veterans glance back, and only then did they join the line.

We started slow to warm up, jogging the field. After two laps, I picked up the pace. I controlled the rhythm myself. My stamina was better than anyone else's, so I led the pack, directing them.

By the third lap, stragglers appeared—as expected, those three.

"Hurry up back there! How you gonna survive if you're gassed already?!"

I yelled over my shoulder while running, but a curse drifted into my ear.

"Ha... this fucking sucks, can't do it."

I stopped dead. The other players had heard it too, shooting worried glances. But the team wasn't mine yet—no one stepped up for me. Back with the Eagles, I'd won them over from the bottom up. Here, to cut out the rot, I needed emergency surgery. Time to act.

"Lee Geun-taek, take over and lead them."

I ordered the captain, then headed to the three laggards.

"What'd you say?"

"Said it fucking sucks and can't do it. What the hell is this shit?"

Lee Woo-ram didn't own up—instead, he snapped at me.

"Whining after two laps? Pathetic."

"Baseball players just need to swing the bat good. Who gives a shit about this running crap? Oh... you wouldn't get it, coming from bullpen catcher."

He'd decided to rebel outright, defying me completely.

"You two think the same?"

I eyed Jang Young-jin and Kim Myung-yoon.

"Uh... I..."

Jang hesitated, and Lee Woo-ram glared at him.

"This newbie manager—what's he gonna do? Scare you? Hyung, you know our value on this team?"

Lee Woo-ram figured his stats made him untouchable, even by the manager.

"No, sir. We'll run."

Jang and Kim glanced around and chose to run. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Unlike Lee Woo-ram, they had no results to lean on this year—no leverage.

"Fucking idiots..."

Lee Woo-ram cursed at their retreating backs, then turned to leave the field.

"Where you going? Training time ain't over."

"Hungover bad—taking today off."

He spouted nonsense and bolted. Perfect—right on plan. Someone had to be the sacrificial lamb, and he'd walked right into the trap.

I handed training to the coaches and headed straight to the director's office.

"Oh! Come on in. What's up?"

Park Seong-sik, the director, grinned warmly.

"Here for a trade request."

"Trade...?"

He looked skeptical— I'd just become manager.

"Yeah. Thinking of trading Lee Woo-ram from our roster."

"Lee Woo-ram? The one I know? Future core talent. No way."

As expected, the director shot it down. That's why the punk thought he could mouth off to me.

"Talent's there, but effort's lacking. He's stirring discord between seniors and juniors, bad influence on the kids."

"That's on you to manage. Trading him? Ridiculous."

I explained slowly, but he dug in. I had a plan, though.

"Trade for someone better than him. Lower immediate value, but high future potential."

Park Seong-sik perked up.

"Someone like that?"

"Yes. Spotted him when I was Eagles manager—definite growth."

"Ooh, who?"

"Kang Hyun-jun on the Eagles roster. Limited play this year, but hit .300. Instant contributor."

"Hmm... Know him. Hot prospect. Think Eagles'll trade?"

"Defense is weak, so DH only. With the right talk, yeah. Stats-wise, Lee Woo-ram edges him out."

"I see."

He pondered.

"But Kang Hyun-jun's not the key."

"Huh? Not him?"

"Great if we get him, but our real target is someone else."

"What? Another?"

"Kim Kang-jun, 7th round pick this year for Eagles. They don't see his potential yet, but I do. Train him right, he'll explode like Kim Sung-ha."

"Whoa...!"

Park Seong-sik's face lit up.

"Give Lee Woo-ram, get Kang Hyun-jun and Kim Kang-jun—we win big. Even just Kim Kang-jun plus cash is a steal."

"Got it. I'll make the move."

You hide what you really want for a good deal. If they knew we targeted Kim Kang-jun first, it'd weaken our position. Same with hyping Lee Woo-ram positively now.

Park Seong-sik was a Heroes vet, master of trades. Heroes were cash-tight, so directors mattered—he nailed it. Different style from Eagles' Han Ki-ho, so he'd push the trade my way.