Baseball: A Two-Way Player-Chapter 507 - 104: Early Victory Declaration

After the final game of the series with the Fighters, when Akiyama Koji appeared at the press conference, the flashing glaring magnesium lights cast on him, and the demeanor of the reporters was no longer as friendly as before.

"Manager Akiyama," a journalist sitting at the forefront of the interview table was the first to voice his doubts, in a rather sharp tone, "after achieving the best start in SoftBank Team’s history with 13 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss, the team’s condition has significantly declined recently, with only 4 wins and 6 losses in the last 10 games, and a winning percentage of less than 50%, and the top spot in the Pacific League has been surrendered to the Orix team..."

"Your load management strategy has been proven to be one of the main factors leading to the team’s decline—what do you have to say about this? Will you consider returning to a conventional rotation arrangement next?"

Akiyama Koji recognized this reporter—he was a veteran figure in professional baseball, already involved in player interviews back when Akiyama was still a player.

Truly worthy of being a veteran with strong business ability, this question was like a precisely controlled fastball that flew directly into the sweet spot of Akiyama Koji’s strike zone.

Since the decision to apply the brakes on the team during a coaching staff meeting, Akiyama Koji implemented adjustments swiftly: In recent games, he began to use bullpen pitchers more, simultaneously training fresh blood and distributing the pressure on starting pitchers. Players like Lin Guanglai and Shetsu Shou, who are core to the team, had their innings and pitch count strictly controlled to 6 innings/100 pitches.

As for the offense, the team started to increase the frequency of tactical coordination during official games and conducted detailed reviews to address previously exposed issues. Occasional rotations in the lineup were also made.

Such adjustments naturally brought about slight fluctuations in performance, which became the biggest leverage point for the reporters to attack Akiyama Koji.

If it were any ordinary person, they might surrender under such media pressure; but as a distinctive player and a manager with countless honors, Akiyama Koji simply took a deep breath and calmly said:

"The season has just begun. Our focus should not be on the victory or loss of one or two games but rather on the sustainable development of the entire season. In my view, the current adjustments are necessary. Overexertion at the start of the season can easily lead to a collapse at the season’s end—take the Boston Red Sox from two years ago, for example. They were leading the East United States Division by nine games at the beginning of September, and what happened afterward?"

"A season-ending record of 7 wins and 20 losses, a historic collapse that left them out of the playoffs—this example is not even three years old."

"As a manager, I need to ensure that my players are still lively and vigorous in September and October; as for the current fluctuations in performance, they’re tuition fees we have to pay."

Akiyama Koji’s tone was calm, steady, and firm, as if stating an objective fact; however, obviously, his somewhat evasive answer did not satisfy the reporters looking for a headline.

With the senior reporter firing the first shot, the other reporters quickly swarmed forward, unleashing their firepower at Akiyama Koji:

"But Manager Akiyama, don’t you think your statement is too idealistic? How can you ensure that the team’s current load management will allow them to regain their previous form by September and October?"

"Manager Akiyama, is the reason for this strategy because of some internal problems within the team? Or has the higher management imposed other pressures on you, leading you to express your dissatisfaction this way?"

"Manager Akiyama..."

The reporters were like hyenas that had seen carrion, throwing out all kinds of conspiracy theories without giving Akiyama Koji any room to breathe. They would even prefer Akiyama Koji to remain silent, for silence sometimes equates to consent, particularly for those engaged in news reporting.

Faced with this, Akiyama Koji maintained a proper mindset—he simply sat there, watching the reporters as if they were clowns performing in a circus, and only when their energy waned and they calmed down did he continue to speak:

"I know that you won’t believe anything I say right now, and will even weave baseless news from my words or out of context. I am well aware of these tactics after dealing with you for decades..."

"What I am about to say, you may publish, but I hope you relay it word for word—."

Sensing an impending major news event, the reporters instantly fell silent, focusing intently on Akiyama Koji’s increasingly aged face: he lightly coughed twice and delivered his declaration.

"When the season ends in early November, you can ask me the same question again—by then, I will reply to you holding the Pacifc League championship and Japan’s Number One victory flag."

After speaking, Akiyama Koji stood up directly from his seat and left the press conference without a backward glance; the reporters who had been as fierce as wolves moments ago were now stunned into silence, staring at their colleagues, unable to utter a word for a long time.