One Outs 11

One Outs, Volume 2, Chapter 11 (pp. 53~75)


<53>
GWUUSH
Chapter 11: Contract

=He's gone, huh
=Toua

=You didn't wanna see him off?

GLANCE

=—March 7th//'99//...On this day

Toua Wakuchi becomes a professional ballplayer


<54>
Chapter 11: Contract


<55>
Saikyo Saitama Lycaons
Home field: Ohmiya Stadium in Ohmiya City
Owner: Saitama-Family Construction Company
The team has never made it to the playoffs since winning the Japan Series in '76. They ended the season 5th in the league in '95. They were in last place from '96~'98.
Despite being in the league cellar for 3 consecutive years, they ranked 3rd among all 12 professional teams in home attendance numbers last season.
—Due to several reasons...
The 60,000+ capacity stadium built by the owner's construction company.
Strong local support stemming from the fact that the franchise was invited to the city at the request of its citizens.
And most of all, the presence of national hero, Hiromichi Kojima.


<56>
Kagoshima//Lycaons spring training camp—
=So, he's arriving today

=Did you take a look at his history?
=Yes sir...

=Couldn't turn down a request from our star player Kojima-kun
=But honestly, the Lycaons...

=Don't need a piece of garbage on the roster
Chairman, Saitama Family Inc.
&
Owner, Saikyo Saitama Lycaons
Tsuneo Saikai


<57>
=Karuike Stadium

=These things
=Are lame
=...Let's not go there

=Starting today, you're a member of the Lycaons
=Kojima-san made a special deal with the owner so you could join us immediately//In principle, you're a spring training tryout


<58>
=Hey...//Cut it out
=Don't stir up any trouble


<59>
=You already stand out for joining the team like this
=And the other players don't think well of you after your incident with Kojima-san

=You didn't injure him directly
=But everyone here thinks it's your fault that Kojima-san got an injury that might keep him benched for the season opener

=Don't forget that Kojima-san is the leader of this team

=Who is that guy...?
=Dunno

=I watched him throw for a bit, but


<60>
=His pitches are
=Worse than a high schooler's

Lycaons starting catcher
Satoshi Ideguchi

=I'm gonna go see the owner now... Right?

=You're probably going to discuss your contract, but...
=Don't get your hopes up

=You see...


<61>
=The owner only cares about making money

=This is just my personal take
=But it's the owner's fault that the Lycaons are like this right now

=Especially these past 4, 5 years where the parent company hasn't been doing too well
=This team would be a lot stronger if it put more effort into scouting and developing players

He only thinks of the Lycaons
As a means of balancing out the losses incurred by his own company


<62>
=...Ha
=So now you're blaming everything on him

=I'm warning you
=Don't do anything stupid in front of the owner!

=Make a bad impression
=And you'll be treated very poorly


<63>
[x2]PANICK


<64>
=H-Hey...
=This is the owner//How about you show a little more respect?
=Huh?

=You said to make yourself at home
=That was just...
=Alright

=Every team needs its rambunctious personality
=But

=You are a tryout
=Meaning

=You aren't a player we sought out ourselves
=Don't allow yourself to forget about that


<65>
=Therefore//There won't be any signing bonus//...Understood?
=This year's salary...

=This sort of thing is determined by achievements...
=But in your case... I don't know what to say

=Hah-hah//These aren't achievements
=Forget about it
[paper]Resume//Little league: None//Junior-high: None//High school: None//College/Amateur: None//Other: Baseball gambling in Okinawa//Record: 999 wins 1 loss (loss against Hiromichi Kojima)

=I don't need bonuses or salaries or any of that crap
=Just gimme however much I earn


<66>
=5 million yen per out

=You pay me 5 million for every out I get

=Wha... Wh-Wh-Wh-What are you saying!!
=But...


<67>
=If I lose any runs
=I'll pay you 50 million per run

=Hm

=A contract incentive per outs made...

=A "One Outs" contract... If you will


<68>
=I'm in
=Get the contract ready
=Whaat!?

SWUSH
=Deal starts today

=Right, see ya

Ha... Thought he'd be a bit smarter than this

What a fool


<69>
=Owner... Are you sure about this? That contract is ridiculous...
=Oh dear, so there's another fool right here...

=Hey
=Who had the lowest ERA in the league last year?
=Uhh...

Yoshida of the Eagles...
I believe his ERA was 2.73...
[note]The lowest ERA in the Pacific League during the 1998 season was Satoru Kanemura's 2.73

=Which means...
=A pitcher who only gives up 2.7 runs per game is one of the best players in the league

=Now let's say we have a pitcher with a 2.70 ERA
=And we signed him with this "ridiculous" One Outs contract...

=How much will the team pay?
=Huh

=5 million times 27...//Minus 50 million times 2.7 is...


<70>
=Zero!?

[bubble]GRIN

=Money easily deludes the poor
=This contract is the perfect deal for us

=I thought we were getting a load of toxic waste on our hands because of Kojima-kun, but...
=We'll be rid of him in no time//He'll lose 2 or 3 runs and come crying to us in debt
ZZ...

=Let's go...
=Uh... Where to?
What about today's pre-season game


<71>
=To work

GAH-HAH-HAH-HAH-HAH

=Our team hopes to have your continued support this season
=Yes yes, I know

=Just make sure my company's ads are everywhere, hah-hah-hah

=Sir


<72>
=The results for today's pre-season game

=Right//Against the Bloomers
=And?
=A 3-0 loss

=Hmm alright
=...And

=There's more?
=That Toua Tokuchi... They tried him out in the 3rd inning

=Let me guess, he didn't do any good
=Well sir...

=He turned out okay
=So they decided to just keep him in...
=Oh... And...? How many innings did he last?

=Till... The 9th


<73>
=He shutout all 21 batters he faced

=Wha...

=And...//From Tokuchi, sir...


<74>
Bill
For the game on 3/8

=Heh...
=Heh-heh-heh...
=That little urchin...


<75>
Interesting
Ve—ry interesting...
GRUSH

=Toua and his "One Outs" contract...
=People had yet to realize
=That this addition to the league's perennial non-contenders, the Lycaons

Marked the beginnings to a miracle