MLB Thread

[Salacious Kitty]

26 minutes ago, DMK said:

He’s not a sixty year old grandpa flummoxed by those newfangled computer thingies. If he is, his accountant would get him set up with that.

Secondly, the guy changed his story. 

The last I heard, Ippei said he had a gambling addiction. Has this changed?

[Moose135]

15 hours ago, DMK said:

Secondly, the guy changed his story. 

There have been a few versions I've heard - the guy took the money without Ohtani knowing, or maybe Ohtani gave him the money to pay his gambling debts. The cynic in me wonders if the guy was actually placing bets for Ohtani to get around MLB rules on players gambling.

Edited March 21 by Moose135

[baldryanr]

10 minutes ago, Moose135 said:

The cynic in me wonders if the guy was actually placing bets for Ohtani to get around MLB rules on players gambling.

A conspiracy theorist is going to say that MLB will force him to take the fall because they can't afford for their biggest star and (supposed) swell dude Ohtani to be revealed as a degenerate gambler.

[DMK]

Oh yeah, there’s no way the MLB is going to let their golden boy go from Babe Ruth to Pete Rose in one fell swoop. They’re in CYA mode. I wouldn’t be surprised if the interpreter is set up with a very big nest egg for life in a nice country with no US extradition.

[mojoween]

I just cannot follow all the twists and turns of the story but “Ohtani knew just kidding no he didn’t” is some shady-ass shit.

[cleo]

Yeah Ohtani's own camp saying he was aware and then suddenly changing their tune- is fishy to me.

I think it is exactly what was initially said- the guy had gambling debts and Ohtani wanted to help him out, not realizing the implications. 

The bigger issue to me is will MLB give Ohtani a pass, which I assume they will. And then what message will that send long term, now that gambling is becoming ever more entwined with the games?

[baldryanr]

1 hour ago, cleo said:

The bigger issue to me is will MLB give Ohtani a pass, which I assume they will. And then what message will that send long term, now that gambling is becoming ever more entwined with the games?

Players can't bet on baseball and they can't use offshore websites or illegal bookies.  Everything else is fair game and while MLB might not be thrilled if their stars have a gambling addiction, as long as they do it legally then they can't do a thing other than plead with them to keep it quiet.

[cleo]

I could be wrong, but I think it was an illegal bookie/gambling operation. I believe the feds are investigating, but I may have those details wrong.

[DMK]

Yeah, I think the whole thing came up because the Feds were investigating the bookie for mob ties. It wasn’t just one single transaction, though. It was 8 or 9 over a two year period. I really don’t think that Ohtani isn’t going to notice that. 

Edited March 22 by DMK

[ProudMary]

6 hours ago, cleo said:

I could be wrong, but I think it was an illegal bookie/gambling operation. I believe the feds are investigating, but I may have those details wrong.

You're not wrong. California doesn't allow MGM, Draft Kings or the like. You want to place bets, you need to go through a bookie, and that's illegal.

You're also correct that the Dept. of Justice is investigating, which makes the fact that MLB isn't investigating Ohtani, moot. As much as MLB would like to sweep this under the proverbial rug, as it involves the face of the game, it's not going away any time soon.

[DMK]

4 minutes ago, ProudMary said:

You're also correct that the Dept. of Justice is investigating, which makes the fact that MLB isn't investigating Ohtani, moot. As much as MLB would like to sweep this under the proverbial rug, as it involves the face of the game, it's not going away any time soon.

Yes, but it’s unlikely that the feds would be able to prove who specifically made the transactions, especially if the interpreter has confessed to it and probably been whisked away to a non-extradition country and they can’t further talk to him. With that in mind, MLB will be more than happy to leave it at that. I’d say Ohtani is off the hook this time but if he slips again, he has no fall guy left. Also, nobody would buy the same story twice.

[ProudMary]

@DMK I agree completely with your response to my comment. It's just that with the feds (rightfully) involved, there will be a cloud hovering overhead for a while. The bloom is off the Ohtani rose. Not to mention that investigative journalists will be sniffing around on this for the rest of his playing career. If they find well-sourced info on him, even if it wasn't quite strong enough for the feds to charge him with, it will still be reported. 

I actually feel sad about the whole situation. Ohtani's incredible abilities are good for the game I love. Controversy surrounding him certainly isn't. 😔

[shoregirl]

 

MLB is investigating now. 

Craig Calcaterra has a pretty interesting breakdown 

https://cupofcoffee.beehiiv.com/p/cup-coffee-extra-breaking-shohei-ohtaniippei-mizuhara-story

 

[ebk57]

11 hours ago, DMK said:

Yeah, I think the whole thing came up because the Feds were investigating the bookie for mob ties. It wasn’t just one single transaction, though. It was 8 or 9 over a two year period. I really don’t think that Ohtani isn’t going to notice that. 

This is the business I work in (not gambling, but handling athlete finances) and there's an incredibly high chance that Ohtani wouldn't notice any of these transactions.  Not saying it did or didn't happen, but many of the athletes are checked out of that side of their lives.  That's why they should always hire my firm - we're great! (Seriously, we are)

[DMK]

49 minutes ago, ebk57 said:

This is the business I work in (not gambling, but handling athlete finances) and there's an incredibly high chance that Ohtani wouldn't notice any of these transactions.  Not saying it did or didn't happen, but many of the athletes are checked out of that side of their lives.  That's why they should always hire my firm - we're great! (Seriously, we are)

That is a commonality with celebrities with loads of money. The thing with that is from what we’ve seen, Ohtani has such a stranglehold on any personal information, like getting married or the name of his dog. That information didn’t get out until he deemed it so. He even broke his own story about signing with the Dodgers. Seems to me that someone who’s in such massive control over his information would not miss that.

Edited March 23 by DMK

[Carey]

In all honesty, I really hope that Ohtani does not fall here.  This year sans Gerrit is bad enough; I even thought so myself saying that at least there's a big star on the West since the star on the East is down and out.  It would be a total gut punch if there's any validity to Shohei sorta opting to emulate Rose or even Barry Bonds, instead of someone like the Babe or even Jeter

[ProudMary]

5 hours ago, shoregirl said:

Craig Calcaterra has a pretty interesting breakdown 

https://cupofcoffee.beehiiv.com/p/cup-coffee-extra-breaking-shohei-ohtaniippei-mizuhara-story

 

Thanks for that link @shoregirl. Calcaterra's breakdown was great. The opening was 😄, but spot-on.

[DMK]

On a subject change, why are most of the Opening Day games on in the middle of the day? I realized this and I had a doctors appt at about that same time. I used the app to reschedule but left the “why do you want to reschedule” box blank because “conflicts with MLB Opening Day” was too embarrassing to write.

[shoregirl]

I don't know.. I was going to guess so they can have one game on nationally to end opening day but looking at the schedule they have most the games starting between 1 and 4. The Cubs/Rangers are on  ESPN at 730 then three more games at 10 to end the night . 

I'm so happy baseball is almost here. 

[Carey]

One hope I have is that some of the teams whose weather isn't as spectacular year-round gets a decent opening day.  If the weather is going to be well-above average throughout the summer, it would be nice if what should've been the case last month isn't the forecast on Opening Day

[ProudMary]

4 hours ago, DMK said:

On a subject change, why are most of the Opening Day games on in the middle of the day? I realized this and I had a doctors appt at about that same time. I used the app to reschedule but left the “why do you want to reschedule” box blank because “conflicts with MLB Opening Day” was too embarrassing to write.

Embarrassment-free zone here.

Every year, I think to myself, "Opening Day should be a national holiday." 😉

[BlueSkies]

On 2/13/2024 at 5:14 PM, ProudMary said:

I realize that this video I'm sharing (Length 7:35) is from the YES Network so non-Yankees fans may choose not to watch, but it's a very good panel discussion on the automated ball-strike system that was implemented last season across AAA Baseball. I've been a cheerleader for the system's implementation at the major league level but after listening to this discussion, I think I like the halfway mode where the umps still make the calls, but the team has challenges available if they believe an egregious call has been made. Worth a watch, IMO.

 

Good watch and I'm not a Yankee fan. 

 

While it's not something I have strong feelings about I think this going to be a reality sooner versus later.  I suppose it will get the calls more correct but to me it will make the game even more boring.  Though the time clock between pitches helped a little I thought.  

[ebk57]

39 minutes ago, ProudMary said:

Embarrassment-free zone here.

Every year, I think to myself, "Opening Day should be a national holiday." 😉

This is the day I take off as my "religious holiday" every year!  

[ProudMary]

Longtime Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos dies at 94

Edited to add: The article addresses how his death will affect the family's sale of the team.

Edited March 23 by ProudMary

[ebk57]

2 minutes ago, ProudMary said:

Longtime Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos dies at 94

End of an era.  One that started out so well, then it continued into...something else.  

[ProudMary]

Who didn't see this coming? 🙄 From CBS News:

DJ LeMahieu injury update: Yankees' third baseman to begin 2024 season on IL with 'significant bone bruise'

 

[ProudMary]

Sam Blum of The Athletic is live tweeting the Ohtani press conference here. The only other way to get it is on MLB Network.

Click for the full thread.

[baldryanr]

Nothing too surprising from that press conference.  Of course he was going to say he had no knowledge of any of this.

[ProudMary]

Here's a video of Ohtani's prepared comments. You can't call this a press conference as no questions were taken. (Skip ahead to 10:35. That's when Ohtani sits down.)

 

[smittykins]

Is it just me, or does anyone else think that Jeff Nelson and Joe Girardi have similar speaking voices?(I initially thought Joe was doing this afternoon’s game, but he’s in Mexico with Bob Lorenz.)

ETA:  Actually, Nelly’s in Mexico, so maybe Joe was in Florida?

Edited March 26 by smittykins

[Carey]

Wouldn't it be something if Los Angeles won the whole thing.  In spite of Ohtani, though I think I'd still be okay if he was a reason or the reason for another title.

 

Here is the schedule and slated start times for Opening Day 2024.

All 30 teams will be in action on that day, including reigning champion Texas, who hosts the 2016 Champions in the evening EST on ESPN.

On a personal note, to be honest I was looking forward to Ohtani and LA, especially after the news regarding Gerrit Cole.  Maybe Houston winning no more than 42 games would be a nice consolation prize.  For me at least!

 

As for the Fall Classic favorites, Dodgers are around 3 to 1.  I think over 3 to 1 to win the title.  Followed by Atlanta, Houston, and the New York Yankees at 4.5 to 1, 7 to 1, and 9 to 1, respectively.  The defending champions & Baltimore both have a 14/1 chance

[mojoween]

I can think of so many things more palatable than a Dodgers World Series win.  Raw liver.  The sediment at the bottom of a cup of hot cocoa.  Gum an hour past its freshness.  Stubbing my toe.  Reading the tax code.

Was there any point to Ohtani’s presser if he didn’t answer questions and basically said it surely was not me who did any of those things?

[Notabug]

1 hour ago, mojoween said:

I can think of so many things more palatable than a Dodgers World Series win.  Raw liver.  The sediment at the bottom of a cup of hot cocoa.  Gum an hour past its freshness.  Stubbing my toe.  Reading the tax code.

Was there any point to Ohtani’s presser if he didn’t answer questions and basically said it surely was not me who did any of those things?

What else could Ohtani say?  If he even admits that he gave/lent the money to the translator to cover his gambling debts; he's in deep doo doo.  He has to completely separate himself from both the situation and the money or his career is over before it barely began.

It would be interesting to know just how a lowly translator got close enough to Ohtani to be able to access his accounts, but I suppose he and his attorneys are saving that for the deposition.  Saying something about it now would make it harder to defend if he changes the story in any way later.  And, yeah, I believe there is something very fishy here and Ohtani is culpable for, at the very least, knowingly giving money to his translator to pay a bookie and probably more than that.

[baldryanr]

2 hours ago, Notabug said:

It would be interesting to know just how a lowly translator got close enough to Ohtani to be able to access his accounts, but I suppose he and his attorneys are saving that for the deposition. 

It's been very clear that he wasn't just his "lowly translator", the guy was basically his personal assistant.  That's the entire point of his defense, that he gave the guy 100% access because he trusted him completely.

Now, I'm not saying this is what actually happened - the original story (the translator was in debt and Ohtani, being the generous guy that he is, was willing to pay the bookie directly without recognizing that a criminal act done with good intentions is still a criminal act) is more likely.

[Notabug]

Most people wouldn't give their accountant enough access to take over $5 million from their accounts, let alone a personal assistant, no matter how much he was trusted,

Surely, someone other than the translator was handling Ohtani's financial affairs and should've caught the large sums of money being withdrawn from Ohtani's accounts, and, at the very least, asked Ohtani about it.  Either Ohtani's money  people really fell down on the job or, Ohtani knew how much the translator was taking and approved, which seems to suggest that he knew why he needed so much.

Edited March 26 by Notabug

[baldryanr]

Because athletes are so often the embodiment of financial prudence and good judgement?  They aren't most people.

If Ohtani facilitated betting on baseball then he's facing a ban, but I don't think he would be stupid enough to do that.  If he facilitated illegal bets on other sports then MLB will fine him and that'll be the end of it unless the Feds uncover evidence of more wrongdoing.  It'll hurt his image for a bit, but let's be honest - star athletes have done worse and maintained the love of the fans as long as they performed well on the field.

[cleo]

Didn't the translator give an hour long interview to ESPN with an Ohtani spokesperson standing by, saying that Ohtani loaned him the money? Beforw the lawyers pulled it back?

That is what gets me. Something like that doesn't just happen imo. The interpreter wasn't meeting ESPN in a back alley. I find it hard to believe that interview was set up without Ohtani having any knowledge, given how tight lipped he is with media. 

Also how stupid would this guy be to brazenly lie like that to an espn audience of millions?

I dont buy it myself.

But I believe they need someone to blame, they will blame the interpreter, and that's that bc it's Ohtani.

Edited March 26 by cleo

[mojoween]

Ippei is the new Greg Anderson.

[Notabug]

8 hours ago, cleo said:

Didn't the translator give an hour long interview to ESPN with an Ohtani spokesperson standing by, saying that Ohtani loaned him the money? Beforw the lawyers pulled it back?

That is what gets me. Something like that doesn't just happen imo. The interpreter wasn't meeting ESPN in a back alley. I find it hard to believe that interview was set up without Ohtani having any knowledge, given how tight lipped he is with media. 

Also how stupid would this guy be to brazenly lie like that to an espn audience of millions?

I dont buy it myself.

But I believe they need someone to blame, they will blame the interpreter, and that's that bc it's Ohtani.

As to why anyone, even Ohtani would LEND $5 million to a interpreter; that's about as plausible as thinking no one noticed the deficit in Ohtani's accounts until the feds came calling.  Even if Ohtani doesn't handle his day-to-day finances, like most athletes; surely he has a business manager/accountant who does pay attention to where the money goes and would make sure that Ohtani was ok with such huge sums being transferred without any purchase being made.  Usually there is a limit on how much can be spent without notifying the boss for approval.

If it was a 'loan', it seems obvious that Ohtani wasn't expecting it to be repaid anytime soon, if ever.

Edited March 27 by Notabug

[ProudMary]

 

[shoregirl]

Phillies-Braves postponed until Friday as well. If they had to make a call Im glad that they did it today and not make people wait until tomorrow.

 

[DMK]

Well, honestly, what were they thinking scheduling those games in Philly and New York? Especially when the Braves and Brewers had locations more conducive to the earliness of the season that is opening day? Braves are in the warmer south and Brewers have a roof.

[ProudMary]

Happy Opening Day, everyone! ⚾

 

[ebk57]

It's the Most Wonderful Day of the Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cleo]

Happy Opening Day! 

I'm ready for this GD team to break my heart again.

[ProudMary]

Seven Hall of Famers, some no longer with us 😢, share some brief thoughts on Opening Day. ⚾

 

Stay classy Astros.

 

[Carey]

Happy Opening Day, with apologies to about 4 teams.  Most of the 26, well, hopefully the weather cooperated.

Such a longshot to even predict who'll win what.  It's a grind in the other sports, but baseball so tops it IMO & TBH.  I'd go with Texas if I had to choose, but there is a fair enough reason why nobody has repeated in over 2 decades.

Unlike other sports, officiating can't be ultra effective unless it's known & obvious.  So despite a team like Los Angeles being great enough to win for the first time in 4 years, no way officiating will be the leading cause

[emma675]

Happy opening day (well, night) to the defending World Series Champions, Texas Rangers! Never got to say that before!

 

[jennifer6973]

Happy opening day.

 

I have 3 teams I root for and 2 of them are playing each other today, so I'll be happy for whatever team wins.

My other team is playing The Angels today. 

 

 

 

$%=##$%%Freakin Trout#$==$%##

Edited March 28 by jennifer6973
Stupidhomerun

[ProudMary]

I'm an out-of-market Yankees' fan, so I watch the games through MLB.TV.  Yankees/Astros is shown as today's Free Game of the Day. The reason I bring it up is because it's the only Free Game of the Day, which has me a bit ticked off. Every year I've had a subscription, all games during the first week of the season have been free for everyone. (MLB, in the past, has also had all games be free to all in the week after the All-Star Game.) I wonder why they stopped it.

Nitpick, I know, but was looking forward to being able to see some other games this week.