Show Me Shohei O(h)tani

[Ceetar]

Will be interesting to see if they like, skip a start here or there or if he actually gets hurt in a way that doesn't affect his swing. We could get injury updates on an active player!

[A Boy Named Seo]

If you guys didn't see this, Ohtani's people sent a letter to all 30 clubs requesting the info below.

The letter, sent to all 30 clubs Friday and obtained by The Times, asks for clubs to address seven non-financial points in their presentations: -An evaluation of Shohei’s talent as a pitcher and/or a hitter; -Player development, medical, training and player performance philosophies and capabilities; -Major League, Minor League, and Spring Training facilities; -Resources for Shohei’s cultural assimilation; -A detailed plan for integrating Shohei into the organization; -Why the city and franchise are a desirable place to play; -Relevant marketplace characteristics.”

The Mets would have to lie their asses off a little of the 2nd point, but if those last 4 are truly important to Ohtani, and the Mets are truly serious about him, they should legit be a contender for his services with the Yankees, Dodgers, Rangers and Mariners.

I would have Aoki, Nomo, Kaz Matsui, Dice-K, Mr. Sparkle all reach out to him and tell him how effing great the opportunities for Japanese players are in NYC and how easy it is to settle in in such a multi-cultural city.

I would have Mickey, David Wright, Yo, deGrom and Thor all get in touch with him and tell him how they can't wait to play with him.

I would send a video showing his smiling face plastered all over world-famous NY landmarks wearing blue and orange. I would have Kristaps Porzingis on this video wearing a goddamn Ohtani Mets jersey telling him, "Come to Queens, dude, do it!!" Then I'd ask Seinfeld, Rock, Jon Stewart and a bunch of other MLBS's to join in.

I might even show an imaginary uniform retirement ceremony at the end of that vid.

If you were the Mets, what would YOU reply with, specifically on last 4 points?

[Ceetar]

The Mets _did_ announce a revamping of their medical process back in October. coincidence?

[Benjamin Grimm]

Probably a coincidence.

Get O(h)tani in a room with Mickey Callaway and he'll be begging to join the Mets.

[Edgy MD]

It's a good coincidence?

Who was the Japanese player the Mets had (or sought) that had a wife whose whole gig seemed to be taking pictures with food? Or was it a Korean? Dae-sung Koo?

[nymr83]

I don't even remember Koo. Jae Weong Seo was awesome for a little while.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: It's a good coincidence? Who was the Japanese player the Mets had (or sought) that had a wife whose whole gig seemed to be taking pictures with food? Or was it a Korean? Dae-sung Koo?

Mukbang (or muk-bang; Korean: 먹방; meokbang; lit. "eating show") is an online audiovisual broadcast in which a host eats large quantities of food while interacting with their audience. Usually done through an internet webcast (such streaming platforms include Afreeca), mukbang became popular in South Korea in the 2010s.[1][2][3] Foods ranging from pizza to noodles are consumed in front of a camera for an internet audience (who pay or not, depending on which platform one is watching).

[Edgy MD]

Nymr83 wrote: I don't even remember Koo. Jae Weong Seo was awesome for a little while.

Dae-sung Koo was super-awesome for about two and a half minutes.

XRoKDDKkKoc

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Another baseball moment that would be ruined by replay.

Friggin Meintkiewicz with the towel.

[bmfc1]

Everyone ass-umed that he'd be a MFY because isn't that everyone's dream? Well, apparently it's not Ohtani's dream:
[tweet:2769qfzo]

[/tweet:2769qfzo]

[Edgy MD]

Trying to trace the source of that scoop. Looks like Bryan Hoch but I'm not sure.

Mainly it's unclear if the Mariners and Giants are the finalists, or merely among the finalists.

[Edgy MD]

Joel is also reporting the dream is over in Metland.

[tweet:1yp9h0lc]

[/tweet:1yp9h0lc]

The big doofus probably wanted a tent.

[Centerfield]

Well if that’s the case let’s hope he goes to an AL team.

Would love to see him succeed. Especially at the expense of the MFYs.

[Lefty Specialist]

Supposedly wants a small market, West Coast team. Seattle appears to be the likely destination. I can live with that.

[bmfc1]

Seattle really wants him and we've read that he doesn't want a "big market" so I suspect that he wants to go to Seattle but there are big market teams still on this list to drive up the price:
[tweet:bx849new]

[/tweet:bx849new]

[Benjamin Grimm]

I never figured he'd be a Met, so seeing both New York teams ruled out is actually good news, because the Yankees always seemed more likely.

I'd like to see him go to Seattle.

[Lefty Specialist]

Given how well Ichiro did and was treated in Seattle, it's a pretty strong selling point. And Mariners aren't afraid to spend now and then, like on Cano.

[Edgy MD]

bmfc1 wrote: Seattle really wants him and we've read that he doesn't want a "big market" so I suspect that he wants to go to Seattle but there are big market teams still on this list to drive up the price: [tweet]https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/937671446729510912[/tweet]

Well, you had to have expected that the Padres would be right in the mix at the end.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

A smaller market is the thing... but Chicago and LA are still front-runners?

And how is he driving up the price? His price is capped.

[Ceetar]

I'm trying to balance this "doesn't want a big market/center of attention" thing with the free for all 'The Decision' nature of this posting.

[Edgy MD]

I think the doesn't-want-a-big-market notion is baseball pundits doing some after-the-fact rationalizing to fill in gaps about what they know.

The favors-the-west-coast certainly seems to be backed up, though. You have five of the six PT teams in the final seven, excluding only the perpetually broke Athletics.

[nymr83]

ESPN reports Ohtani to the Angels!

glad its not the Yankees or an NL team.

excited to see if this guy can really pitch AND hit well.

[smg58]

His strikeout rate (as a hitter) in Japan is a bit of a red flag. I bet that, much like Kaz Matsui, he can turn on a fastball but he'll struggle when pitchers start throwing him a steady diet of breaking pitches.

The other red flag is the lack of innings pitched; can he hold up to a full season's workload?

Still, the talent is there if you're willing to treat him as a high-end prospect and not as an established star. I'm not sure that's how most Angels fans are going to view it, but I think that's the realistic approach.

[seawolf17]

smg58 wrote: Still, the talent is there if you're willing to treat him as a high-end prospect and not as an established star. I'm not sure that's how most Angels fans are going to view it, but I think that's the realistic approach.

This. You can't exactly just stick him in AAA, but expecting him to start 35 games and throw 230 innings in 2018 is a bit much.

[Edgy MD]

Nymr83 wrote: ESPN reports Ohtani to the Angels!

So much for the doesn't-want-a-big-market angle.

[bmfc1]

So the #2 team in a big market gets a big name in an attempt to not only get better but attract more fans... imagine that.

[Edgy MD]

It happens.

[Edgy MD]

Jeff Passan reporting that the Angels have detected a first-degree sprain of Ohtani's UCL.

Man, sometimes I think those things just get messed up just by signing with an American organization.

[smg58]

That's a huge red flag. He pitched 25 IP last year, and he is a TJS waiting to happen. And I don't think his bat will be better than adequate here. Glad he preferred the West Coast.

[seawolf17]

Edgy MD wrote: Jeff Passan reporting that the Angels have detected a first-degree sprain of Ohtani's UCL. Man, sometimes I think those things just get messed up just by signing with an American organization.

Could you imagine the shitshow if he'd signed here and THAT was the first news that came out? Crikey.