Truly wild turns that this story is taking. I'm really curious about this game of telephone that you mentioned of Ipei and translating everything and no one knows what he's telling Ohtani vs what he's telling the room. Just so wild.
As the late, GREAT Vin Scully would say, quoting Walter Scott, "Oh what a web we weave, when once we practice to deceive".
The ratio of questions to answers in this latest version of SHOHEI ME THE MONEY is glaringly lopsided. First of all, why is Ohtani wondering what went on in the clubhouse when presumably he was present therein? Assuming that the suspect interpreter was not present, are we really supposed to believe that the Dodgers had no other Japanese speaking interpreters, employees or contractors on site? Also, the Dodgers call a clubhouse meeting with Friedman talking his talk and didn't tell Ohtani what was going to be revealed, and didn't give him an opportunity to discuss, to the point that he only "learned" what was said in the clubhouse wherein he was putatively missing on the trip back to the hotel?!?
Hot damn, the fishiness of this story is already somewhat stinky.
Yet wait, THERE'S MORE! Then, Ohtani says he doesn't "recognize" Mizuhara's version of events.
So the Dodgers didn't tell their 700 million dollar man what they would be discussing in aforesaid clubhouse where Ohtani may or may not have been?!?
Now the fishiness is reaching Luca Brazzi levels.
As I have commented previously, I have no idea what really happened here. Neither do any of us. YET, it is always wise to suspect the powerful before blaming those who depend upon the powerful. So for my money, well, not much of that to go around, but in a manner of speaking, I say let's not Lynndie England this interpreter before we hear what Mr. I-can-hit-but-can't-pitch-I'm-not-telling-you-who-I-married has to say.
I don’t know if Ohtani bet on baseball, or gambled at all. I am not prepared to make that accusation. I do struggle to believe the current version of events
That doesn’t mean Ohtani is an awful human being or deserves to have his name dragged. But if what appears to have happened happened (namely Ohtani covered his friends gambling debts) then he could be in trouble
The bigger thing for me is MLB should not be in bed with sports betting. It was always a terrible idea
I appreciate Molly writing about what’s been going on the last couple days so quickly, although I could not bring myself to “like” the initial post on Thursday: it was just too depressing. As others have observed, this is likely to get worse before it gets better. My larger concern is that this entanglement of baseball (and other sports) with betting is going to lead to this being a harbinger of worse to come.
Molly, I both hate this for you as a fan and am so glad you are on this as a reporter. The level of apparent damage control we are seeing here from the Dodgers c-suite suggests that this is likely to be very bad for baseball.
Posting something here that I posted on Joe Posnanski’s Substack earlier today - same basic topic. Post lightly edited.
“Your (Joe’s) crisis management friend is right. All the facts aren’t out yet. It’s going to take weeks, if not months to get to that point.
Based on what is known, the ONLY way that Shohei doesn’t have a legal problem is if he GAVE MIZUHARA the password/codes etc. to Shohei’s personal bank accounts. AND before the gambling started would be best and most defensible.
If that’s the case, then Shoehei has years of reputation control and correction for not being the sharpest tool in the shed in that moment. Almost any other fact related to the gambling debt means that Shohei’s lawyers are going to be collecting some really wonderfully large fees for a very long time. Prosecutors love the opportunity to prove a point, particularly with public figures.
Professional sports will rue the day that they married gambling. If Shohei proves to be guilty of a serious crime, that won’t soil the Sports-Gambling marriage bed. It’s going to take a lot more issues like this one for the wisdom of the past to prevail again.”
BTW, Molly, you have a very nicely written piece here. The hard thinking that you so clearly do before writing always emerges so wonderfully.
Ohtani spokesman sets up a “come clean” interview with Mazuhara and ESPN and turns around and says he’s lying is the most bat shit crazy thing I’ve seen in a long time.
Re gambling. I just don’t get the weird stuff people bet on, especially for baseball. If you’ve got money to burn why not buy good wine, or rare books, or baseball cards?
This story is part and parcel with the increasingly disturbing marriage between sports betting companies and major sports. Every dollar the leagues collect comes out of the pockets of losing bettors who think, 'I've got this.' When you see how often managers, coaches, and GMs get it wrong, why would anyone think fans know better?
I don't gamble, but I can look at a pair of dice, a roulette wheel, or a stack of cards and understand my odds...sports is random and the odds I bet on are set by the bookie (or casino, or whatever). A complete conflict of interest.
The most palpable theory I've heard is that Shohei agreed to pay off these debts thinking he was wiring money to his interpreter when in fact it was going to someone else. Given the propensity of addicts (and I am one, to a different thing) to lie even to the people who trust them the most, it kind of makes sense. I just hope it works out when the truth gets out.
Why should MLB rue the day it partnered with betting sites? In Europe it is an everyday occurrence. Heck, there are top flight soccer teams sponsored by betting sites.
MLB is in bed with Corona, Budweiser and Casamigos Tequila. Alcohol is legal just like sports betting. Alcohol also destroys many individuals, families and literally kills people. Why does alcohol always get a pass.
Leading off for the Dodgers number 50 Mookie Betts and batting second number 17 Illegal Betts!
Your wager? Win place or sho(w)-hei?!?
Truly wild turns that this story is taking. I'm really curious about this game of telephone that you mentioned of Ipei and translating everything and no one knows what he's telling Ohtani vs what he's telling the room. Just so wild.
As the late, GREAT Vin Scully would say, quoting Walter Scott, "Oh what a web we weave, when once we practice to deceive".
The ratio of questions to answers in this latest version of SHOHEI ME THE MONEY is glaringly lopsided. First of all, why is Ohtani wondering what went on in the clubhouse when presumably he was present therein? Assuming that the suspect interpreter was not present, are we really supposed to believe that the Dodgers had no other Japanese speaking interpreters, employees or contractors on site? Also, the Dodgers call a clubhouse meeting with Friedman talking his talk and didn't tell Ohtani what was going to be revealed, and didn't give him an opportunity to discuss, to the point that he only "learned" what was said in the clubhouse wherein he was putatively missing on the trip back to the hotel?!?
Hot damn, the fishiness of this story is already somewhat stinky.
Yet wait, THERE'S MORE! Then, Ohtani says he doesn't "recognize" Mizuhara's version of events.
So the Dodgers didn't tell their 700 million dollar man what they would be discussing in aforesaid clubhouse where Ohtani may or may not have been?!?
Now the fishiness is reaching Luca Brazzi levels.
As I have commented previously, I have no idea what really happened here. Neither do any of us. YET, it is always wise to suspect the powerful before blaming those who depend upon the powerful. So for my money, well, not much of that to go around, but in a manner of speaking, I say let's not Lynndie England this interpreter before we hear what Mr. I-can-hit-but-can't-pitch-I'm-not-telling-you-who-I-married has to say.
I don’t know if Ohtani bet on baseball, or gambled at all. I am not prepared to make that accusation. I do struggle to believe the current version of events
That doesn’t mean Ohtani is an awful human being or deserves to have his name dragged. But if what appears to have happened happened (namely Ohtani covered his friends gambling debts) then he could be in trouble
The bigger thing for me is MLB should not be in bed with sports betting. It was always a terrible idea
I appreciate Molly writing about what’s been going on the last couple days so quickly, although I could not bring myself to “like” the initial post on Thursday: it was just too depressing. As others have observed, this is likely to get worse before it gets better. My larger concern is that this entanglement of baseball (and other sports) with betting is going to lead to this being a harbinger of worse to come.
Molly, I both hate this for you as a fan and am so glad you are on this as a reporter. The level of apparent damage control we are seeing here from the Dodgers c-suite suggests that this is likely to be very bad for baseball.
Another great, balanced piece Molly. What a nightmare. I can’t imagine not noticing millions of dollars missing from a bank account.
Posting something here that I posted on Joe Posnanski’s Substack earlier today - same basic topic. Post lightly edited.
“Your (Joe’s) crisis management friend is right. All the facts aren’t out yet. It’s going to take weeks, if not months to get to that point.
Based on what is known, the ONLY way that Shohei doesn’t have a legal problem is if he GAVE MIZUHARA the password/codes etc. to Shohei’s personal bank accounts. AND before the gambling started would be best and most defensible.
If that’s the case, then Shoehei has years of reputation control and correction for not being the sharpest tool in the shed in that moment. Almost any other fact related to the gambling debt means that Shohei’s lawyers are going to be collecting some really wonderfully large fees for a very long time. Prosecutors love the opportunity to prove a point, particularly with public figures.
Professional sports will rue the day that they married gambling. If Shohei proves to be guilty of a serious crime, that won’t soil the Sports-Gambling marriage bed. It’s going to take a lot more issues like this one for the wisdom of the past to prevail again.”
BTW, Molly, you have a very nicely written piece here. The hard thinking that you so clearly do before writing always emerges so wonderfully.
Ohtani spokesman sets up a “come clean” interview with Mazuhara and ESPN and turns around and says he’s lying is the most bat shit crazy thing I’ve seen in a long time.
Re gambling. I just don’t get the weird stuff people bet on, especially for baseball. If you’ve got money to burn why not buy good wine, or rare books, or baseball cards?
This story is part and parcel with the increasingly disturbing marriage between sports betting companies and major sports. Every dollar the leagues collect comes out of the pockets of losing bettors who think, 'I've got this.' When you see how often managers, coaches, and GMs get it wrong, why would anyone think fans know better?
I don't gamble, but I can look at a pair of dice, a roulette wheel, or a stack of cards and understand my odds...sports is random and the odds I bet on are set by the bookie (or casino, or whatever). A complete conflict of interest.
The most palpable theory I've heard is that Shohei agreed to pay off these debts thinking he was wiring money to his interpreter when in fact it was going to someone else. Given the propensity of addicts (and I am one, to a different thing) to lie even to the people who trust them the most, it kind of makes sense. I just hope it works out when the truth gets out.
"Gambling for me, not for thee" - some guy
Why should MLB rue the day it partnered with betting sites? In Europe it is an everyday occurrence. Heck, there are top flight soccer teams sponsored by betting sites.
MLB is in bed with Corona, Budweiser and Casamigos Tequila. Alcohol is legal just like sports betting. Alcohol also destroys many individuals, families and literally kills people. Why does alcohol always get a pass.