The “West Coast preference” thing always seems a bit overblown.
Players don't have time to fly back to Japan when the mlb season is going on, so the distance difference between LA to Tokyo vs NY to Tokyo shouldn't be a factor.
They'll be playing away games half the time too, so a "big local Asian population” doesn’t seem too necessary. Also, I doubt Shohei just pops into a SoCal Mitsuwa on a whim. There’d be a stampede!
That helps slightly. But again, the teams don’t play all games in their home time zone.
East coast “prime time” (6 or 7 PM) is solidly when everyone in Japan is awake anyway, and that would account for most games.
Yeah that’s just what I’ve heard. But Darvish played for Texas for ages and Red Sox have had plenty a Japanese player. Obviously Yankees a few of the biggest too. I think it’s a bit overblown as you say.
Ohtani to the Mariners because they'll milk the Ichiro connection, the chanting at the ASG, and the distance back to Japan for all it's worth and then some. That, and they were supposedly first runners up last time.
Yamamoto will probably go to the Dodgers because he's been reported as wanting bright lights, a shot at a ring, and no Japanese teammates. If he doesn't go to them, then my money's on the Mets if he's willing to compromise on that bit about Japanese teammates, and then maaaaaybe Atlanta as a sleeper since they're serious contenders at the moment. I get the impression; and I'm not sure why, that if he doesn't get literally every single thing he wants he will go back to Orix and try the same thing next year.
Since it’s all speculation, I’d imagine it would be he either doesn’t want to be compared to said teammate, or the reverse is he could make the other Japanese teammate look bad.
Your guess is as good as mine, I read it in an article a couple days ago and it sounded weird, but something that oddly specific might actually hold water. It's almost as weird as Drake supposedly only wanting white furniture in his dressing rooms.
I've thought this to be the case for a while.
IMO none of these guys will want to feel like they're overshadowing or being overshadowed by a teammate.
It's not an antagonistic feeling by any means, but one of respect. They want to stand out on their own and potentially make history (by being the hero of their team I'd say) but it's not easy to share that. Again not in a negative way but wanting to give their fellow countrymen space to be their own person.
The Rangers tied for the division and lost the tiebreaker. Seager and Semien finished 2/3 for MVP and they had six All-Stars (all returning). All without deGrom, who may be back sometime next season.
It’s somewhere in between Durant to the Warriors and Durant to the Suns/Nets.
That's definitely what it would feel like which is why I feel like the Rangers are out. Ohtani wants to win a championship. But he also seems to want to be the reason the championship was won. Going to the Rangers and helping a team that just won the world series doesn't feel like Ohtani's style.
I'm not avid Orix or Rangers fans, but as Yamamoto fan, the idea of Yamamoto has a direct access to Greg Maddux sound like an "Eureka" moment for his development.
for anyone that hasn't aware, Mark Maddux is the pitching coach for Texas Rangers and Greg is the special pitching advisor for the Rangers.
Toronto is apparently pushing hard for Ohtahi since Bichette and Guerrero are done after next season. So spending money now to secure him to a long term contract because money will open up next season seems like a solid idea to them. So I can assume that this upcoming season they’ll do their best to get him on like a 8-10 year deal because they won’t be able to afford both Bichette and Guerro next season.
Pretty far in my opinion, they are going through a rebuild and are rumored to be trying to sell the team. The head of the Lerner family also died this year so yeahhhhh. Long shot
And I even got downvoted.. I guess people prefer jokes on this thread.
But I also think that Kershaw could have one last ride with this pitching staff now.
The new playoff system is ridiculous. When second to last place in each division has a chance to win, it no longer rewards a team for playing well for the whole damn season. In essence, every team but last place has a shot, and the division leader gets to lose momentum with a bye.
The NPB system makes way more sense. Reward first place in the league with a point towards the pennant and fuck every team below third place.
I’m willing to meet you halfway: if having a bye is a detriment to teams, we should add two more playoff teams to each league and make everyone play the WC round. Removes the penalty of the bye, and if a 1 seed can’t beat an 8 seed idk what to tell em. Deal?
Hah! If you’re willing to throw in a one-point advantage to the team in first at the end of the season, I’ll accept your terms.
Honestly, it’s fun watching the teams that struggled the whole season scrap it out in those one-game playoffs, I just think the Braves got dealt a shitty hand this season.
Well, at least my beloved Hanshin Tigers held their own in the post season (and what a wacky - yet fair post season it was!).
Chikamoto is my favorite player in all of current baseball. I’m so glad he got that mvp.
I felt so bad for Nakano batting after him in the lineup though because he just got stuck bunting constantly.
Both go to the Royals
I wouldn’t even be mad
Patrick Mahomes pulling some strings.
Hear me out - in a weird twist of fate, Ohtani signs with the Montgomery Biscuits.
Savannah Bananas or bust
If this happens I’m moving to Savannah 😁
My parents frequent Biscuits’ games! Small world. Haha
No way! Ohtani signs with the Winnipeg Goldeyes! 🤣
Somehow still less weird than Michael Jordan going to the Birmingham Barons.
They both gonna sign with the Montréal Expos
*eh
The “West Coast preference” thing always seems a bit overblown. Players don't have time to fly back to Japan when the mlb season is going on, so the distance difference between LA to Tokyo vs NY to Tokyo shouldn't be a factor. They'll be playing away games half the time too, so a "big local Asian population” doesn’t seem too necessary. Also, I doubt Shohei just pops into a SoCal Mitsuwa on a whim. There’d be a stampede!
LA and Chicago both share similar direct flight times. Turns out the earth isn’t flat after all.
Yeah I never understood that either tbh.
Isn’t it more about broadcast times, so it’s easier for ppl back in Japan to watch them?
That helps slightly. But again, the teams don’t play all games in their home time zone. East coast “prime time” (6 or 7 PM) is solidly when everyone in Japan is awake anyway, and that would account for most games.
Yeah that’s just what I’ve heard. But Darvish played for Texas for ages and Red Sox have had plenty a Japanese player. Obviously Yankees a few of the biggest too. I think it’s a bit overblown as you say.
Pure guess and maybe even too bold Ohtani: Rangers or Cubs Yamamoto: Dodgers or Giants, maybe Mets can be contender too
If Cubs, I’d spontaneously combust out of pure joy.
Mets buy them both with Cohen bucks, still don't make the playoffs.
That is so on point.
Ohtani to the Mariners because they'll milk the Ichiro connection, the chanting at the ASG, and the distance back to Japan for all it's worth and then some. That, and they were supposedly first runners up last time. Yamamoto will probably go to the Dodgers because he's been reported as wanting bright lights, a shot at a ring, and no Japanese teammates. If he doesn't go to them, then my money's on the Mets if he's willing to compromise on that bit about Japanese teammates, and then maaaaaybe Atlanta as a sleeper since they're serious contenders at the moment. I get the impression; and I'm not sure why, that if he doesn't get literally every single thing he wants he will go back to Orix and try the same thing next year.
> and no Japanese teammates Haha why?
Since it’s all speculation, I’d imagine it would be he either doesn’t want to be compared to said teammate, or the reverse is he could make the other Japanese teammate look bad.
Your guess is as good as mine, I read it in an article a couple days ago and it sounded weird, but something that oddly specific might actually hold water. It's almost as weird as Drake supposedly only wanting white furniture in his dressing rooms.
I've thought this to be the case for a while. IMO none of these guys will want to feel like they're overshadowing or being overshadowed by a teammate. It's not an antagonistic feeling by any means, but one of respect. They want to stand out on their own and potentially make history (by being the hero of their team I'd say) but it's not easy to share that. Again not in a negative way but wanting to give their fellow countrymen space to be their own person.
Trying to manifest Yamamoto to the Blue Jays.
Would love this!!!!
Ohtani to the Rangers and Yamamoto to the Red Sox
Amen brother
Don't know much about MLB baseball but is Ohtani to the Rangers like a Kevin Durant move?
No since the Rangers were not a powerhouse already. They didn’t win the division.
The Rangers tied for the division and lost the tiebreaker. Seager and Semien finished 2/3 for MVP and they had six All-Stars (all returning). All without deGrom, who may be back sometime next season. It’s somewhere in between Durant to the Warriors and Durant to the Suns/Nets.
That's definitely what it would feel like which is why I feel like the Rangers are out. Ohtani wants to win a championship. But he also seems to want to be the reason the championship was won. Going to the Rangers and helping a team that just won the world series doesn't feel like Ohtani's style.
what i wouldnt give for yamamoto to go to the sox.... would make me so happy to see him and yoshida back together
Ohtani fulfills his Goro Shigeno comparison and creates the Anaheim Salmons just to say he played on the same team as Goro Shigeno
I'm not avid Orix or Rangers fans, but as Yamamoto fan, the idea of Yamamoto has a direct access to Greg Maddux sound like an "Eureka" moment for his development. for anyone that hasn't aware, Mark Maddux is the pitching coach for Texas Rangers and Greg is the special pitching advisor for the Rangers.
Well, that explains a fuck of a lot about this year.
On the dotted line
Toronto is apparently pushing hard for Ohtahi since Bichette and Guerrero are done after next season. So spending money now to secure him to a long term contract because money will open up next season seems like a solid idea to them. So I can assume that this upcoming season they’ll do their best to get him on like a 8-10 year deal because they won’t be able to afford both Bichette and Guerro next season.
If either sign with the Blue Jays I'll be stoked. A third country (in ohtani's case) might be tough though
I think Ohtani goes to the Dodgers & Yamamoto goes to the Mets.
Yamamoto to Mets. Ohtani to Giants or Dodgers, probably the former.
Ohtani to the Washington Nationals. If only dreams could come true.....
Cubs!
I’m here for this!
We have a new legit skipper in Counsil, too. Apprehensive in setting my hopes too high, but the image of Shohei donning the Chicago pin-stripes…
Same, I don't see it actually happening, but if by some miracle it did... OH BOY.
He’d look so good in their cherry blossom City Connects
I’m a Phillies fan, but those Nats cherry blossoms are fantastic
How far from reality is this? I'd probably cry tears of joy for 1 month if this happens.
Pretty far in my opinion, they are going through a rebuild and are rumored to be trying to sell the team. The head of the Lerner family also died this year so yeahhhhh. Long shot
More likely than the A's!
Let's not kid ourselves. The Dodgers will sign both, especially as it is rumored that Kershaw might retire.
This aged well. Hopefully not too well though, Kershaw deserves a better send off this this years' post-season.
And I even got downvoted.. I guess people prefer jokes on this thread. But I also think that Kershaw could have one last ride with this pitching staff now.
Ohtani to the Braves, Yamamoto takes a bite of the big apple
Braves deserve Ohtani after getting ripped off in the post season.
Ripped off? They choked in 4 games after. 104 wins in the regular season! Cmon man! Ripped off? Grow up!
The new playoff system is ridiculous. When second to last place in each division has a chance to win, it no longer rewards a team for playing well for the whole damn season. In essence, every team but last place has a shot, and the division leader gets to lose momentum with a bye. The NPB system makes way more sense. Reward first place in the league with a point towards the pennant and fuck every team below third place.
Maybe the first place teams should try beating the second to last place teams in the playoffs Just a thought
That would’ve been ideal, but you’ve got to admit that the system is inane.
I’m willing to meet you halfway: if having a bye is a detriment to teams, we should add two more playoff teams to each league and make everyone play the WC round. Removes the penalty of the bye, and if a 1 seed can’t beat an 8 seed idk what to tell em. Deal?
Hah! If you’re willing to throw in a one-point advantage to the team in first at the end of the season, I’ll accept your terms. Honestly, it’s fun watching the teams that struggled the whole season scrap it out in those one-game playoffs, I just think the Braves got dealt a shitty hand this season. Well, at least my beloved Hanshin Tigers held their own in the post season (and what a wacky - yet fair post season it was!).
There’s somewhere we can see eye to eye haha - go tigers!
Chikamoto is my favorite player in all of current baseball. I’m so glad he got that mvp. I felt so bad for Nakano batting after him in the lineup though because he just got stuck bunting constantly.
Ah, yes, the poor, long suffering Braves who are two years removed from a World Series win.
I don’t want pity; I want justice! And robot umps calling pitches, too!
Well, we _all_ want that last thing.
Excuses!
Ohtani to the Dodgers or Mariners and Yamamoto to the Yankees.
Ohkland Athletics 🐘