A Look at the NL West

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1. March 24 (Reuters) – Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani will address the media on Monday for the first time since his interpreter was fired by the MLB team amid allegations that he stole from the player to pay off gambling debts, the team’s manager said on Sunday.
   “It’s the right thing to do,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters. “I’m happy he’s going to speak and speak to what he knows and give his thoughts on the whole situation. I think it will give us all a little bit more clarity.”

2. Will be interesting if Ohtani only reads a prefixed statement and if he will take questions.

   Miller just has filthy stuff. If he gets a little more consistent he has ACE written all over him.
   George and dePaula hopefully will start at high A and be on the fast (George alreay is, 🙂 ) track .
   No surprises in the 26 men roster. Maybe Hurt over Feyereisen.

   Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

   1. Grove and Hurt will probably be replaced on the 26 man roster whenever Graterol and Treinen are deemed ready.

      1. Agreed. Also (if healthy) JP Feyereisen will likely play a big role.

   2. I would bet his lawyers will be present too. No way they just let him go up there without some sort of representation. Best thing, tell the truth. You do that, they cannot catch you in a lie or changing your story. He needs to be credible.

3. a little surprised by your diamond back pick Mark. not disagreeing but thought after their run last season. they might get a bit more love. the giants have present a whole different picture now. does Snell pitch like an acee in back to back seasons, or just an average pitcher? if acce like along with webb that’s a very good 1-2 punch. with robbie ray coming back later this season. the padres have a very good lineup . tatis makes me sick as does machado, but can’t dismiss them as excellent players. if darvish and musgrove. have good seasons they could be dangerous with Cease in the rotation. the dbacks have speed ! their rotation has potential to be anywhere from good to mediocre. i have never liked rodriguez. he’s a left handed pitcher with an era closer to 4 than 3. you could be right about Gallen, he might start running low on fuel later in the season . overall , i think LA. is far better than the other teams in the west. having ohthani makes them a powerhouse, not having him makes them very good, but not overpowering. max looks slimmer and more agile. mookie looks more comfortable at ss. Lux looks just fine at second. teo and outman were swinging out of their shoes yesterday. Bobby Miller looks like an ace in waiting and about to explode. Gavin Stone could be very very good walker should be back and raring to go. waiting to hear ohtani explain the whole situation. hopefully he will be cleared of any wrongdoing. if not could be bad news.

   1. I think Gallen will be gassed after almost 250 innings last year. Kelly had a career year but, in reality, is a #4. Rodriguez is soft, and Pfaadt has an 11.12 Spring ERA. They caught lightning in a bottle last year, but I see them crashing back to the mean this year.

      1. I agree and Rodriguez is already injured again. Good thing LA did not get him in that trade last season. Their biggest weakness is like the rest of the NL West. Talent at the front, but no depth behind 2 or 3. Padre’s offense looks like they can score better than they did last year, but this season, the D-Backs are not going to sneak up on anyone. Giants have some thumpers in the lineup now, but AT&T is going to rob them of some of that power. Rockies are pitiful. Most fans here wish Monfort would sell the team.

4. No question, Bobby Miller is very good, an ace in the making.

   Anybody heard when the Shohei press conference will take place? I’m guessing the Dodger channel will carry it. Best approach to be straight forward and honest. I’m thinking he doesn’t have a lot of risk if he didn’t pay off his interpreter’s gambling debts. I can see him loaning him a few thousand if he needed it. But $4.5 million? I don’t think so. Not according to his lawyers.

   There is already issues with the interpreter’s bio. Apparently it contains multiple inaccuracies, calling into question his credibility.

   Ohtani needs to clear the air. Saying nothing only adds to the speculation and the speculation can quickly go off the rails into all kinds of crazy stuff.

   I’m thinking Rob Manfred is walking on very thin ice here. MLB is obligated to investigate. But the interpreter isn’t obligated to speak to them, neither is the gambler or the Fed’s.

5. If you look at Miller’s Stuff+, he is 2nd only to Spencer Strider with this four-seamer, and 3rd overall with his slider. He also has a well-above-average curve and an improving change.

   He has the potential to be truly elite – like top five in baseball at least. It’s just a matter of putting it all together and mastering command and sequencing.

   I was wrong about Ohtani. I made the point that the wildly conflicting stories indicated lying by Ohtani’s camp. One thing I didn’t consider was that Mizuhara himself is a pathological liar. Apparently he claimed to be a graduate of Cal State Riverside and a translator for the BoSox. Both of those organizations deny having any connection to him. So, it’s plausible that this entire story about Ohtani helping him out and wiring the money at Mizuhara’s request is an elaborate fabrication. It’s plausible that Mizuhara did use is close access to outright steal money.

   But why would me make up that story? And why would the PR people/crisis management firm that was hired on to deal with this collaborate on this story without even checking in with Ohtani himself? Apparently Ohtani heard Mizuhara’s account for the first time in Korea and was, “Wait! … What!?”

   It’s all very very weird.

   Hopefully he gets cleared.

6. I just read the Ohtoni news conference today is at 4:30PM ET

   1. CNN just reported:
      Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is expected to address the media Monday afternoon as Major League Baseball investigates allegations of theft against his longtime interpreter.

      Ohtani will make a statement to the media at 5:45 p.m. ET and will not be taking questions, according to the team.

7. 9:10 PM ET

   Angels (0-0)
   Dodgers (1-1)

   SP Reid Detmers L
   0-0 .00 ERA
   SP Gavin Stone R
   0-0 .00 ERA

   Confirmed Lineup
   2B Mookie Betts R
   DH S. Ohtani L
   1B F. Freeman L
   C Will Smith R
   3B Max Muncy L
   RF T. Hernandez R
   CF E. Hernandez R
   LF Chris Taylor R
   SS Miguel Rojas R

   65° Wind 11 mph Out

   Mookie at second base tonight

   1. Don’t call it a platoon.

   2. Andrew,

      Could you, if not a lot of work, please add radio or streaming options for games?

      Again, what you do is a lovely service and I do not, in any way, look to further burden you. But if it’s easy, it would help.

8. I just saw the Ohtoni news conference on the MLB Network and I may be wrong but I believe he had nothing to do with the gambling debts of his interpreter. He was sincere and angry at what has transpired. I feel better that he will eventually be cleared of any wrongdoing.

   1. I watched also and I agree that he was telling the truth. Let’s hope that we’re right.

9. David Vassegh
   @THEREAL_DV
   Today was the first day Ohtani has played catch since last year’s elbow surgery. #Dodgers

10. Although I don’t have any facts. I believe this is just a hit job on Ohtani and the Dodgers. This guy didn’t start gambling with the Dodgers he was doing it with the Angels. Where did this story originate? Why now? The Dodgers and Ohtani are the envy of the sports world. I predict Ohtani will be more of a model when this is over. Let the investigation complete and then we shall c. I believe his character will prevail.

    1. People will find conspiracies everywhere and anywhere

11. I do not think anything is amiss.

    It all makes sense.

    Mizuhara is evidently a pathological liar. That explains it.

12. Jeff at his site,LA Dodger chronicles had a very good take on the wiring of funds;

    “ to say that it is improbable that anything like this could have happened without Ohtani’s knowledge, is not accurate. I have conducted multiple forensic audits on extremely wealthy people who learned several years after an embezzlement(s) occurred by very trusted persons in their employee or client financial services. It is very easy to happen. Most financial arrangements for these wealthy individuals can wire transfer funds to pay whatever up to certain amounts. Many have had very large amounts of wire transfers that could occur without the principle’s knowledge. These are extremely trusted people handling the wire transfers.

    In every audit that I conducted, the representatives had authority to wire transfer anywhere from $1MM to $10MM without the principal’s authority or approval. Personally, I have had such authority up to $10MM without the principle’s approval”.

    1. My CPA said the same.

       There does not appear to be a smoking gun.

       I think Ohtani will be exonerated.

       I believe it is quite likely that Mizuhara had permission to wire $500K which is why he did it 9 times.

13. Gavin Stone Cold Sober
    

    1. OK, I take that back. Bad Gavin!

14. Well, we took possession of our house a week early…. and so it begins.

    1. Congrats on the new pad! That is one of my favorite feelings. Although, moving is one of the most stressful things we can experience, a new home always fulfills the feeling of a fresh start.

15. I’m gonna reserve my opinion on Ohtani until the investigation is completed. Seen too many believable things in my lifetime turn out to be untrue. Obviously, as a Dodger fan, I want his name to be cleared asap, but can’t honestly opine innocence until all the facts come out.

16. Have fun moving Mark! Something I never want to do again unless I absolutely have to. I also will reserve judgement until all the facts are in, but at this point, I find Shohei much more believable than Mizuhara. Change in plans. My sis is taking the train here to Colorado. She needs some alone time, and the train ride will give her that. Then on Saturday morning, we will be heading out to California. The funeral is on the 6th. I will be out there about 2 weeks or so.

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