Shohei Otani signs with Angels

[KingKat]

Did you even read the memo you quoted? None of the bolded bits have anything to do with player development or being on the West Coast.

 

In any case, it's hardly "a giant waste of time and resources" when every single team will already have scouting reports on Ohtani, and details on their own team that they use to woo any other free agent.

 

Though I don't get why he cares so much, I think the fact that they are not related is his whole point.

[glory]

Did you even read the memo you quoted? None of the bolded bits have anything to do with player development or being on the West Coast.

 

In any case, it's hardly "a giant waste of time and resources" when every single team will already have scouting reports on Ohtani, and details on their own team that they use to woo any other free agent.

 

Look at the teams he narrowed it down to. Aside from the Dodger and Cubs, none of them are known for good player development. Is it even possible to quantify medical training enough to differentiate one org from another? Even then, the Mariners had about every pitcher on their team get hurt last season, and they are one of the favorites to get him. No doubt culturally the west coast may have an advantage, and location as well, but then that should have been obvious from the beginning, so why even have a dog and pony show with teams making compelling arguments that he was going to ignore anyway?

 

I guess I don't really get the point. If his finalists were all over the map, then I would have understood, but he clearly had a preference. If he wanted a team who could develop him as a pitcher and hitter, and he chose Texas instead of Houston, then I really don't know what to say. Player development couldn't have been a factor at all if you look at the results.

 

Don't get me wrong, I really don't care what he decides, I just found the whole thing to be a waste of time in hindsight based on what he did.

[Brownie19]

Look at the teams he narrowed it down to. Aside from the Dodger and Cubs, none of them are known for good player development. Is it even possible to quantify medical training enough to differentiate one org from another? Even then, the Mariners had about every pitcher on their team get hurt last season, and they are one of the favorites to get him. No doubt culturally the west coast may have an advantage, and location as well, but then that should have been obvious from the beginning, so why even have a dog and pony show with teams making compelling arguments that he was going to ignore anyway?

 

I guess I don't really get the point. If his finalists were all over the map, then I would have understood, but he clearly had a preference. If he wanted a team who could develop him as a pitcher and hitter, and he chose Texas instead of Houston, then I really don't know what to say. Player development couldn't have been a factor at all if you look at the results.

 

Don't get me wrong, I really don't care what he decides, I just found the whole thing to be a waste of time in hindsight based on what he did.

 

Perhaps the results of the questionnaire were so similar that it's pushed location up his priority list...

[P2F]

Look at the teams he narrowed it down to. Aside from the Dodger and Cubs, none of them are known for good player development. Is it even possible to quantify medical training enough to differentiate one org from another? Even then, the Mariners had about every pitcher on their team get hurt last season, and they are one of the favorites to get him. No doubt culturally the west coast may have an advantage, and location as well, but then that should have been obvious from the beginning, so why even have a dog and pony show with teams making compelling arguments that he was going to ignore anyway?

 

I guess I don't really get the point. If his finalists were all over the map, then I would have understood, but he clearly had a preference. If he wanted a team who could develop him as a pitcher and hitter, and he chose Texas instead of Houston, then I really don't know what to say. Player development couldn't have been a factor at all if you look at the results.

 

Don't get me wrong, I really don't care what he decides, I just found the whole thing to be a waste of time in hindsight based on what he did.

 

Tell that to the Cubs and Rangers - I'm certain they don't agree with you.

[Bobthe4th]

Though I don't get why he cares so much, I think the fact that they are not related is his whole point.

 

If that is his point, then how can we possibly know that the answers to those points didn't factor into the shortlist? It's not like Ohtani shortlisted every West Coast team and no one else.

[G-Snarls]

Meh - I don't see any concerns with asking any interested team to explain how they would use/develop him.

 

It would have been foolish of him NOT to

[glory]

Perhaps the results of the questionnaire were so similar that it's pushed location up his priority list...

 

Maybe. I tend to think he leaned towards the west coast to begin with, as that would make sense given the location and all that, but I guess he didn't want to completely rule out the others even if he had no intention of going to New York, Boston, Toronto, etc. Whatever, it is what it is.

[Bobthe4th]

Maybe. I tend to think he leaned towards the west coast to begin with, as that would make sense given the location and all that, but I guess he didn't want to completely rule out the others even if he had no intention of going to New York, Boston, Toronto, etc. Whatever, it is what it is.

 

Now that's a much more reasonable take! I agree, all things being equal it looks like he'd prefer a West coast team.

[BTS]

Guys, this argument is stupid. Pls stop.

[Boxcar]

You know, this whole Ohtani thing really reminds me of "The Decision"

 

Except he probably won't take his talents to souf beach.

[Orgfiller]

You know, this whole Ohtani thing really reminds me of "The Decision"

 

Except he probably won't take his talents to souf beach.

 

He's also likely nowhere near as talented as LeBron James.

[jays4life19]

He's also likely nowhere near as talented as LeBron James.

 

And he won't make his announcement on national tv.

[Sammy225]

At least new york is taking it well.......

 

[Deadpool]

The cubs are not a small market or on the west coast.... WHAT THE f***

 

Cubs were the only team that agreed to put a "Schoolgirl Panties" vending machine in the locker room...

 

datswasist.gif

[Pendleton]

At least new york is taking it well.......

 

 

Wow, didn't realize only chickens hate large crowds and poor air quality.

[Sammy225]

Wow, didn't realize only chickens hate large crowds and poor air quality.

 

I overreacting media coverage that is going to s*** over everything you do lol

[glory]

At least new york is taking it well.......

 

 

Well, practically everyone thought the Yankees were going to get him, probably the Yankees themselves as well until they met with him. The fans set themselves up for disappointment. What we are seeing now is just the resulting butthurt.

[xposbrad]

Anyone know what the Blue Jays did to pursue him? I know it was probably on the cheap, maybe an email or something?

[Captain Adama]

Anyone know what the Blue Jays did to pursue him? I know it was probably on the cheap, maybe an email or something?

 

Pfft, no you dont.

[burlingtonbandit]

Apparently they produced a video highlighting Toronto which they were planning to show him in a presentation and booked with an agency who would take him around Toronto showcasing the city etc..

 

If he wasn't ever going to go to the east coast why would he even have clubs spend the time and effort to go to the lengths they did to try to recruit him. I bet those FO aren't exactly pleased with him when they could have spent their resources on other projects.

[P2F]

Some of you guys are making way too big of a deal out of this.

[jays4life19]

Apparently they produced a video highlighting Toronto which they were planning to show him in a presentation and booked with an agency who would take him around Toronto showcasing the city etc..

 

If he wasn't ever going to go to the east coast why would he even have clubs spend the time and effort to go to the lengths they did to try to recruit him. I bet those FO aren't exactly pleased with him when they could have spent their resources on other projects.

 

Because why not?

 

If i'm going to a restaurant and i'm 99% sure i'm going to order the steak i'm still going to look at the menu to see what else it offers.

[Abomination]

Apparently they produced a video highlighting Toronto which they were planning to show him in a presentation and booked with an agency who would take him around Toronto showcasing the city etc..

 

If he wasn't ever going to go to the east coast why would he even have clubs spend the time and effort to go to the lengths they did to try to recruit him. I bet those FO aren't exactly pleased with him when they could have spent their resources on other projects.

 

Yeah, if he already knew beforehand that he wasn't going to go to certain cities no matter what they showed him, he should have just told them that. I wouldn't blame a few front offices for being a little upset at being strung along, the Yankees in particular. That said, maybe there were some misunderstandings between himself and his agents or something.

[Abomination]

Because why not?

 

If i'm going to a restaurant and i'm 99% sure i'm going to order the steak i'm still going to look at the menu to see what else it offers.

 

True, but you don't make the restaurant print out a special menu just for you in doing so. Maybe you ask the waiter/waitress what the special of the day is or something.

[glory]

Some of you guys are making way too big of a deal out of this.

 

Not really. All that is being said by some is that this seemed like a huge waste of time and resources for someone who had only a specific set of teams in mind based on location (west coast and ST facilities in Arizona). I mean, teams lost nothing to talk to him, so obviously they would have done it anyway, but the off season basically died because of this. Teams could have tried to do other things had they known about his intentions beforehand, or other FA's may have already signed by now, etc. Instead teams were asked to present english and Japanese essays on the benefits of their player development, medical staff, plans on how they will use him, etc, only to find out Ohtani didn't care about any of those things compared to location. I'd be annoyed if I was a GM of a team like the Yankees, but that's just me.

 

No one is being triggered here. It's not a big deal at all. It's more annoying that this stunted the off season and made November boring as hell.

[John_Havok]

Not really. All that is being said by some is that this seemed like a huge waste of time and resources for someone who had only a specific set of teams in mind based on location (west coast and ST facilities in Arizona). I mean, teams lost nothing to talk to him, so obviously they would have done it anyway, but the off season basically died because of this. Teams could have tried to do other things had they known about his intentions beforehand, or other FA's may have already signed by now, etc. Instead teams were asked to present english and Japanese essays on the benefits of their player development, medical staff, plans on how they will use him, etc, only to find out Ohtani didn't care about any of those things compared to location. I'd be annoyed if I was a GM of a team like the Yankees, but that's just me.

 

No one is being triggered here. It's not a big deal at all. It's more annoying that this stunted the off season and made November boring as hell.

 

I very much doubt that any competent GM was putting all his eggs in the Ohtani basket without looking at all possibilities. Yes,it's possible this whole scenario has held up signings of players because teams wanted to know how it would all shake out, but big names generally don't sign this early in the offseason anyways and theres almost always 1 guy in every offseason that has this effect, whether it's a huge name FA or international target

 

And if you think this was a slow November wait till next offseason when some guy named Harper is available along with Machado.

[burlingtonbandit]

Because why not?

 

If i'm going to a restaurant and i'm 99% sure i'm going to order the steak i'm still going to look at the menu to see what else it offers.

 

Its more like having the restaurant bringing in all of these special foods specifically for you to have and then you sit down and say well I'm Vegan so I'll just have a caeser salad.

 

They spent all of these resources trying to cater to you but then you deciding you weren't going to go there no matter how good the presentation was.

[Laika]

Oh, did Otani hurt all the little East coast teams' feelings?

 

lol @ people still griping about how impolite it is for him to invite teams to send him PowerPoint presentations.

 

f***ing losers

[jays4life19]

Oh, did Otani hurt all the little East coast teams' feelings?

 

lol @ people still griping about how impolite it is for him to invite teams to send him PowerPoint presentations.

 

f***ing losers

 

Yeah i don't get it.

 

Like every team was going to have already done their research on him regardless. Even if he came out and was like "ugh, yeah like...i really want a west coast team so only those teams should give me a power point" and if the f***ing Bluejays decided it was not worth their time not to try and change his mind at this once in a generation opportunity then f*** the FO.

 

Like maybe he has a nudist fetish and see's Toronto has a nude beach and women can walk around topless here and changes his mind. Like f***, i dunno. You could potentially get a star for nothing. Even if it's a 0.05 percent chance you make the presentation.

[glory]

I very much doubt that any competent GM was putting all his eggs in the Ohtani basket without looking at all possibilities. Yes,it's possible this whole scenario has held up signings of players because teams wanted to know how it would all shake out, but big names generally don't sign this early in the offseason anyways and theres almost always 1 guy in every offseason that has this effect, whether it's a huge name FA or international target

 

And if you think this was a slow November wait till next offseason when some guy named Harper is available along with Machado.

 

In the case of Harper and Machado, the majority of teams will know they have no shot at them and move on to other options accordingly. This was a very unique situation in that you could get a potential star for six years of control (3 cheap and 3 arb) for $20m. Of course teams were going to do whatever they could to impress him since it was not specified what exactly he was looking for. It certainly wasn't money, so every team, to varying degrees, should have felt that they had a chance if they presented a strong case (though I'm sure most knew it was a long shot, including the Jays).

 

Again, not sure why so many people are white knighting for Ohtani here. No one is saying he did anything wrong. It was just pointless and a waste of time/resources for many teams knowing now that Ohtani only valued location and not much else (I can't imagine anyone would value Seattle for any other reason, certainly not baseball reasons).