Around Baseball 2024

[BTS]

Ceddanne Rafaela the latest rookie to be named to an opening day roster. Incentivizing teams to carry top prospects from opening day is one of the best things MLB has ever done.

[John_Havok]

Ceddanne Rafaela the latest rookie to be named to an opening day roster. Incentivizing teams to carry top prospects from opening day is one of the best things MLB has ever done.

 

Absolutely. Still don't get the Holliday demotion for Baltimore. The kid belongs.

[connorp]

RE Ohtani

 

I agree with Eno Sarris

Most plausible explanation is that the assistant was extended that much credit because the bookie figured there was a good chance Ohtani would pay a debt that big.

Ohtani did pay it, probably naive to the fact that there is some California law against paying off someone else's gambling debts in that way.

 

That is the simplest explanation that explains everything.

It explains why Ohtani first said he paid off the debt then there was a change of story and the new story was that the funds were stolen.

 

What’s perplexing to me, with their change in legal strategy, is how are they going to untie Ohtani from the 4.5m wire. Like, you’d to have to imagine there would be all sorts of traceable checks and balances in place for that.

 

But maybe not if they’re going to take the legal strategy that he was oblivious to it.

[Carlos Danger]

Ceddanne Rafaela the latest rookie to be named to an opening day roster. Incentivizing teams to carry top prospects from opening day is one of the best things MLB has ever done.

 

Rafaela was playing last season though. So not really apples and apples.

[deanmike]

 

But his former Angels teammates would have you believe this guy has never seen a basketball being dribbled before lol

[jaysblue]

 

But his former Angels teammates would have you believe this guy has never seen a basketball being dribbled before lol

 

If you're an athlete in another sport like MLB, are you still allowed to bet on other sports like NBA or NFL etc?

[Stangstag]

If you're an athlete in another sport like MLB, are you still allowed to bet on other sports like NBA or NFL etc?

 

Yes. But there is an explicit rule stating no player can bet with illegal sports books, which is what Ohtani might be in trouble for.

[deanmike]

Yes. But there is an explicit rule stating no player can bet with illegal sports books, which is what Ohtani might be in trouble for.

 

Could be wrong on this so someone correct me if I am, but pretty sure sports betting is also still illegal in Cali.

[The_DH]

Maybe he was thinking about the permissible betting environment in Canada and that's why Toronto had a shot.

 

Just shows you: when you've got a full out attempt to sign somebody, you really have to know them.

[John_Havok]

Taijuan Walker to have an MRI for his shoulder.

[Abomination]

Maybe he was thinking about the permissible betting environment in Canada and that's why Toronto had a shot.

 

Just shows you: when you've got a full out attempt to sign somebody, you really have to know them.

 

Ours isn't all that permissible here in Ontario. Thanks Dougie!

[connorp]

Finally some damning evidence that obtani is guilty. It will be a travesty is ohtani is still on the roster come opening day. Glad we turned him down when he was trying to sign here.

 

I agree with you it looks like the evidence is pretty damning against him. I don’t know why others debate that. I mean his personal team admitted it and took it back.

 

As I said, I can’t see how he didn’t sign off on that $4.5 wire, so he’ll need a lot of people to lie for him, some like bankers that aren’t on his payroll.

 

Then you get into the ignorance thing. Obviously ignorance is not a defense but I’m not sure it can even be assumed to lighten up the prosecution. It depends on how hard the DA wants to pursue it. Not being a white male works in his favor in Cali. Not even joking. Really it’s kind of hard to believe with all the resources around and available to him, that he didn’t understand any of the circumstances around sending a $4.5m wire. But I guess attorney/client privilege shields him there. Idk

[Spanky__99]

c-poop and the dogg, lol.

[connorp]

c-poop and the dogg, lol.

 

Bro, they admitted it and then took it back lol. Then you’re like “what evidence”

[Spanky__99]

Wow... lmao, just came here to see if it was posted, that's wild.

 

Also, you guys are f***ed, this is a dodgy POS that tried to steal from a long time friend, what a goof.

 

You really think Ohtani is into shady s***? The dude who gives zero f***s about money. And yes, a longtime friend tried to f*** him over, f*** that guy. There's no funny stuff going on, stupidity sure, he just got his wakeup call.

 

Possibly, who cares...

 

Seriously though, I don't think there's any malice from, Shohei.

 

Bro, they admitted it and then took it back lol. Then you’re like “what evidence”

 

That was my opinion on the matter, baldilocks, where am I asking about evidence? Nice try.

[connorp]

Seems like the interpreter’s resume is all bs lol. From not graduating or going to college, to lies about mlb experience.

[connorp]

Maybe karma getting mlb for the Bauer thing. Holier than thou s***, now it’s the golden goose getting fried.

[Spanky__99]

Maybe karma getting mlb for the Bauer thing. Holier than thou s***, now it’s the golden goose getting fried.

 

You white knight for guys like the groomer pedo and ******* of baseball, but crucify Ohtani already? Like I've always said, you aren't wired right, man.

[Carlos Danger]

If you read this, from the network that actually broke the stories, it seems to get Ohtani off the hook.

 

 

https://abc7.com/sports/shohei-ohtani-his-interpreter-and-wire-transfers-a-timeline/14559093/

[Spanky__99]

If you read this, from the network that actually broke the stories, it seems to get Ohtani off the hook.

 

 

https://abc7.com/sports/shohei-ohtani-his-interpreter-and-wire-transfers-a-timeline/14559093/

 

This is how I seen it all along, thanks for sharing.

[connorp]

If you read this, from the network that actually broke the stories, it seems to get Ohtani off the hook.

 

 

https://abc7.com/sports/shohei-ohtani-his-interpreter-and-wire-transfers-a-timeline/14559093/

 

I don’t understand what off the hook means. If you mean he didn’t bet, sure. But I’m pretty sure I read it’s against mlb for him to associate with a known illegal gambler (for sound reasoning) and also he sent illegal wire transfers for the purpose of paying off illegal gambling debts.

[connorp]

You white knight for guys like the groomer pedo and ******* of baseball, but crucify Ohtani already? Like I've always said, you aren't wired right, man.

 

The US actually eats up “fall from grace” stories. The media wouldn’t push this narrative of accountability for Ohtani, due to racial considerations. I don’t wish for him to be suspended for any period of time, I was just mocking mlb

[Spanky__99]

I don’t understand what off the hook means. If you mean he didn’t bet, sure. But I’m pretty sure I read it’s against mlb for him to associate with a known illegal gambler (for sound reasoning) and also he sent illegal wire transfers for the purpose of paying off illegal gambling debts.

 

So you didn't read the article, lol.

[BTS]

The US actually eats up “fall from grace” stories. The media wouldn’t push this narrative of accountability for Ohtani, due to racial considerations. I don’t wish for him to be suspended for any period of time, I was just mocking mlb

 

This is a really stupid post.

 

Media won't push "accountability" narative because no fans are going to care about Ohtani sending money to a bookie to cover his friend's gambling debts. Especially not when MLB pushes gambling at every turn.

[Laika]

Here is the key info.

 

.In the ESPN interview, Mizuhara says he started betting with Bowyer on credit shortly after they met, placing wagers on several sports -- but not baseball. He says he had previously bet on DraftKings and didn't know Bowyer's operation was illegal. At the time, his salary with the Angels was about $85,000, he says, and by the end of 2022 he had lost over $1 million and was borrowing money from friends and family.

 

"I couldn't share this with Shohei. It was hard for me to make my ends meet. I was going paycheck to paycheck," Mizuhara says. "Because I kind of had to keep up with his lifestyle. But at the same time, I didn't want to tell him this."

 

He describes his relationship with Ohtani, whom he first met in 2013, as "brothers," and says he spends more time with Ohtani than with his wife.

 

Mizuhara's debt ballooned to $4 million by early 2023, he tells ESPN, and that's when he says he went to Ohtani for help. He says he feared losing Ohtani's trust, and he also feared for his safety, that someone might come to his house.

 

"I explained my situation," he says. "And obviously he wasn't happy about it, but he said he would help me."

 

 

Asked if Ohtani knew the person owed the money was a bookie, Mizuhara says his friend "didn't have any clue."

 

"I just told him I need to send a wire to pay off the debt," Mizuhara says. "He didn't ask if it was illegal, didn't question me about that."

 

Mizuhara says that, after Ohtani agreed to pay the debts, the two of them logged into Ohtani's bank account on Ohtani's computer and sent eight or nine transactions, each at $500,000, over several months. They added "loan" to the description field in the transactions. Mizuhara estimates the final payment was made in October.

 

Asked by ESPN if he thought he would be putting himself or Ohtani at risk by asking Ohtani to pay the debts, Mizuhara says, "I don't think either of us thought about that at the time at all."

[Laika]

The above just tracks with everything.

 

Ohtani literally did send the wires, from his personal online banking, with the interpreter there at this side.

 

But reasonably Ohtani didn't even know it was illegal so there is an argument the friend sort of duped him, lied to him so to speak.

 

Of course ignorance is seldom a defense when it comes to laws like this. You can't really just tell the cops you didn't do any due diligence on the $4.5M you wired.

[BTS]

The above just tracks with everything.

 

Ohtani literally did send the wires, from his personal online banking, with the interpreter there at this side.

 

But reasonably Ohtani didn't even know it was illegal so there is an argument the friend sort of duped him, lied to him so to speak.

 

Of course ignorance is seldom a defense when it comes to laws like this. You can't really just tell the cops you didn't do any due diligence on the $4.5M you wired.

 

Ohtani and his friend both seem to be f***ing idiots. But this story is going to blow over quickly.

[Laika]

Ohtani and his friend both seem to be f***ing idiots. But this story is going to blow over quickly.

 

Not sure!

 

The friend might go to jail here.

 

Ohtani might end up pleading guilty to being an accessory to wire fraud, and paying a fine.

 

MLB is actually in a tough spot. The story is WORSE than people are talking about I think because this bookie was at the Angels hotel, gambling and soliciting MLB players. So there might be more here! Arguably if MLB doesn't do something to Ohtani it sets a horrible example.

[Jimcanuck]

Yep a suspension seems likely. If there was wrongdoing by Ohtani, MLB cannot do nothing.

[Laika]

Okay so the Angels were already the worst organization in baseball but now they are the worst twice over.

 

Tyler Skaggs is fed illicit drugs by team employees and dies.

 

Mobsters are gambling with players in the Angels hotel, and successfully leveraging Angels players for millions of dollars in illegal payouts.