The Ohtani Saga

[westofyou]

Trying to figure out the “technically” when Ippei told the bookie “technically I was stealing.”

Who talks like that if they are in fact simply robbing someone blind?

People who use English as their second language?

[Strikes Out Looking]

Ohtani isn’t a tourist here. He’s been here for over 6 years. He’s considered one of the shrewdest, smartest, most business savvy athletes in the world. I am not calling him dumb. I am saying he’s too smart to have let this happen.

It’s not hateful to be skeptical of his story.

He may be considered all of this, but he's likely a stupid naive jock.

[kaldaniels]

People who use English as their second language?

But he’s a professional translator for a big time client.

English is a weird language and I’ve witnessed people testing to be an English translator - it is as much about understanding the weirdness of informal English as it is the definition stuff.

It could have been a lost in translation word but for a big time translator to throw that word in there…I just read it as is…and it reads odd.

[westofyou]

But he’s a professional translator for a big time client.

English is a weird language and I’ve witnessed people testing to be an English translator - it is as much about understanding the weirdness of informal English as it is the definition stuff.

It could have been a lost in translation word but for a big time translator to throw that word in there…I just read it as is…and it reads odd.

What are his "qualifications" as a "professional translator" I'm pretty sure it's as self assigned title. Nonetheless it sounds odd, but what doesn't about him?

[Bob Sheed]

[Chip R]

We're all aware that in the criminal justice system the accused and the victim are usually at odds and not willing to assist the other. It's adversarial by nature Since I (the accused) did something to you (the victim) it's unlikely we are going to help each other. Of course there are exceptions. If the accused has something on the victim, the latter may not want to press charges. Sometimes the victim will either make public what he did or let the accused spill the beans. Sometimes that works out either because the accused isn't believable or it can't be proved the victim did what he was accused of. There's also a situation where even if the accused has something on the victim they won't turn on them for whatever reason. Maybe they are in fear for their safety or a loved one's safety. Maybe they won't say anything because they got paid off to stay quiet. That seems to be what people think is happening here. Perhaps Ohtani didn't gamble - which is looking more and more likely - but maybe he did something illegal to help out Mizuhara which seems to square with the first story. But when Ohtani's lawyers heard that they devised a plan to make it look like straight embezzlement. Mizuhara takes the fall and probably does time but, like we see in Mafia TV shows and movies, when he gets out he's taken care of financially so he won't say how it went down. Naturally Ohtani's all for that and they make sure their stories are straight. If Ohtani says Mizuhara stole and Mizuhara agrees, then what can the feds do? It's no longer an adversarial situation, it's a cooperative one. And what can MLB do? They certainly don't want to suspend him. I wouldn't say they would necessarily tank an investigation but more like softpedal it. As long as everyone sticks to the story it's eventually going to go away. What sunk Pete was the people he was hanging out with were criminals themselves or Pete screwed them over somehow. So MLB had leverage on those guys. I doubt that's the case with any of Ohtani's people.

One thing to look at in the near future: If I were a rich big shot and someone stole from me and my accountants and lawyers didn't realize what was going on, I"m getting rid of them. And I'm probably going to sue. Will Ohtani do that? If he doesn't, that's going to look awful odd. These people didn't know I was getting ripped off and I'm going to keep them on? Hell naw! If I did it would look like I was OK with what happened and the money that was stolen was hush money to keep my people quiet.

[757690]

I actually don’t think Ohtani was gambling. I think the first story, that Mizuhara kept getting into debt with bookies and Ohtani would pay it off, is the true one, but it implicated Ohtani in many ways. So his team concocted this story to protect Ohtani and throw Mizuhara under the bus. Mizuhara agrees to it, in return for a nice payout when it’s all over. All of the text messages and details from the fed back up this story too.

If Mizuhara works out a plea deal, then there is no trial, and we never find out what really happened, unless someone involved writes a book down the road.

[kaldaniels]

The first week of the story I said a couple things -

1) At that point I had no idea what would satisfy my peabrain to the point that I would believe Ohtani knew NOTHING about this. The story is so wild I can’t believe it happened as confessed.

2) I pointed out that all parties bunkered down and would be in the process of getting their story straight.

To me - that’s exactly what happened. And I’m not satisfied that Ohtani knew nothing. (That falls on me and I’m not wanting him to be suspended based on what we know now - but the story still smells).

[GAC]

For the addict, the thrill isn't necessarily in winning, so much as it is in the anxiety created while the bet is in play. That's where the dopamine gets released.

and that's the appropriate word for describing a gambling addict.

Have a friend who almost destroyed his life gambling just a few short years ago via gambling debt. We, his close friends, tried our best to get him to get help. He finally had himself self-banned from all the casinos in Ohio and Michigan. And has slowly gotten his act together over the last couple of years. But it was tough.

I learned at a very young age (19), that I was not a gambler when getting talked into playing poker onboard ship while in the Navy. I had a $20 limit back then. When it was gone, then I was gone. Which was usually within 45 minutes of starting (lol).

[Bob Sheed]

One thing to look at in the near future: If I were a rich big shot and someone stole from me and my accountants and lawyers didn't realize what was going on, I"m getting rid of them. And I'm probably going to sue. Will Ohtani do that? If he doesn't, that's going to look awful odd. These people didn't know I was getting ripped off and I'm going to keep them on? Hell naw! If I did it would look like I was OK with what happened and the money that was stolen was hush money to keep my people quiet.

That was a strategy wisely utilized back in the olden days.

Now? Ohtani just needs to make sure he's clear from a legal standpoint. Beyond that, attention spans are so bad now, once the next news cycle hits, no one will even remember.

[Roy Tucker]

The trouble is, being a mega-millionaire business guy is a separate skill set from being a superstar ballplayer.

Plus I’d start to wonder about the wisdom of the big contract I signed with all the deferred money.

[JCM11]

In order for the official story to be true Ohtani has to be the most unaware and naive person in the world, and the top agency on the planet has to be totally incompetent in their handling of one of the most famous and highest paid athletes in the world . Sorry but I don't believe either one of those things to be true.

[GAC]

I see where Ohtani's interpreter/manager/accountant/financial advisor/grunt has been ordered to get treatment for his gambling addiction.

[PuffyPig]

The trouble is, being a mega-millionaire business guy is a separate skill set from being a superstar ballplayer.

Plus I’d start to wonder about the wisdom of the big contract I signed with all the deferred money.

Well, he makes $65M per season in endorsements, so it spreads out his income and helps his team stay under the luxury tax.


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[bigfoot steve]

can they please put Pete Rose in the Hall Of Fame now?