Article: Sho Time: Could The Twins Really Land Ohtani?

[laloesch]

A player's nation of origin has nothing to do with his success or failure in Major Leagur Baseball. Nor does a previous player's nation of origin have anything to do with a later player's success or failure. How many times does this need to be said?

Exactly.

Everything I have read about Ohtani, which could be BS, implies that he wants to go to a world-class city. I know many might disagree with this, but the USA really only has three of those -- New York, Chicago, and D.C. The rest of the big cities in the US are urban sprawl, strip malls, and chain restaurants.

 

So if what I have read is correct, there are the 5 teams he could go to, 6 if you throw in Baltimore.

Wow. I strongly diagree with this statement. Kinda insulting actually. If you mean mega cities then yeah, NY, Chitown, DC, LA, etc. are big, but there are a lot of smaller mid sized cities in the USA that people from outside this country would die to come live in and this coming from someone that is well traveled. Edited December 3, 2017 by laloesch

[Don Walcott]

Everything I have read about Ohtani, which could be BS, implies that he wants to go to a world-class city. I know many might disagree with this, but the USA really only has three of those -- New York, Chicago, and D.C. The rest of the big cities in the US are urban sprawl, strip malls, and chain restaurants.

 

So if what I have read is correct, there are the 5 teams he could go to, 6 if you throw in Baltimore.

DC and Chicago over LA, San Fran & Seattle? Maybe I’m regionally biased towards the west coast and Rocky Mountains, but I can’t imagine anyone preferring DC and Chicago. (I don’t know enough to say anything about NY, but I’d prefer all three plus Portland and Denver over anywhere east of the Rockies).

[Doomtints]

Let's not derail the conversation into something about how NYC/Chicago/DC are just like every other big city in the country. They're not. I'm not talking about the size of the city. You have to spend some time in these cities to fully appreciate the superior public transportation (when the upper class uses the trains, you know they're good), the great food (you don't know how bad restaurants are elsewhere until you explore these cities), etc., etc. There's a reason the upper class hovers around these cities. If Ohtani is "lifestyle shopping" this is where he wants to go. As for LA, LA is the same as any other city in America apart from the weather. Sprawl, sprawl, sprawl.

 

We can take this to a different forum if you want.

Edited December 3, 2017 by Doomtints

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Everything I have read about Ohtani, which could be BS, implies that he wants to go to a world-class city. I know many might disagree with this, but the USA really only has three of those -- New York, Chicago, and D.C. The rest of the big cities in the US are urban sprawl, strip malls, and chain restaurants.

 

So if what I have read is correct, there are the 5 teams he could go to, 6 if you throw in Baltimore.

Everything I have read about him has said exactly the same thing---problem is, the only other thing I have read about him is this one single post of yours that I just quoted

[Squirrel]

Honestly take a look at the Angels' roster and farm system, then tell me you want to play for that team.

Yeah, okay, but I was responding to the post saying who wouldn’t want to be in LA with movie stars and swimming pools and great sushi bars. While I get the intent was to add ‘and also the Dodgers’ I was focusing in on the other things being superficial, but if that’s what it boils down to, it’s what it is.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Let's not derail the conversation into something about how NYC/Chicago/DC are just like every other big city in the country. They're not. I'm not talking about the size of the city. You have to spend some time in these cities to fully appreciate the superior public transportation (when the upper class uses the trains, you know they're good), the great food (you don't know how bad restaurants are elsewhere until you explore these cities), etc., etc. There's a reason the upper class hovers around these cities. If Ohtani is "lifestyle shopping" this is where he wants to go. As for LA, LA is the same as any other city in America apart from the weather. Sprawl, sprawl, sprawl.

 

We can take this to a different forum if you want.

You may be right, but it strikes me as really hard to get into another person's mind in a case like this. Edited December 3, 2017 by Hosken Bombo Disco

[Riverbrian]

I'd imagine that Shohei trying to make a decision based on public transportation, restaurants and culture would be difficult for a 23 year old who has never been here.

 

It would be like me trying to make a similar decision where I'd like to put down stakes in Japan. I don't know Tokyo from Hiroshima. Although I like the beef in Kobe and that's all I know. 

 

If I'm Shohei... I'd want to be as far away from North Korea as possible and also as far away from Donald Trump as possible. 

 

That makes Minnesota a perfect fit.     

 

 

[glunn]

 

Yeah, okay, but I was responding to the post saying who wouldn’t want to be in LA with movie stars and swimming pools and great sushi bars. While I get the intent was to add ‘and also the Dodgers’ I was focusing in on the other things being superficial, but if that’s what it boils down to, it’s what it is.

The post in question was tongue in cheek -- hence the allusion to the Beverly Hillbillies.  That said, the Angels play in Orange County -- fewer movie stars or world class sushi bars, and a much smaller Japanese presence.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Everything I have read about Ohtani, which could be BS, implies that he wants to go to a world-class city. I know many might disagree with this, but the USA really only has three of those -- New York, Chicago, and D.C. The rest of the big cities in the US are urban sprawl, strip malls, and chain restaurants.

 

So if what I have read is correct, there are the 5 teams he could go to, 6 if you throw in Baltimore.

LA and SF need to be on this list.

 

LA has the largest Japanese population in the mainland US and San Francisco is one of the greatest cities in the country.

[jimmer]

LA and SF need to be on this list.

 

LA has the largest Japanese population in the mainland US and San Francisco is one of the greatest cities in the country.

San Francisco (which I visited a lot growing up) and London are my two favorite major cities in the World.

[Monkeypaws]

West Coast seems the probable choice to me.

[brvama]

Well, with all of our guessing it seems no one has a clue. As others have said its been very difficult to read him and what will drive his decision. Just read an article by Matt Gwin at BP Toronto that seems to help me believe there really are no favorites. you can read it here: http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2017/12/01/why-we-should-stop-acting-like-we-know-what-shohei-ohtani-wants/

Edited December 3, 2017 by brvama

[Linus]

Just reported on Twitter that the Yankees did not make the first round cut!

[Twins33]

And Heyman with this:

 

[NorthernStar]

He prefers a small market with little Japanese influence apparently

[Squirrel]

 

He prefers a small market with little Japanese influence apparently

With 'little influence' or 'a little influence' ... just clarifying in case it was a typo.

 

Btw ... I like your user name.

[drjim]

Also this, alas...

 

[Squirrel]

 

Also this, alas...

Smaller market west coast team means ... Mariners? Padres?

 

Or is that just Cashman justifying losing?

[Twins33]

Also this, alas...

https://twitter.com/BryanHoch/status/937459308031299584

This wouldn't surprise me at all considering you don't have to fly over all or half of the US to get to Japan. My thought all along was the Mariners. And the Padres don't seem like too insane of a choice either since they have a top 5 farm system.

[Twins33]

Twins out. Which I think most realistically expected

 

[Squirrel]

Well, and now Heyman is saying the Twins are out, too:

 

https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/937463233023225856

[AZTwin]

Can we trade our international money to Seattle? Maybe try and grab Sam Carlson?

[jimmer]

I never got my hopes up even a little bit, so it's no surprise we wont be signing him (though I dont think Heyman is anywhere near a reliable source on anything)

[snepp]

Too late to place a bet on Seattle?

[Mill1634]

He must not want to win real bad

[jimmer]

This can probably move to the forum titled: 'Other Baseball' now. He has nothing to do with the Twins.

Edited December 3, 2017 by jimmer

[jimmer]

He must not want to win real bad

why is that?

[Squirrel]

 

This can probably move to the forum titled: 'Other Baseball' now. He has nothing to do with the Twins.

I just redirected everything to here, as there is an Ohtani thread in the Other Forum, too, so for now, until we hear from the Twins, it remains here.

[Mill1634]

 

why is that?

Look at the teams he is eliminating, in favor of San Diego and the Angels

[jimmer]

Look at the teams he is eliminating, in favor of San Diego and the Angels

I would wait until he signs before we speculate on how much he wants to win.