Official 2024 Off-Season Thread!

[bravesfanforlife88]

The Ohtani thing does throw up a lot of red flags. But i'm sure there is going to be stuff coming out from the criminal investigation side of things that could directly implicate Ohtani or exhonerate him. It will just take time.

[striker42]

I've read people saying that paying off an illegal bookie, even if it's someone else's debt, is illegal in California. Makes sense as you'd be aiding an illegal enterprise but i haven't researched the law myself.

That would explain the change in the story. If Ohtani was unknowingly admitting to a crime and one of his lawyers called him it would cause a change in the story.

[Carp]

Players suspended it banned don't get paid or accumulate service time.

I get that, but the vast amount of his money was deferred. That isn't a part of his yearly salary. Seems like a big lawsuit waiting to happen should he end up getting banned.

[DirkPiggler]

Put Joe Jackson in the hall of fame and we good.
Otherwise Ohtani has to sit.
And that other fella who could hit the ball some too.
😁😁😁😁

This is pretty much where I am, although like @striker42 said I want the rules applied equitably regardless of team or marketing value of the player in question. I wouldn't even use Acuna as the example, although I'm sure striker is right that he'd get the book thrown at him. But I don't care if it was Chadwick Tromp doing the betting...punishment should be the same for both. If you don't enforce the same rules for all, you don't really have rules.

It's hypocritical as hell for MLB to severely punish one of its players for gambling issues while simultaneously partnering with gaming companies and even in some cases having betting sites adjacent to or inside MLB parks.

[bravesfanforlife88]

This is pretty much where I am, although like @striker42 said I want the rules applied equitably regardless of team or marketing value of the player in question. I wouldn't even use Acuna as the example, although I'm sure striker is right that he'd get the book thrown at him. But I don't care if it was Chadwick Tromp doing the betting...punishment should be the same for both. If you don't enforce the same rules for all, you don't really have rules.

It's hypocritical as hell for MLB to severely punish one of its players for gambling issues while simultaneously partnering with gaming companies and even in some cases having betting sites adjacent to or inside MLB parks.

I was the visiting clubhouse manager for Gwinnett for a few years. When you walk into a MLB or MiLB clubhouse, the first thing you see posted on the walls in multiple places is the policy each person that goes into that clubhouse has to adhear to. One of which is that no gambling is allowed of any kind.

So if it comes out that the betting was for Ohtani himself, then it is pretty clear cut.

[zitothebrave]

Won't the interrupter be charged with a crime? I can't see the guy going to prison to ohtani. If it were ohtani, I'm sure it will come out

Quick google says illegal gambling in california is a 6 month jail time and fine. He'll take that and the hush money from Shohei.

[zbhargrove]

Oh my goodness. Please don’t tell me you guys want to see the biggest draw in sports to get suspended for what was probably betting on horses or football or something dumb like that. Dude has been the best player. He clearly isn’t throwing games to win a bet. Who freaking cares.

Dude... this story is sketchy as hell with all the changing narratives... any other player would have the book thrown at them

[msstate7]

Quick google says illegal gambling in california is a 6 month jail time and fine. He'll take that and the hush money from Shohei.

If it's ohtani's money, it's theft, not illegal gambling, right?

[zitothebrave]

If it's ohtani's money, it's theft, not illegal gambling, right?

Fair enough, even assuming grand larceny, it's 1 year and a fine, grand theft is 3 years and a fine. There's plenty of hush money there. Hell maybe they decide to deport him back to japan and he doesn't even serve jail time in the USA. Sure he loses his cushy life but then gets some hush money and gets to live comfortably though as a pariah in Japan. I wouldn't rule out him sitting on this for shohei.

[msstate7]

Is this even possible?

[thewupk]

Can't wait for Pete Rose's take on this. It's going to be legendary.

[thewupk]

Is this even possible?

Sac Fly's count agaisnt OBP but not AVG

[msstate7]

Sac Fly's count agaisnt OBP but not AVG

Good call. I guess that's the first time I've saw that.

[thewupk]

Also, Mookie looked pretty sus at SS. No range.

[bravesfanMatt]

Dude... this story is sketchy as hell with all the changing narratives... any other player would have the book thrown at them

let the thing play out, but there are folks hoping he gets banned for the year for what is probably a nothing burger. Dude has enough money to set his buddy up for life to fall on the sword. But baseball would be dumb to suspend the biggest draw over something stupid like this.. sorry but in life extraordinary people get away with things that ordinary folks don't. fair.. probably not.. but that is life.

[thewupk]

let the thing play out, but there are folks hoping he gets banned for the year for what is probably a nothing burger. Dude has enough money to set his buddy up for life to fall on the sword. But baseball would be dumb to suspend the biggest draw over something stupid like this.. sorry but in life extraordinary people get away with things that ordinary folks don't. fair.. probably not.. but that is life.

Ohtani is about to join the Lakers G-League team

[cajunrevenge]

The 30 million dollar man Yamamoto with 1 IP 5 ER in his MLB debut.

[bravesfanMatt]

The 30 million dollar man Yamamoto with 1 IP 5 ER in his MLB debut.

now this I can get onboard with. giving any unproven player 300 mill is way too risky. But the Dodger$ basically print money so no biggie for them I guess.

[zitothebrave]

let the thing play out, but there are folks hoping he gets banned for the year for what is probably a nothing burger. Dude has enough money to set his buddy up for life to fall on the sword. But baseball would be dumb to suspend the biggest draw over something stupid like this.. sorry but in life extraordinary people get away with things that ordinary folks don't. fair.. probably not.. but that is life.

What I suspect will happen is Shohei gets off claiming ignorance and Ippei falls on the sword. Shohei "didn't realize" he was sending money to a bookie as Ippei said was draft kings.

[The Chosen One]

The GOAT