# MLB Hotstove, or the 2024 Ohtani sweepstakes **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [November 2, 2023, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492 "2023-11-02T17:48:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/241 "2024-02-10T16:43:46Z")
The Red Sox continue to pick up “bargains” in the scratch and dent aisle. This time it’s Michael Fulmer, who they signed despite his being out for all of 2024 while he recovers from Tommy John surgery. Comically, there are still pundits who think the team continues to look for a significant acquisition to allow them to be marginally competitive this season. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2024, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/242 "2024-02-11T22:53:28Z")
The dodgers could always use a decent pitcher … ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2024, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/243 "2024-02-20T01:10:21Z")
Another sign that Ohtani worship has jumped the shark - a headline on ESPN dot com: “Ohtani homers in his first live BP with Dodgers” Oooh-wee. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/244 "2024-02-22T13:42:36Z")
Looking forward to the 2024 baseball season, featuring players wearing crappy uniforms with see-through pants. [https://www.si.com/mlb/2024/02/22/mlb-fans-roast-new-team-jerseys-transparent-pants](https://www.si.com/mlb/2024/02/22/mlb-fans-roast-new-team-jerseys-transparent-pants) > **[Radical Transparancy: More MLB Teams Victimized by See-Thru Pants](https://uni-watch.com/2024/02/21/radical-transparancy-more-mlb-teams-victimized-by-see-thru-pants/)** > > Once you see it, you can’t un-see it. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/245 "2024-02-22T14:00:59Z")
Hopefully a lot of teams will embrace their dark-colored alternate unis. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2024, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/246 "2024-03-19T04:11:06Z")
Snell moving north to San Francisco on a 2-year deal. > **[Source: Snell lands 2-year, $62M deal with Giants](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39762359/source-blake-snell-agrees-2-year-62m-deal-giants)** > > Blake Snell has agreed to a 2-year, $62 million deal with the Giants, a source told ESPN's Jeff Passan, confirming a report by the New York Post. It includes an opt-out after the first season. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2024, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/247 "2024-03-19T05:48:15Z")
Damn. I posted that story earlier. I just placed it in the wrong thread. I accidentally put it in the Spring Training thread instead. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2024, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/248 "2024-03-19T06:21:23Z")
I would have liked to have seen Snell go to the Yankees with Cole injured but I understand why. At their luxury tax level he would cost $65 million each year. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2024, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/249 "2024-03-20T23:22:44Z")
Ohtani’s interpreter accused of stealing $4.5 million from him, apparently to fund a gambling addiction. If I was Ohtani, that’s the part I would be most pissed off about. If he’d bought sports cars and mansions and had lobster dinners every night, I could understand that, but he basically just burned it. What an asshole! > **[Ohtani's interpreter fired, 'massive theft' alleged](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39768770/dodgers-shohei-ohtani-interpreter-fired-theft)** > > The interpreter for the Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani was fired Wednesday after questions surrounding at least $4.5 million in wire transfers sent from Ohtani's bank account to a bookmaking operation set off a series of events. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/250 "2024-03-21T10:47:04Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Ohtani’s interpreter accused of stealing $4.5 million from him, apparently to fund a gambling addiction. If I was Ohtani, that’s the part I would be most pissed off about. If he’d bought sports cars and mansions and had lobster dinners every night, I could understand that, but he basically just burned it. What an asshole! > > [Dodgers fire Shohei Ohtani's interpreter amid allegation of 'massive theft' - ESPN](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39768770/dodgers-shohei-ohtani-interpreter-fired-theft) I would have said it the other way around: Mizuhara would have been a greedy asshole if he’d stolen simply to fund a lavish lifestyle, but the reality is that he’s an addict struggling with addictive behavior. The problem is that he doesn’t seem to be struggling very hard. No doubt Mizuhara isn’t earning as much as Ohtani, but I he’s a fluent and charismatic interpreter, so I would assume he’s well paid for what he does and should have been able to afford top-notch treatment for his addiction. Instead, he chose to indulge his addiction, to the point of imploding his own career and risking jail time for the theft of millions of dollars. I wonder what Ohtani is going to do about such a massive betrayal. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/251 "2024-03-21T12:27:09Z")
I guess I’d just like my thief to have something to show for it, instead of just a pathetic gambling addiction and turned out pockets. No doubt he’d found himself in a relatively modest hole to begin with, and racked up the millions while chasing a big bailout that he was never going to win. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/252 "2024-03-21T12:35:18Z")
With a Week to go, Yanks are hitting well, even Stanton found his stroke. Judge, is nursing an injury though and no Cole for at least first month or two. This could easily go longer though. No Tommy John needed, nerve inflammation and edema instead. Treatment is no throwing for 3-4 weeks & then try to get ready. LeMahieu’s bruised right foot means he may not be ready for opening day. ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/253 "2024-03-21T12:36:33Z")
Given the changing story, I have my doubts that Ohtani was “betrayed” and didn’t at least have more knowledge then is being admitted. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/254 "2024-03-21T15:51:30Z")
For the sake of the game, I hope this story doesn’t turn to the interpreter placing bets for Ohtani. That would be a clusterfuck of epic proportion. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/255 "2024-03-21T19:42:51Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > For the sake of the game, I hope this story doesn’t turn to the interpreter placing bets for Ohtani. That would be a clusterfuck of epic proportion. I like it. Karmic payback to the Dodgers for breaking my father’s heart in 1958. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2024, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/256 "2024-03-22T23:30:05Z")
MLB did put out a brief press release stating they are looking at Ohtani. > **[MLB investigating gambling, theft allegations involving Shohei Ohtani and...](https://ktla.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-mlb-launches-investigation-into-shohei-ohtani-interpreter-ippei-mizuhara-following-gambling-reports/amp/)** > > NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball has opened a formal investigation into illegal gambling and theft allegations involving Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and his interpreter, Ippei Mizuh… ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2024, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/257 "2024-03-22T23:32:26Z")
What an insane clusterfuck it would be if the translator was a proxy for Mr. Perfect. Banned from the MLB and I assume that giant contract voided. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/258 "2024-03-23T20:26:08Z")
(Effectively) former Orioles owner Peter Angelos has passed. He was 94. Not to speak ill of the recently deceased, so I won’t. He did some good in his life, I suppose. His record as a sports owner was less than stellar is all I’ll say about it right now. > **[Longtime Orioles owner Peter Angelos dies at 94](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39794332/long-baltimore-orioles-owner-peter-angelos-dies-94)** > > Peter Angelos, the longtime owner of the Baltimore Orioles, has died at the age of 94. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/259 "2024-03-23T20:30:03Z")
He wasn’t good for baseball, but hey he kept one of the Yankees main rivals crappy for 2 decades, so I guess that was good for us Yankees fans. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492/260 "2024-03-23T20:36:24Z")
Didn’t he stand up for the players and their union a couple of times, arrayed against absolutely all of the other owners? Or am I mixing him up with some other Orioles owner, or somebody else? Something about refusing to use replacement players, maybe? My memory is foggy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hotstove-or-the-2024-ohtani-sweepstakes/992492.md?page=14)