Baseball.........Anybody still interested?
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Umpire Ángel Hernández Finishes Regular Season With Worst Rating in MLB
According to Umpire Auditor, the infamous Ángel Hernández had 161 bad calls in 10 games after missing time with a back injury.
@dik cashmere
Angel Hernandez makes yet another controversial call that angers Yankees
A round of boos broke out before Sunday’s game at Yankee Stadium, just for Angel Hernandez being introduced as the home plate umpire. It didn’t take long for him to be involved in a controversial c…
nypost.com
Trea Turner couldn't believe it after Jesse Winker took away extra bases.
Hank Aaron's widow, Billye, reflects on 50th anniversary of No. 715
April 7th, 2024Jason Foster
@ByJasonFoster
The memories of the night Hank Aaron broke baseball's all-time home run record on April 8, 1974, are still plenty vivid for Billye Aaron even after 50 years.
As are the memories of anticipation that led up to her late husband's historic night, and the pride that followed his record-breaking blast.
Apr 5, 2024
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3:14
50th anniversary of Hank Aaron's 715th home run
"We just looked with anticipation for that home run," she recalls in an MLB Network segment to commemorate the 50th anniversary of No. 715 on Monday. "I think the whole focus was, if you are fortunate, if you're blessed, maybe you'll get it tonight."
In an interview with her granddaughter, Emily Haydel, Aaron shares other memories from that night, as well as from the lead-up to April 8, including attending Opening Day in Cincinnati, where Hank tied Babe Ruth's record.
Apr 5, 2024
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3:50
Hank Aaron relives his 715th home run
"I was just so full of joy, because my husband was going to eventually, whenever, get that [record] home run," she says.
She also recalls meeting her future husband when he was a guest on a show she hosted for WSB-TV in Atlanta.
Apr 5, 2024
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4:02
Relive Hank Aaron's record breaking 715th
"I knew nothing about baseball, but I thought it would be very simple to ask a few questions," she says. "And it didn't turn out to be quite so simple."
After the show, Hank asked whether she'd like help coming up with other baseball questions.
"We just became friends," she says, "and that friendship sort of grew."
Despite the joy and pride she felt watching her husband make history with No. 715, there was no excited celebration from her that night at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, or even at home when her husband arrived after the game.
It was just "like any ordinary night," she says.
"I didn't go running to him. I didn't have champagne waiting for him or any of that," she says with a laugh. "Henry just wasn't that kind of person, and he didn't create that kind of atmosphere around him. You rarely could get Henry rattled to the point of making a noise about himself in public, nor in private for that matter."
Power Rankings: There's already a shakeup at the top
April 7th, 2024Will Leitch
@williamfleitch
Whew! It has been 10 days since Opening Day, and has it ever been a whirlwind. There are teams off to torrid starts, there are teams that haven’t really gotten out of the starting gate yet and there is Juan Soto … well, being Juan Soto.
If you had trouble keeping track of all of it, well, your fine friends at the Power Rankings are here to help. Here are our first rankings since games have begun: We’ll be back to weekly from now on. The rankings themselves are compiled from MLB.com contributors whose names you can find at the bottom of this (and every) piece, but the words are mine. If you dislike the rankings, yell at all of us. But if you dislike the words, feel free to yell at me.
A week-and-a-half in … here’s how we look.
1) Dodgers (previously: 2). Ten days in, and Mookie Betts leads baseball in essentially every major statistical category: Hits, runs, home runs … even walks. It’s that last one that’s particularly impressive, all told, considering the guy who is hitting behind him in that lineup: It’s not like there’s any particular advantage to pitching around Betts. Speaking of Shohei Ohtani, he’s “only” putting up a .944 OPS, which would have been top 25 in baseball last year but currently puts him only third on his own team.
2) Braves (previously: 1). It was quite the one-two rotation punch for the Braves: They lost Spencer Strider to a UCL injury on Friday and then watched Max Fried give up six runs in the first inning on Saturday. This is surely going to cause them some long-term problems -- that nice Chris Sale performance on Sunday will help, though -- but fittingly the Braves went ahead and swept their weekend series over the defending National League champions anyway. They’ve got three guys in their lineup right now with an OPS over 1.000 … and none of them are Ronald Acuña Jr. or Austin Riley. (They’re Matt Olson, Marcell Ozuna and Michael Harris II. The Braves are insane.)
Apr 6, 2024
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1:49
Brian Snitker on Spencer Strider's elbow injury
3) Yankees (previously: 7). Well, well, look who’s back. While many people wrote them off in the wake of Gerrit Cole’s injury, the Yankees went out and swept the Astros -- of all teams, their historical antagonist -- in four games in Houston to start the season. Just to make sure everybody knew they weren’t kidding around, they then won series against two 2023 playoff teams, the D-backs and the Blue Jays, for good measure. Perhaps most encouraging? The team leader in home runs is Giancarlo Stanton, who sure looked like his old self against the Jays over the weekend.
4) Rangers (previously: 5). You really have to just feel terrible for Josh Jung, who has dealt with freak injury after freak injury, now fracturing his wrist and likely missing the next two months at least. He was so upset after this one -- he had been off to such a good start -- that he couldn’t even take questions from reporters, instead reading off the Notes app on his phone. How upset was he? He actually said, “The frustration was unbearable. The anger is rage.” If all goes well, though, he’ll be back around the same time as those starting pitchers the Rangers are waiting on, the ultimate “it’s like making a trade at the deadline” returns. The Rangers, the way they’re going, may still be in first place by then too.
5) Orioles (previously: 3). An early warning sign for the Orioles’ vaunted young offense? They are currently ranked 29th in on-base percentage, ahead of only the White Sox. It’s in large part the young infielders off to slow starts: Jordan Westburg and Gunnar Henderson are a combined 13-for-65 so far. Just out of curiosity, let’s check and see how Jackson Holliday is doing down in Triple-A Norfolk … oh, look, he’s got a .490 OBP down there, how about that?
Apr 3, 2024
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0:31
Jackson Holliday's four-hit game
6) Phillies (previously: 4). Perhaps Trea Turner needs to put up another billboard? He’s off to a tough start again in Philly, hitting .222 with no homers and 12 strikeouts so far. Hard to single him out, though: The Phillies are hitting only .229 as a team. We do like those City Connect jerseys, though.
7) Tigers (previously: 20). Whoa, that’s quite a leap up the ole Power Rankings! One wonders if our voters maybe missed the last couple games, when they lost two at home to the A’s, but there are still plenty of signs of life in Detroit: Tarik Skubal sure looks like a Cy Young favorite right now, doesn’t he?
Apr 5, 2024
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1:20
Tarik Skubal strikes out nine in Tigers' home opener
8) Astros (previously: 6). Our voters are not sweating the slow start, but seriously, it has been extremely slow: This start marked the first time the Astros were five games under .500 since June 2016, the last year they missed the playoffs (and the year before they won the World Series). The alarm bells continue for José Abreu: He’s 2-for-26 to start the year after having, by far, the worst year of his career in 2023.
9) Cubs (previously: 12). There’s no one in the NL Central under .500 right now, which has hidden a little bit how well the (currently third-place) Cubs have been playing. They’ve now won six of their last seven, including a very impressive two out of three against the Dodgers over the weekend.
Apr 7, 2024
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0:29
Cody Bellinger's solo home run (2)
10) Guardians (previously: 21). We’ll see how long they can keep it together without Shane Bieber, but the Guardians have been terrific on the mound this year, with a 2.28 team ERA, second in baseball. They’ve also given up only four homers, tied for the fewest in the game; maybe their famously homer-deficient offense is becoming contagious.
11) Pirates (previously: 25). Are the Pirates the best story in the sport right now? It was one thing to wipe out the Marlins and Nationals: Taking two of three from the Orioles is a jolly roger of a different color. They have a fun two-game series with fellow Central Division early-season surprise Detroit starting on Monday.
Apr 7, 2024
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0:45
Pirates walk it off on a throwing error
12) Brewers (previously: 19). Even with his bounceback year last year, it has been assumed that Christian Yelich was unlikely to return to his MVP state. But he is hitting the ball with a lot of authority right now: He has three homers, and, impressively, only six strikeouts to go with them. Jackson Chourio is producing the highlights, but it’s Yelich and William Contreras who are carrying this team.
13) Diamondbacks (previously: 10). All that excitement in The Bronx and Atlanta came at the expense of the Diamondbacks, who lost five of six from two of the hottest teams playing right now. Ironically, the D-backs are playing backwards from last year, when they famously made the World Series despite being outscored: Right now they’ve outscored their opponents by 16 runs … but have a losing record.
14) Blue Jays (previously: 8). Somebody has to be last in the AL East, and after getting drilled by the Yankees over the weekend, the Blue Jays currently have the misfortune. More worrisome: They were outscored by the Astros, a team with its own problems right now, 19-2 last week and were no-hit in one of those games.
15) Reds (previously: 15). What a world, when the long-disparaged NL Central has four teams in the top half of the Power Rankings. (And the team that’s not in the top half is at .500.) Spencer Steer (1.313 OPS) has all of a sudden transformed into Babe Ruth. Their four-game home series with the Brewers starting on Monday should be fascinating.
16) Red Sox (previously: 22). If there’s a team that should have been shooting up these Power Rankings the way the Guardians and Tigers did, maybe it should be the Red Sox? Do you realize the Red Sox have a 1.49 team ERA right now? Their starting pitching has been excellent, but it’s their bullpen that has been blowing people away: The entire bullpen has only given up six earned runs so far. Six!
17) Rays (previously: 9). The Rays clawed their way back to .500 thanks to the largesse of the Colorado Rockies this weekend, but there are signs of worry: They have a 5.24 team ERA right now, including the fourth-most walks per game in the sport, definitely not something you expect from the Rays staff.
18) Royals (previously: 24). If you’re going to get four home games in a row with the White Sox, you best take advantage of them, and the Royals surely did, sweeping the Pale Hose. The starting pitching has been the primary driver of their success, along with MJ Melendez, who gave the Royals the lead in the final three wins of that series.
Apr 7, 2024
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1:21
MJ Melendez on his big go-ahead home run
19) Padres (previously: 14). Don’t look now, but Fernando Tatis Jr. is hitting the ball harder than he did even before his suspension. This was a guy many thought was the future of baseball two years ago: Since he has returned, he has just kept getting better and better.
20) Twins (previously: 13). The Twins have stumbled out of the gate a bit, but don’t blame Carlos Correa: He currently has a .533 OBP, the best in baseball. (Even better than Mookie.)
21) Mariners (previously: 11). The Mariners are striking out in 30 percent of their plate appearances, which, even in today’s game, makes it hard to win. Jerry Dipoto isn’t worried yet: “Our guys don’t feel like we’re at DEFCON 1.” OK, how about DEFCON 3?
22) Cardinals (previously: 18). The Cardinals’ defense has been terrific so far and is the primary reason they’re not under .500. Worrisome? Two of the three “innings eaters” they added to their rotation over the winter, Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn, gave up a combined 11 runs in their two starts at Busch this weekend. (At least Gibson threw a total of six innings after being torched for seven runs in the first two innings.)
23) Giants (previously: 17). Jung Hoo Lee may eventually be the spark plug this team was looking for, but so far he’s hitting .205 with no stolen bases.
24) Angels (previously: 26). Who says Mike Trout lost a superstar? Logan O’Hoppe is scorching right now, hitting .407 and sitting among the top offensive catchers in baseball in just about every category.
Apr 6, 2024
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0:50
Field View: Logan O'Hoppe's grand slam
25) Mets (previously: 16). The rain in Queens gave the Mets’ season a halting, stumbling quality to start off, which may have led to some of the defensive issues that have caused them so much trouble. They best figure them out quickly: They have four in Atlanta this week.
26) Nationals (previously: 27). We’ll talk about the current Nationals plenty this year, but let’s not let the retirement of Stephen Strasburg pass without one last shoutout to the man. This was once the electric prospect in baseball -- remember, his college coach was Tony Gwynn! -- and his first start remains one of the more memorable debuts in baseball history. Oh, also, they wouldn’t have won their only World Series without him. Happy trails, ‘Stras.
27) Marlins (previously: 23). They finally got off the schneid with a win in St. Louis on Sunday, allowing them to avoid starting the season 0-10. But add that record to the Eury Pérez news, and sheesh, it’s tough to see how 2024 could have begun worse for this 2023 playoff team.
28) White Sox (previously: 28). There were some snickers when Garrett Crochet was named the team’s Opening Day starter, but he has been excellent so far, giving up four runs in 18 innings. He also has a win. The problem is that it’s the only win the team has.
29) Rockies (previously: 29). All right, so Kris Bryant is hitting .107 so far, going 3-for-28. However! Did you see the homer he hit on Friday? When he signed, you imagined that happening 40 times a year. (He currently has 16 homers in three seasons as a Rockie.)
30) A’s (previously: 30). It was a tumultuous week for the A’s, but there are plenty of reasons to watch this team, not least of which is closer Mason Miller, who has jaw-droppingly electric stuff.
Red-hot Ohtani 'pretty awesome to watch'
Fifth straight multi-hit game, paired with Outman's HR and Paxton's gem, keys win vs. Twins
April 8th, 2024Patrick Donnelly
MINNEAPOLIS -- The ideal path to view Monday’s total solar eclipse was well south of the Twin Cities. Instead, Twins fans were treated to a lunar eclipse of sorts during the seventh inning of the Dodgers’ 4-2 victory at Target Field.
James Outman and Shohei Ohtani launched sky-high moonshots that soared out of the park for solo home runs in the seventh. Outman’s leadoff blast put the Dodgers on top 3-2, while Ohtani’s two-out blow -- his third of the year, all coming in the last five games – provided an insurance run that wasn’t needed, thanks to Dodgers pitchers retiring the final 18 Twins batters they faced.
Ohtani had two doubles to go with his home run, giving him eight extra-base hits in his last five games. He’s also posted five straight multi-hit games, the longest such streak in his career.
Although he hasn’t been wearing Dodger blue for very long, Ohtani has quickly shown he’s capable of living up to the high expectations that accompanied his arrival.
“You expect the ball to come off really hot when he swings the bat and he barrels it,” manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s something I have never seen. When he’s controlling the strike zone and he’s getting pitches in his nitro zone, there’s just really not a better hitter.”
Winning pitcher James Paxton, who gave up two runs and struck out four over six innings, knows all too well what kind of damage Ohtani can do. Last year, Ohtani took him deep as the Angels dealt Paxton his first loss of the year with Boston.
Apr 8, 2024
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0:29
James Paxton strikes out 4
“I mean, it’s pretty awesome to watch. If he puts the barrel on the ball, it’s coming off at 105-plus,” Paxton said. “It’s pretty amazing, just how hard he swings and just how hard he hits the ball. I’m glad to have him on my side.”
Ohtani’s home run was an opposite-field shot that left the bat at 106.9 mph with a 38 degree launch angle. Twins reliever Jay Jackson, who surrendered both home runs in the seventh, could only watch as the ball carried and carried, finally dropping just beyond the flower boxes above the left-field wall.
Apr 8, 2024
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0:21
Shohei Ohtani hits a solo home run (3)
“Shohei got a good pitch, he made a good swing, and he’s a great player. It happens,” Jackson said. “He’s strong as anything. That ball got out. I was surprised, but he was a big boy, so he’s gonna hit a lot more of those.”
While Ohtani’s homer was the 174th of his Major League career -- leaving him one shy of tying Hideki Matsui for the most MLB home runs by a player born in Japan -- Outman’s was the 25th of his career, and his first of the season. He entered the game in a 4-for-32 skid to begin 2024, and he acknowledged a bit of relief when the ball cleared the 23-foot wall in right.
“It felt good to see a ball land,” said Outman. “It’s still pretty early in the season so it was a little early to freak out, but yeah, it’s a start in the right direction for sure.”
Apr 8, 2024
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0:20
James Outman hits go-ahead homer in 7th (1)
Roberts commended his young center fielder for keeping a level head when battling through hard times -- and not just in the past two weeks.
“If there was any time to panic, it was last year, and he didn’t panic last year,” Roberts said. “So I think for us, and for him most important, to know that he can get to the other side of it is very helpful.”
It can’t hurt to have an all-world talent like Ohtani -- a fellow left-handed hitter, no less -- join the lineup. But Outman noted trying to pick up tips when studying Ohtani’s at-bats would be as useful as trying to learn how to fly by watching "Superman."
“He does things to the baseball that not really anyone else can do, so it’s hard to try and emulate, it’s hard to try to be like that,” Outman said. “Everyone in this clubhouse, they got to the big leagues by being themselves, so as much as everyone would like to be that, you’ve still got to be yourself.”
Red-hot Ohtani 'pretty awesome to watch'
Fifth straight multi-hit game, paired with Outman's HR and Paxton's gem, keys win vs. Twins
April 8th, 2024
Patrick Donnelly
MINNEAPOLIS -- The ideal path to view Monday’s total solar eclipse was well south of the Twin Cities. Instead, Twins fans were treated to a lunar eclipse of sorts during the seventh inning of the Dodgers’ 4-2 victory at Target Field.
James Outman and Shohei Ohtani launched sky-high moonshots that soared out of the park for solo home runs in the seventh. Outman’s leadoff blast put the Dodgers on top 3-2, while Ohtani’s two-out blow -- his third of the year, all coming in the last five games – provided an insurance run that wasn’t needed, thanks to Dodgers pitchers retiring the final 18 Twins batters they faced.
Ohtani had two doubles to go with his home run, giving him eight extra-base hits in his last five games. He’s also posted five straight multi-hit games, the longest such streak in his career.
Although he hasn’t been wearing Dodger blue for very long, Ohtani has quickly shown he’s capable of living up to the high expectations that accompanied his arrival.
“You expect the ball to come off really hot when he swings the bat and he barrels it,” manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s something I have never seen. When he’s controlling the strike zone and he’s getting pitches in his nitro zone, there’s just really not a better hitter.”
Winning pitcher James Paxton, who gave up two runs and struck out four over six innings, knows all too well what kind of damage Ohtani can do. Last year, Ohtani took him deep as the Angels dealt Paxton his first loss of the year with Boston.
Apr 8, 2024
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0:29
James Paxton strikes out 4
“I mean, it’s pretty awesome to watch. If he puts the barrel on the ball, it’s coming off at 105-plus,” Paxton said. “It’s pretty amazing, just how hard he swings and just how hard he hits the ball. I’m glad to have him on my side.”
Ohtani’s home run was an opposite-field shot that left the bat at 106.9 mph with a 38 degree launch angle. Twins reliever Jay Jackson, who surrendered both home runs in the seventh, could only watch as the ball carried and carried, finally dropping just beyond the flower boxes above the left-field wall.
Apr 8, 2024
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0:21
Shohei Ohtani hits a solo home run (3)
“Shohei got a good pitch, he made a good swing, and he’s a great player. It happens,” Jackson said. “He’s strong as anything. That ball got out. I was surprised, but he was a big boy, so he’s gonna hit a lot more of those.”
While Ohtani’s homer was the 174th of his Major League career -- leaving him one shy of tying Hideki Matsui for the most MLB home runs by a player born in Japan -- Outman’s was the 25th of his career, and his first of the season. He entered the game in a 4-for-32 skid to begin 2024, and he acknowledged a bit of relief when the ball cleared the 23-foot wall in right.
“It felt good to see a ball land,” said Outman. “It’s still pretty early in the season so it was a little early to freak out, but yeah, it’s a start in the right direction for sure.”
Apr 8, 2024
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0:20
James Outman hits go-ahead homer in 7th (1)
Roberts commended his young center fielder for keeping a level head when battling through hard times -- and not just in the past two weeks.
“If there was any time to panic, it was last year, and he didn’t panic last year,” Roberts said. “So I think for us, and for him most important, to know that he can get to the other side of it is very helpful.”
It can’t hurt to have an all-world talent like Ohtani -- a fellow left-handed hitter, no less -- join the lineup. But Outman noted trying to pick up tips when studying Ohtani’s at-bats would be as useful as trying to learn how to fly by watching "Superman."
“He does things to the baseball that not really anyone else can do, so it’s hard to try and emulate, it’s hard to try to be like that,” Outman said. “Everyone in this clubhouse, they got to the big leagues by being themselves, so as much as everyone would like to be that, you’ve still got to be yourself.”
@dik cashmere its gonna be crazy if MLB is REALLY able to sweep this Ohtani stuff under the rug.
Strasburg, postseason record-setter and WS MVP, retires from MLB
April 7th, 2024Jessica Camerato
@jessicacamerato
WASHINGTON -- After a World Series championship and winning the corresponding World Series MVP Award, three All-Star selections, one Silver Slugger honor and a dazzling 13-year career, right-hander Stephen Strasburg has retired from baseball, the Nationals announced prior to Sunday afternoon's 3-2 victory over the Phillies at Nationals Park.
He concluded his career with a 113-62 record and 3.24 ERA in 247 starts.
Strasburg, 35, had not pitched in a game since June 9, 2022, because of thoracic outlet syndrome.
Apr 7, 2024
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0:58
Nats' broadcast on Stephen Strasburg's retirement
"As a young kid, all I dreamt about was winning a World Series. Thanks to the many coaches, teammates and medical staff, my boyhood dream came true in 2019," Strasburg said in a statement. "Despite this being a personal goal of mine, I've come to realize how truly important and special that moment was for the many fans in the DMV. Your unwavering support through all the ups and downs will always mean the world to me.
"I'd also like to thank the late Ted Lerner and family for giving me the chance to wear the curly W all these years. Although I will always wish there were more games to be pitched, I find comfort knowing I left it all out there for the only team I've known. My family and I are truly fortunate and blessed to have experienced this baseball journey in the Nation's Capitol."
Strasburg was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 Draft out of San Diego State University. He made his Major League debut just one year later on June 8, 2010, beginning his tenure as one of the Nationals’ most dominant pitchers.
Jan 1, 2024
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2:05
Stephen Strasburg makes MLB debut
“On behalf of the Lerner - Cohen - Tanenbaum family, I’d like to thank Stephen for all he’s done for the Washington Nationals," said managing principal owner Mark Lerner in a statement. "It was a privilege to watch him grow as a player and a person throughout his illustrious career. He gave us so many memories that will live in our hearts forever. No one can dispute the indelible impact he had on our organization. He put us on the map as world champions and changed the face of our franchise. Thank you, Stephen -- for everything -- and congratulations on a tremendous career.”
In the span from his debut through the 2019 season, Strasburg ranked third among all starting pitchers with 10.60 strikeouts per nine innings, a .352 opponents’ slugging percentage and a .631 opponents’ OPS, among other statistical highlights. His pitching prowess reached an elite milestone when he became the fastest pitcher in Major League history to record 1,500 career strikeouts, doing so in just 1,272 1/3 innings pitched.
Strasburg wowed the baseball world throughout the Nationals' 2019 World Series quest by becoming the first pitcher in history to go 5-0 in a single postseason. His 1.98 ERA and 47 strikeouts to only four walks stifled opponents, who were 0-for-22 with runners in scoring position. Following the postseason, Strasburg signed a then-record seven-year, $245 million contract.
Injuries halted the remainder of Strasburg’s career. Following 2019, he pitched just 31 1/3 innings and made eight starts across three seasons. Strasburg underwent season-ending carpal tunnel surgery in August 2020, after experiencing numbness in his throwing hand. One year later, in July 2021, he underwent thoracic outlet surgery. Strasburg returned to the mound 11 months later to throw 4 2/3 frames in Miami in what would be his final big league start.
“I’d like to congratulate Stephen on an incredible career," said Nationals general manager and president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo. "From his Major League debut in 2010 through leading us to a title as the World Series MVP in 2019, the impact he’s had on our ball club is undeniable. He will go down as one of the best players in Washington Nationals history, and it was my honor to be part of that journey. We’re thankful for all he’s done for our organization and wish him and his family the absolute best.”
As long as he’s playing well they won’t bring it up again
I think your 100% correct
But I hope the REST of the players REMEMBER this.
Because will NOT be the last gambling scandal in baseball in the next few years
Was reading about this
They did that fan filthy that baseball was worth way more than they got for it
@playahaitian he did that shit he guilty as fuck
Okay I read the full article
Let's just say EVERYTHING the fans are saying is the truth.
That is royally messed up and League office NEEDS to get involved.
Even if the fans are exaggerating?
Dodgers look like dirt bags for this ESPECIALLY with the gambling controversy still looming.
Why would you allow this to happen or let the story get out?
I believe them.
I would have left with the ball un authenticated so EVERYBODY loses.
I would have called police and emailed and DM espn and the athletic before I left the stadium. And posted it on social media.
But I completely understand they were scared in the moment.
The husband is not mad about the money sounds like his ego is bruised because he feels he didn't protect his wife.
Nothing they really can do now except hope the team gives them more junk?
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If they were white Dodgers ain't doing this to those fans
Which is messed up because they have a HUGE Latino fan base.
So Ohtani NEW INTERPRETER is apparently just as bad as the old one?
So now all you need is to have a slight accent and a translator and you get off Scott free?
I suggest every Black athlete IMMEDIATELY get a translator so everything they say moving forward...
They will never be held accountable for.
My Latino players would NEVER get this type of benefit of the doubt.
Shout out to my Asian crew I like the way you moving.
Okay so what would YOU have done fam?
If I was the husband we would’ve walked out without that baseball being authenticated
They cherry pick who they disrespect
MLB probably paid him offguess the interpreter understood the assignment
Former Shohei Ohtani interpreter faces federal bank fraud charges in sports betting case
The former longtime interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has been charged with federal bank fraud for crimes involving gambling debts and theft of millions of dollars from the sensation.
Shohei Ohtani's ex-interpreter charged with stealing US$16M from baseball star in sports betting case
Stephanie Dazio
The Associated Press
Staff
Contact
Updated April 11, 2024 2:46 p.m. EDT
Published April 11, 2024 1:49 p.m. EDT
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LOS ANGELES -
The former longtime interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is being charged with federal bank fraud for crimes involving gambling debts and theft of more than US$16 million from the Japanese sensation, federal authorities said Thursday.
U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada announced the charges Thursday.
Ippei Mizuhara served as Ohtani’s interpreter after Ohtani came to the U.S. in 2018 to play baseball. Estrada says Mizhuara “acted as Mr. Ohtani’s de facto manager.”
Estrada says Mizuhara helped Ohtani set up a bank account for Ohtani's baseball salary. Estrada says Mizuhara stole more than US$16 million from Ohtani’s bank accounts to pay for his own sports betting and lied to the bank to access the account.Estrada says Mizuhara was able to “use and abuse” his position of trust with Ohtani "in order to plunder Mr. Ohtani's bank account. Estrada also confirmed that when Mizuhara would win on sports bets, he did not deposit the money into Ohtani’s account.
“Mr. Mizuhara did all this to feed his insatiable appetite for illegal sports betting,” Estrada said, adding the complaint alleges he committed fraud “on a massive scale.”
Estrada says there is no evidence that Ohtani was aware of his interpreter’s actions, adding that Ohtani has cooperated fully and completely with investigators.
“I want to emphasize this point: Mr. Ohtani is considered a victim in this case,” he said.
Mizuhara is expected to appear in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles for his initial appearance in the near future, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office press release.
“We have no comment at this time,” Michael G. Freedman, Mizuhara’s attorney, said in an email to The Associated Press after the charge was announced.
The maximum penalty for the bank fraud charge Mizuhara faces is 30 years in prison.
Mizuhara was abruptly fired by the team after the scandal surfaced last month, catalyzed by an IRS Criminal Investigation of an alleged illegal bookmaker. Major League Baseball opened a separate investigation.
Ohtani subsequently laid out a version of events that placed responsibility entirely on Mizuhara, who had given conflicting accounts of whether Ohtani had paid off Mizuhara's gambling debts.
Ohtani left the Los Angeles Angels in December to sign a record US$700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers. Ohtani and Mizuhara had been daily companions since Ohtani joined the Angels in 2018. Ohtani's baseball salaries prior to the Dodgers deal totaled around US$40 million, although it’s also expected he earns tens of millions at least in endorsements each year.
Mizuhara told ESPN on March 19 that Ohtani paid his gambling debts at the interpreter’s request, saying the bets were on international soccer, the NBA, the NFL and college football. But ESPN said Mizuhara changed his story the next day, saying Ohtani had no knowledge of the gambling debts and had not transferred any money to bookmakers.
On March 25, Ohtani told a Dodger Stadium press conference that he never bet on sports or knowingly paid any gambling debts accumulated by his interpreter.
“I am very saddened and shocked someone whom I trusted has done this,” the Japanese star said through a new interpreter.
“Ippei has been stealing money from my account and has been telling lies,” Ohtani said. “I never bet on sports or have willfully sent money to the bookmaker.”
Ohtani said he first became aware of Mizuhara’s gambling problem during a team meeting after a season-opening victory over the San Diego Padres in Seoul, South Korea.
The investigation moved at a quick speed, with the charges coming about three weeks after news of the scandal broke.
“We understood there was a significant amount of public interest in this case,” Estrada said. “While we were able to work on this case rapidly, it was a very thorough investigation.”
According to the criminal complaint, the Mizuhara case stemmed from a broader probe of illegal sports bookmaking organizations operating in Southern California and the laundering of proceeds through casinos in Las Vegas.
“To date, these investigations have led to criminal charges and/or convictions of 12 criminal defendants and one money service business, as well as non-prosecution agreements with two Las Vegas casinos,” the complaint said. “The investigations remain ongoing and have multiple targets, not all of whom are related to each other.”
There has been no information about the status of baseball's separate investigation. MLB rules prohibit players and team employees from wagering — even legally — on baseball. They also ban betting on other sports with illegal or offshore bookmakers.