Ohtani interpreter

[doug.goodman]

Things could get interesting...

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...er-fired-theft

Key paragraph :

Initially, a spokesman for Ohtani told ESPN the slugger had transferred the funds to cover Mizuhara's gambling debt. The spokesman presented Mizuhara to ESPN for a 90-minute interview Tuesday night, during which Mizuhara laid out his account in great detail. However, as ESPN prepared to publish the story Wednesday, the spokesman disavowed Mizuhara's account and said Ohtani's lawyers would issue a statement.

[packs]

Very strange story. I'm trying to think how the interpreter would gain access to large amounts of Ohtani's money. I could see someone trusted stealing possessions they then sold for money, but the news makes it sound like he was spending Ohtani's money.

[Smarti5051]

I suspect the truth is closer to the interpreter's account than the Dodgers' account. Admittedly, I don't know what happened, but it was not until lawyers were consulted that this went from "friend helping a friend out of trouble" to embezzlement/theft. If the interpreter was embezzling millions of dollars from his friend/meal ticket, I doubt he would agree to sit down for a two hour interview with the press where he effectively admitted he took Ohtani's money and used it as his own, unless he knew Ohtani had knowledge and consented to it.

The skeptic in me thinks perhaps Ohtani and his buddy were collectively gambling on non-baseball (thinking it was OK or at least "don't ask, don't tell") with the interpreter handling the transactions, and then when it got discovered, created a cover story which would theoretically wall off Ohtani from culpability. When the lawyers got involved and saw that the contrived story was not enough to wall off Ohtani, they created the new story, with the interpreter taking the fall.

[doug.goodman]

Every thread needs a "card"

[chalupacollects]

I bet there is more to this story…


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[NiceDocter]

Say it ain’t so , Oh!!!!!

[ooo-ribay]

Manfred needs to suspend Ohtani until they get to the bottom of this…..even if it takes years!

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by ooo-ribay

Manfred needs to suspend Ohtani until they get to the bottom of this…..even if it takes years!

Amazing, that made me laugh out loud Rob.

Although...

I think that Mizuhara was communicating his bets thru Blake Snell and Logan Webb on alternating days, who then passed them on to either Camilo Doval or Patrick Bailey depending on which alternating day they were on, who then themselves went thru either Yaz, Conforto so it sounds like all eight men should be out until Manfred can pull an Astrogate and ultimately suspend Dave Roberts and probably Bob Melvin and let the other off clean.

[icollectDCsports]

Originally Posted by ooo-ribay

Manfred needs to suspend Ohtani until they get to the bottom of this…..even if it takes years!

Yes, and suspend play of the Giants since they are the likely beneficiaries of any foul play.

[rjackson44]

Never ends

[Fred]

Bold prediction - the interpreter is covering for Ohtani.

Could you imagine if Ohtani, I mean his interpreter, bet on baseball?

[jayshum]

Apparently Ohtani is going to speak to the media on Monday. Should be interesting to hear what he has to say.

[JollyElm]

Originally Posted by jayshum

Apparently Ohtani is going to speak to the media on Monday. Should be interesting to hear what he has to say.

Man, I hope to God it's his interpreter telling us what he's 'saying'!!!!!!!!

[Shoeless Moe]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

Man, I hope to God it's his interpreter telling us what he's 'saying'!!!!!!!!

They'll have to bring in a pinch-interpreter for the guy they benched.


It's got all the makings of a great SNL skit.


Interpreter saying someting completely different than what Ohtani is saying.


John Belushi as Ohtani.

[Lorewalker]

Originally Posted by jayshum

Apparently Ohtani is going to speak to the media on Monday. Should be interesting to hear what he has to say.

Given that few of on here understand Japanese I am not sure we will be able to determine if his statement is genuine/authentic, etc but I think it is probably a good sign that he is making the statement and suggests innocence on his part.

Even if he is guilty I assume MLB would find a way to look the other way given his importance in the game. At first I heard the IRS and FBI were conducting their own investigations. Does anyone know if this is accurate?