Shohei Ohtani Signs with the Angels

[CubsWin]

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/262407198/shohei-ohtani-looking-for-best-mlb-fit/?topicid=151437456

 

Ohtani sent a questionnaire to every team.

 

I think this is a good thing for the Cubs. If he is looking for a team to blow him away with an articulate and detailed plan etc that is where Theo can shine

These were my thoughts exactly. We don't know exactly how he would prefer to be used, but it seems clear from previous comments he'd like to be a 2-way player. What's most encouraging about that questionnaire is it seems money isn't a top priority.

 

And as you said, if any organization can put together a well thought out, detailed plan it's one run by Theo and Jed. They do their research. They know what makes that individual comfortable (David Ross for Lester, etc.), the little things that are important to them (their favorite charities, etc.) and what helps them be successful on the field. They also have an incredibly deep, young roster and now a history of winning.

 

We still don't know exactly what this comes down to for Ohtani, but this development has to improve the Cubs chances in the abstract.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Written proposals is what I would do if I already had my mind made up and didn't want to sit through actual proposals from all the teams I had no intention of joining.

[Clem Fandango]

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/262407198/shohei-ohtani-looking-for-best-mlb-fit/?topicid=151437456

 

Ohtani sent a questionnaire to every team.

 

Dear Shohei, I feel like I can call you Shohei because you and me are so alike. I'd like to sign you one day, it would be great to have a DH and pitcher. I know our team can't throw as fast as you but I think you'd be impressed with our speed. I love your hair, you run fast. Did you have a good relationship with your father? Me neither. These are all things we can talk about and more. I know you have not been getting my letters because I know you would sign if you did. I hope you write back this time, and we can sign you. I am sure our relationship would be a real home run!

[philosophizer75]

Odds that Theo has slept since he found out about this key to Ohtani's kingdom?

 

I like to envision him at a typewriter, surrounded by empty booze bottles and crumpled up letters to Shohei, just typing away trying to make it perfect.

 

I hope he succeeds, I really want Ohtani to be a Cub.

[JennieGarthAlgar]

I like to think that Theo already had an essay written, and when Ohtani's people asked that it be submitted "as soon as possible in both Japanese and English" he was all like "gimme a minute, gotta get you an English copy I guess."

[CaliforniaRaisin]

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[CubsWin]

The seven points for the teams to address in the Ohtani questionnaire, per the LA Times:

 

1. An evaluation of Shohei’s talent as a pitcher and/or a hitter.

2. Player development, medical, training and player performance philosophies and capabilities.

3. Major League, Minor League, and Spring Training facilities.

4. Resources for Shohei’s cultural assimilation.

5. A detailed plan for integrating Shohei into the organization.

6. Why the city and franchise are a desirable place to play.

7. Relevant marketplace characteristics.

[Sammy Sofa]

The seven points for the teams to address in the Ohtani questionnaire, per the LA Times:

 

1. An evaluation of Shohei’s talent as a pitcher and/or a hitter.

2. Player development, medical, training and player performance philosophies and capabilities.

3. Major League, Minor League, and Spring Training facilities.

4. Resources for Shohei’s cultural assimilation.

5. A detailed plan for integrating Shohei into the organization.

6. Why the city and franchise are a desirable place to play.

7. Relevant marketplace characteristics.

 

#8 might as well be, "tell me who I should pick between LA or NYC."

[minnesotacubsfan]

The seven points for the teams to address in the Ohtani questionnaire, per the LA Times:

 

1. An evaluation of Shohei’s talent as a pitcher and/or a hitter.

2. Player development, medical, training and player performance philosophies and capabilities.

3. Major League, Minor League, and Spring Training facilities.

4. Resources for Shohei’s cultural assimilation.

5. A detailed plan for integrating Shohei into the organization.

6. Why the city and franchise are a desirable place to play.

7. Relevant marketplace characteristics.

 

#8 might as well be, "tell me who I should pick between LA or NYC."

 

Why

[CaliforniaRaisin]

The seven points for the teams to address in the Ohtani questionnaire, per the LA Times:

 

1. An evaluation of Shohei’s talent as a pitcher and/or a hitter.

2. Player development, medical, training and player performance philosophies and capabilities.

3. Major League, Minor League, and Spring Training facilities.

4. Resources for Shohei’s cultural assimilation.

5. A detailed plan for integrating Shohei into the organization.

6. Why the city and franchise are a desirable place to play.

7. Relevant marketplace characteristics.

 

#8 might as well be, "tell me who I should pick between LA or NYC."

 

Or Seattle.

[champaignchris]

Or Seattle.

 

You too can be the latest Hall of Fame caliber starting pitcher for the Mariners to never sniff a World Series ring.

 

Sign now with the Mariners and you will automatically, immediately receive a bonus consisting of the same number of MLB championships as fellow Japanese legend and long time Mariner, Ichiro Suziki!!!

[Sammy Sofa]

The seven points for the teams to address in the Ohtani questionnaire, per the LA Times:

 

1. An evaluation of Shohei’s talent as a pitcher and/or a hitter.

2. Player development, medical, training and player performance philosophies and capabilities.

3. Major League, Minor League, and Spring Training facilities.

4. Resources for Shohei’s cultural assimilation.

5. A detailed plan for integrating Shohei into the organization.

6. Why the city and franchise are a desirable place to play.

7. Relevant marketplace characteristics.

 

#8 might as well be, "tell me who I should pick between LA or NYC."

 

Why

 

If location is as important as that list makes it sound with #4, 6 and 7, Chicago is trailing WAY behind.

[minnesotacubsfan]

 

#8 might as well be, "tell me who I should pick between LA or NYC."

 

Why

 

If location is as important as that list makes it sound with #4, 6 and 7, Chicago is trailing WAY behind.

 

 

Eh, i guess i was thinking SF or Seattle over LA

 

Although #6 could be dealt with by signing Yu

[Sammy Sofa]

 

Why

 

If location is as important as that list makes it sound with #4, 6 and 7, Chicago is trailing WAY behind.

 

 

Eh, i guess i was thinking SF or Seattle over LA

 

Possibly; I think any of those three have a clear advantage over the Cubs when it comes to preferable location. I lean towards the Dodgers ultimately because they're so much better than the other two now and for the foreseeable future, and are in a better position than the other two to pay him more/better in the long run and still also have a good team on the field around him.

 

With the Cubs, the sales pitch will have to be all about the FO and team strengths. No small factors, obviously, but if he is putting a lot of weight into location, then I think it's a big uphill battle for Chicago compared to other markets.

[Sammy Sofa]

Yeah, he's just asking about this stuff as a smokescreen, because THAT makes sense.

[Hunter]

I'm sure we can entice him by showing him videos of how well our fans treated Fukudome. /sarcasm.

[Old Style]

I'm sure we can entice him by showing him videos of how well our fans treated Fukudome. /sarcasm.

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Content/Image/04-18-2007/Horry-Kow.jpg

[Sammy Sofa]

Yeah, he's just asking about this stuff as a smokescreen, because THAT makes sense.

 

I might just be missing the reports where he’s asking for top dollar ASAP and the most fellow Japanese players and fans.

 

There's a difference between leaving some money on the table and him just not giving a horsefeathers about how much he gets paid and when.

 

The second part is a combination of reading between the lines of things he's said (and apparently is asking about in this questionnaire) and common sense; it's hardly a stretch to assume a big Japanese star is going to prefer the biggest markets, or to prefer playing on the West Coast. Sure, Darvish ended up in Texas, but he was following the money. If that's what we end up with here, then the Cubs are screwed in that regard, too.

 

Basically it's certainly not impossible that he decides to sign with the Cubs, but given the other options out there it's ridiculous to act all bullish like they're not a relative long shot to land him.

[CubinNY]

Geography is a significant disadvantage if one believes the reports.

[Sammy Sofa]

There are very good teams in better situations to pay him more and/or are in bigger markets. Bottom line, those are the factors that are mostly likely to sway where he's going to go, as with basically any player in his situation. There's very little reason for him to pick the Cubs over the Dodgers, or especially( IMO) the Yankees unless he's just more of a fan of the Cubs than the other teams. If he's actually looking at it seriously from a market/money/team quality aspect then the Cubs can't help but be behind the curve when you put all of those together. If you break it down to either of the first two criteria, they're still behind the curve. The only place they're up there with the other choices is the team quality. Again, no small thing, but he'd be giving up more to choose the Cubs for that than if he went with the Yankees or the Dodgers. Chicago simply isn't LA or NYC; it has zero to do with how well the team has done or is doing or this "Lovable Losers" nonsense you keep repeating. It's just not as big a market, so if that's something that does matter to him, hey, that's a hill the Cubs are going to have to overcome to land him.

[davell]

Ohtani almost signed with the Dodgers out of high school. I'd say that's a fairly significant factor, right off the bat. If that's not something you can read into, I'm not sure if anything possibly could be.

 

The Cubs are at a large disadvantage here.

[Derwood]

Not to mention the fact that the majority of Japanese players to come to MLB over the past 20 years have ended up in.....LA or NY

[David]

Not to mention the fact that the majority of Japanese players to come to MLB over the past 20 years have ended up in.....LA or NY

 

Have they now?

[UMFan83]

lol, I was reading a Fangraphs chat, and someone mentioned the idea of keeping Ohtani in Triple-A for 2 weeks to get an extra year of control out of him. That would be hilarious.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Not to mention the fact that the majority of Japanese players to come to MLB over the past 20 years have ended up in.....LA or NY

 

In the last 20 years there have been 17 players who came over from NPB and played at least 5 years(this is to self select for some level of desirability, although it's not perfect).

 

Seattle 3

Boston 3 (all Epstein era)

Dodgers 2

Mets 2

Yankees 1 (although Tanaka will make 2)

Cubs 1 (Fukudome, non-Epstein era)

Detroit, St. Louis, Baltimore, Milwaukee, Texas 1 each

 

The Epstein era Cubs have also signed multiple Japanese players who didn't make it that long in Fujikawa and Wada.

 

Big markets have an advantage in most historical cases because they're big enough to have communities that aren't completely foreign, and they have the most money to pay. The latter doesn't matter in this case, and the above clearly illustrates that the Cubs aren't some extreme underdog to NY/LA in the former.

 

I would say the Yankees are the favorite, but not runaway favorites and I like the Cubs' odds as much as any non-Yankee team.