The news spread like wildfire broke in the evening that the '24 world champs were improving - adding the most sought-after free agent in this winter's tranche of talent.
Thus, for their third straight bidding war, the Dodgers will use their money, status, talent and geographical location to sign the premier incoming Japanese star. Next year, they'll probably do it again, when Munetaka Murakami, a lefty slugger who hit 59 HRs in 2022, comes over. (Actually, they might scorn Murakami, who strikes out too often. Either way, rest assured, they'll get the pick of the litter.)
Meanwhile, the Yankees continue to creep from also-ran to after-thought.
Honestly, we can't hang this on Cooperstown Cashman. The Japanese pipeline took shape in 2017, when Shohei Ohtani - "the Japanese Babe Ruth," conjuring certainty that he'd become a Yankee - chose the West Coast, closer to home. After six years with the dreadful Angels, Ohtani leaped to to the Dodgers last winter, and promptly recruited Masahiro Yamamoto, the best pitcher in the class. Now, they have a ring - and Sasaki. With each new signee, they'll become more attractive to next year's group.
Like I said, this isn't Cashman's fault. Actually, it's more due to the collapse of the NL West and, most notably, the Dodgers' traditional rival. Two years after losing out in the bids for Aaron Judge, their hometown target, the Giants are adrift. Last year, they finished below .500, 18 games out, and won only 4 of 13 against LA. They haven't finished above .500 since 2021.
Meanwhile, the Padres disappointed. (Though, in retrospect, they gave the Dodgers their toughest postseason competition.) Seattle never hit. The Angels remain awful. The Rockies were the NL's worst team. And Oakland fled the building. These cities were supposed to cap the Dodgers' pipeline. They failed. Barring fluke outcomes, the Dodgers are poised to win several championships. They are clearly baseball's marquee team, perhaps to be challenged by the Mets.
In the 1990s, the Yankees looked like the future destination for Japanese talent. That ship has sailed.
Posts
13 comments:
That ship has sailed, and it's a slower method of transport to Asia than a Boeing 747.
From the internets...
Don’t let the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes distract you from the fact that the the Dodgers & Rob Manfred buried Shohei Ohtanhi’s gambling crimes & framed an innocent man in the process despite overwhelming evidence that Ohtani gambled away more than $16 million dollars
That always was fishy. Remember how the talking heads stressed that Ohtani knew nothing, even though that didn't make sense? That has to be a recruiting point for signing with the Dodgers: If you mess up, we'll protect you.
I also thought the interpreter was thrown under the bus. Eh...anyway, we don't need these Japanese hotshots. Bulgaria. Bulgaria is where Cash should turn his international head. Big talent there, I bet. Or maybe Albania (which has nothing to do with Albany, in case you're wondering).
We’re the kind of guys
That never used to cry
The Yanks are treating us bad, memories
I've lost them now for sure
I won't see them no more
It's gonna be a drag, memories
I remember all the little things that they have done
Can't they see they’ll always be the only one, only one
Send them back to me
'Cause everyone can see
Without them I’ll be stuck in
Memories (oh, oh, oh)
In Memories (ooh, ooh)
My memories (LA, LA, LA, LA, LA)
Misery (er, uh, you know)
Memories
Waiting for the influx of European players due to its proximity to the East Coast.
I hear that Italy and Germany are reasonably okay European baseball-playing countries. If the Yanks could get an in with those nations, they'd have two-thirds of the WWII Axis feeding them players, leaving only one-third to LA. Take that, Trolley Dodgers!!
I still believe that lab grown players is the best and
only future for the Yankees.
Now for some more coffee ☕️
This is brilliant. With AI, Hal can generate players who are good right off the bat. Or off the mound. Or in the field.
There are some. I think Australia's baseball leagues kind of fell apart some time ago, which is why we don't see players from there like we used to.
Fiji? New Zealand? And what the hell is going on with South America?
I've mentioned this a few times before here. In fact - there's evidence that the research and development is actively underway in laboratories located deep beneath Yankee Stadium . . . I'd post more about it, but I fear for all of our
safety . . .
Hey JM?
You could always reach out to Cash and Company and offer up your services as a player scout in Deutschland. I would be happy to negotiate the terms of
your agreement . . .
Post a Comment