OnlyBucs

It looks like he is directing his interest to the West Coast.



Do people think if he picked the Pirates the Pirates would have said No?

4353526573737F100 wrote: According to MLB Trade Rumors Ohtani has eliminated many teams already including the Pirates.


"we will do everything possible ..."  That didn't last long.
I'm curious as to what people would expect him to say


I think he needs to be honest with himself.


If he had told you that it was impossible and he wasn't going to try, you would have been pissed off about that too

6A5854544072515855505F58390 wrote: According to MLB Trade Rumors Ohtani has eliminated many teams already including the Pirates.


"we will do everything possible ..."  That didn't last long.
I'm curious as to what people would expect him to say


I think he needs to be honest with himself.


If he had told you that it was impossible and he wasn't going to try, you would have been pissed off about that too




Yep, no doubt. It's just anti-ownership.

080003342207202F410 wrote: But, taking hm at his word, “everything possible” means being willing to pay the $20 million posting fee. So, I take that to mean that they just found an extra $20 million to spend this offseason. I mean, “everything possible” means they have it in the budget. It didn’t come to fruition. So, it’s not like that money vanished into thin air. ::)


All teams are getting some money from the Disney purchase of bamtech.

5451565058524B565F4C4A473E0 wrote: But, taking hm at his word, “everything possible” means being willing to pay the $20 million posting fee. So, I take that to mean that they just found an extra $20 million to spend this offseason. I mean, “everything possible” means they have it in the budget. It didn’t come to fruition. So, it’s not like that money vanished into thin air. ::)


All teams are getting some money from the Disney purchase of bamtech.




That's fine. I don't see how it changes the equation. If they had $20 million set aside for a potential posting fee for Ohtani, which didn't come to fruition, that $20 million doesn't vanish. I don't see how it makes a difference where the money came from, whether it was from Disney, or ticket sales, or merchandise, whatever. Point is...the money was in the budget. It wasn't spent. So, logically, it seems to me that they should still have it at their disposal to upgrade the team this offseason.

Imagine the shock to the baseball world if this young Japanese star had said of all MLB teams, he wanted to play for Pittsburgh. Let's be real. That was never going to happen. Fans knew it. NH knew it. But imagine the PR fallout if the Pirates had been the only organization not to show interest. NH did what he had to do and went thru the motions for something he knew would not come to fruition but for which he would be loudly criticized had he not done. As for the money, we know the Pirates don't throw 20 million around. But they knew it would never come to that anyway. So it's not like they budgeted for it and have it to spend on others. Apparently, all 30 teams went thru this exercise. I'm sure they weren't all budgeting for it as most knew it was all academic anyway but their fans would have been unforgiving if they at least didn't show an effort. I don't expect all MLB teams to be spending 20 million more this year than last year because they all budgeted for that one player.

7E535E4F48594E0E0D3C0 wrote: Imagine the shock to the baseball world if this young Japanese star had said of all MLB teams, he wanted to play for Pittsburgh. Let's be real. That was never going to happen. Fans knew it. NH knew it. But imagine the PR fallout if the Pirates had been the only organization not to show interest. NH did what he had to do and went thru the motions for something he knew would not come to fruition but for which he would be loudly criticized had he not done. As for the money, we know the Pirates don't throw 20 million around. But they knew it would never come to that anyway. So it's not like they budgeted for it and have it to spend on others. Apparently, all 30 teams went thru this exercise. I'm sure they weren't all budgeting for it as most knew it was all academic anyway but their fans would have been unforgiving if they at least didn't show an effort. I don't expect all MLB teams to be spending 20 million more this year than last year because they all budgeted for that one player. 


Someone posted: "Our GM says the dumbest things. Starting to think he needs some meds."



Does this mean the majority of the GMs say dumb things and aren't honest with themselves? Isn't this just an anti-ownership/management comment knowing the situation?

I don't fault the GM in this at all. It's not on NH. I wanted Ohtani, but like bobster, I knew it was a pipe dream. We need an international draft. This is just one more example of how there really isn't any parity in MLB. Lots of guys want to go to New York and Boston. Some, like Ohtani, want to play in a specific part of the country. Other teams, like the Braves, cheat. It's long past time to have all players, including international, be subject to the first year player draft and operate under the same set of rules as players born in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico.

775A57464150470704350 wrote: Imagine the shock to the baseball world if this young Japanese star had said of all MLB teams, he wanted to play for Pittsburgh. Let's be real. That was never going to happen. Fans knew it. NH knew it. But imagine the PR fallout if the Pirates had been the only organization not to show interest. NH did what he had to do and went thru the motions for something he knew would not come to fruition but for which he would be loudly criticized had he not done. As for the money, we know the Pirates don't throw 20 million around. But they knew it would never come to that anyway. So it's not like they budgeted for it and have it to spend on others. Apparently, all 30 teams went thru this exercise. I'm sure they weren't all budgeting for it as most knew it was all academic anyway but their fans would have been unforgiving if they at least didn't show an effort. I don't expect all MLB teams to be spending 20 million more this year than last year because they all budgeted for that one player. 


It's not like he lied.  He did everything in his power.  The fact is had little to no actual power.  Ohtani is the one wielding the power in this situation.

I agree, IABucFan.  They should be drafted like everyone else.  The pool money helps, but we saw how teams can get around that.  An American kid can't pick and choose what team he wants to play for (sign or not sign). 



I think there are other issues with the draft too.  Drafting high school kids and using their "adviser" to negotiate is a strange practice.  I am not sure how I feel about the slotting.  Ohtani can pick his team.  He has such an advantage over others.  It is like a Lottery, which is a gamble.