Ohtani, Ohtani's interpreter, $4.5M in gambling debts...and Pete Rose

[SeeingEyeDog]

Obviously, this is a developing story and...here's what I have:

1) Ohtani's interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara was fired by the LAD today after questions surrounding $4.5M in wire transfers from Ohtani's bank account to a bookmaking operation

2) Following today's game, the LAD announced that Ohtani would not be available to the media because (and I am not making this up...) they "have no interpreter".

3) Ohtani said that the debts were Mizuhara's but that he authorized the payments to the bookmaking operation directly because he was concerned if he paid Mizuhara directly he would "gamble it away"

4) No word yet about the specific nature of the debts however it should be noted that commercial, casino-style gaming in CA is prohibited

5) The FBI is engaged in investigating the situation 

Speculation and questions

1) Without any evidence, I submit the debts are Ohtani's and Mizuhara is a patsy here

2) If Ohtani has done no wrong here, why shield him from the media?

3) How do Ohtani's actions here frame to Pete Rose?

~Dawg

[dumbdumb]

go read rule 21 very carefully but also remember the commissioner can rule in other ways for the best interests of baseball.

pressure was put on Mantle for appearances at casino's years ago.

betting on football basketball etc equals no penalty.

betting on baseball is where the penalties start

other teams--1 year

your own team--you get what pete got.

there is a sign on all pro teams clubhouse throughout a milb or mlb players career with that rule 21 on gambling to look at every day, including during Pete's era. no excuses

[beerguy55]

12 hours ago, SeeingEyeDog said:

1) Without any evidence, I submit the debts are Ohtani's and Mizuhara is a patsy here

I would agree...that there's zero evidence.   You also don't have the full report...Ohtani's camp has claimed the money was stolen, so we need to see what flushes out.

Was the money really transferred without any of Ohtani's knowledge...or was his interpreter a go between for Ohtani's gambling...or something in between.

Above you note "Ohtani said"...no, Mizuhara said...part of the problem is interviewers and investigators were hearing what Ohtani "said" from Mizuhara as his translator.  I SUSPECT what happened was Ohtani's camp finally got wind (maybe via ESPN confirmation efforts) what Mizuhara was actually saying, and denied it.

The more cynical conclusion (and not necessarily wrong) is Ohtani's camp realized their first cut at explaining this was going to go over like a lead fart, so they changed course.

12 hours ago, SeeingEyeDog said:

2) If Ohtani has done no wrong here, why shield him from the media?

Assumes facts not in evidence, and even if an accurate portrayal it's a silly question.  First, maybe they don't have an interpreter...or more importantly, an interpreter Ohtani trusts?  Second, otherwise you're basically saying "if you've done nothing wrong you don't need a lawyer" or "if you have nothing to hide then let the cops search your car".    You know how those work out.

Yes, the Dodgers and Ohtani will need to show some transparency eventually, but at this point it's an official investigation and most people won't be able to say much anyway.

 

12 hours ago, SeeingEyeDog said:

3) How do Ohtani's actions here frame to Pete Rose?

They don't - there's no evidence here that any baseball gambling occurred, and in fact the statements by third parties categorically say there was none.  The issue is that sports betting is illegal in California.  And that is the only reason there was a debt to be paid...legal sports betting organizations require the money up front...illegal bookies typically take credit.