Talk about a CAN OF WORMS!! Right??
He should be suspended without pay for the entire 2024 season while an investigation for the truth is conducted.
IMO, the translator was the vehicle for placing the bets. Either that, or Ohtani 'invested' in the bookie's operation.
Hopefully, we'll find out soon. But for the 'sanctity' of baseball, he needs to sit this year out.
@DCPatriot @AllThatJazzZ MLB does have habit/ history of sweeping bad PR under the rug. But in the age of real time social media that "low key" approach may be tough to pull off.
But I do want to make a few points that without soundng racist or culturally insensitive that are really relavant to this matter:
1. If it is proven Ohtani bet on or had a proxy betting on his games, he needs a swift lifetime ban penalty. Pete Rose will be watching this closely, and it is only fair that the punishement is equitable. And don't forget Rose didn't bet on his games.
2. Have you ever watched the demographics at a Casino? I think somehow, someway, that these people are hardwired toward gambling. That may be a shocking thing to say, but.....
3. DCP brought up the excellent point of sanctity of the game. Baeball just isn't a game of 18 played on grass randomly and slipshod, it contains traditons, game in game interplay that only knowledgeable fans understand, Statistics that are sacred, Baseball gods who we idolized as children. Let's not forget that Ohtani probably does not understand these aspects of the tradition of 150 years of baseball, and just might be more likely to violate it's sacred tenants.
I sure hope the guy is innocent, because the game sure has invested a ton in him as the face of the game. It will be the ultimate Lose- Lose scenario for MLB as a sport.
