CHAVEZ RAVINE, CA – To have your name inside a star at Hollywood’s Walk of Fame means you’ve done something influential. Two names were enshrined on the floor of the famed strip and the response from me is: Why?
The Los Angeles Dodgers newly acquired free agent, the 700 Million Dollar Japan Man, Shohei Ohtani was blessed with his own star. After six seasons with the LA Angels, where he performed double duty as a pitcher and a designated hitter, Ohtani took his talents from Anaheim to Los Angeles. While playing for the Angels, the team failed to finish at the .500 level during his tenure. In other words, Ohtani never played for a winning team.
Before you think it’s not his fault the team couldn’t win, let’s check out his supporting cast. His teammates included past Most Valuable Player Award winners, Albert Pujols and Mike Trout. They also had 250 million dollar man, Anthony Rendon, when he was available to play, which was rarely. Within a month after jumping ship to join the cross town rivals the highest paid athlete in any sport gets a star on the strip.
The other newly inserted star bears the name of Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. This dude came to America and got a few free dinners with the team owners who were trying to sway him onto their pitching staff. He even showed up to NY Mets owner Steve Cohen’s home in Connecticut for his last supper before he signed on with the Dodgers for 12 years / 325 million dollars.
Insane money for a pitcher who has yet to throw a pitch in the major leagues. What’s even more crazy is the length of the contract. Not once has any Japanese pitcher reached their potential after striking up a long term deal. Remember so-called studs from the Far East named Hideki Irabu, Kei Igawa, Daisuke Matsuzaka (AKA Dice-K). These guys were imported here and billed as “The Next Big Thing.” Once they were exposed to Major League hitters, they were sent back to Japan.
These pitchers have pulled the wool over the eyes of these moronic owners of Major League teams. These same owners hire baseball personnel who agree even though they don’t agree on these decisions.
Now we have both Ohtani and Yamamoto bringing a blanket and throwing it over the selection committee for Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. America’s Pastime has made their players wealthy for life, but cheapened the sports integrity. Add the Walk of Fame to that downgraded process.
Ohtani and Yamamoto will be among the 2768 other members of the Walk of Fame. Two names that never made the cut and actually pitched pretty good for the Dodgers were Sandy Koufax and Clayton Kershaw.
Go figure that one out.
Come back tomorrow for Jacob Sternberg.
