On Akinori Otsuka
I don't get the furor over Akinori Otsuka supposedly recommending San Diego to Kusoke Fukudome.
San Diego is a great part of the world. The biggest negative is cost of living, which, obviously, isn't a big issue for someone who is going to be getting a $10-15 million per year contract.
Otsuka still lives in San Diego, and that's where he chose to sign when he was a free agent coming over from Japan.
Plus, let's compare Otsuka's four years in the major leagues. He spent two years in San Diego, where he was successful as a setup man, and where the Pads finished with a winning record in both years, including winning the division in 2005.
Then he came to Texas. He spent the 2006 season on a team with one of the most unpopular (among players) managers around -- a manager who suggested he wasn't capable of closing despite Francisco Cordero's struggles -- on a losing team with a clubhouse in turmoil.
Then he spent the 2007 season on a team that was a disaster coming out of the gate, with drama between the manager and several players the first few months. He then was supposedly being shopped by the organization, and then got hurt and couldn't pitch the rest of the way. He's now in his mid-30s and with an organization that is rebuilding and not planning on seriously competing for at least a year.
Now, tell me...based on that, where would you expect Otsuka has had the more positive experience? San Diego, or Texas?
Update [2007-12-9 12:58:18 by Adam J. Morris]: -- It was pointed out to me that Otsuka was posted, and thus his choices were sign with San Diego or go back to Japan. My apologies for my mistake.
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120 comments
Comments
Agreed....
by erikj07 on Dec 8, 2007 5:24 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
totally agree
by meatbonelefty on Dec 8, 2007 5:27 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
I don't understand this ...
The Metroplex is one big ass of a place to live and its not coincidence that Arlington is situated right where the anus would be.
by abc123 on Dec 8, 2007 11:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
DFW
But I lived in Fort Worth for 14 years, and have lived in Dallas for the last three and a half, and love both cities, although they're very different.
I've been to a lot of other cities, and other than perhaps Phoenix or Austin, I haven't found any that I liked as much as this area. Granted, I've never been to any of the major cities in the Northeast or California, but I'm a Southerner by birth, and Texas suits me just fine.
by RCCook on Dec 9, 2007 12:56 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I just don't understand...
by slc ranger on Dec 8, 2007 5:30 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Yeh get over it !
after about a month of spinning in this fresh hell called Arlington.
by LAMuscleFag on Dec 8, 2007 5:34 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
would of been
by t ball on Dec 8, 2007 9:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Do we even know...
Anyway, agreed;
besides, it must be hard for AO to be enthusastic for Rangerdom, since
he knows that he is yet another veteran we need to resurrect and then trade at the ASB, as part of our rebuilding.
I think our Project Vet-Resurrection should include inviting Aki to be our closer 'til then.
by subsidiarity on Dec 8, 2007 5:35 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Gagne to the Brew Crew--we better like Oki
by Muguy on Dec 8, 2007 5:44 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
C'mon guys
by tricer on Dec 8, 2007 5:48 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
on a bright note
We should find out in the next few days if he intends to play in the US or stay in Japan.
If he decides to play here then the Rangers could very well be the front runner in getting him.
We've got the money to sign him. Get it done and bring him to Texas. Like Tom Hicks said... It's all about money. Thats why we lost Hunter. So, I say if he wants to play for MLB. Then the Rangers should go all out and sign him.
Guess we'll find out in a few days as to what's up with Fuk.
btw.. fuk u OtSUCKa and the stinking ass Padres.
by LtDan on Dec 8, 2007 5:53 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Chris Young is on the Padres
by Chase Irwin on Dec 8, 2007 7:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
As I mentioned in the side diary
This is simply an echo of how free agents feel about coming to Texas, they don't want to. This should be a warning sign to Jon Daniels that perhaps players here aren't even happy.
This reminds me very much of when Mark Cuban took over the horrid Dallas Mavericks. He made drastic changes, including I remember changing the chairs that the Mavs sit on during games and providing each player with play stations in their lockers. Sure they are relatively small, but it brought the team attention and made Dallas a more attractive place to play, even when they weren't a great team at the time.
Something like that needs to take place with the Texas Rangers. When players on our own team are telling others to play elsewhere, it is time to make some inherent changes to this franchise.
This is a big deal.
I mentioned this earlier in the side diary, but this is the equivalent of a German free agent in basketball coming over to the States and seeking advice from Dirk. And instead of telling him to play alongside him with the Mavs he says go play with San Antonio, you will like it more.
We would never imagine Dirk doing that. We know that Dirk wants to win so badly that clearly he would want a great talent on his side trying to win. He would only make such a suggestion if he was extremely unhappy with the Mavs. So either Aki doesn't care about winning, and if so we should trade him, or if Aki is that upset with the Rangers, I imagine it isn't just him, and the Rangers need to figure out what exactly is going within their clubhouse.
by Agreen07 on Dec 8, 2007 6:03 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Much different situations
Dirk is on a championship contender. Otsuka is on a team that isn't likely to contend before Otsuka is a free agent.
And on Cuban, he made all those changes, but the Mavs still consistently struck out on their big f.a. targets.
by Adam J. Morris on Dec 8, 2007 6:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Dirk can be
by Agreen07 on Dec 8, 2007 6:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Further
by Agreen07 on Dec 8, 2007 6:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Well, clearly
I say we lynch him, and then start on his children.
Clearly.
by thedirkatron on Dec 8, 2007 10:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Let it go, please.
by slc ranger on Dec 8, 2007 6:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Akinori Otsuka is a back stabbing trader
he doesn't deserve to play on this team come 2008. How can any teammate, management, or fan forgive him for what he said.
by LtDan on Dec 8, 2007 6:06 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, DFA him
That'll teach him.
by Adam J. Morris on Dec 8, 2007 6:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Otsuka = backstabber
Where the hell is the loyalty and faithfulness to this team? I HATE YOU Akinori Otsuka.
by LtDan on Dec 8, 2007 6:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Let me rephrase
damn, I need to run up to the store brb
by LtDan on Dec 8, 2007 6:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
trade him...
by Redcaps on Dec 9, 2007 9:01 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I would rather have...
by slc ranger on Dec 9, 2007 9:42 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Either flawed logic, or bad imagination...
...or he's not recruiting for a team he'll be leaving at the ASB.
by subsidiarity on Dec 8, 2007 6:09 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
I'm not too bothered by Otsuka's statements....
OTOH, I think there were people saying that having Otsuka here would be a plus in recruiting Japanese players (to defend the Chris Young fiasco)....
I guess they might not have had it exactly right there....
Req
by Requiem on Dec 8, 2007 6:15 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Calling him a "trader"
And until we make him a "trader," let's re-make him into a "closer."
by subsidiarity on Dec 8, 2007 6:20 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Very Bob Uecker
by Agreen07 on Dec 8, 2007 6:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
When one of your best players
by Agreen07 on Dec 8, 2007 6:21 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
I'll defend Aki
I also think Aki's recommendation is as much about culture as it is about the team.
I don't prefer San Diego to Texas, but then again, I'm a Texan living in California. If I were Japanese, you'd better believe I'd prefer So Cal. The weather is more similar to that of Japan, there are many, many more Japanese restaurants and stores, and frankly, the culture here is more accepting of Asian culture here than in DFW. There is a thriving Japanese community in San Diego with the biotech and computer industry here - it makes sense that Aki would have been more comfortable here than in Texas.
The Padres are not a particularly better run team than the Rangers are, and I've been surprised by the amount of San Diego players' angst that is made public. Aki was frustrated here playing behind Hoffman, though I guess he probably felt betrayed by the Gagne situation. As a hitter adjusting to a new league, Fukodome would have to prefer Texas than San Diego
by JBImaknee on Dec 8, 2007 6:28 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
word
Very disappointing the way this situation was handled by some 'report'...
by Longhorn on Dec 8, 2007 6:29 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Who cares about fixing up a rental
"When one of your best players
essentially says they don't care about winning..."
It's human nature to value the permanent over the temporary. Besides, at this point, he's not renting us, we're renting him! He cares about winning in general, but doesn't know for whom in particular.
And you're blaming him for not promoting a team that's about to make HIM its opposition?
By (rightly) rebuilding, we're the ones (albeit without blame) who are making him look out for himself, and his friend while he's at it,in the meantime.
If we hand him the ball in the ninth for the season's first 3 months, it will be mutually beneficial.
by subsidiarity on Dec 8, 2007 6:37 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
couple things
- I can't comprehend that someone wouldn't understand why it would offend a fan to have one of their players recommend another team. Its not about if they think San Diego is a better place to Texas, they expect the players to have some kind of loyalty to the team and helping it succeed. Naive or not, its still pretty obvious why the idea is offensive.
- Can we stop acting like the threads on this are 95% people flaming aki and 5% higher minds defending him? It seems like over half the people say its no big deal, and many of the people criticizing him fill their posts with "IF THIS IS TRUE" or "I DONT KNOW WHAT WAS REALLY SAID, BUT"....
by DSheppard on Dec 8, 2007 6:49 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
and let me put it this way
MY: Yeah, Id love to be in boston. I really hate that weve given up on the next couple years. Boston is a much better baseball town, and a much better team, it would be pretty cool if they traded me there.
Is it the truth? Yes. Would it be acceptable? No.
Now the Aki situation is different, but there are many people on here acting as if there is just nothing wrong at all with having no tact regarding this kind of situation. Silly political correctness or not, you just dont do that. And I have a feeling if that there are a whole lot of truths people here wouldnt want to hear come out of the players mouths. Or every single person they know. Its not about rather they are telling the truth or not.
I have a feeling aki probably didnt say anything really against the rangers and was just speaking on vs those two teams, im arguing against the general reactions to those who say a player recommending another team is no big deal, not the specific aki statements.
by DSheppard on Dec 8, 2007 7:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
-1
by Longhorn on Dec 8, 2007 7:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
-2
by Agreen07 on Dec 8, 2007 7:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Where is the proof to show
by NYTXFAN on Dec 8, 2007 7:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Or of course
by Agreen07 on Dec 8, 2007 7:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
uh... thanks?
It would be why you said the opposite that I wanted you to explain.
by DSheppard on Dec 8, 2007 7:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
yeah
by Longhorn on Dec 8, 2007 7:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
So...
and you insult me for saying it should be obvious why people's reaction may be to be offended.
And then elaborating that the idea may be naive, and later that it involved political correctness and that i specifically was talking about the idea in general and not aki's situation, which I deemed most likely harmless.
ridiculous.
-25.
by DSheppard on Dec 8, 2007 7:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
+26?
by sprite on Dec 8, 2007 8:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
+ 25
by LAMuscleFag on Dec 8, 2007 8:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
also, it's apparent
by Longhorn on Dec 8, 2007 7:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
+ 1
by LAMuscleFag on Dec 8, 2007 8:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Well advocated, Adam.
by Jamey Newberg on Dec 8, 2007 6:57 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
And I disagreed...
Normally you and I are on the same page, but not today. I don't think it was right to call out Aki in this situation. Your last line in the email struck me as wrong.
by bdavison94 on Dec 8, 2007 9:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
The only thing that i hope for our of this is.....
by NYTXFAN on Dec 8, 2007 7:18 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Aki's trade bait
by SteveP on Dec 8, 2007 7:21 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
What is Japanese for "traitor"?
by Ajax on Dec 8, 2007 7:49 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Another thought
This is a simple question with no relevance to Texas at all. And it is very possible that that is how it went down.
by JBImaknee on Dec 8, 2007 8:08 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
+1
by dstar442005 on Dec 8, 2007 8:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
If there was a hotshot Dominican prospect...
by tricer on Dec 8, 2007 9:09 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Not really
by Adam J. Morris on Dec 8, 2007 9:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Is there a situation that could take place
by DSheppard on Dec 8, 2007 10:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Great song
by brettgardner on Dec 8, 2007 9:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
All i know is that San Diego was
by Hemi Charger on Dec 8, 2007 9:39 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Wow
by brettgardner on Dec 8, 2007 9:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Speaking of comedic geniuses...
His stand up is top 5 easy...highly recommend to those that are not easily offended.
"Do you guys call it b.j.'s or just making throat babies"...great stuff.
by slc ranger on Dec 8, 2007 10:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
well you dork,
by Hemi Charger on Dec 8, 2007 10:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I really wish the +1 crap would stop
It's as annoying as the "First!" stuff.
by chief on Dec 8, 2007 9:49 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
not nearly as annoying as ....
WOOT ! though :)
by LAMuscleFag on Dec 8, 2007 10:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Why?
I fail to see the harm.
by thedirkatron on Dec 8, 2007 10:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Really a quick
by sprite on Dec 8, 2007 10:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Why?
And really, how does +1 equal agreeing with someone? The first time I saw that used was on Fark when TotalFark members would cast a vote on a headline to get it to appear on the voting tab.
It just doesn't make sense in the context it's used here.
by chief on Dec 8, 2007 11:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Why do you care?
by brettgardner on Dec 8, 2007 11:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I'll bet you're a Republican.
by chief on Dec 8, 2007 11:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Hah.
by brettgardner on Dec 8, 2007 11:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
You know for a "fact" ?
I'm envious of your internet judging abilities.
by chief on Dec 8, 2007 11:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
You should be.
by brettgardner on Dec 8, 2007 11:29 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Brett...
by benmor78 on Dec 8, 2007 11:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks.
by brettgardner on Dec 8, 2007 11:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Isn't there a better place than a baseball blog..
by chief on Dec 8, 2007 11:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I find it funny
by brettgardner on Dec 9, 2007 12:11 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
If there was a way...
Since there's not, the only thing I can do is bring up that it's annoying to me, and see if anyone else feels the same way.
Don't see how that's pretentious.
by chief on Dec 9, 2007 12:29 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Please.
by brettgardner on Dec 9, 2007 12:33 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
For what it's worth...
by benmor78 on Dec 9, 2007 12:44 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Do I need to...
by benmor78 on Dec 8, 2007 11:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
If
by brettgardner on Dec 8, 2007 11:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Origins, context.... what?
It equals agreeing because the site populace recognizes it as meaning agreeing with someone.
I dont mind it because its nice to get a +1 after you make a point showing someone agrees that probably would have just not said anything otherwise, which can be nice to know.
That said, i can certainly understand why some people would view it as annoying, not contributing to anything and such and wanting it gone or AJM could ask people to stop doing it and that would be fine.
But its not on the same level as "first" which literally has no purpose whatsoever.
And for the record, I have never made a post consisting of just +1 or -1 or any of that. My -25 after several lines of content is the only time in my thousands of post i can remember using it at all. So im not just defending myself or something.
I personally dont mind it, but can see that it could definitely get out of hand if it becomes much more commonplace than it is right now.
This is a crazy thread.
by DSheppard on Dec 8, 2007 11:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
this post has a distinct lack of +1s
clearly the +1 system is broken, I now approve of its destruction.
by DSheppard on Dec 8, 2007 11:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Exactly
LSB would suck if all our posting was done in a vacuum.
Sometimes when someone makes a cogent observation, but I don't feel like adding anything to it, I'll just write a "+1", though some of the time I'll type a little message too.
I'm certainly not going to stop just because it annoys some random dude.
Get over it, Chief.
by thedirkatron on Dec 9, 2007 12:19 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
+2
Even "first!" serves a purpose. Whether you recognize the value of it or not is really quite irrelevant.
The only reason the "first!" stopped is because Adam asked for it to stop.
+/- system can't be any more innocuous. It's too bad that you're so offended by it, chief.
by Chase Irwin on Dec 9, 2007 11:50 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Aki
FWIW, there's a slight difference between Aki and Fukudome. Aki was not a free agent but was posted by the Chunichi Dragons. The Padres then bought the right to negotiate with him - so for Aki it was San Diego or Japan.
by Randy Richardson on Dec 8, 2007 10:06 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Hear hear, Adam J. Morris
Up yours, freedom haters!
by Brian Thomas on Dec 8, 2007 10:25 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
I hate Maoris.
by benmor78 on Dec 8, 2007 10:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Dick
by Brian Thomas on Dec 8, 2007 10:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
And I'm Zoroastrian...
by slc ranger on Dec 8, 2007 10:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Freedom for me,
by t ball on Dec 9, 2007 6:00 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
yes
What I don't follow here is that it seems that anyone who has played a team sport would pretty quickly recognize what a destructive thing it is for a teammate to choose to NOT help his own team while choosing TO help another team.
Right after I signed my letter of intent, an evidently disgruntled player on the college team I signed with suggested that I should back out and go to a rival school instead. I told another guy on the team about it and the turncoat was quickly run out of town on rails. And I did NOT regret it for one moment.
by mjh on Dec 9, 2007 3:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Hopefully you gave him a Barbaro update
by thedirkatron on Dec 9, 2007 7:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
heh
Isn't it time for your Dwyade crush to fade? You like him more than Mike loves Barbaro.
by t ball on Dec 9, 2007 11:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
You can't stop the love
He's the best human in the history of the Earth.
by thedirkatron on Dec 10, 2007 8:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I live in Salt Lake...
But if anyone asked me where to live, either SLC or X (except Laramie, Wyoming or Provo, Utah) then I would tell then to go to X.
There is shit to do in this city except the Jazz and Utes, everyone thinks and looks the same, and it is F'n cold in the winter.
Does this make me a traitor?
by slc ranger on Dec 9, 2007 9:49 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
would you think about it any differently
by tricer on Dec 9, 2007 10:53 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
No difference
I've been to DFW a few times, and it's an ordeal to find a good restaurant or a good bar (although I was successful at one; bars suck). SD and the areas around it (La Jolla) are much better. I'm not trying to start a fight, it's just my opinion. Although that opinion may be pretty screwed up. I've been to lots of places, and yet I've chosen to spend most of my life in Wyoming.
But don't get me wrong, the Temple is fantastic. Hell, so is the Frisco park.
by WyoRanger on Dec 9, 2007 11:06 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Sure I would have a home in...
by slc ranger on Dec 9, 2007 6:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

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