Discussion on unanimous MVP voting, appreciation for Shohei O'Tani's dog, debating dog-friendly spaces, exploration of Shohei Ohtani's baseball career documentary, mindset of a talented baseball player, interpretation of faith and cultural shifts, reflecting on the end of a career, MLB Trade Rumors' predictions and draft decisions, predicting contracts for Marcus Strowman and Jungkoo Lee, choices for centerfield defense and Patreon perks.
Unanimous MVP wins for Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuña Jr. reflect a shift towards performance value over other factors in voting.
The documentary 'Shohei Otani: Beyond the Dream' provides a glimpse into Otani's personal life, but lacks specific details and in-depth exploration.
Otani's introspective nature and occasional doubts about others' belief in him are revealed, emphasizing his dedication and reliance on intuition.
The injury concerns and performance history of Cody Bellinger, Shohei Ohtani, and Jack Flaherty may impact the length and value of their contracts.
Deep dives
Otani's Unanimous MVP Win
Shohei Otani's unanimous MVP win in the American League is discussed, along with Ronald Acuña Jr.'s unanimous win in the National League. The lack of suspense in the voting is attributed to more homogeneity in voting and less willingness to deviate from the norm. The significance of both MVP winners being unanimous is questioned, suggesting that there may be an increasing emphasis on performance value and a shift away from other factors like playing for a playoff team.
The Otani Dog
The documentary highlights Shohei Otani's beloved dog, sparking curiosity about its breed, age, and how it fits into Otani's life. The absence of any specific information or in-depth exploration of his personal life in the documentary is noted. While fans appreciate glimpses of Otani's personal side and his relationship with his canine companion, the overall focus remains strongly on his dedication to baseball.
Insights from Otani's Documentary
The documentary, 'Shohei Otani Beyond the Dream,' provides a well-crafted view of Otani's career and motivations, but leaves some questions unanswered. The absence of specific details about Otani's decision-making process and personal life is highlighted, despite interviews with key figures like Hideki Matsui and Joe Maddon. Otani's humble nature, introspection, and perseverance through struggles are touched upon, leaving the viewer wanting for a more in-depth exploration of his thoughts and experiences.
Otani's Reflections and Doubts
Shohei Otani's introspective nature and occasional doubts about the belief others had in him are revealed in the documentary. He candidly admits to doubting the faith of managerial figures like Hideki Koryama and Joe Maddon in his two-way abilities. His agents speculate that this humility stems from being accustomed to doubters throughout his career. The documentary emphasizes his dedication and self-belief, with Otani relying on his intuition and gut feeling in making important decisions.
Cody Ballinger's contract is likely to be under 12 years and $264 million.
Cody Ballinger's injury history and recent performance may result in a contract that falls short of the predicted 12 years and $264 million.
Shohei Ohtani's contract is likely to be under 12 years and $528 million.
Shohei Ohtani's injury concerns and the potential for a shorter-term deal may result in a contract that is less than the predicted 12 years and $528 million.
Jack Flaherty's contract is likely to be under 3 years and $40 million.
Jack Flaherty's recent performance and inconsistencies may lead to a contract that is shorter in length and lower in value than the predicted 3 years and $40 million.
Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the possible significance of this year’s unanimous award votes, the public unveiling of Shohei Ohtani’s dog, what they learned (and didn’t learn) from the new ESPN documentary Shohei Ohtani: Beyond the Dream (21:42), and where they’d prefer for Ohtani to sign (1:01:16). Then (1:10:42) they conduct the ninth […]
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