ESPN’s Jeff Passan Talks Ohtani Scandal, Angel Hernandez, A’s & More w/ Rich Eisen | Full Interview

ESPN MLB Insider Jeff Passan and Rich Eisen discuss possible ripple effects from the Shohei Ohtani/Ippei Mizuhara gambling/theft scandal, how soon fans and players can expect a balls & strikes challenge system to arrive in the Major Leagues to hold umpires like the notorious Angel Hernandez more accountable, why the A’s move to Las Vegas is anything but a sure bet, and more.
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[@tfchu01]

There are levels of language fluency. You cannot answer with a simple yes or no when asking about someone’s ability to speak a second language, especially when learned largely as an adult. That’s why English proficiency exams, such as the TOEFL, assess different aspects of language skills - e.g., listening, reading, writing, and speaking - as separate aptitudes and rate those skills on a score range, not a binary of fluent or not fluent. Jeff Passan talked with Ohtani in English about a baseball game he just played in, but I doubt he would have the same impression of Ohtani's English fluency if they were discussing complicated topics like financial, legal, or medical issues which require a higher level of fluency. In addition, short, one-on-one conversations tend to be easier to follow along in your non-primary language, than discussions in group settings, lectures, or fast-paced, extended discussions. In fact, in Ohtani's press conference and the federal complaint, Ohtani states that he understood something was wrong at the Dodgers team meeting, but did not understand the details of what was being discussed since no one was interpreting for him. Plus, I think it's important to note that when Jeff Passan spoke with Ohtani he had lived in the US for a few years. I'm sure his current level of English is not reflective of his fluency when he first came to the US in 2018 and Mizuhara helped him to set up the bank account he later stole from. At that time, he most likely knew very little English. Unless reporters have Ohtani's English proficiency test scores, I think it's best not to assess his overall English fluency based on limited conversations about baseball and a short interview about baseball cleats. BTW, on Twitter, you can also find a video of the person interviewing Ohtani about his cleats asking Ohtani to record a congratulation video to his daughter's friend on their recent graduation and Ohtani asks if he can say the message in Japanese, not English.

[@micorazon235]

このおじさんたちって、「事実に基づいて」じゃなくて、「自分のお気持ちで」、憶測ばかり報道してるの？いつも？

[@janep3312]

犯罪者が悪いはずなのに、被害者の責任や罪探しに夢中なんですよね。 平気で被害者を被害者とは扱わない、それどころか、嘘つき呼ばわりしたり、裏があると決めつけたり陰謀論唱えたり。 そのほうが盛り上がるからか、視聴率か、根底にあるレイシズムか、とにかく、報道というよりは、お気持ち表明の場だということは今回でより理解できました。

[@mr.brenman2132]

​@@janep3312Underlying racism? God Japanese people talk like this now?

[@user-dt6fh3hu9w]

​@@mr.brenman2132 It has nothing to do with race. The business for baseball players is baseball. You don't understand the business at all.

[@Tom-kx2tq]

大谷選手が水原氏の違法賭博に関して知っていたら、2023年11月17日に胴元が「今、ビーチで大谷が犬の散歩をしているよ。どうしたら君と連絡できるか聞いてみようか？今すぐ連絡をくれ」なんて水原氏を脅すわけない。 『大谷選手は水原氏の賭博を知らない』ことを胴元は知っているからこそ、有効な脅し文句。

[@viztran1060]

Thanks Jeff for clearing things out and knowing a lot about the case. Rich get over it Ohtani is INNOCENT!!! Move on! You already got this shiet wrong dude not even apologizing yet still trying to find conspiracy theories.

[@mr.brenman2132]

Your tribalism is showing.

[@RajDeelish]

Eisen asked a question which is not relevant. Eisen is assuming Ohtani's English proficiency today but in a scene that took place 6 years ago. He is inquiring about how Ohtani didn't understand when Ippei said he wanted a private account. That was when Ohtani first arrived. So his English back then was definitely not as proficient as it is today, and that is also when his agent likely didn't have a huge team of accountants, etc also in the room when Ippei says, he wants to keep his account private. Ohtani wasn't a super star back then.

[@urbangorilla33]

No, I think Rich is not talking about six years ago. He is asking if in the last 1-2 years - when the money started to disappear - Ohtani's accountants would have asked him what is going on with that bank account. Seems a fair question to me.

[@travisp5747]

Yoo how mad was Ippei over that $68 million/year deferment? 😂

[@mightymighty-pz2wl]

They tried to portray the victim, Ohtani, as a criminal based on poor evidence. Whether Mizuhara is a villain or Ohtani's English is inadequate, these are no excuses for not apologizing to Ohtani. I can't help but feel that at their core, there is a discriminatory disrespect towards Ohtani, who is Japanese.

[@chrisweidner4768]

I disagree. I think it’s just talking heads trying to create drama and lengthen a story. Soulless? Yes. Unfortunate? Yes.

[@edomarpez1840]

@@chrisweidner4768 I agree, seems to me that they're trying to extend the milking of that cow, but I feel no racial dsicrimination.

[@TheAerialgreen]

The way these guys talk about Ohtani is just dehumanizing and xenophobic. At this point they’re well aware they've made a mistake but wont own up to it because they see him only as a freak.

[@itsyaboi1245]

??? Did we watch the same video?

[@erad67]

Who is it you think needs to apologize to Ohtani?

[@stevest8675]

Ippei is an evil conman.

[@Kinogotiate]

Nope, he's a fall guy

[@nocapper5543]

@@Kinogotiatefall guy for 30 years max sentence? Bro got brain damage 😂

[@stevest8675]

@@Kinogotiate , so you are smarter then the feds, IRS, and homeland security? Grow up. Get a life.

[@superbrownbrown]

*Bookies don't ever allow random gamblers to generate a $4.5 million debt unless they know that the person making the bets can easily cover the debt. The bookie knew he was dealing with Ohtani directly, or by proxy via Ippei. If it's not true, then the only other explanation is that Ohtani is a gullible fool, not noticing that millions and millions of dollars were missing. That's almost worse than gambling.*

[@superbrownbrown]

@@stevest8675 *Sure, because the government has never ever covered anything up in the history of the government. Oh wait...*

[@Finedeserthouses]

American people don’t know much about Ohtani other than being a great baseball player. Japanese love him because of his personality first, and the ability to play baseball. That’s why it’s so much harder for many Americans to believe he would never do such a thing as betting on sports. You should know the fact that he lived in the team dorm in Japan while making millions. He let his mother manage his money receiving only 100,000yen (about $670) a month which he ended up saving most of it as he didn’t need to spend on anything. His occasional rewards when he played well was to stop by at Seven Eleven to buy a chocolate crepe which is probably about a buck. He also never went out with other players if three was any drinking involved. Someone told him he wouldn’t be accepted by the peers if he kept on refusing to socialize with them and he replied, “if you become a really good player, then people will like you ☺️” He never dated anyone in high school although he was super popular just because he wanted to devote himself into baseball. He has been praised as “a perfect human being with so much respect” by one of the coaches during his Fighter’s career. We, the Japanese, watch him being the way he is, straight as an arrow, since high school. We will stand by him 100%! Sorry haters but there’s nothing more about this guy than just a grown yakyu shonen who lives to play baseball…it’s that simple!

[@lynnerose7891]

That is LITERALLY the point. Ohtani isn’t being characterized like you say. It’s about how MIZUHARA took advantage of his “good friend” BECAUSE of Ohtani’a personally. Oh, by the fkn wayyyy, he’s spent most of his adult life IN AMERICA, NOT JAPAN. You might wanna brush up on the last decade of his life.

[@rolmodel12.]

To start, thank you for lending your perspective to this. It is good to read about the other side of the pond, and what the perception is there. Having said that, not all of us thought he was betting on games and making his interpreter the fall guy. I would presume that most baseball fans who are well-versed have not thought that at all. Some headlines might have tried to paint that narrative. That will happen, unfortunately. But, I have read about Ohtani's humble nature and love of the game from his rookie year here in America. Please, just as you want Americans to not assume his character; you, yourself, should not assume ours. There will always be naysayers and people that want to stir up drama, real or not. From my admittedly somewhat limited perspective (born in US, but have spent time in Ireland, Mexico, Canada, and Greece), I have encountered this kind of negative personality everywhere. Never assume the words of a few represent the thoughts of all. 😊

[@Finedeserthouses]

@@rolmodel12. Thank you for your comment. I’m sorry if I made it sound my comment to be offensive in any way shape or form. I do know there are many American people who can think rationally and also support Ohtani. I guess I have read too many negative comments about him and just became very sensitive and disappointed.😢 It has made me feel like Ohtani’s integrity has been totally compromised and a part of me feels that it is almost like a racial attack. Anyway, I guess haters will always be haters. I’m just going to pray for them as there’s nothing you can do. 😅🥰🙏

[@rolmodel12.]

@Finedeserthouses I understand, completely. And wasn't offended. But, I know how pride can affect people and they (obviously) could be. Your original comment was well written and intelligent, and you were defending a person of high character. I just didn't want someone to fall into the trap of assumptions... though, those assumptions are often earned through a good many comments, opinions, and emotions that are not made with any consideration as to who they are speaking against, or why things were said in the first place. We are all on this rock together. ☺️ And I strongly believe we are here to help each other through this life. And common joys, like baseball, make it easier and more worthwhile to do so. 💚 I have, and will continue, to defend Ohtani as this story has played out. What people seem to forget is he not only lost a LOT of money (for the common person anyway), but much worse- he was betrayed by one of his best friends. And that is something most anyone should be empathetic to, regardless of their nationality, gender, creed, race, etc. It's sad. And makes his torrid start this year (he is in a groove, right now) all the more impressive!

[@Finedeserthouses]

@@rolmodel12. Thank you 🥰🙏 I actually wrote it in another comment section that I believed what shocked Ohtani the most was not about his money being stolen but the fact Ippei made up the story of Ohtani covering him up and told that to ESPN and the team before he even asked Ohtani. He was going to use Ohtani for a fall guy without his permission. That…to me is the worst thing he did. He basically let the story walk ahead of Ohtani and spread it all over the world. That’s why he called his representatives and Ippei’s wife to make his point when Ippei finally told Ohtani the truth about stealing from him. He said he wanted to speak about the truth when he came before the cameras…I mean, hell ya you want to tell the world that everything Ippei said was a lie! He also said he didn’t want to use this as an excuse so it didn’t affect his game but the numbers clearly showed he wasn’t being himself during the week he was under the investigation and could not share his side of the story. I appreciate your support. Someone told me not to idolize him as he didn’t even know me..😂 but I think it’s quite okay to believe an individual to be so good. He continues to give me smile by his play everyday and that’s something that I truly treasure. We all need someone or something you can be passionate about in life. To me, that something is golf and Ohtani (along with some other sports players) and I feel quite healthy about being the way I am. 😌❤️😂

[@ArthurLindseyIII]

Rich is 86 years old...

[@hisakolisaevans9026]

No, he is 59 years 9 months 25 days as of today 4/18/2024

[@TheRenster500]

These guys are acting like it would have been impossible to Google Translate a text to Ohtani 😅

[@beatuk54]

ippei is the fall guy! the haters said. but it turns out ippei wanted shohei to take the fall for him.

[@seekthao]

Ippei’s story is a cautionary tale. Any of us can get caught up in an addiction, get desperate, and do terrible things. Sad all around.

[@stevem3556]

Hey Passan, what's your favorite OK Computer track?

[@tokihikaru-ve7wb]

You guys are the scammers lol

[@Ry19195]

Haven’t watched baseball in years, but always watch when Jeff is on

[@mr.brenman2132]

You're a clout chaser.

[@demi7733]

Imagine what other lies Ippei made. Lies and biased advice. I’m 16million percent sure if there was no Ippei we won’t have dodgers ohtani!

[@alaskanyeti907]

Bit of a bold take. It made sense for him going to the Dodgers, he doesn't have to move, they're still contenders, and they had the money to pay him. It's a pretty easy sell

[@S_Over_Street]

Jeff Passan having in his background albums OK Computer by Radiohead, Evil Empire by Rage Against the Machine, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) by Wu-Tang Klan, The Good The Bad & The Ugly soundtrack just shows he is very badass. Similar to Mina Kimes.

[@demotheses]

I think not giving your “interpreter” access to your bank account is a good start.

[@TheOsfania]

Greg Maddux threw stuff 6" off the plate for called strikes all the way to the HOF. Nobody complained.

[@garywordman]

Jeff Passan the great!

[@jeffkravitz7105]

Impressive that Jeff still has a working Nintendo but does he have an Atari 2600? 🤔

[@akiralad]

Your guest still making a fake story. He made the world composed. He is hater.

[@LAprosportsfan]

Dr. Eisen, classic! I love Passan!!! 😂

[@aresef]

The Venn diagram of people who believe Ohtani did something wrong and people who believe Bauer didn’t is a perfect circle.

[@user-th8rm4rp6d]

Jeff Passan needs to apologize to Ohtani for that rotten hell comment :D

[@lynnerose7891]

I’m betting (pun intended) that Mizuhara was an inveterate gambler before leaving Japan, so when Ohtani was playing internationally, that’d mean the conspiracy would have to included his own Japanese team. This would have to be an international conspiracy.

[@user-yf8sx2tl8p]

Do you know Japanese law?

[@lynnerose7891]

@@user-yf8sx2tl8p Literally immaterial as he was playing in the USA for most of the last decade and his Japanese team was playing in the WBC which uses MLB PLAYERS. It has absolutely NOTHING TO DO WITH JAPANESE LAW. I SAID IT WOULD’VE BEEN AN INTERNATIONAL CONSPIRACY BC IT WOULD HAVE HAD TO INCLUDE HIS TEAM-and by the way, I was mocking ppl who think this was just a Dodgers thing. Get bent.

[@KizzieBerry]

Witches brew of incompetence and arrogance was a bar Rich 😂

[@stevenbastian3882]

Well paid athletic stars should hire third party auditors. It's cheap insurance. Dishonest accountants/advisors tend to back off when they know their actions will be scrutinized.

[@user-dt6fh3hu9w]

What are their purposes for they have cornered Shohei in spite of his innocence ? What is the purpose?

[@mr.brenman2132]

Whine some more.

[@user-dt6fh3hu9w]

​@@mr.brenman2132 You don't understand everything at all. Study hard what business is.

[@ericbauer9029]

More importantly, can we discuss why Ohtani is 1-for-16 with runners on base? Come on, Shohei!!!

[@jakefriday]

I'm so convinced at this point, Angel Hernandez views the strike zone outside of the plate that I could not be convinced otherwise. I wonder if the MLB hired someone who has partial blindness

[@ZacharyJohnG]

12:53 baseball casual here: what’s JP cutter?

[@baueranthony54]

JP France's cutter, his pitch

[@matthewsmet4686]

Passan is nothing more then a umpire apologist. He’s a worthless talking head. Might as well have Vermin Supreme

[@CompoundingTime]

Ohtani was taken advantage of. Angel Hernandez should not be an official in the MLB. Why haven't you guys (and the rest of sports media) been talking about Trevor Bauer?

[@mr.brenman2132]

Trevor Bauer was a victim.

[@Sampleador]

Rich is mad un til now that he went to the dodgers and differ the money

[@Mgranadosv]

Passan is amazing always but in Pat, messing with them, he is a HoFer

[@naohiro0425]

Though I know, of course, ESPN ISN’T journalism, this Jeff what's-his-name is terrible. His company which includes himself made tons of mistakes in this matter. Should step up to the plate first for spreading baseless information and harming Ohtani’s reputation.

[@mr.brenman2132]

You should pray to an effigy of the man. It's clear you worship him.

[@neilenglish8582]

Okay...that's GREAT...AAA BASEBALL has a better strike zone...but WHY..is ANGEL allowed to represent BASEBALL..when he's SO VERY BAD

[@octobercanwait]

Sell!

[@clifford7594]

Skip past the nothingness to 1:24 to begin the story.

[@okazaki111]

Ippei Mizuhara was employed by the LA Angels and Dodgers, so they are responsible for making Shohei Ohtani a victim. Shohei Otani's financial advisors and agents never considered the irregular situation suspicious, did not realize that Shohei Otani's money had been stolen, and did not perform any risk management. Even though they were making a lot of money from Shohei Ohtani.

[@dorothygale1104]

First, when Ohtani signed with the Angels, he told the Angels that his interpreter was Ippei, who Ohtani new from his time playing for the Fighters in Japan. Because the Angels were in a competitive situation in signing Ohtani, they accepted Ippei as his interpreter and were not able to do any background checking on Ippei because they risked Ohtani not signing with them if they insisted on chrcking Ippei’s background. When Ohtani signed with the Dodgers, it also was a competitive situation and Ohtani made hiring Ippei as his interpreter part of his contact and also negotiated a big raise that the Dodgers would pay Ippei over the $85,000 the Angels paid (Ippei told the ESPN reporter that he was earning $300,000-$500,000). Because of the competitive situation in signing Ohtani and because Ippei had already worked as Ohtani’s interpreter for 6 years in the US, the Dodgers also were not in a pisition to insist on a background check on Ippei for risk of not being anlr to sign Ohtani. In a recent interview, I heard David Samson, former 16-year president of the Mismi Markund, say that the only employee he never did a background check on was when the Marlins signed Ichiro and Ichiro told the Marlins that they would have to hire Ichiro’s interpreter if they wanted to sign him. When a player insists or tells a team who the interpreter will be, the team (any team) will accept whst the player wants because of the competitive nature among teams in signing a player and they don’t want to risk not signing a player because they insist on doung a background check on the interpreter. Regarding the account that Ippei was steal fromj (there was only one account), when Ohtani’s advisors asked for information on the account that Ippei was sttaling from Ippei told them in strong language that Ohtani didn’t want them checking that account and wanted that account to be private. Ippei made it sound like Ohtani was giving them an order that they could not ignore. Because of not understanding Japanese, Ohtani’s advisors never understood directly anything Ohtani said in Japanese and were reliant upon Ippei’s transkation. So, when Ippei told them that Ohtani wanted that account to be private and not to ask about that account again, they understood that to be what Ohtani actually said because they had no way of knowing what Ohtani actually said because they did understand Japanese and were reliant upon Ippei’s translation of what Ohtani said.

[@mckayfrance467]

Jeff talks a little too much…

[@MountainFisher]

That's his job, to talk. Supposedly he knows what he's talking about.

[@mattcarberry368]

@@MountainFisher he does, better than anyone here i'd guarantee it

[@MountainFisher]

@@mattcarberry368 I like his insights and Rosenthal's. No exaggerations just sticks to the facts.

[@cheechdubinsky6709]

Players could learn English. It's only the language of the place you work & live. 🤔

[@jena6587]

Most of them know English, they just don’t feel comfortable enough speaking it. So 🤫🤫🤫

[@dorothygale1104]

Do you think every US citizen who gets transferred to work in a foreign country knows and understands the language of that country? Answer: No. Baseball players are hired for their baseball ability, not their ability to speak a language.

[@sb17146]

As someone who teaches english to Chinese, Korean and Japanese natives... The intrecacies of their native language makes it very hard for them to learn English. I have students who have lived in the states for decades and still speak broken English. Athletes have a lot less time to devote in this as they are obviously more focused in their craft

[@mr.brenman2132]

​@@jena6587Too bad so sad. With the amount of money he is making he should get comfortable.

[@mr.brenman2132]

​@@dorothygale1104English is the language of business. Business people around the world speak it. Nice try through. Baseball is a business. Being able to speak English would allow him to better connect with the fans. He's a t.v. personality, not just a Baseball player. With all that money he makes he should take an English class

[@AC-gs5fv]

racist af.

[@mr.brenman2132]

Yeah because you're not? Why are you playing this card? Did you come from tik tok or reddit?

[@AC-gs5fv]

I'm just telling u the truth. Sorry u dont like it.

[@mr.brenman2132]

@@AC-gs5fv What truth? That you worship another man?

[@user-dt6fh3hu9w]

​@@mr.brenman2132 FBI showed us the truth through the detailed investigation. So,what? What do you want to say? You are just a malicious hater to Shohei.

[@cdmix2709]

Shoehei is making 700 Mill in over 10 years, I don't see how he would do that. If Shohei did gamble, I think the government would avoid making an international superstar be in jail. Besides gambling isn't illegal if he was a gambler he'll just be a Pete Rose and not be in the Hall.

[@XxXyzxX]

Stop this "he's so rich, why would he gamble nonsense." Yes, i agree that Ohtani didn't gamble and his friend robbed him. Being rich doesn't make you immune to being addicted to gambling. Ask Michael Jordan, Dana White, Floyd Mayweather, Mike Tyson, etc. Also the bookie Mizuhara used is illegal in California.

[@scotttild]

@@XxXyzxX We have not seen all the facts yet, I am not sure I buy the entire story especially since it changed from paying off the debts to it being stolen. That to me is a red flag but will see.

[@xiph.461]

@@scotttild The person who told reporters that story was Ippei himself by the way, in order to try to convince everybody that Ohtani was helping him out. And also idk if you saw the federal investigation but it made it pretty clear that Ippei was stealing from Ohtani.

[@XxXyzxX]

​@@scotttildOhtani never said he paid the debt. Mizuhara said that in english and Ohtani didn't understand it 100% and later he corrected the statement. It's all out there and there is no chance Ohtani gambled. They got the IP adresses of Mizuharas phone who placed all the bets, who made all the wire transfers, who communicated with the bookie, etc.

[@pretzelhunt]

@@scotttild it sounds like youre the only one who's confused. "I am not sure I buy the entire story especially since it changed..." Which story? The perpetrator's story, or the victim, cuz they arent, and never were, the same story. Dont conflate them as a single resource.

[@usachristmas5433]

Doesn’t add up. They are protecting him, can’t have the MLB biggest star go down in flames

[@campingking9784]

What doesn’t add up?

[@travisp5747]

It adds up perfectly.

[@superbrownbrown]

*Bookies don't ever allow random gamblers to generate a $4.5 million debt.*

[@campingking9784]

@@superbrownbrown Did you read the report from the Fed?

[@superbrownbrown]

@@campingking9784 *Bookies don't allow random gamblers to generate a $4.5 million debt unless they know that the person making the bets can easily cover the debt. The bookie knew he was either dealing with Ohtani directly, or by proxy via Ippei. The only other possibility is that Ohtani is a gullible fool, not knowing that millions and millions of dollars were missing. That's even worse than the gambling.*

[@TheSponky]

I believe what Jeff presents is true. A true wonder blunder that Ohtani was ignorant and innocent. If it WAS fraud on Ohtani's part, it would only require HIS playing this part, not a giant team of people. This question remains; should Ohtani "pay" for this with a suspension? Ignorance of the law is never allowed in a court of law. Why is it allowed here?

[@user-dt6fh3hu9w]

LAW? It's the principle of presumption of innocence in US Law and International LAW. You don't understand the US LAW & International LAW at all. FBI showed us Shohei's innocence by some evidence. It's your turn. Show us some evidence. You don't need to say excuse. Show us them anyway. Get back here.

[@stevest8675]

He shouldn't be suspended. Because he didn't gamble. That is mlb rule.

[@superbrownbrown]

*So instead of Ohtani being a gambler, he's just a gullible fool? That's almost worse than gambling.*

[@user-cl7ty6ur5q]

Why should the victim be blamed?

[@Kinogotiate]

He's not a victim he's a making ippei take the fall

[@superbrownbrown]

@@Kinogotiate *Probably.*

[@user-cl7ty6ur5q]

@@Kinogotiate Give me proof. If not, disappear.🤣

[@Kinogotiate]

@@user-cl7ty6ur5q The point is there isn't proof to convict but doesn't mean he didn't do it. People just want the scandal to disappear cause they like ohtani. And for the mlb billions of dollars are at stake.