Shohei Ohtani (大谷翔平)'s Dodgers debut & marriage news, Phillies' big move & more | Flippin' Bats

Ben Verlander and Alex Curry discuss the big Los Angeles Dodgers' news with Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto making their Spring Training debuts as well as Ohtani's surprise marriage announcement. They also talk about two big contracts that were handed out by the Philadelphia Phillies & San Francisco Giants to lock up Zack Wheeler and Matt Chapman. Ben hands out his Top 5 teams to hit the under on their 2024 win totals and another edition of 'Name That Swing'.
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Shohei Ohtani (大谷翔平)'s Dodgers debut & marriage news, Phillies' big move & more | Flippin' Bats
• Shohei Ohtani (大谷翔平)'s...

[@FlippinBatsPod]

Congrats to Shohei Ohtani (大谷翔平) on the big announcement! 💍

[@justinllamas1]

hopefully not the only ring ohtani gets this year 🏆🏆

[@surfwriter8461]

As a columnist in the LA Times discussed, the Japanese media is maybe even more predatory than our own and it can be horrific trying to get any privacy and respect if you're the target of endless media coverage. The most prominent Japanese athlete before Ohtani was a figure skater who married and then felt the need to divorce three months later for the sake of his spouse after some media outlet revealed the spouse's identity and they were stalked without mercy. So I can understand Ohtani's desire for secrecy.

[@harukanakamoto7]

Yeah i think it can take some consideration that that figure skater is a comparable star in Japan side by side with Ohtani. Hanyu Yuzuru is a LEGEND in figure skating and takes that sport to a whole new level, just like Ohtani. They both also 1994 baby. Maybe that's why the media really wanted to get a story about his wife.

[@lovethieves1383]

Yamamoto was facing Texas, Not just some random team in MLB in Spring Training. These guys were the WS champions from 2023 and Yamamoto managed to do well against them, he is going to be nasty.

[@FlippinBatsPod]

Splitter is GROSS

[@Adventure_Quan]

Over/under 120 RBIs. Now he has runners on base unlike when he was hitting solo HRs last year.

[@charleneo1934]

The emphasis on “normal japanese woman” means shes a non-celeb so the japanese media needs to respect that and not set a witch hunt on her. For context a jpop idol was caught dating another idol and she had to shave her head bald and issue a grovelling apology.

[@Keeazul]

Except no one demanded nor expected her shaving, though.

[@Elephant2024-wi2li]

In addition to their on field acquisitions, the Giants also hired one of the best managers in the game in Bob Melvin. Agree that they probably need at least one more starting pitcher. Not a first place team, but they should be in the race for one of the wild cards.

[@everettemathisjr3410]

Yeah they always taking about the braves but the Phillies have beat them two years in a row but the press never condemn the braves but they condemn the dodgers

[@suika197]

I'm shocked and sad that Shohei got married.😭 Ⅿany people heartbroken💔 However, I will continue to support his continued success.💙

[@heavensroyalty9896]

Lol, to be fair, it's smart to say normal Japanese woman even if she's famous cause the last thing he wants to do is bring more attention to it.

[@cchizzy9994]

Can't wait

[@mel-nq6re]

Scottie Scheffler has gone from his blade putter to a TaylorMade mallet putter with additional height on the shaft.

[@Isaac-qe2in]

Under on the Twins at 87.5. Under on the Padres at 81.5. Under on the Angels at 72.5. Under on the Rangers at 88.5 (unless they sign J.Montgomery by the end of March). Under on the Dodgers at 103.5. I still think that they'll win the division and reach the NLCS, but 104 is a bit high. Freeman ain't no spring chicken anymore, and I'm not convinced that this pitching staff as a whole will be as superb as touted in 2024 (but I say better pitching come 2025).

[@eddyhung7497]

finally the world could see Ohtani playing in the MLB postseason as a Dodger

[@2sday538]

Ben seems to be pretty high on the Phils, but I noticed that he didn't take the over on their win total of 88. He says it's a tough NL East division, but the AL East appears to be at least as tough, and yet he is taking the over on the Yanks 94 wins.

[@FlippinBatsPod]

AL East is the toughest in MLB.

[@2sday538]

@@FlippinBatsPod Exactly.

[@earlybird9679]

I know zero about the A's. I couldn't even name a single player on the team, which is why I wouldn't take the over OR the under on 'em. They could win 40 and be bad, they could win 60 and be bad.🤷‍♂️ And incidentally, when will MLB get teams 31 & 32. It should've happened by now. And Nashville or Charlotte, or both, should have an MLB team.

[@cchizzy9994]

Bahamas is gorgeous, water is so clear. Need to go Alex

[@jessie6835]

$42 million starting in 2025... ok, but what does AAV mean?

[@FlippinBatsPod]

Average Annual Value.

[@harmonydavis6784]

So this is a little off topic but it's Tigers related, what do you think of the Tigers signing Colt Keith to an extension? Is it a little soon since he hasn't played in the big leagues yet?

[@heavensroyalty9896]

Let's go LA!!!

[@matthewsnyder66]

Smart observation from Alex about how decisive an ace (like Blake Snell) can be for a struggling team like the Giants. If you are just six wins away from a division lock, an ace can pull you ever closer past the threshold needed. It's amazing the Giants ownership was willing to match the Dodgers offer for Ohtani, but won't nail down some better adds to their rotation. It seems really half-ass to me, and downright befuddling.

[@Adrian-zw6sc]

What would be ridiculous and befuddling is if the Giants actually offered the reported $300M that Snell's camp is seeking! How do you know that the Giants wouldn't be open to making a more REASONABLE fair value offer for Snell? Incidentally, if you think that this current Giants roster will be "just 6 wins from a division lock", I've got some oceanfront property in Nebraska I'd like to sell ya.

[@FlippinBatsPod]

Great point

[@johnchieze530]

15 days and already muncy hit 3 times by minor league prospects with control issues. bullseye on dodgers back bet they itchen to get out of cactus practice

[@orif1586]

Here’s Ohtani’s wife kzbin.info/www/bejne/havOlJikj5x0jacsi=iurybhIcILhVRsIB

[@neogeo4528]

The hardest video Ben had to make. And Alex and her woke a** saying "man or woman"...come on dude.

[@surfwriter8461]

Oh, cut your anti-woke MAGAt crap.

[@NK-qx6kk]

it was silly but who tf cares, except bigoted snowflakes. You just couldn't help but get mad about it.

[@Oisdead]

drop the side piece or put someone in there that can actually talk baseball better than she put on makeup

[@melonsuika1253]

His wife is a former basketball player.

[@rinpapa2006]

it's fake news😂

[@luismiguelmayo]

Don't talk about it further.

[@user-kl3xq8we3w]

翔平、にわ、神様が、ついている、ピッチやあ、わ、一年、休みなさい、と、もったいないし、バツタア、で、三冠王、お、目指しなさいと、シヨウヘイ、にわ、神様が、ついている、アアメン、神よ

[@user-kl3xq8we3w]

大谷、の、トレーニング、食事、わ、変人、でわ、なく、翔平、わ、ご十歳、まで、レギュラあ、で、やるつもり、だよ