The Dodgers are Stockpiling Top-Line Talent. Is That Good for Baseball? | The Rich Eisen Show

[@Dr._Wan___PharmD]

How can anyone possibly dislike Ohtani as a person or as a player unless you are one of those ball clubs that failed to sign him.

[@beckmanchilds756]

Well that plus the fact that they don't have players that want to win as badly as he does at the Level he is at by deferring to get top talent. They're just salty

[@podcat0185]

@@beckmanchilds756 💯

[@havu2236]

People like to see a player stick with the team that drafted them and help build a winning team. People like chasers. Going to the Dodgers was the easy thing to do. Isn't that the reason people hate on Lebron and Durant so much?

[@lahellight4337]

@@havu2236 NOT the same. both Durant and Lebron were in CONTENDING TEAMS who fought AGAINST the championship teams durin the playoffs. LeBron couldnt bear the weight of carrying a team so he moved to Miami- (afterwards redeemed himself by carrying the cavs to a championship before movin to LA) Durant , ACTUALLY WENT TO THE TEAM that beat his OK thunders in a conference championship series- was pretty close - but he ditched his team to go to the very team. Both were the very piece, the org built a team around - TO FORM A CHAMPIONSHIP caliber team, but when they were making the playoffs, and when they were 1 or 2 games away from a championship - THEY LEFT. Ohtani, on the other hand , never reached the playoffs. the team didn't "build " a team around him. they were never contending, and when asked to build a winning team , the owner said he wouldnt sign Ohtani. NOT THE SAME!!

[@JoseNavarro-gd9sb]

​@@havu2236 Most of the Dodgers players come from their farm.

[@h3ro_966]

As someone who has absolutely no interest in baseball and literally only know shohei ohtani, for the first time ever I've been checking up on this dodgers off-season moves so yes this is GREAT for baseball 😂👍🏻

[@movtpn]

From the time Ohtani was in Japan, no one who had met him in person had a bad word to say about him. Those close to him praised his personality. The only people who say bad things about Ohtani are people who are far away and have never met him.

[@joebarr725]

I don't doubt that he is a good guy. I'm not sure I want him running the team.

[@movtpn]

@@joebarr725 Ohtani is doing his best to contribute to the team's victory. Well, there were too many issues with the Angels for him to just focus on playing, so he wants to prevent that from happening.

[@173jaSon371]

@@movtpn Lol why are people defending Ohtani so deluded and stupid? You think he wasn't focusing solely on baseball when he wasn't on the Dodgers? FFs lmfao

[@movtpn]

​@@173jaSon371 Because his fans know more about Ohtani than you do. Everything about Ohtani's contract is a lesson from his failure with the Angels. On that team, the GM who brought in Ohtani was changed midway through, the manager he respected was fired, there were more injuries than anywhere else, the minor league environment was poor, and player development was poor. The owner who tried to sell the team without acquiring any players with the money he made thanks to Ohtani, the front office that treats non-star players poorly, the inexperienced interim manager, the useless coaches who just follow the front office, and his teammates who are lazy and unwilling to win. While Ohtani was the most successful in MLB, he was always plagued by these issues.

[@coryvincent1932]

@@joebarr725 He’s not. Friedman is, which is why Ohtani has an opt out if Friedman leaves.

[@KPD017]

It’s nice to have connections! So happy for you! I’ve been a fan of Ohtani for 3 years. A Giants fan for over 40 years. SHOHEI is finally being paid what he’s worth. And he’s super humble and accommodating. 🦄

[@podcat0185]

FAX 💯

[@astrostar49]

And now he's a Dodger. Time for you to hate him (in baseball world) if you're a true Giants fan. 👍

[@podcat0185]

🤣🤣@@astrostar49

[@CorePathway]

Nobody is worth $700,000,000.00 Enjoy your $20 beers at the game.

[@stephen8623]

Another fool pontificating about what someone else should be paid. Instead, try asking what the owners REVENUE and PROFITS are...but don't hold your breath expecting an answer!!! Are you worth what you get paid?@@CorePathway

[@andrewsimon713]

Dodgers fans are happy with this deal

[@bikeyoshiro]

” He is un dislikable " from a Japanese baseball fan in Bangkok. Thanks with respect.

[@350z33hr]

Yankees/Red Sox have done it 10-20 yrs. ago, Mets signed big name pitchers last year, and Padres went on a spending spree. No one said anything about them

[@jeny701005]

Shohei makes whole MLB ground to Manga features and we can't be more enjoyable about it!

[@LinktheSamoyed]

I was conflicted in the WBC when Japan was wrecking my Australian Team. I was going for Australia, but it was my favorite player who was destroying them.

[@podcat0185]

join the club, lol

[@roadtrip2943]

I saw the games while in AZ. AUSTRALIA played solid ball with some timely hitting from the vets but Japan was perfect

[@G4MBIT]

Same

[@harv1]

Once in a lifetime type of talent Ohtani is beast

[@JasonJia909]

It’s great for the sport. People are talking baseball during week 16 of the nfl. Dodgers are doing something right.

[@mbdg6810]

It’s not good for the dodgers to ruin the competition of the sport however

[@Ktaurus26]

@@mbdg6810oh please. The other billionaire owners need to man up and spend money

[@BeerCanDan93]

⁠@@mbdg6810so you’re saying they’re gonna win the World Series every year? Cause unless they do then I don’t see how it ruins the competition

[@Perfectly_Cromulent351]

@@mbdg6810the Diamondbacks/Texas World Series was the lowest rated World Series of all time. How is that good for baseball?

[@chrisolivo6591]

Nah, it it everything that has been wrong with MLB since the 1994 strike. It’s become a regional sport where they have great fanbases in only big markets like LA, Boston, NY, etc. If I lived in Pittsburgh, Tampa, KC or any small market team, it just reinforces that our teams are at a disadvantage because of payroll. This is why the NFL thrives as small market teams like GreenBay can keep Favre and Rodgers as their QB for 25+ years, so fans stay invested in their teams.

[@o.d.b.5344]

Baseball needs this.

[@TheTruth-xp2of]

Ohtani plays for the Angels: "This is bad for baseball. Baseball needs the best player at a big market team. Ohtani should be on a winning team and be in postseason. Angels are idiots for not splurging and building around the best player. Ohtani plays for the Dodgers: "This is bad for baseball. Dodgers are unfair for splurging and building around the best player. smh

[@ranran_jp]

fake

[@jurist8140]

This is so true. You have a point

[@mbdg6810]

The contract is the problem in case 2. Not the team. Is it that hard to understand??

[@TheTruth-xp2of]

@@mbdg6810 Because a 10y/$700m valued at $46m AAV, still making him the most expensive player in baseball is a problem? With revenue sharing, ALL TEAMS could have offered Ohtani $46m p/y. They just, like the Angels, wanted Ohtani to be their marquee signing. They didn't want to sign Ohtani AND also sign more quality to surround him. To absolutely no surprise, he went to the team that wanted to sign him AND sign more quality around him. This should come as no surprise to anyone with a brain. The Angels proved that even if Ohtani put up 3 MVP level seasons in a row, if the other pitchers are dogwater, he's not getting to postseason.

[@Perfectly_Cromulent351]

@@mbdg6810every team he met with was presented with the same deferments. Would it be bad if the blue jays got him with the same contract as the dodgers?

[@FloraVista2000]

We are still talking about baseball in December. This has to be a good thing. It is wonderful that you had chance to meet Shohei and now you sound like a fan boy. Thank you for the lovely story.

[@khh8776]

Making weaker teams stronger is one of the ideals expected of a baseball player, so there will probably be criticism for not doing so. But Otani has a bigger idea in mind. At his joining press conference, he said, “I will work hard not just for the Dodgers, but for the baseball world.”He recently also said, “ I am nearing the end of my career since started playing baseball in elementary school. “ Now, he earned the highest annual salary in MLB and has become the face of baseball. He must have counted backward from his retirement date, and asked himself,”What can I do for baseball before my retirement?” And, he probably concluded that helping the prestigious Dodgers was the best choice for the baseball world. He doesn't have time to play around with the Angels, who don't spend money, don't take risks, and don't have a strategy to win.

[@rideen0123]

Your point is absolutely correct. I have great respect for Otani's noble way of thinking.

[@onespeedlite]

The hate is misdirected. They should be mad at their teams, not at the Dodgers. You can either be inspired or become jealous. The former makes you better. The latter gets you nowhere.

[@CorePathway]

How are the Twins, Royals or Royals Cleveland whatever’s supposed to compete? Yay for the network who gets Yankees/Dodgers, bad for literally everyone else. Baseball is dying. Good riddance.

[@justinllamas1]

@@CorePathwayI can send u a box of kleenex ur way.

[@wwpjd28]

@@CorePathway Are you serious? Mets, Padres and Yankees spent tons of money last year and all missed the playoffs. Mets by a massive amount. Players get hurt or underperform. It is a team game. Yes, having a top 10-12 payroll definitely helps. And it is harder to do for some of the lower revenue teams. But they can do it. Last 10 years, there are WS appearances from Royals and Cleveland. Cardinals are a smaller market and have 2 rings in this century (all during the current era of baseball). All it takes is developing about 2-3 guys in house that can really power you and then surrounding them with a good mix of young talent and savvy veterans. DBacks feel pretty darn close. Corbin and Gallen are hits. Marte could be the third star. Or it could be Jones or Lawlar among their prospects. But they could be just as dangerous during this next decade as the Dodgers for way less money. I don't think Dodgers get anywhere close to that 4 ring goal they just set in this show. They'll be lucky to get 1 most likely. It is a competitive sport.

[@fooman27jenkins44]

Not a dodgers fan at all. But can’t wait to see them when they come to town

[@mikejnwill]

Never been a fan of baseball. I'm definitely following it now and rooting for the Dodgers.

[@Giants5]

I smell a bandwagon

[@clubeyxander5132]

@@Giants5 What's wrong with that?

[@sirwill619]

​@@clubeyxander5132They hop off the wagon when the team begins performing poorly

[@clubeyxander5132]

@@sirwill619 Yeah, some do. I respect you guys who are really into your sport and your teams, but you know, we also need light fans and newcomers to grow the sport and to make it prosperous, you know. And every hardcore fan was once a newbie or a member of some bandwagon. So, I honestly believe that guys who know the sport really well are the people who should keep the people in the wagon from dropping out, not discouraging them from joining in.

[@PatrickStarfist]

Hell yeah. This is the most covered baseball news after a while

[@cironsilver4410]

Rich, this is rich coming from a Yankees fan. This would sound a little different if the Yankees signed Ohtani and Yamamoto.

[@USALeonHeart]

Doesn't sound like it could possibly be bad for baseball. Sounds like a collection of superstars who can save the sport from its relative irrelevance, by being the heros, not the villains.

[@173jaSon371]

Lol, "save the sport" give me a break. Baseball is doing fine, the Dodgers have been good for a long while, Ohtani was already a gigantic spectacle. This doesn't change much at all aside from which team the Japanese baseball fans, baseball media, or Ohtani fans will be watching.

[@ryandemboski6313]

im guessing you are a dodgers fan

[@kevinfinnerty8414]

“Baseball is doing fine” lol that’s like saying “NASCAR is doing fine” Relatively speaking they are both irrelevant. Compared to what they used to be.

[@LATimes754]

@@173jaSon371idk what rock you’ve been living under but baseball isn’t as popular as it was, in say the home run era of the 90s-00s. Sports betting may have given it a recent spike, but this is definitely going to cause the average baseball fan (myself) to tune into the offseason as much as the season. I like the NYY, but this is dope

[@USALeonHeart]

@@173jaSon371 Call me crazy, but I think that the consensus best player in the sport playing in a major market and hopefully winning championships will do wonders for its popularity.

[@smilehuhu29]

Imagine a negotiation situation. For example, if Judge, Trout, and Ohtani were sitting at the same table as you and asked to play together, which player would say no? And if the Dodgers were to have all three of the Dodgers' MVPs, including Ohtani, attend the free agent negotiations that begin next year, other teams would have no choice as a result.

[@kylek1742]

It’s hilarious that Yankees fan Rich is asking this question. I’m sure it was fine by him when the Yankees were the team buying everyone

[@BURSTRACK]

I was thinking the same thing. It’s okay when his team does it but when another team does it’s an issue. Hypocrite!

[@sheeshshoot123]

100%. I like watching him but he is such a homer. In the same show he bitched about the Yankees. He crushed OSU when they “cheated” and loved being the Michigan villain

[@FlightOfJatayu]

I came here to say this, but knew in my heart it had already been said.

[@davidjackson5818]

Rich needs some cheese to go with that whine. Boo hoo hoo.

[@kingrama2727]

He’s a typical hypocrite

[@realMaxEffort]

The Braves had the early 90s, Yankees after that. The Giants had the early 2010s. Astros after that. It's the Dodger's turn to have a dynasty. Everyone loves a great underdog story to knock off the best team. Rays, Marlins, Royals, Indians (Guardians), Red Sox, Rangers. It's great for baseball.

[@chrisolivo6591]

MLB World Series ratings have slowly eroded since the 1994 strike as this was the lowest rated WS on record. MLB has become a regional sport where fans follow their team, but not nationally. Ohtani to LA just reinforces why teams in small market Pittsburgh, KC, Tampa, etc, lose fans because they know it’s not an even playing field. Heck, Tampa couldn’t even sell out their home playoff games last October. People aren’t stupid

[@fullcircle8231]

@realMaxEffort except the dodgers have nothing in terms of a dynasty lol... a few good players isn't a dynasty. Consistent October success is what creates dynasties. And fact is that LA isn't even the closest team to being a dynasty. Atlanta is... Atlanta has more impact players signed long term, on better deals at that, and have more recent success in October than LA has. Not to mention that Atlanta didn't have to CHEAT and sign their guys to deals that deferred their salaries for a fucking decade. LA will collapse and burn this year, because cheaters never prosper.

[@JDRamos213]

Lol! Cheat? Lol! Cope more, brah. @@fullcircle8231

[@daniellarrance8823]

We have not seen a team as stacked as the Dodgers ever. The giants dynasty had 10x less the name/talent level the dodgers have right now. Rly is their year to lose. Had the best team in baseball last year but they are still so sick of it they have to drop 1 billion in 3 weeks to compete. LOL

[@josephgreen2824]

@@fullcircle8231 Atlanta hasn't had consistent October success either, except for 2021. LOL, sour grapes in your comment.

[@mysteriousj3019]

The balls of a Yankees fan to ask this question lol

[@fischkopf]

Dodgers bad. Yankees good. Eisen being Rich.

[@randallmarsh1187]

Of course it's good for baseball! What's not good for baseball is owners who worry about how much money they can horde and aren't willing to truly make their team more competitive by going after the top tier players. Every team out there had an equal chance to get these top players but weren't willing to pay the price! These "smaller market" teams would be more competitive if ownership would get better players, better coaching, upgrade their stadiums and in return they'd draw more fans, get better endorsements and more lucrative TV deals.

[@youngtripp5184]

How can I team like the Royals the Brewers the Reds the rays? How can these teams compete with the Dodgers and get better TV deals and all that that’s not possible MLB just needs to put a salary cap just like the NFL has an other sports and everything will just be fine.

[@randallmarsh1187]

@@youngtripp5184 Let's look at the NFL then. There is no "smaller market" team than the Green Bay Packers and they manage to compete with the "large market" teams just fine and they always have, in fact they had a power house dynasty for a long time. The Royals have a very large market area they can draw from, same with the Reds and the Rays have a huge area to draw from. The problem is more of some owners have small goals and thusly they'll achieve small victories and that's fine if that's all they want. However their fans probably have different goals.

[@pebmets]

When the Mets were spending more money than anyone else the past 2 years, they were called bad for baseball. Not fair to the small and medium market clubs. We need a new tax level, Steve Cohen Tax, to slow them down. I agree owners should spend on their teams like the Mets, Dodgers, and Yankees, but when the Mets did it, everyone in MLB was up and arms. The Dodgers do it, everyone should praise them. Seems to be a double standard when it comes to a NY club doing it.

[@randallmarsh1187]

@@pebmets That's funny because I know nobody who was up in arms over Steve Cohen's spending. What people had a problem with was the caliber of the people he threw his money at. He consistently went after old players who were past their prime or had a history of being hurt a lot! Most of the people I know ridiculed him for his ideas of putting a team together by just buying the most expensive players and not doing his research, and what happened to those big money players when they couldn't produce for him?

[@pebmets]

@@randallmarsh1187 The Steve Cohen Tax was the name given to the new tier in the competitive balance tax. You think it was named after the Mets owner because of all the good other owners thought he was doing for baseball? Again I have no issue with the Dodgers singing the player. I have issue how when NY does it, add a new tax level. When someone else does it, no issue. All owners should spend. Again i will be clear. All owners should spend like the mets, Dodgers, and Yankees, but don't say when NY is doing it we change the rules and LA does the same thing, it is great for baseball.

[@garse70]

Amazing that Ohtani was on a team 30 minutes away from LA and he didn’t get this kind of exposure the entire time he was there. The Dodgers are powerful and own SoCal. Now go WIN! we expect it.

[@kiiiiinoaka]

Thank you for sharing the photo🥹🙏 With this contract, I learned more about Ohtani commitment to winning. He gives everything to baseball. I felt strongly that I would like to continue to support Ohtani.

[@EnriqueJesusBriceno]

They waited and waited for this moment and spent on special talent. Add the fact that the Dodgers are a class organization. Other teams offered the same deals and Ohtani and Yamamoto chose wisely.

[@-C.S.R]

It's absolutely great for baseball. When everyone can band together to hate one team, it's a must watch TV. Diamondbacks vs rangers were the least watched World Series ever. You put the Dodgers in the World Series ratings are sky high!

[@ronmexico7256]

Yeah reminds me when we all used to root against the Yankees when they were outspending everyone

[@jeromemaida4933]

Yeah. I was not going to watch a World Series with teams that were not even above average during the regular season.

[@Phoenix-vr6bv]

Nobody with a conscience wants the Dodgers or Yankees anywhere near a World Series

[@handsanitizer1963]

That’s any sport If bucs faced the titans this sb it would be one of the least watched

[@jeromemaida4933]

@@handsanitizer1963 No. Because the NFL does a much better job of marketing their teams

[@benjamin0089]

I mean If you ask The younger Rich. He probably say. Yankees do that 1st. there's a reason why Yankees are being hated by everyone. They outbid everyone for the best player in the market. Dodgers only do it these year. Yankees in the the past do that every year. Rich eisen probably agree to this.

[@icamarillo121]

I'm an Angels fan but think it's a good thing for the sport, I want ohtani to succeed but I'd prefer this then what the pirates, and A's for instance are doing

[@dorothygale1104]

Nobody is talking about why the Dodgers were able to spend $1 billion on Ohtani & Yamamoto. The Dodgers have led MLB in attendance for the last 12 years with average attendance of over 47,000/game last season (Dodger Stadium capacity is 56,000). This level of attendance generates not only ticket revenue, but also tv revenue, ad revenue, merch revenue, etc due to fan engagement un the stands and watching on tv. Now add to that these two premier players from Japan and the Dodgers effectively added Japan’s population of 126 million to their fan base. For Ohtani’s press conference every tv channel in Japan broadcast it and US viewership was 70 million (vs. World Series viewership of less than 10 million per game). With is type of engagement, the Dodgers will make far more over the next 10-12 years due to revenue these players will generate than the club will pay them under their contracts. Broadcasters in Japan are in a bidding war to get the broadcast rights to Dodger games. Just the merch sales alone in Japan will pay for these two contracts. Ad rates within Dodger Stadium are going through the roof because advertisers know millions will see those ads at the stadium and on tv worldwide during every home game (there will probably be more ads in Japanese than English within the stadium). The international broadcast rights fees and merch sales outside of the team store will be split equally among all 30 teams, so the other 29 teams will owe the Dodgers thanks for that windfall they will receive, but the stadium ad revenue stays with the Dodgers, as well as naming rights to the field (not the stadium, which will always be Dodger Stadium). But the club will sign a huge money contract with a major Japanese company to name the field (which the Dodgers have never done before) to something like, Honda Field at Dodger Stadium. With millions of eyeballs worldwide seeing that corporate name on the grass behind home plate and in view on tv for every pitch, the right to name the field will generate tens of millions annually because that field within Dodger Stadium will be like a temple that the two biggest Japanese icons will grace every home game. Right now the first game at Dodger Stadium is sold out with limited standing room only tickets selling for $900 (face value). Every home game at Dodger Stadium next season will be virtual sell outs, but that equates to only 9,000 more in per game attendance compared to 2023 ave. attendance. More importantly, ticket prices will be whatever the Dodgers want to charge for them and Dodger fans won’t be complaining. The Dodgers had all of this way more figuted out than any other team, which is why they made sure they wouldn’t lose out in signing both players. Every other team and fans are looking at these two contracts as costs compared to the Dodgers’ view of these contracts as investment opportunities. Any other team could have been in the same situation if they had signed both players, but they tapped out because they didn’t fully understand the revenue that would be generated with both players on the same team. The team ownership, Guggenheim Partners, is in the business of making money for their clients and they fully understood the investment opportunity that these two players will yield. The isn’t big market think nor snall market thinking, but rather, that is smart business thinking. And the ability to view these two contracts as investment opportunities vs. costs/expenses is due to the stability and security that leading MLB in attendance year-in-and-year-out with near sell out for every home game. Knowing the fans will always be there supporting the team in every way gives the club the ability to make bold investments.

[@QuikLosAngeles420]

yes bro it’s good for baseball.. more people will tune in more than ever 😊

[@Caplayaazul51]

When the Rangers added Seager/ Semien + and won the WS were people this upset? They spent $ and got a WS What's different now?

[@mightyjerseys93]

As an Anaheim native, ABSOLUTELY no denial that both Anaheim & LA are 2 totally different areas. No comparison!

[@natecruz7114]

It’s cool when the Yankees and Red Sox do it, but when others team do it’s a problem

[@我男朋友]

It can only be a good thing. Because it makes baseball mainstream again.

[@rocdeca77]

How can you hate a team when other teams are offering the same amount, can’t blame the dodgers when players decide who they want to play for!

[@sirwill619]

Those teams are only about 3-4, while the rest of the league can't afford him

[@z-dna2466]

@@sirwill619 If Angels were there to the end bidding for Ohtani at 700 million, and given the same deferment package as the Dodgers, Giants, and Bluejays, then most teams can aford him too!

[@paulgodbey304]

Some very good points here, Rich. It's hard not to like the Dodgers players personally. Most of them are good clubhouse players and character guys. I've heard so many complaints from podcasters of other teams especially the Giants, Padres, Yankees, and Mets. The Dodgers worked within the rules of the CBA.

[@bighawk56]

Mr. Eisen, this is an extraordinary event. For the past several years, Ohtani has not responded to any Japanese gold medalists, soccer players, popular entertainers, or Hollywood actors who have come to Angel Stadium. Your son has gained a treasure for life.

[@Bluelucky-pd2rp]

I'm happy for you, Rich and Cooper!

[@jakebogner8363]

Been a Dodgers and Wolverines fan over 40 years. As Harbaugh once asked, "who has it better than us?"

[@coolcase80]

Yes it is good for baseball. Yankees did it in '09 and won. Evil empire and all, public enemy #1 just gives more attraction to fans all over the world. Imagine Dodgers visiting Tampa or KC, guaranteed it would be packed.

[@nowl775]

Rich: "How can you hate these guys?" Me, a Giants fan: Individually, no I don't hate them. But they collectively play for the Dodgers, so I have no choice but to root against them. Life is cruel. 😢

[@Perfectly_Cromulent351]

We had the same problem with Buster Posey

[@LuisEspinoza-gv9iv]

As a DODGERS fan & 9ER Fan I 💯💪 am enjoying my teams assembling The way they are doing it I'll be Ecstatic if they both end up Champion's

[@andrewschuschu3499]

Walker Buehler and Bobby Miller are now their #3 and #4 pitchers. This is how you protect a kid in your rotation who is brand new to the league as well as a guy coming back from a long injury. Losing Urias was a major loss for them- now pitching is their strength. Good moves by the Dodgers.

[@oscaru5342]

Absolutely correct...

[@binder38us]

It is the same GD thing they said about the Yankees. The Dodgers are a solid organization. Also: thank you Boston for Mookie Betts

[@allelujah1210]

People are gonna look mighty dumb if they boo him and then rush to get his autograph and getting pictures and videos

[@kisguzal]

George's Evil Empire had no problem w/ jealousy resenful fans, it was good for baseball.

[@feralast7027]

lol i wonder if he complained when the red sox and yankees were doing it to win

[@jeremiahpattillo2932]

The SF Giants did 3 World Championships in 5 years. And, were underdogs every year.

[@juliadizon3848]

THE SWEET PRINCE SHOHEI😍😍😍

[@harv1]

Humble superstar 🙏

[@sladesurfer]

we got 1 first year so 4 in 12 is doable

[@nowgaku]

It's one of your lifetime treasure with Shohei,right? And I know you love Shohei.

[@swore24]

As a Dodgers fan, last year was a miracle breaking 100 plus wins without (urias , Bueller , maye , gonsolin) Best thing was to lose to the D-backs Ohtani saw a team that needed him .

[@swore24]

New right away after that woopin “Alright now it’s time to go get ohtani !” Made to be a LA Dodger

[@haechi21]

Dynasty is something that was missing in baseball over the last 20 plus years. I do wish to see it again, whether that comes from Dodgers or the Yankees, I do want to see that dominance in a team that was in the 90s.

[@LC-oe3zx]

Getting a Dodger's Ohtani jersey.

[@A1Pro77]

It’s fine when the Yankees do it. Why wouldn’t it be fine now when the Dodgers do it?

[@danny0507]

Don't hate on the Dodgers hate the owners who refuse to splurge on their teams.

[@mr.lutherp.e.6468]

E.g., the “A’s”.

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

The difference between Ohtani and, say, Bryce Harper: Harper is a great player. But unless he's wearing my team's uniform (he doesn't), I can't stand him. OTOH I will root for the Dodgers to lose and for Ohtani to hit 50 homers.

[@805fillmore]

Can’t stand Harper either.

[@RyanLBC]

individually, it's definitely hard to root againts the dodgers since all their players are relatively likeable guys. BUT i've always thought this trait is their greatest weakness. the lack of emotion, toughness, and grit i think was missing every time they choke in the playoffs. they need a dog on their team..or a few of them at least.

[@widewailcorduroy7278]

As a Giants fan, I have no problem rooting against the Dodgers. We were doing it before it was cool.

[@RyanLBC]

well that's obvious coming from a rival team. be it the giants or the padres lol@@widewailcorduroy7278

[@FREDRICKG85]

Let’s Go Dodgers, Raiders, Lakers😁😁😁

[@CuriousJet]

I wish I could get a pic with Otani too… yeah you should totally use Cooptani 😂

[@ownedinc4274]

Everyone's going to band together to hate the Dodgers? Not at all. I'm gonna keep hating the Yankees as I have done for most all of my life. How can Rich believe that fans should hate the Dodgers because they hold an unfair financial advantage over other teams? That is completely hypocritical coming from a Yankee fan. Absurd.

[@bojackson]

Love the die hard reference

[@Ecrocken]

Pretty ironic coming from a Yankee's fan. 🤯

[@linhe3919]

Love love love Ohtani San🦄😍🤟

[@blakecheboygan]

Nobody cared when padres, redsox, Yankees, rangers have had huge spending sprees in recent years. Dodgers do it with still a team mostly developed by them and everyone looses their minds.

[@royestrada4764]

Rich know you are a New Yorker but MLB needs the Dodgers in WS. Just hope the Yankees can make it.

[@edomarpez1840]

It is good for baseball. As it was good when the Mets and Padres did it. It's always good when a team invests and tries to raise the bar because it makes other teams better, it's good to set examples (whether they work or not it's a good experience that'll help other teams), it's also good because it draws atention (new fans) to the sport, and in addition it's good because it makes more unsustainable the lack of a floor cap wich allow owners to keep not caring about their team's and fanbases.

[@isaacmartinez7557]

It was good for baseball when the Yankees did it in the late 90s. Why wouldn’t it be good for baseball now? And this is coming from a giants fan swinging at the air like Cuba Gooding in Boyz 😂😂

[@theStacyJames]

It's GREAT for their bottom line

[@Chingon559]

People are talking baseball right now. Of course it’s good for the sport.

[@chilltownallstar]

I’ll never root against Ohtani and willl always root for him. Go Dodgers!!

[@mbdg6810]

You can root for a player and anti-team

[@275Vet-RLTW]

Thats great man!

[@VictorDiGiovanni]

It's good for baseball, because once ever 15 or 20 years, every sport needs to find some way to allow for a team to go all out in acquiring talent. We NEED to see what is possible for one team to do. I'm tired of parity, with the best players all being evenly distributed across 30-something teams. I want to see just how dominant a team can truly be. We know about the Murderer's Row Yankees, the 60's and 70's UCLA Bruins, and the 70's Montreal Canadiens, 80's Oilers and Lakers, 90s Bulls. It's not QUITE the same as the Dodgers buying a billion plus worth of players in the last week, but it was easier to assemble and keep your good players back in the day. When watching those teams, you just KNEW you were seeing as close to optimal as could be expected. The best teams had a good chunk of the top ten or fifteen players in the league, often a couple of the best players EVER. You knew when those teams got beat (or when they beat themselves), you knew you'd just witnessed something special. How much less interesting is it that Patrick Mahomes doesn't have any elite wide receivers or running backs on his team? Imagine, just IMAGINE, Patrick Mahomes with the weapons Brock Purdy has. Or that Kurt Warner had. You can have your parity. Give me a once-a-generation utter dominance!

[@Drj-69]

If it was the Yankees, then Rich would not be asking this question...

[@vadave311]

It's exactly what I was thinking. How quickly everyone forgets all of the championships the Yankees bought.

[@romnflrs]

Us Padres fans are always pissed

[@BeanShiesty]

😂😂😂😂

[@joseeduardo4327]

Good for baseball, bad for the fans of every team that couldn’t sign him

[@leests]

Jesus. The other guy believes you're justified to dislike/hate people based on what uniform they wear. Have some substance, man.

[@DocShadowMD]

I’m a Dodgers fan in Braves country. The tears right now are delicious

[@sfv6]

We are happy! 😂

[@chrisyoung9021]

Rich.. with all do respect The Angels played and started in Los Angeles before the Dodger arrived. It’s in the name.. Los Angeles “City of Angels” They were the first Los angeles based sports team, in the Los Angeles California league.

[@smith041958]

I don't think that it's good for baseball. Ohtani, Glasnow, Yamamoto......etc. The best thing for any league is competition. Of course, assembling the best team on paper doesn't automatically deliver a championship. We may see attendance with small market teams fall as fans might stay away from ballparks, knowing that they cannot compete. You can't blame Ohtani or the Dodgers for taking advantage of the rules in the CBA. The NFL and NHL have salary caps per team to ensure that every market is on the same playing field. I don't know about the NBA because I don't watch the league. Nice picture Rich of you and your son with possible the best player to ever play the game.

[@frankmorales2945]

Dodgers while on the road will be like watching Kobe Bryant

[@stephenmellentine]

Doyers are just having retail therapy due to the 3-0 thumping that the D-Backs did on them in the 2023 NLDS. Sweeps cost nearly $1B? Sheesh.

[@LL-ch5ce]

good point

[@dorothygale1104]

These two contracts won’t cost the Dodgers anything as the club will make more from the revenue these two players will generate over thd life of their contracts than they will pay them under the terms of the contracts. Your thinking is why the other teams who were bidding lost because you/they look at these contracts as costs vs. the Dodgers ownership looking at these contracts as investment opportunities. Japan worships its sports stars like no other place on the planet. By signing the two biggest Japanese icons the Dodgers now have the entire 126 million in population of Japan added to their fanbase instantly. For Ohtani’s press confrence at Dodger Stadium every single tv channel in Japan broadcast it. That doesn’t happen in the US or anywhere else even if Babe Ruth is at that press conference. Just the merch sales aline in Japan will pay for these two contracts. Broadcasters in Japan are currently in a bidding war for the rights to broadcast Dodger games in Japan. Ad rates within Dodger Stadium are skyrocketing overnight as Japanese companies want the millions of eyes watching Dodger hime games worldwide to sed their company’s ad. The first homestand at Dodger Stadium is already sold out with limited standing room only tickets selling for $900 (face value). The Dodgers already lead MLB in attendance every year, but every home gamr next year will be virtual sell outs and the Dodgers will price tickets at whatever they want and Dodger fans won’t complain at all. The Dodgers will be printing money at Dodger Stadium because of these two players. The team’s ownership, Guggenheim Partners, is in the business of making money for their clients and they understand investment opportunities, as they manage $300 billion for their clients. That is why when everybody else ses $1 billion in cost, the Dodgers see $1 billion in an investment that will yield revenue of $2+ billion over the next 10-12 years. As they say: “You have to spend money to make money.”

[@yoojboy4024]

it's great for baseball, people now have so much to talk about ⚾

[@sweatyraider7241]

Yeah that's very sweet of him

[@ABC24886]

Listen the Dodgers haven't won the WS since 1988, because 2020 should not count because LA only played like 60 games.

[@KevinBoklage1984]

It’s the same thing the Yankees did in the late 90s early 2000s It’s great for baseball and yes we’ve already been through this before people always forget late 90s early 2000s Yankees

[@LoryCole-u8d]

Best comedy ever, inside of the love of sports.

[@normlee6566]

Eisen is pretty hypocritical to even raise the question given that his yankees had done that for decades and i bet he didn't ask whether it was good or bad for baseball. And last i checked, the yanks have a $300 million+ pitcher and a $170 million+ second starter not to mention two $300+ million OF/DH and another OF who may be asking for a $500+ million deal next off-season. He's just salty because his team is no longer the neighborhood bully.

[@jro21]

Dodgers built this over a decade don’t blame them for having good attendance and winning record

[@acruzro95]

Actually id be cool with the Dodgers winning. Glasnow is my favorite player. Ohtani, Yamamoto, Freeman, betts, chris taylor , manny margot etc. Are all very likeable players and would be happy if they win too. Id start rooting against them after they win once or twice

[@GENOSANDIEGO]

Honestly, I won't even click on this video if it wasn't for Ohtani / Dodgers. I'm a certified bandwagon. Now I know how most bandwagon Lakers fans feel...

[@mikepuncsak7297]

I'm surprised Ohtani doesn't have a shoe deal with Onitsuka Tiger

[@mr.lutherp.e.6468]

Ohtanisuka Tiger

[@motile.]

That would have been awesome. He was with ASICS already, but is now with New Balance.

[@littlee3536]

GREAT JOB DAD!

[@peytonbrown5394]

Sorry Rich, but you're wrong. Anaheim is and always has been apart of the Los Angeles metroplex. It's like saying Brooklyn/Long Island aren't part of NYC, or that South Side Chicago isn't part of Chicago. Should the Mets be called the Metropolitans of Queens? Should the White Sox be called the South Side White Sox? I grew up in Huntington Beach, so I've been battling this logical fallacy my whole life. Just because you have to sit 4 hrs in traffic to get to Orange County, doesn't actually mean the distance is 4 hrs away. Just because a place is a suburb doesn't mean it's not attached to the city proper; It's literally right next to LA. In my home town of HB I could drive 20 minutes to Long Beach up the PCH and be in LA.