I’m a baseball fan. I have to admit that. I played it when I was a kid for a few years, before I realized I wasn’t a very good hitter. but I always loved catching the ball, and even now just simply playing catch with someone in the park somewhere is an endless source of enjoyment.

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Hi T-Ray, I understand your feelings, I am just a simple guy who wants to have a successful career in the sport I love, and I want to be nice to everyone.

Shohei Ohtani

Unintentionally Heartbreaking

Ohtani has to make a difficult choice.

He knows how much value he has, and the importance of his presence on any team in the major leagues.

The owners of teams, their general managers and field managers and coaches and players are all holding their breaths, in anticipation of having this once in a generation superstar player on their team, or not.

This is obviously a big deal. But to me, a humble, loyal and loving baseball fan of the San Francisco Giants, the fans perspective needs to be talked about more. This is where the real heartbreak will take place.

The hopes of baseball fans everywhere are riding on one young, talented, handsome and wealthy two-way baseball superhero.

If he signs a contract with your team, there will be dancing in the streets! T-shirts will be quickly printed, bought and sold well before the season begins. Season tickets will be sold out lickety split.

If he doesn’t sign with your team, welcome to the greatest missed opportunity in baseball history. For fans, the greatest heartbreak ever.

Fans around the country will be in tears. I worry that when Shohei Ohtani comes to your city to play against your team, his welcome will not be so warm. Will fans be upset and heartbroken still, and would they turn on Shohei? I sure hope not. But I feel that this situation could arise.

There’s nothing that Shohei Ohtani can do about this. He just wants to be a great player and teammate. But still he has to make a very difficult decision. It’s not as simple as it seems. Which team will be the chosen one ?

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Sorry, but it’s time to go.

I’ll be back.

…………………………..

I’m back.

Do you want to know what lickety split means?

If something is done lickety split, it is done right away, 早速です。Yes, it’s an old expression, not commonly used, except by older guys. I just like the way it sounds.

It’s fun to say.

Let’s get fluent in English lickety split!

Finish that cheesecake lickety split and let’s go to the stadium. I don’t want to be late.

Anyways,

Shohei Ohtani will leave the Angels soon.

This is a family pain that is close to my heart.

My sister and her husband and all my other family members are Angels fans.

I was an Angels fan before, as a kid.

It’s kind of a sad moment.

Oh well. Let’s cross our fingers and see what happens next.

Bye for now.

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Dee sem burr Third Twentee twentee three

Ohtani will not pass up an opportunity to play for his dream team. That’s it. He will sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers. That team has too many good players and a great manager who has connections to Japan — I’m sure Dave Roberts is boning up on his Japanese phrases like crazy now, and will turn on the charm with his こんにちは and よろしくお願いしますwhen the Dodgers have their meetings with Ohtani.

This brings another thought to mind. Ohtani’s security blanket/interpreter/ friend, Ippei Kun . Ippei Kun has become a fixture and a celebrity as the interpreter for Ohtani. He will continue to be with him as a Dodger. A regular member of the dugout and supporting staff.

I like Ippei san, but I think Ohtani needs to let him go.

If that sounds harsh let me explain.

Ohtani needs to grow, not as an athlete, but as a professional man. He needs to show some maturity and character.

Bottom line: He needs to communicate with his teammates in English. This will be important to create the bond between him and his teammates, to become close and be friends.

That’s what it will take to make the ultimate championship team. We have all seen how important the bond between players is. Look at teams like the Philadelphia Phillies this past season, look at the Giants during their World Series Championships 2010, 2012 and 2014. These types of teams are so close, like brothers, and their togetherness shows on the field and off the field. They generate excitement and enthusiasm through their organization and their city.

If Ohtani can also speak in interviews and to national media in English, my goodness, he will be eternally revered and became an even more inspirational player for millions of baseball fans around the world. Especially for the young fans who might also be struggling with learning English. If Ohtani lets his favorite Ippei (comfort blanket) go, the school children worldwide will see that they can be like Ohtani, and overcome their fears of speaking English too. It is such an important thing for him to do. I truly believe that. He needs to add this aspect to his public persona, and it will indirectly help English teachers in Japan too.

Communication is his real golden opportunity, beyond his pursuit of a World Series appearance, or beyond his recovery from his elbow surgery, he has to talk more.

I am hoping that when he is not studying hitting or learning how to pitch certain players in certain situations, that he is studying English.

That is why, he must let his translator/friend go, even if he requires it as a part of his decision to join the Dodgers, the security blanket has to be folded and put on the shelf.

Ohtani Shohei, are you listening? Give me a call Shohei, I can help you.

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He’s a Dodger now.

He’s a former Angel.

Play ball!