Steven A. Smith commented last night at the HR derby that Shohei Ohtani uses a translator...

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so people understand "what the hell he's saying." It was a dumb thing to say and he apologized this morning on his ESPN show.

He also inferred that because of Ohtani not speaking English baseball can't market him effectively. That is of course bullshit. Baseball can't even market Mike Trout, Ohtani's Angels team mate who for years has been recognized as the best player in baseball.

Smith should know better. It's baseball's hidebound, behind the times attitudes not Ohtani's not being able to speak English. He's a good looking kid too. Baseball should be blasting ads of him all over. Professional ad agencies can promote anyone and make them, and baseball, which needs it desperately, popular nationwide. Look what was done with the "Bo Jackson knows" campaign. Or the many Micheal Jordan campaigns. The stars don't have to speak in them. Hell they could even have Ohtani say a few things phonetically in English, as he's attractive and has a great smile.

At least Smith apologized and had an Asian American colleague on to bounce things off of. Well done on that.

Baseball on the other hand seems to be still unable to recognized what they have in Ohtani, and Trout too for that matter. Sad.

[elleng]

1. Smith IMPLIED, listeners/audience INFERRED.

Glad the speaker apologized.

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2. Thanks for the correx. Any comments on the OP?

[RockRaven]

3. There are a lot of non-English speakers in MLB. They often don't use translators because

usually they are Spanish speakers and have enough teammates and coaches who are bilingual to get by. The other day I was listening to a game on the radio and the play by play guy was talking about the pitcher and how he had worked on learning English during the off season so he wouldn't need an infielder to translate for him and the catcher anymore.

Never heard Stephen A say a peep about them not being marketed properly. Not that I listen to him if I can avoid it.

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4. Baseball doesn't market anybody propertly. He's commented about that many times...

as have other sports commentators.

Baseball is sitting on a gold mine in Ohtani and all the brilliant, young Latinx players in the game right now.

The Commissioner's office seriously needs to hire a great ad agency and turn them loose with all the great, young stars. Otherwise baseball is going to continue losing fans and viewers to football and basketball.

[rsdsharp]

5. Ohtani speaks English.

He uses a translator to avoid (or at least minimize) misunderstandings.

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6. If that's the case baseball should be marketing him like crazy.

I don't think they know what they're mssing.

[Brother Buzz]

7. Ippei Mizuhara is the interperter and Angles fans know well he's an interetical part of the show...

on and of the field.

The Angles francise knows exactly what they have in Ohtani, and they are doing a splended job promoting him. But I believe the BIG push, the real story, will come toward the end of second half of the season; Ohtani is totally on track chasing down Maris and Ruth on that home run list, and everyone will be watching (and filling the stands, Baby!). He may even eclipse Maris and Ruth, but that could be next year, who knows?

I don't know who pays Mizuhara's salery, but he's been totally ingratiated into the clubhouse. He may not be on the official roster, but he's totally on the uniform dude's list. Hell, he even suited up and caught during that Home Run Derby thingy.

The Angles francise gets high marks promoting Ohtani, but failing marks for cutting Albert Pujols loose. The Dodgers are snickering at that bombastic move.

Is Trout back frim IR?

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8. I was speaking of baseball nationwide. The Angels, and I'll take your word for it as...

I'm not in the LA area, do a good job of marketing Ohtani, but people in other areas of the country don't see what they do locally. With once-in-lifetime talent like Ohtani the Commissioner's Office should be working with the top ad firms to promote the game with him and the other great new stars to grow viewership and fans lost long ago to football and basketball.

I'm not that far away from the LA area but I don't see any of the Ohtani marketing done locally. IMO baseball/the Commissioner's Office is missing an opportunity.

[Brother Buzz]

9. National League SF Giants announcers...

Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow talk up Ohtani all the time. I've learned wonderful nuggets about Ohtani (and Mizuhara) from Kuiper and Krukow that probably don't even make it into the local press. Ohtani is a BIG deal on the West Coast!

I can't address what the rest of the nation knows or hears, but I guarantee he'll be 'The baseball story' when he closes in on those home run records in the Fall.

Think the Angles can claw back from their 9 game deficit?