Let’s make one thing clear before we really dive in.
It isn’t surprising that this is so. Shohei Ohtani has a “negative impression” of a 73-89 season. Any player who doesn’t — whether or not they compiled an MVP-caliber year — is either lying or doesn’t care about winning.
The Japanese superstar made comments RundesTuesday’s Associated Press publication of a rather standard story based upon an interview conducted at Tokyo Airport was quite common.
“I have to say that August and September in particular felt longer to me than last year,” Ohtani said in Japanese, translated by the AP. “We were not able to play as many good games as we would like — including 14 consecutive losses. So I have a rather negative impression of the season.”
Again, it’s unsurprising. There aren’t many, if any, players in the Angelsclubhouses who would disagree. It was a horrible season. Some players progressed. Some players made progress, but many others regressed. The organization had major foundational flaws. One manager was fired. The owner said he’d sell, leaving countless unanswered questionsThe short-term as well as the long-term.
Ohtani’s comments in this interview, on their own, shouldn’t be taken out of context. They shouldn’t be used as evidence of a potentially negative perception he has toward the Angels because this situation is complex and incredibly nuanced.
