Dave Roberts’ Comments on Shohei Ohtani Have Dodgers Fans in a Frenzy
The Manager Confirmed He Met With Ohtani At Dodger Stadium. Does This Mean Anything?
The Dodgers’ fan base was in a frenzy Tuesday after manager Dave Roberts told reporters the team met with free agent Shohei Ohtani a few days ago at Dodger Stadium. This is the first confirmation of any detail about the Dodgers’ pursuit of Ohtani from within the organization, other than nebulous expressions of admiration for his talent.
The biggest question is why Roberts announced the meeting. The Dodgers’ organization – and almost every team pursuing Ohtani this offseason – has been tight-lipped about their pursuit. Roberts was confident enough about Ohtani’s decision to let word of this meeting slip out. It also appears to contradict earlier reports that Ohtani would hold any leaks against a team that reveals details of his free agency process.
However, this wasn’t a private leak. It was Roberts answering a question honestly in a public forum, about a meeting that took place days ago.
Roberts wouldn’t do anything to hurt the Dodgers’ chances of signing the once-in-a-lifetime talent, so this has to be coming from a place of knowledge – perhaps that Ohtani has already decided where he will sign, whether in Los Angeles or somewhere else. Here are some reactions from Dodgers fans:
Even with Ohtani asking for privacy, it’s hard to believe he would allow Roberts’ admission of their recent meeting alter his decision about where to sign. Hopefully, it’s a sign Ohtani has already chosen the Dodgers.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Have you subscribed to our YouTube Channel yet? Subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay up to date on all the latest Dodgers news, rumors, interviews, live streams, and more!
What person asks for complete silence of being sighted? Is Ohtani above all other players to actually ask for silence even if he is in the public eye and suggest that they lie and deny if they did see him? And to suggest the team that slips up will be punished? Good for our Dodger manager as to not being silenced as to what he saw in passing without revealing any content or information on anything! These types of demands or attitudes can cause divisions in the clubhouse.
Man, I could not agree more. Ohtani and his agent are arrogant and if what Roberts said is a prelude to them not be able to sign him is BS. AF has been saying for some time that he was their top target as has the entire baseball world. How in the heck are you supposed to negotiate with any body and it not get out when the world knows you are.
Just listen to the common theme on the MLB channel and they are praising Roberts for simply answering a question truthfully.