T.G.

Deek or anyone else

The word "silly" has been thrown around a bit in this thread. You know what’s really silly to me? Some of you who think loyalty in sports is silly also think loyalty to a team is some sort of sacred code. God forbid, someone like @Deek or anyone else decide to root for a different team. Oh, hell no - that's unforgivable. Talk about silly... Baseball is just entertainment. And yet - believe it or not, loyalty does exist in professional sports. I just think it's rare and when it does occur, it's refreshing to me. My main point is that Ohtani's leaving, makes me appreciate Trout even more. I don't begrudge Ohtani at all - I just wish he had picked a different team.

At no point have I faulted Ohtani for leaving. That was never my point.

That's about the dumbest thing I've ever read on AW.

We heard it over and over again. Shohei Ohtani wants to win. No kidding. Every player wants to win. Mike Trout wants to win. The difference between Trout and Ohtani is that Trout wants to win as an Angel. Ohtani just wants to win, period. There’s a difference. Trout wants to be a part of building a winner. Ohtani wants to join one. We also heard over and over again that Ohtani isn’t necessarily about the money. Well, I see about 700 million reasons to think that isn’t necessarily true. I’m not judging Ohtani for taking the biggest contract in the history of professional sports. Heck, no. More power to him. But… in the words of Jered Weaver, “how much do you really need?” Loyalty. Weaver will always be beloved for it. When Tim Salmon approached free agency for the first time, he told his agent to take the first offer from the Angels. Salmon was rewarded for his loyalty with a 2002 World Series championship and became the most beloved player in franchise history. Trout showed his loyalty when he also resigned with the Angels. He could have left. Most around baseball thought he would. He didn’t. Loyalty. Salmon, Weaver and Trout’s loyalty isn’t lost on me. I don’t think it’s lost on most fans. There’s something special about players who come up through the organization and stay with the organization throughout most, if not all of their career. Ohtani leaving, makes me appreciate Trout’s loyalty more than ever. I have enjoyed every moment of Ohtani’s time with the Angels. I believe he will go down in history as the greatest player of all time. Losing him is disappointing. I can now understand what Cardinal fans must have felt like when Albert Pujols left to sign with the Angels. I understand how disappointed Twins fans must have been to see Torii Hunter leave as well. Then again – at least those two guys didn’t leave for a division or cross-time rival. That’s the thing. It isn’t so much that Ohtani left the Angels. It’s that he left the Angels for the Dodgers. The stinking Dodgers. It’s kind of a slap in the face to Angel fans. The same fans that loved and supported him through his first six years in major league baseball. The same fans who have lived in the shadow of Dodger fans for years. It also stings to know he asked not to be traded during this past season because he wanted to try and win with the Angels, only to turn around and head up the 5 freeway to Chavez Ravine when it didn’t work out. No loyalty there. That's also not lost on me. Again, the main take away for me isn't so much about Ohtani. It's about an increased appreciation for Mike Trout and his loyalty to the Angels and their fans. It's a rare thing this day and age, especially in professional sports.

INO

All I know is that I appreciate Trout's loyalty to the Angels more than ever.

I feel bad for the Japanese tourists who are going to get mugged in the parking lot.

Very disappointing. More later.

All the reporters have a fake news hangover

Best day this week for sure.

Diva

Your party sucked. It was just a room full of dudes looking at each other.

@RallyMo can explain.

Apology not accepted

College

They're going to use that $4.5 million to pay someone to walk Ohtani's dog. This is brilliant.

Where do they get that?

Where do fire trucks get their gas? I've never seen one at a gas station.

It's the little things that make IP a real genius.

I hope Ohtani doesn't sign until February.

The really funny thing is that Robert Herjavec was in town to buy the Angels.

I blame @Angelsjunky

I wonder what the Illuminati thinks about all of this.