283 replies to this topic

[BaltBird 24]

He's the Babe Ruth of our era. He's the best offensive player and one of the best pitchers at the same time. That's absolutely insane. Probably won't see another player like him in our lifetime, either.

[Mackus]

He's the Babe Ruth of our era. He's the best offensive player and one of the best pitchers at the same time. That's absolutely insane. Probably won't see another player like him in our lifetime, either.

Even Ruth didn't do it at the same time. He was a pitcher who hit a tiny bit, then a hitter who pitched a tiny bit, and then basically for the majority of his career including all of his best seasons he was just a hitter.

Agree we won't see anything like him again.

[BaltBird 24]

Even Ruth didn't do it at the same time. He was a pitcher who hit a tiny bit, then a hitter who pitched a tiny bit, and then basically for the majority of his career including all of his best seasons he was just a hitter.

Agree we won't see anything like him again.

1918 was probably the closest Ruth came. He was the best offensive player in the league (192 OPS+ and hit 11 of Boston's 15 HRs). He also threw 166 IP at a 122 ERA+. Ohtani won't come close to Ruth's offensive level, but he's the better pitcher.

Just crazy we're even talking about a similar player to Ruth.

[CantonJester]

1918 was probably the closest Ruth came. He was the best offensive player in the league (192 OPS+ and hit 11 of Boston's 15 HRs). He also threw 166 IP at a 122 ERA+. Ohtani won't come close to Ruth's offensive level, but he's the better pitcher.

Just crazy we're even talking about a similar player to Ruth.

 

In 1920, Babe Ruth hit more HR (54) than every other team except the Philadelphia Phillies.

[CantonJester]

Lol...a billion dollars in 3-4 years?

 

How's about $700m in one season?

 

If you don't like Bleacher Report, find another article about it. They're out there.

 

FWIW the LA Dodgers franchise valuation in 2023 was 4.8b. 2024 was 5.5bm. 2025? 6.9b (Forbes). 7.73b (Reuters). 5.8b (Statista).

[Mackus]

How's about $700m in one season?

If you don't like Bleacher Report, find another article about it. They're out there.

FWIW the LA Dodgers franchise valuation in 2023 was 4.8b. 2024 was 5.5bm. 2025? 6.9b (Forbes). 7.73b (Reuters). 5.8b (Statista).

Same link has Yankees going from $7.1B in '23 to $8.2B in '25. Is that also Ohtani?

 

Also, and this should be obvious, but franchise value is not the same as annual profit.

[CantonJester]

Same link has Yankees going from $7.1B in '23 to $8.2B in '25. Is that also Ohtani?

 

Also, and this should be obvious, but franchise value is not the same as annual profit.

 

He's a multi-billion dollar brand that is fetching the Dodgers endorsement contracts in Japan. You know, the most rabid baseball country on the planet. 

 

What are you even arguing now? I simply said they'd make their money back. I showed after 2024 they did just that, and now once 2025's #s are released, they're in the black. We're not talking about $2m a year or whatever pittance he agreed to while he's playing. We're talking the entirety of the contract.

 

FTR, I'm not 'for' this. I'm simply stating that when they did this, they would make $ hand over fist. 

[CantonJester]

Also...they won the World Series last year with Ohtani rocking a 9.2 WAR (no innings pitched). 54 HR, 130 RBI and a 187 OPS+. 

 

That sells tickets. That increases tourism from Japan. 

 

How did the Dodgers make their money back so quickly?

According to reporter Joon Lee, the Dodgers have already recouped the cost of Ohtani’s massive contract through booming ticket sales, merchandise revenue, and international marketing deals in Japan and worldwide. Lee also pointed to a recent Wall Street Journal article that reported tourism from Japan to Los Angeles has surged by almost 90% since Shohei Ohtani signed with the Dodgers.

 

In a video posted to X, Lee stated, “The Dodgers made $750 million in 2024, but I think that underplays the impact that Ohtani is actually having on the team’s financial situation. First, it’s hard to understate how enormous of a celebrity Ohtani is in Japan. He’s covered like the president of the country. […] and that translates to the number of fans that now come to Dodger Stadium straight from Japan.”

 

The Ohtani Effect

In addition to attracting a wave of new fans, the Dodgers have also drawn increased interest from major brands eager to associate themselves with Shohei Ohtani’s global appeal. Both Japanese and international companies are seeking partnerships to capitalize on the “Ohtani effect,” recognizing that while baseball has many great players, none carry the same star power or marketing influence as Ohtani. As a result, Ohtani’s global reach has transformed the Dodgers into one of the most marketable franchises in professional sports.

 

You may not want to admit it, and yeah, I can be the professor of hot takes, but the Dodgers absolutely crushed this like I said they would. 

[Mackus]

So the Dodgers made $750M in 2024 according to that. Is that revenue or profit? Assuming profit, which seems outrageous to me, how much did they make in 2023? Much, but not close to all, of the delta can be attributed to Ohtani.

They also signed a other mega superstar from Japan in Yakamura, so not all of their increase from Japan can be just Shohei. And the increase from being in the World Series is attributable to the entire team, we know from his time in Anaheim that two superstars can't drive that. Takes a full team and not like the Dodgers weren't near the top of the pile before.


You said initially they'd make a billion in profit from Ohtani alone in 3-4 years. That was and remains a wild overestimate, IMO. Everything you've posted recently seems to me to help confirm that. The Dodgers haven't made an extra $700M profit the past two years compared to what they would've made had Ohtani gone to Toronto or wherever else.

I can believe they're getting their money's worth and then some each year, but not earning back the entire commitment in such a short period.

[CantonJester]

So the Dodgers made $750M in 2024 according to that. Is that revenue or profit? Assuming profit, which seems outrageous to me, how much did they make in 2023? Much, but not close to all, of the delta can be attributed to Ohtani.

They also signed a other mega superstar from Japan in Yakamura, so not all of their increase from Japan can be just Shohei. And the increase from being in the World Series is attributable to the entire team, we know from his time in Anaheim that two superstars can't drive that. Takes a full team and not like the Dodgers weren't near the top of the pile before.


You said initially they'd make a billion in profit from Ohtani alone in 3-4 years. That was and remains a wild overestimate, IMO. Everything you've posted recently seems to me to help confirm that. The Dodgers haven't made an extra $700M profit the past two years compared to what they would've made had Ohtani gone to Toronto or wherever else.

I can believe they're getting their money's worth and then some each year, but not earning back the entire commitment in such a short period.

 

You're being contrarian in a safe space. You know I can't produce the #s because everything is guesstimates (MLB doesn't open their books). And stop with the nonsense that the kid SP is even in the same galaxy as Ohtani. Ohtani is the most popular athlete on the planet. The advertising contracts they have in Japan (? No clue the value). They cleared his contract in one season, and when I said 3-4, years, I'm pretty comfortable in the knowledge that it was money well spent, and that the profits he brings back will far exceed his contract. 

 

I mean, are you Minister of mid-market teams? Make your denial make sense. And for the record, you do understand the cost of being great, means adding great players to your roster to maintain your greatness.

 

Again, explain it to me like I'm 5. 

 

ETA - You mentioned the Angels. Don't fall down the slope. They're a poorly run team. That doesn't take away the value that Shohei Ohtani has to a well-run organization. 

 

Again, money hand over fist. 

[Mackus]

You're misinterpreting the different between franchise value and profit.  Or the differences between revenues and profit.  For the 5 year old mind, franchise value is what an entire business is worth if it were sold (or borrowed against).  Revenue is all the income a company makes.  Profit is all the income minus all the operating expenses.

 

You said they'd make a billion in profit in 3-4 years.  Nothing you've posted since has come close to supporting that despite your attempts at a victory lap.  Find something that supports your argument and then I'll be willing to believe it.

 

I believe they are making a ton of money.  I don't believe they'd already generated an extra $700M in profit because they signed Ohtani.  I'd believe a quarter or a third of that.

[glenn__davis]

Seriously though.  You're not supposed to be able to be this good at this sport.

 

4-4, 2 2Bs, 2HRs, 5BB.  Absolutely insane.  We would usually say video game numbers but even video game numbers aren't that good.

[Mackus]

Shining in the postseason in a way Aaron Judge, who's a much better hitter, hasn't been able to do.

Ohtani is unbelievable. Has anyone ever gone 9/9 getting on base before? I mean in any game, I know it's never happened in the postseason.

[CantonJester]

You're misinterpreting the different between franchise value and profit.  Or the differences between revenues and profit.  For the 5 year old mind, franchise value is what an entire business is worth if it were sold (or borrowed against).  Revenue is all the income a company makes.  Profit is all the income minus all the operating expenses.

 

You said they'd make a billion in profit in 3-4 years.  Nothing you've posted since has come close to supporting that despite your attempts at a victory lap.  Find something that supports your argument and then I'll be willing to believe it.

 

I believe they are making a ton of money.  I don't believe they'd already generated an extra $700M in profit because they signed Ohtani.  I'd believe a quarter or a third of that.

 

Ah. So what you’re saying is I’m in an un-winnable argument until the current ownership group sells for an American sports franchise record. But then there’ll be another reason why you can’t tie it back to Ohtani. 

 

How the Dodgers became the first MLB team to hit $1B in revenue. They explain they’re already a well-run organization (duh). I’m not sure how you think what I’m saying is incorrect. 

[Mackus]

I'm sorry that you're feeling frustrated that you said something outrageous and now cannot support it with facts. It'd be easy to go back and say something like "yeah I said profit, but I'm gonna count franchise value as such and attribute all of it to Ohtani". I'd push back on both parts of that to varying degrees but it'd at least be rational.

[weird-O]

I read that Toronto's manager was joking, but no really joking, about how he doesn't like "Ohtani rule". 

[SBTarheel]

I read that Toronto's manager was joking, but no really joking, about how he doesn't like "Ohtani rule". 

The Blue Jays have always been my version of everyone else's Yankees, as they've always been the team I disliked the most, but damn, if I don't love John Schneider, his personality has really shined this postseason. 

 

His reactions both in the dugout and in press conferences to Ohtani's brilliance are fantastic. 

[SBTarheel]

Not that this is at all important, but the title of the thread is "Shohei Otani", no H in the last name. 

 

I wonder if this is how it was spelled when he first came over, or it was always with an H, and the opening post was incorrect. 

[Nigel Tufnel]

Not that this is at all important, but the title of the thread is "Shohei Otani", no H in the last name. 

 

I wonder if this is how it was spelled when he first came over, or it was always with an H, and the opening post was incorrect. 

 

I never noticed that, but if you click on the links from Chris's original 2016 post, they call him 'Otani' too.  So the spelling must have changed at some point.

[Nigel Tufnel]

Otani or Ohtani? : r/baseball