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Shoehi Ohtani Spurns the Padres... So What?





So the Japansese Babe Ruth, Shoehi Ohtani, collectively disappointed the Padres and the city of San Diego and picked the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. A lot of fans are rightfully disappointed, bemoaning that in a year where the Chargers lost their soul and chased the money all the way to LA, SDSU basketball missed postseason play for the first time in seemingly forever, Steve Fisher retired, and All-American Rashaad Penny was horrendously ignored in Heisman voting, a snub from Ohtani- one of the most coveted Japanese imports in recent memory- especially feels like another kick to our collective groin.

But guys... relax.

The calculus for next year doesn't change that much. Ohtani or no Ohtani, the Padres probably still would have endured another losing season. Ohtani would've been a luxury that certainly would have at least somewhat accelerated the rebuild process, but losing out on him to the Angels does not change the fact that we have a promising young core that is only just beginning to make an impact at the Major League level.

Look, signing Ohtani was a crapshoot from the beginning. All 30 teams in baseball were gunning for him- and the fact that we, the "lowly", "small market", and "Not Big Time At All™" San Diego Padres, were among the finalists he considered; picked over teams like the Yankees, Red Sox, and Astros, and alongside juggernauts like the Cubs and Dodgers, is indicative of the fact that for the Padres, the future is bright- incandescent, even.

We came so close to successfully selling him on the fact that we have one of, if not the most talented farm systems in the game, built by one of the smartest front offices in the Majors.

The tide in San Diego is changing- gone are the days of the antiquated, "old-school" way of team building Kevin Towers espoused, or the perpetual ineffectuality of Josh Byrnes and Bud Black, and perhaps most importantly, banished is the instability of the previous cost-cutting ownership regime.

Indeed, a new zeitgeist has arrived- AJ Preller is one of the smartest and most innovative general managers in baseball, Andy Green is a capable leader that can squeeze every last win out of his players, and Ron Fowler (and his checkbook), despite his missteps, has demonstrated both commitment and patience to building a sustainable winner.

So, as long as AJP & co. don't mess this offseason up by panic-signing Eric Hosmer to a overpriced long-term deal despite the fact that he's a terrible fit for this team, we all should take a group-deep breath, and take a good look at this picture to remind ourselves what we should trust when we feel bad about missing out on Ohtani:






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