U.S. Media Criticizes Angels GM’s Revelation of Shohei Ohtani’s “Refusal to Examine” as Self-Defense by Angels

Last Updated on 08/28/2023 by てんしょく飯

On August 26, GM Perry Minassian held another press conference regarding the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani (29), who has damaged the medial collateral ligament in his right elbow and is out for the season, and revealed that Shohei Ohtani and his agent, Nez Valero, had refused his request for a full examination earlier this month.

The U.S. media took a critical tone toward the announcement, saying that it was a self-defense by the Angels, who were being held accountable for their management, and that they were placing the blame on Shohei Ohtani.

There was criticism from the U.S. media and fans of the Angels’ management responsibility for the shocking breakdown of the two-tool star, which occurred after overworking him and taking precautionary measures.

The aftermath of the shocking news that Shohei Ohtani has damaged ligaments in his right elbow and will not pitch this season has not stopped. No decision has been made yet on whether or not he will undergo Tommy John surgery, and Ohtani continues to pitch in games at DH, but suddenly, GM Minassian addressed reporters before the August 26 game against the Mets and explained the circumstances surrounding Ohtani’s breakdown. He revealed, “I approached him in early August about testing, but he and his agent, Valero, refused.”

The Angels asked Ohtani to undergo a thorough examination after the August 3 game against the Mariners, in which he pitched an emergency game in the fourth inning after complaining of cramps in his right hand and fingers. According to the local newspaper, the Los Angeles Times, a reporter asked, “Why did you recommend that Ohtani get a checkup after the finger cramps?” GM Minassian was asked, “Because he had problems with blisters, cramps, and dehydration this season. It was just to be on the safe side.

He brought up the story of Mike Trout, for example, who had returned to the Angels and had accepted the offer to have his broken left hand re-examined.

However, the U.S. media criticized GM Minassian’s emergency press conference and the revelation of his refusal to submit to an examination as “defending himself” and “shifting the blame to Ohtani.

Yahoo Sports in the U.S. said, “Ohtani’s time as a pitcher this season is over. The Angels want to make it clear that it was not their fault. The news is shocking to all involved, but the stream of controversy has been a topic of controversy as the breakdown was found. Angels GM Perry Minassian, who may be feeling the pressure, wanted to make it clear that he was not unaware of the breakdown due to team negligence,” the report said.

　Yahoo Sports further expanded on the criticism.

Ohtani was not in good shape for most of the month, and many took issue with the Angels’ failure to examine his arm carefully after arm fatigue forced him to avoid a start.” GM Minassian’s comments Saturday placed the blame on Ohtani as the reason for not taking these actions. Whether that is fair or not, it is all dependent on Ohtani’s judgment. Players often refuse MRIs if they feel comfortable, and Angels manager Phil Nevin said, ‘I’ve done that in my playing career. It’s completely up to Ohtani to make the decision about where to go from here.”

　Ohtani had been experiencing anomalies up to this point that could be considered signs of a breakdown.

On June 27, he left the game against the White Sox in the middle of the seventh inning due to a cracked nail; on July 4, he left the game against the Padres after five innings due to blisters; on July 14, he left the game against the Astros in the fifth inning due to the same cracked nail; on July 27, he pitched the first complete game in three days against the Tigers in game one of a doubleheader; and on July 28, he pitched a complete game against the Tigers in game two. In the second game, he hit a two-run homer but was replaced in the middle of the game due to back cramps. He also surrendered in the 4th inning against the Mariners on the 3rd after refusing to undergo tests, and it was announced on the 14th that he would not pitch in the next game. The Angels’ management responsibility for his punctured right elbow, even though there were signs of it, was questioned by the U.S. media, officials, and fans.

　Immediately after the announcement of the right elbow ligament injury, the Los Angeles Times ran a scathing article with the headline, “Angels let Ohtani down.

Unlike the Dodgers and Yankees, the Angels were in no position to say no to Ohtani. They couldn’t tell him to give up his hitting or even his pitching after he underwent surgery to repair his elbow. The Angels never told him that Ohtani’s personal pursuit (of a higher baseball level) would come at the cost of an important part of his life (his physical health). The Angels did not play an important part of baseball,” he criticized.

By giving Ohtani the freedom he needed to become a first-class pitcher and hitter and produce three of the greatest seasons in baseball, the Angels were able to do so, but at the same time, those freedoms did not come at the cost of his physical health. But at the same time, these freedoms led to a lack of control that resulted in Wednesday’s disaster,” he even asserted.

In other words, he blamed the Angels’ management system for failing to control Ohtani, who never wanted to rest and respected his positive intentions too much.

As Yahoo! News reported, GM Minassian’s decision to deny Ohtani an examination was probably an “excuse” for the accusations.

The New York Daily News also reported, “The Angels are under pressure after baseball’s best player was hurt on the Angels’ watch,” adding, “Ohtani was diagnosed with a medial collateral ligament injury Wednesday, but tests earlier could have found tension and damage in his elbow. The Angels could have stopped him from pitching in treatment of the injury and avoided the worst-case scenario of damage,” the report said in an argument for the Angels’ management responsibility.

The New York Daily News noted that in the past, the Mets have had instances of players refusing to get tests and the Angels failing to persuade them, leading to breakdowns: in 2017, right-hander Noah Syndergaard refused to get an MRI on his shoulder. At the time, then-GM Sandy Alderson made the “infamous comment” that “I can’t just strap him down and throw him in the testing machine.” In the end, Syndergaard was out of the line of duty with a broad back muscle injury.

GM Minassian said there was a “strong mutual trust between him and Ohtani. But the Angels came under criticism for giving Ohtani too much autonomy to make his own decisions. Ohtani made most of the decisions to play or not to play, and the Angels seemed to believe that they could bring out his potential by limiting him less. But unfortunately they let it break down.”

The New York Daily News also questioned the Angels’ system for failing to manage Ohtani.

The issue of Ohtani’s refusal to undergo testing, which was exposed by Angels executives, is likely to have a major impact on the departure of Ohtani, who will become a free agent this offseason.