Shohei Ohtani’s decision to sign with the Los Angeles Angels was disappointing to every team that pursued the Japanese hitter-pitcher hybrid, but it especially stung the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners, who haven’t made the playoffs since 2001, were considered a favorite for Ohtani, in part because they traded several solid prospects to secure more international slot money. Seattle has an aging roster, and Ohtani seemed to be the franchise’s best hope for returning to the playoffs in the near future. Instead, the 23-year-old signed with a division rival and presumably a chief competitor for a wild-card spot in 2018. Brutal.
From the Mariners’ perspective, the news can be succinctly expressed by Seattle sports fan and “Around the Horn” panelist Mina Kimes, who was on set when the announcement arrived.
That is some raw emotion right there. Soon after Kimes tweeted that “sports are bad and life is pain,” then shared the video of her on-camera reaction saying “you can actually pinpoint the moment when my heart rips in half!”
Yeah, the Mariners are not making the playoffs any time soon. At least Seattle still has the Seahawks?
About Alex Putterman
Alex is a writer and editor for The Comeback and Awful Announcing. He has written for The Atlantic, VICE Sports, MLB.com, SI.com and more. He is a proud alum of Northwestern University and The Daily Northwestern. You can find him on Twitter @AlexPutterman.