God Forbid Anyone Choose to Work Anywhere But New York City

Shohei Ohtani, the latest hot name looking to come over to MLB from Japan, has narrowed the list of teams where he will sign, down to seven.

Included among those that will not be considered: the New York Yankees (and every team East of Chicago). This, apparently, is now cause for much hand-wringing and wretching and psychoanalysis of Ohtani. I mean, who wouldn’t want to live in New York and play for the Yankees? Obviously, this guy has no interest in winning since he is eliminating one of the 19 teams that hasn’t played in a World Series in the last eight years.

Ohtani having the freedom to choose from among 30 clubs and 27 cities and decide where he wants to work has prompted the New York Daily News to call him a chicken on their cover.

Plenty of fans threw a fit about Ohtani not considering the Yankees. (warning: a few of the below tweets are NSFW).

So yes, Ohtani has put the Cubs and Dodgers on his short list. He obviously has no interest in winning. And yes, it’s overpopulated with West Coast teams. News flash: it is an entirely reasonable position to want to live on the West Coast. He had the good sense to leave Oakland off his list, so if anyone should be offended, it’s the Athletics. Yes, he has the Padres, but San Diego is a great city to go to.

I’m sorry to have to let you know this, but over 90% of the country does not live in New York City, and most of those have no desire to live there. Ohtani has the freedom to make a choice. Get ovah it.