11:00am: Zack Meisel and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic report that the investigation pertains to gambling.
9:35am: Guardians right-hander Luis Ortiz has been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave through the All-Star break due to an “ongoing league investigation,” according to announcements from both the team and the league. The leave was jointly agreed upon by the league and the Players Association. The Guardians’ statement noted that they are not permitted to comment further at this time. Neither the league nor the team provided specific details on the nature of the investigation.
Ortiz, 26, is in his first season with Cleveland after coming over from the Pirates in exchange for first baseman Spencer Horwitz. He stepped right into the Guardians’ rotation and has started 16 games, tossing 88 2/3 innings with a 4.36 ERA, a 25.1% strikeout rate and an 11% walk rate.
Ortiz had been slated to start tonight’s game for Cleveland, but left-hander Joey Cantillo will make that start instead. He’ll join a rotation also including Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams, Logan Allen and Slade Cecconi. The Guardians lost righty Ben Lively to Tommy John surgery earlier this season, while longtime ace Shane Bieber’s return from last year’s Tommy John procedure was slowed by a minor setback. Bieber recently resumed throwing.
… and another one bites the dust…
Polymarket odds of Ortiz being elected to the HOF just dropped to 4%
Who would have thought that legal sports betting would have negative consequences?
Exactly. Legalized sports betting is probably one of, if not the worst development in sports in the 21st century so far.
the zombie runner is worse
The only positive aspect of legalized sports betting is that it takes some commercial time away from all those personal injury attorneys!
And from Big Pharma
Agree 100% Duffy. It’s absolutely everywhere. I don’t need the broadcasters to stop calling a game to give me betting odds. I don’t need my local sports website to write an entire article about good bets that week, etc etc. You can’t get away from it.
Manfred and his ego are a thousand times worse
This opinion brought to you by F*nd*el. Visit our site for a bat that you can’t lose.
Oh, the horror!!!
Careful. It’s all conjecture at this point, but it’s possible that Fanduel and/or Draftkings ALERTED MLB of some betting irregularities, which led to this investigation.
Had sports betting not been legal, the problem (if there is one) might not have been brought to light at all.
sm
The problem isn’t that it’s legal or not, it’s that Ortiz couldn’t follow a league rule that EVERYONE has driven into their heads from day one.
You’re just hoping the services called it in, but honestly it’s almost impossible for them to make a call like that without a lot of doubt. All a player needs to do is create a hotmail.com email address and bill back to paypal. And even if Ortiz didn’t those few things it’s still pretty easy for most players to say “Must be some other Luis Ortiz” since most names are not that unique. Ohtani and Funderburk aside, you need to either submit a ton of names or be very certain for this to be usefull.
@crise A gambling house is who clued FBI to Malik Beasley of the Pistons. They recognized unusually high betting on Beasley rebound props. Then even after odds adjusted and lowered the unusually high action continued.
Sportsbooks stay in business based off #s and predicting odds. Catching such anomalies like Beasley is right in line with what they do for every game.
Nobody is using anonymous names either. Sportsbooks want ID, SSN, etc before they ll pay out to anyone. They were legalized by States to create tax revenue. State and Federal government are not letting anyone get away with not paying taxes. Software is going to flag te abnormal action, from there all they have to do is look for most suspect bets on said anomaly.
I’m sure more people bet due to legalized gambling, but it wasnt exactly difficult to place a bet before. If a player is placing bets with an illegal bookie, it would be difficult for the league to find out, whereas on DK, Fanduel, etc its only a matter of time.
Russ – So you’re saying it’s harder to place bets and transfer/receive funds anonymously online than it is in person? Finding a friend or distant relative to set up an online account for you under their name is difficult to do and easy for LE to find and prove?
Gee, then I wonder why I’ve been asked so many times by gamblers to be online runners for them.
Wasn’t Ohtani …. err, I mean his translator busted only because the illegal bookie he was using was being investigated?
Sorry dude, if you’re a bookie I’m not trying to take away your business ….I’m just giving it straight.
‘Tis a golden age for degenerate gamblers.
Not sure you needed the word gamblers at the end. LOL
Does anybody know what the line is on him being placed on the “Permanently Ineligible List” I’d like to get few bucks down on it, especially after the bath I’ve taken on the Yanks the last three games. Ahahahahahaha!
@BHJ – …gamblers (and politicians).
All he has to say is that his translator told him it was fine.
Well – young pitching is always a gamble…
If he was on the Pirates and betting against them doesn’t necessarily mean he’s throwing games it just means he’s a smart gambler. On the other hand if he’s doing it with the Guardians it’s more of a grey area. LOL
If you think these things weren’t happening prior to legalized gambling, you need to get out and see the sunshine. Bookies ran wild, and most of it was done undetected. At least now, with legalized gambling platforms, if players choose to that this route instead of the one in darkness, it can be properly investigated.
Pete Rose gambled undetected for years because so much of it was off the books and unseen. He’d have been caught much quicker using todays tracking methods – methods which are now able to be used, and legal, because of the change in legislation. Many fans can’t get their head around that though – they’re too busy making lazy takes on message boards.
I agree with your basic premise, but young men walking around with more computing power in their pockets than the Apollo missions is a game changer. It’s much easier to place a sports bet than ever before.
There are studies regarding the wealth transfer from 18-35 men that is staggering. It’s having a significant negative effect on savings and 401k contributions.
“It was my interpreter”
38-page FBI report says that’s correct.
Same FBI that planned recruited and tried to get extremists to kidnap the governor of Michigan using entrapment.
If we’re talking about the FBI that stands for ‘Female Body Inspectors’; then yes, same FBI.
You sound like a broken record.
Prolly made a ton of money on taking the under on runs scored for Cleveland.
One wonders why these investigations have become more frequent in the past year or two across sports…
Because it’s easier than ever to gamble on sports, and people probably don’t even try to hide what they’re doing because they don’t think they will get caught?
The ellipsis was intended to make it a rhetorical statement…
Love me some ellipsis.
Because there is a paper trail now
Also, young men (so, the core demographic that professional athletes are comprised of) are particularly susceptible to gambling.
Legalization means visibility of information, making investigation easier.
While they’re at it can they look into Weissert? He definitely had the over last night
Weissert has been brutally overused by an inept manager.
Gambling?
There is no gambling at Bushwood!
Hey whitey wheres your hat?
Predicted this when MLB got in bed with gamblers. It’s going to get worse.
I’m shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!
*pockets his own take*
Not enough people are going to get that fantastic reference. Well done.
Your winnings, sir…
This investigation brought to you by draftkings
Just when things were going so well for Cleveland
Legalizing gambling makes it legitimate which makes it harder to convince those in the game that it’s “wrong”. When your games are on FanDuel with pitching changes brought to you by BetMGM with inning by inning lines updated by Bet365, the message of the danger gets lost.
Except on the sign in every clubhouse that clearly states no gambling..
Yea otherwise im with you..except the sign is there so..yea
Just blame the “translator”
Oh that only works for who the MLB wants it to work for
“I never read beyond the headlines.”
“I nor my accountants can read bank statements properly” – Ohtani
“I’m a known Ohtani hater because the Padres are yet to catch up to the Dodgers and seeing an ‘other’ at the top of baseball irks me”
– Easy as 1 2 3
“ I’m not too bright. Mama always called me special, but she meant special needs not a special person. Every time I comment I remind everyone just how special I am….” Steinbrenner2728
“ ….because the padres are yet to catch up to the dodgers…” you have a stroke or something?
“ seeing an ‘other’ at the top of baseball irks me….” So am I an Ohtani hater Dodger hater or “other” hater”? Wouldn’t I be happy “other” is atop of baseball if I’m a dodger hater?
There does that special needs.
There goes that special needs*
The Padres are 8.5 games behind the Dodgers, they have yet to catch up to them, and for someone who brings up special needs while constantly dishing out internet words in their MLBTR comment history about Ohtani and still to this day believing that translator hokey story, that’s quite bold of you.
That’s cool. So if I’m a dodgers hater why would I be mad “other” is better than the dodgers?
Like why would I be mad Rangers have a better era than dodgers?
Padres have more shut outs more saves?
Mets have a lower average against hitters?
And if I hated dodgers wouldn’t also say stuff about mookie freeman other players not just ohtani? And wouldn’t I say more than just Ohtanis gambling habits?
“I totally believe Ippei was able to steal 17 million dollars from Ohtani unnoticed by all parties involved and his loan shark let him rack up nearly 40 million dollars in losses after winning 140 million and losing 180 million ”. – special needs Steinbrenner2728
Here’s a fun test Steinbrenner272. Go borrow money from someone. Lose 40 million dollars. Let us know how that works out for you. Report back with your findings.
You’re clearly worked up over this and that’s fine. Shohei Ohtani is clearly still playing and his translator messed around, the league investigated the matter with due diligence, reports of the matter and articles were written and documented about it, and is now serving time in prison.
Easy.
Yup Ohtani knew nothing about it. Ohtanis just a dumb jock that got fooled to the tune of 17 million dollars unnoticed by himself and accountants and loan sharks allow a guy making 6 figures to rack up 40 million dollars in debt. Totally. Special needs for sure. Not your fault Steinbrenner2728. It’s probably because your parents are siblings or something. Relatives of some kind. You lost the genetic lottery from the get go. So don’t feel bad about your limited intellectual abilities. We can blame your parents.
Yes, and Shohei Ohtani is still playing major league baseball and Ippei is in prison due to the league investigating. You’re mad about it because it doesn’t make him a bigger target. Those personal attacks mean nothing to me as well, though what matters is face-to-face, not from a keyboard, Easy as 1 2 3.
Obviously they matter to you. You made sure to tell me they don’t matter to you. If they didn’t matter you’d ignore them. The fact you took time to tell me that tells me you cares
“ Shohei Ohtani is still playing major league baseball and Ippei is in prison due to the league investigating” Steinbrenner2728
Yup. You read that right folks. Steinbrenner2728 believes the MLB put Ippei behind bars. Wasn’t the police or lawyers or judge. MLB and Rob Manfred Scooby Doo’d the investigation and put him away. Oh boy. I knew you were a few fries short of a happy meal but this is getting ridiculous.
Read the actual FBI report….
Yeah, you can always trust the alphabet agencies. Why would they lie?
38-page FBI report says that’s correct.
That the same FBI that investigated a garage door pulley as a hate crime and planned recruited and attempt to kidnap the governor of Michigan? Yeah they’re totally credible.
And the credulous majority will always believe them.
What’s the over under on the length of the suspension?
I see what you did there.
I wouldn’t bet on him being back this season.
Hope he has an interpreter.
Oh but Ohtani got to play while under investigation. Such bs double standards. Hope Luis sues.
Obsessed, ain’t you?
with equality? Why yes. Nobody is above the law.
Ohtani is still playing and his translator is in prison. You’re right, no one is above the law.
Ohtani wasn’t suspended while matter was investigated. Luis Ortiz is. You’re that ignorant? Not surprised.
Because Ohtani was not gambling, his interpreter was.
His finances were involved his bank accounts his money. Still wasn’t put on administrative leave. He was given special treatment while the matter sorted itself out. Any other player would have been put on leave. Not Ohtani.
Hell Trevor Bauer got put on leave and did nothing wrong.
“On a warm summers evening, on a train bound for nowhere…”
If it was FanDuel, MLB will say that was okay.
And Denny McLain will be unsuspended.
And Pete Rose will be exhumed to give a HOF acceptance speech.
MLB and its support of gambling as long as it was financiers and big Wall Street brokerages doing it is so very sad. And they got into the ticket scalping business, too, in that very same way.
Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker helped to rig at least one game, and they’re both in the Hall of Fame. Why? Because good ol’ Commissioner Landis covered it up. This stuff has run rampant throughout the history of sports, but some of you still believe that only a handful of players have been involved.
I bet someone’s in trouble. Presented to you by FanDuel
Realistically, MLB is so intertwined with the gambling industry, it brings in so much money, that they will never go back. So moral high ground isn’t something that MLB can ever occupy. It’s simply a matter of what they can tolerate from players, some of whom will have a problem controlling themselves.
Players in the early 1900’s were throwing way more games than these guys today are. Ever hear of Hal Chase? And MLB was not intertwined with the gambling industry back then.
Bottom line is no matter if it’s legal or not, the player still has a choice to participate or not and if he did, he violated the policy. Personal responsibility is a thing.
Ban sports gambling now.
It will still go on even if you ban it.
This scenario wouldnt have happened if you couldn’t legally vote for thr first pitch being a ball/strike on draftkings.
All he has to do is say his translator screwed up (Hi Shoei) and he’ll get off with just a slap on the wrist.
What did this “Shoei” do? Who even is that? Are you talking about the motorcycle helmet brand?
38-page FBI report says that’s correct.
Ah, the trusted FBI. You can believe every word of it.
Going by Passan’s article, this seems like a massive overreaction. He threw two balls too far out of the strikezone and they think he was doing it on purpose to win money for somebody?
Reading the Athletic article, it appears that there may have been unusually high betting on those particular batters or pitches. And possibly from specific bettors.
You need to do a little more research. MLB wouldn’t take this step without some evidence. Not a peep from the union. That’s very telling.
But I thought we weren’t allowed to do our own research on anything.
Is there a way to blame this on the Dodgers?
Thankfully only commenters can. The sport itself won’t.
He’s not a big enough star to not be disciplined.
How so, oldguy58?
With the way every sports station (I.e. Fan Duel Detroit broadcasts the Tigers game) and announcers promote gambling and player props hundreds of times a game why are the Leagues themselves surprised when one of their players is involved with gambling? Can’t believe they’re that ignorant, but they’re certainly blind as bats! Reminds me of the steroid era in the late 90’s and how players like Bonds, Clemens, Sosa & McGuire are banned from the Hall of Fame for doing what the owners wanted them to do. It’s mind boggling!!
Ye but the owners don’t want them getting caught. Classic mistake
They always love a good scapegoat, though. Like banning Shoeless Joe and the Black Sox when the whole league was rife with shady players throwing games.
These Sh”@stains make more money in one year than I’ll see in maybe 10-15 and they have to bet on the game by throwing a first pitch strike. They should be banned forever and be made to donate their career earnings to a reputable charity in the community
Lol
Good. Get rid of all the idiots. Couldn’t have a friend or interpreter bet for him?
Get rid of all the idiots in baseball? There wouldn’t be any baseball. I’m am NOT watching soccer!
Ortiz+Felipe Vazsquez+Wander France+Darren Daulton=Pete Rose. Pedo Pete is looking up and smiling.
Gambling, illegal.and.legal puts everyone’s lives in danger.