Bob's Bullets - MVP race and FTX

TOKYO — I’ve been with my wife Machiko for over 50 years but not once has she ever expressed interest in baseball until this year. First she met Ichiro in August in Seattle, during his induction into the Mariners Hall of Fame and then suddenly in November she discovered Shohei Ohtani and the MVP vote, asking me repeatedly whether or not I thought he would win it.

This in itself is a remarkable achievement. I am the author of several best-selling books about baseball in Japan but she has read none of them. Not that I am complaining. She had a 25-year career as a high-ranking UNHCR officer and I can’t remember ever picking up the thick briefs and other material she brought home from the office.

However, for her to suddenly ask me to educate her on the intricacies of the MVP voting and the importance of WAR was a historic, earth-shaking event.