'I'm not offended,' Shohei Ohtani says of Tigers broadcaster Jack Morris' comments

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels said Wednesday night that he was unconcerned about comments made the night before by Detroit Tigers commentator Jack Morris, which led to the Hall of Fame pitcher being suspended by Bally Sports. During Tuesday night’s game, Morris mocked the Japanese star with a fake accent.

‘I’m not offended,’ Shohei Ohtani says of Tigers broadcaster Jack Morris’ comments

“I did see the film and I heard it,” Ohtani told The Athletic’s Sam Blum through an interpreter. “I wasn’t insulted, and I didn’t take anything personally… He is a member of the Hall of Fame. He has a lot of clout in baseball circles. It’s a tricky situation.”
Before Wednesday’s game, Angels manager Joe Maddon expressed similar sentiments to Ohtani, saying he believed Morris’ apology was genuine.

Maddon told The Athletic’s Sam Blum, “My perspective on the whole situation is that the Detroit Tigers reacted the way they wanted to.” “And I know Jack, and he apologized,” says the narrator. That’s it; that’s where I’m at right now with the situation.”

On Wednesday night, the Angels won 3-1. Ohtani blasted his 40th home run of the season while pitching eight innings and striking out eight batters.

After using a mocking accent, Jack Morris was suspended.

Morris was suspended indefinitely on Wednesday after using a mocking accent to introduce Ohtani during Tuesday’s game between the Angels and the Tigers. Morris, who calls Detroit games for Bally Sports as a color analyst, was asked how the Tigers should pitch to Ohtani early in the game. He replied, in a sarcastic tone, that they should “be very, very careful.”

Morris, 66, apologized live on the broadcast in the ninth inning, saying the error had been “brought to my attention.”

“I really apologize if what I said about pitching and being careful to Jose — err, Shohei Ohtani upset anyone, especially anyone in the Asian community,” Morris said. “I did not mean to offend anyone, and I apologise if I did.” I absolutely admire and respect this player, and I don’t blame a pitcher for walking him.” Morris pitched in the Major Leagues for 18 years, 14 of them with the Tigers, from 1977 to 1994. In 2018, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

According to Tony Paul of The Detroit News, Tigers manager AJ Hinch remarked on Wednesday, “There is no place in the game for it.” “I am a huge fan of this sport. This sport is undoubtedly the most diversified of our four major sports in the United States, and it deserves to be recognized… As a result, we should rejoice and learn that such remarks are not only useless, but also unwarranted.”