Dodgers’ future not clear even after Stan Kasten’s defense of Mark…
A bit of more than per week after declaring that proprietor Mark Walter wouldn’t should promote the Dodgers, team president Stan Kasten repeated the declare over and over again on Friday.
What made him so sure?
Walter told him so.
Los Angeles Dodgers chairman Mark Walter attends a press convention saying a new partnership between the Los Angeles Dodgers and UNIQLO at Dodger Stadium. MediaNews Group through Getty Images
Of course, former proprietor Frank McCourt as soon as said the Dodgers had been his and his alone, only to have a choose disagree and grant his estranged spouse a stake in the franchise, beginning a series of occasions that resulted in its sale to a gaggle led by Walter.
“I think that is a wildly inappropriate comparison,” Kasten said.
More From Dylan Hernandez
Kasten refused to clarify why, however.
“That’s all I’m going to tell you,” he said.
That more or less characterised Kasten’s latest effort to calm the rising suspicions that Walter might should divest himself of the Dodgers.
With a sequence of evasive responses and contradictory statements, Kasten raised more questions about the Dodgers’ future than he answered. His imaginative and prescient of continued stability for the franchise, he acknowledged, was based on what he was told by Walter, who’s under federal investigation for mortgage fraud, according to quite a few news stories.
So Kasten’s belief in Walter was absolute?
Los Angeles Dodgers President and CEO Kasten speaks during a news convention at Dodger Stadium. Irfan Khan/Pool Los Angeles Times through AP
“It’s very, very high, yes,” Kasten said.
Absolute or very, very high?
Kasten tried to disregard the query.
Were Water’s ethics unimpeachable? Was Kasten sure Walter would never commit fraud?
“You have evidence of some kind?” Kasten snapped.
Kasten was reminded that he knew Walter better than any of the dozen or so reporters standing in entrance of him. This was a chance for him to share insights into Walter’s character.
“I think Mark has done an extraordinary job as an owner, and all he’s ever cared about is providing the best experience in order to make more money to make this project successful,” Kasten said. “I think so far it has been. I expect that to continue far into the future.”
Notice he didn’t reply the questions requested of him.
Kasten continued to insist that Walter’s current sale of the Lakers “has not impacted Dodgers, and is not going to impact the Dodgers.”
Walter, left, Shohei Ohtani, center, and Kasten. AP
Except there have been stories about Walter seeking to elevate capital to repay doubtlessly unlawful loans from insurance coverage corporations under his management. There had been also stories about him eager to promote his share in Chelsea of the English Premier League and providing Charter Communications early outs from its broadcasting offers with the Dodgers and Lakers in trade for a lump-sum payout.
“You’re reasserting the things you’ve read as facts, and therefore are seeking a conclusion based on those,” Kasten said. “I don’t know those to be true.”
But if it was untimely to attract conclusions about Walter being in authorized or monetary bother, wouldn’t it also be untimely to make declarations about him not being in bother?
“I don’t think that’s fair,” Kasten said. “But I’m telling you, to the extent (that) my standing in the organization means anything, the Dodges are not for sale.”
Regarding the news stories he was questioned about, Kasten said, “Some things even that you’ve asserted today, I’m promising you when it’s over, you’re going to realize are being mischaracterized. You don’t have to trust me, but I’m telling you.”
What particularly was mischaracterized?
“I don’t want to talk about the investigation,” Kasten said. “It’s not my place to. I’m not involved, and I don’t know about it.”
So if he doesn’t know about the investigation, how does he know something was mischaracterized in those news stories?
Los Angeles Dodgers president Stan Kasten listens during a ceremony celebrating the Los Angeles Dodgers’ MLB World Series championships in the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, DC. Getty Images
“Because of what has been explained to me in these little cases,” Kasten said. “I’ve asked questions about stuff, and someone explained that particular thing to me. But you know what? Let’s see. Let’s wait. If there’s an investigation going on, which apparently there is, let’s wait and see what they find before you conclude.”
But it was Kasten who needed to achieve a conclusion. It was Kasten who said that Walter’s reported troubles wouldn’t have any impact on the Dodgers.
He couldn’t make a convincing case.
Not now. Not yet.
The cloud of uncertainty over the Dodgers stays.
Download The California Post App, observe us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedIn
California Post Sports Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X
California Post Opinion
California Post Newsletters: Sign up right here!
California Post App: Download right here!
Home supply: Sign up right here!
Page Six Hollywood: Sign up right here!
Stay up to date with the latest action and trending tales from the world of sports activities! C-lebrity.com brings you the freshest sports activities news, highlights, and professional insights — all rigorously curated to maintain you informed and engaged. From major league updates to inspiring athlete tales, we cowl it multi function place.
Visit C-lebrity.com daily for complete coverage of the games, tournaments, and sporting moments that matter most — your final source for all the things sports activities and leisure.