FromJapan

At least for the past few years, the BayStars have often had a six-man rotation for starting lineup.
(Reference in Japanese: Imanaga is written in Japanese letters as "今永".) 
Yokohama DeNA BayStars 2023 starting rotation table
 

Imanaga has already started cooking for himself and learning how to listen to English. He has been nicknamed "The Throwing Philosopher" due to the expressiveness of his statements.
Bauer was given the contrasting nickname "The Throwing Scientist" by some BayStars fans because he answered his teammates' questions from an engineering perspective.
 

Imanaga has already started cooking for himself and learning how to listen to English. He has been nicknamed "The Throwing Philosopher" due to the expressiveness of his statements.
Bauer was given the contrasting nickname "The Throwing Scientist" by some BayStars fans because he answered his teammates' questions from an engineering perspective.
 

At U.S. Army Housing Area in Kanagawa, Japan
Taken while passing by
 
 

At U.S. Army Housing Area in Kanagawa, Japan
Taken while passing by
 
 

At U.S. Army Housing Area in Kanagawa, Japan
Taken while passing by
 
 

Imanaga has already started cooking for himself and learning how to listen to English. He has been nicknamed "The Throwing Philosopher" due to the expressiveness of his statements.
Bauer was given the contrasting nickname "The Throwing Scientist" by some BayStars fans because he answered his teammates' questions from an engineering perspective.
 

Imanaga has already started cooking for himself and learning how to listen to English. He has been nicknamed "The Throwing Philosopher" due to the expressiveness of his statements.
Bauer was given the contrasting nickname "The Throwing Scientist" by some BayStars fans because he answered his teammates' questions from an engineering perspective.
 

Imanaga has already started cooking for himself and learning how to listen to English. He has been nicknamed "The Throwing Philosopher" due to the expressiveness of his statements.
Bauer was given the contrasting nickname "The Throwing Scientist" by some BayStars fans because he answered his teammates' questions from an engineering perspective.
 

When I was a child, I was a fan of the Osaka-based Nankai Hawks (Pacific league, NPB). The team's owner passed away in 1988, so the team was sold and moved to Fukuoka City. The team I was a fan of was gone.  My daughter has been a fan of Ohtani since he was in high school, so after he joined the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, I occasionally watched Fighters' games on TV.
By the way, the following is a post related to Angels, but its authenticity is unknown.
 

At least for the past few years, the BayStars have often had a six-man rotation for starting lineup.
(Reference in Japanese: Imanaga is written in Japanese letters as "今永".) 
Yokohama DeNA BayStars 2023 starting rotation table
 

At least for the past few years, the BayStars have often had a six-man rotation for starting lineup.
(Reference in Japanese: Imanaga is written in Japanese letters as "今永".) 
Yokohama DeNA BayStars 2023 starting rotation table
 

At least for the past few years, the BayStars have often had a six-man rotation for starting lineup.
(Reference in Japanese: Imanaga is written in Japanese letters as "今永".) 
Yokohama DeNA BayStars 2023 starting rotation table
 

So far, he's been wrong about Ohtani, appears to be wrong about Bauer, so I'm not sure I trust he's right about Fujinami. Love that guys stuff, though. 

When I was a child, I was a fan of the Osaka-based Nankai Hawks (Pacific league, NPB). The team's owner passed away in 1988, so the team was sold and moved to Fukuoka City. The team I was a fan of was gone.  My daughter has been a fan of Ohtani since he was in high school, so after he joined the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, I occasionally watched Fighters' games on TV.
By the way, the following is a post related to Angels, but its authenticity is unknown.
 

Judging from the account name and username, this person (actual gender unknown) appears to be Korean.
 

Judging from the account name and username, this person (actual gender unknown) appears to be Korean.
 

The following posts were quoted in Japanese sports media. 
It has not yet been reported on Japanese TV broadcasts.
NHK (Japanese public broadcasting) interrupted the local news show program and broadcast Yamamoto's transfer to the Dodgers as breaking news.

From the topic "How to Sign Shohei Ohtani"
 
Taco Bell has stores in Japan, but Del Taco does not.

(Reference in Japanese) Nikkan Gendai Digital on December 20, 2023 (JST)
As I read abobe article, I got the impression that Matsui's transfer destination has not yet been determined and is still in the realm of speculation. I will quote part of the article into English.
According to one of our correspondents,
"Matsui seems to have a good impression of the atmosphere of the Cardinals and the city of St. Louis, but the Cubs and Padres are also interested in him. Among them, it seems like that the Padres are more likely than the Cardinals."
"At the WBC, Darvish (Padres) followed up Matsui with a variety of information, not just how to deal with major league-approved ball. Matsui feels strongly that he was helped by Darvish at that time, and adores him."
 

From the topic "How to Sign Shohei Ohtani"
 
Taco Bell has stores in Japan, but Del Taco does not.

From the topic "How to Sign Shohei Ohtani"
 
Taco Bell has stores in Japan, but Del Taco does not.

"Current Reputation of the Angels in Japan" with a little help from Google AI.
Future of Angels' Popularity in Japan:
・Japanese media coverage: The focus in Japanese media is currently on Ohtani's move to the Dodgers. Reports coverage of the Angels' future are limited, mostly consisting of news articles originating from the US with rare original Japanese articles. Views range from pessimism about a 'dark period' to cautious optimism about potential to acquire new players through increased budget flexibility.
・Japanese Broadcasts: As there is a high possibility that NHK broadcasting of the Angels' games will disappear from next season, reduced coverage is concerned. These will likely be restricted to pay-TV channels like MLB.TV, unless the team makes a playoff run or another Japanese star joins the roster.
・Fan sentiment in Japan: Many fans developed an affinity for the Angels due to Ohtani, but their connection is weaker than for local Japanese teams. Many are likely to lose interest to the Angels without a Japanese player.
Possible future developments:
・New Japanese players: Acquiring another Japanese star player could reignite interest and broadcasts.
・Team success: A strong season or playoff run could rekindle fan passion in Japan.
・Media coverage shift: Increased focus on other Japanese players in MLB could indirectly contribute to the Angels.
Overall, while Ohtani's departure has undoubtedly impacted the Angels' visibility in Japan, there are potential avenues for them to maintain or even rebuild their fanbase. The team's future success and strategic decisions regarding Japanese players will play a crucial role in shaping their image in the Japanese market.

"Current Reputation of the Angels in Japan" with a little help from Google AI.
Future of Angels' Popularity in Japan:
・Japanese media coverage: The focus in Japanese media is currently on Ohtani's move to the Dodgers. Reports coverage of the Angels' future are limited, mostly consisting of news articles originating from the US with rare original Japanese articles. Views range from pessimism about a 'dark period' to cautious optimism about potential to acquire new players through increased budget flexibility.
・Japanese Broadcasts: As there is a high possibility that NHK broadcasting of the Angels' games will disappear from next season, reduced coverage is concerned. These will likely be restricted to pay-TV channels like MLB.TV, unless the team makes a playoff run or another Japanese star joins the roster.
・Fan sentiment in Japan: Many fans developed an affinity for the Angels due to Ohtani, but their connection is weaker than for local Japanese teams. Many are likely to lose interest to the Angels without a Japanese player.
Possible future developments:
・New Japanese players: Acquiring another Japanese star player could reignite interest and broadcasts.
・Team success: A strong season or playoff run could rekindle fan passion in Japan.
・Media coverage shift: Increased focus on other Japanese players in MLB could indirectly contribute to the Angels.
Overall, while Ohtani's departure has undoubtedly impacted the Angels' visibility in Japan, there are potential avenues for them to maintain or even rebuild their fanbase. The team's future success and strategic decisions regarding Japanese players will play a crucial role in shaping their image in the Japanese market.

(Reference in Japanese) Nikkan Gendai Digital on December 20, 2023 (JST)
As I read abobe article, I got the impression that Matsui's transfer destination has not yet been determined and is still in the realm of speculation. I will quote part of the article into English.
According to one of our correspondents,
"Matsui seems to have a good impression of the atmosphere of the Cardinals and the city of St. Louis, but the Cubs and Padres are also interested in him. Among them, it seems like that the Padres are more likely than the Cardinals."
"At the WBC, Darvish (Padres) followed up Matsui with a variety of information, not just how to deal with major league-approved ball. Matsui feels strongly that he was helped by Darvish at that time, and adores him."