Just found this thread. Funny reading about prognostications about Shohei's future. So sad the economics of baseball forced him over to dark side. Sad for him, sadfor Mike Trout who will never play in the fall classic, sad for the integrity of the game. The commissioner, owners and players union are so greedy they've allowed the competitive balance to be destroyed making MLB like the British Premier league where only a small handful of teams have a chance.
As for the Halos one triumph, October of 2002, (you were sweet 16 and likely a virgin ) I was there at the big A wearing my rally monkey, but in orange hue. A llifdelong Giants fan heartbroken by the 7th inning of game 6 meltdown from a 5 to 0 lead where even Mike Eisner was seen in owners box saying congrats for their best ever season that fell just short. Then the Tim Salmon 3 run HR off Felix Rodrigeuz started the historic meltdown. I've always kind of liked the halos, especially during the annual freeway series , so seeing them win was not worst thing ever (losing to the Dodgers is!).
So seeing Shoehei become the GOAT in Dodger Blue must irk you. A lot. And knowing your team has no chance to get back to the Fall Classic in your lifetime (you are 40 so giving you average female life expectancy of 90, 50 years to go. But the Halos will never be winners as long as the owner is a moron. So sad to see the old Cowboy's team that he nurtered like his baby come to this sad state under current ownership.