Shohei Ohtani playing like Babe Ruth

[DropKickFlutie]

Shohei Ohtani Being Babe Ruth Should Be a Bigger Deal: Unchecked | Sports Illustrated

Pretty interesting article from Sports Illustrated. Apparently Shohei Ohtani is leading the league with 25 home runs and it's not yet July, he also leads the league in extra-base hits, and on the pitching side has 82 strikeouts with a 2.58 ERA. Leads the league with a 5.6 WAR, second guy after has a 4.2 WAR.

 

[captain stone]

This dude will soon become the highest-paid player in the history of major league baseball.

Further proof that the DH sucks.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

This dude will soon become the highest-paid player in the history of major league baseball.

Further proof that the DH sucks.

I think he signed a really long undervalued contract, so he won't be a FA for a long time. I don't know if he can stay healthy but it would be wild to see the first MLB player ever possibly hit 40 homers in a season while also throwing 100mph as a pitcher and getting triple digit strikeouts.

.

 

[BTTA]

First 332 Games HR RBI SLG
Willie Mays 72 218 .565
Shohei Ohtani 77 213 .552

First 24 Games W-L ERA SO
Roger Clemens 10-6 4.23 143
Shohei Ohtani 7-4 3.97 149

Gotta enjoy this.

 

[Simpelton]

we're witnessing a true generational talent. This hasn't happened before in the modern era and may never happen again

Frankly I think this ends in a couple years and Ohtani follows The Babe's path in giving up starting pitching to focus on playing outfield and a few relief appearances. That bat is too valuable to leave out of the lineup that often, and while the arm is good, the bat is much, much better.

Still it's something to have accomplished this for any length of time at all, at the highest level of baseball there is.

 

[jimnance]

First 332 Games HR RBI SLG
Willie Mays 72 218 .565
Shohei Ohtani 77 213 .552

First 24 Games W-L ERA SO
Roger Clemens 10-6 4.23 143
Shohei Ohtani 7-4 3.97 149

Gotta enjoy this.

Pretty unbelievable. We're watching legendary history being made. (Not new for us,we saw that over the last,say, 20 years in Foxboro).
But theres a reason its never been done longterm. There've been a lot of players with 2way talent- like Greinke,Drysdale,Gibson- but to do both ft on a longterm basis is impossible. I think in a few years hes a ft hitter.
But I agree, I'll enjoy it while it lasts

 

[Simpelton]

Imagine if you will a 35 year old Ohtani who plays a lot of DH, a bit of leeft field, and if his arm is good, comes onto the mound in to pitch the 8th and 9th every 3-4 days. Personally I think that guy would be worth his salt, and it's more likely than him continuing elite on both sides of the ball as his body slows down.

 

[WinstonSmith]

I may actually watch my first baseball game in many years to see what he's all about. I'm currently trying to give my daughter some tips on how to elevate her softball game and just realized today that I recently watched a YouTube hitting video featuring him; he and my daughter have the same dainty leg kick, but he somehow hits the ball a little further...

 

[Joker]

He should do a diabetes drug commercial... Oh Oh Oh Ohtani...Oh Ohohoh..anything to knock that facacta Ozempic commercial off the airwaves

 

[VectorPrime]

Two of the best players in the history of the league on the same team and they’ll never sniff the playoffs.

 

[PP2]

I may actually watch my first baseball game in many years to see what he's all about. I'm currently trying to give my daughter some tips on how to elevate her softball game and just realized today that I recently watched a YouTube hitting video featuring him; he and my daughter have the same dainty leg kick, but he somehow hits the ball a little further...

I'll be joining you.

And Stephen Smith can go **** himself.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

It's completely insane and ridiculous to be able to pitch 100 miles an hour and be a strikeout machine with a low ERA (3.5ERA), and then also lead the MLB in home runs with 33 while stealing 12 bases. This is beyond 5-tools, 6 or 7 tools.

I think the kid is the All-Star Game starting pitcher AND also the leadoff hitter. Main thing is if he can stay healthy in his career. I would imagine he will shatter the MLB record for biggest free agent contract when it comes up, I think right now the kid is making peanuts in salary.

 

[XLIX]

First 332 Games HR RBI SLG
Willie Mays 72 218 .565
Shohei Ohtani 77 213 .552

First 24 Games W-L ERA SO
Roger Clemens 10-6 4.23 143
Shohei Ohtani 7-4 3.97 149

Gotta enjoy this.

What Otani is doing is impressive, but let's keep things in perspective. You are literally comparing Otani at age 26 to Clemens at age 21. By the time Clemens was 26, he had 2 Cy Youngs.

Clemens at age 26: 95 wins
Ohtani at age 26: 8 wins

 

[Brick27]

Two of the best players in the history of the league on the same team and they’ll never sniff the playoffs.

It’s really amazing. If an NBA team had two equivalents to them they’d be in contention year in and year out given the way that league works.

 

[BTTA]

And Stephen Smith can go **** himself.

This was a general truth prior to the Ohtani comments.

 

[PP2]

This was a general truth prior to the Ohtani comments.

For me, Smith has completely lost the privilege to complain about racism or discrimination in any form.

IMO, Ohtani should be the face of baseball. He's humble, kind, and acts like a gentleman out there. None of that balls-yanking, spitting, fake macho crap.

 

[RobertWeathers]

For me, Smith has completely lost the privilege to complain about racism or discrimination in any form.

IMO, Ohtani should be the face of baseball. He's humble, kind, and acts like a gentleman out there. None of that balls-yanking, spitting, fake macho crap.

SAS is a xenophobic d___bag.

He has said a number of idiotic things.

Good thing his ratings are good and ESPN doesn't give a crap about minorities and women.

 

[PP2]

What Otani is doing is impressive, but let's keep things in perspective. You are literally comparing Otani at age 26 to Clemens at age 21. By the time Clemens was 26, he had 2 Cy Youngs.

Clemens at age 26: 95 wins
Ohtani at age 26: 8 wins

Clemens couldn't hit for squat. Seeing him up at bat was beyond cringeworthy.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

Ohtani is a tremendous talent. He is easily an All-Star both as a pitcher and a hitter.

I usually like what SAS has to say, this time he is way off. Luckily for him, he is a black man, so he won't face much backlash. If a white man had said was SAS said, the cries of racism, and asian hate would have echoed from all corners of the media. Ohtani can actually speak English, but he doesn't want to mis-speak to the press, so he uses his translator. Ichiro did the same thing. Plus its another Japanese person in the dugout for him to relate to. Would you trust the press?

I wonder if Japan suddenly decided to put SAS on TV overthere, would he be comfortable speaking Japanese?

Japan is a very different culture than America.

 

[jah]

Ohtani is a tremendous talent. He is easily an All-Star both as a pitcher and a hitter.

I usually like what SAS has to say, this time he is way off. Luckily for him, he is a black man, so he won't face much backlash. If a white man had said was SAS said, the cries of racism, and asian hate would have echoed from all corners of the media. Ohtani can actually speak English, but he doesn't want to mis-speak to the press, so he uses his translator. Ichiro did the same thing. Plus its another Japanese person in the dugout for him to relate to. Would you trust the press?

I wonder if Japan suddenly decided to put SAS on TV overthere, would he be comfortable speaking Japanese?

Japan is a very different culture than America.

SAS has faced almost exclusively backlash for this (and rightfully so). The problem is ESPN doesn't care what any of us think and his comments create controversy and therefore create revenue.