The future of Shohei Ohtani

bnorth · #1 07-09-2023, 09:31 PM

Goes down as the GOAT in baseball.

mrreality68 · #2 07-10-2023, 05:59 AM

I think he will sign a long term contract, stay on the West Coast (With Dodgers the Favorite), and Pitch 4 to 5 years max and be the DH now and the rest of his career.

packs · #3 07-10-2023, 09:15 AM

At 28, I think he has another 5 years of peak performance before he starts to deteriorate. How he moves forward as a player will depend on what deteriorates first. Is it his arm and he becomes a DH? Or does the league figure him out as a hitter and he continues as a starter?

I obviously think he loses some luster if he can't play both sides of the game. Not sure he's worth half a billion as solely a hitter or pitcher, or if he'll continue to be a HOF caliber player at just one of those positions.

Seven · #4 07-10-2023, 09:17 AM

I hate to be a pessimist in this situation, but Ohtani is one injury away from never returning to this form again. What he's doing is remarkable, and I hope he will be able to keep up some semblance of this production, but I do not think it's likely.

It seems, more and more nowadays, that players bodies break down faster. Maybe due to the hyper specialization of sports nowadays, or the fact players are pushing themselves to their physical limits when it comes to pitching and hitting. I can see Ohtani maintaining this level of dominance for another two to three seasons before his body suffers the same fate. He might have to choose at that time what he wants to do more, hit or pitch.

I do not think he becomes the "GOAT" as I think that any notion, of that conversation, is absurd. You cannot possibly compare a player today to a player of 100 years ago. The world is an entirely different place. Furthermore the only way you could possibly measure that would be era adjusted statistics, which even then is spotty, because they are not infallible. I however, think, he's one of the most talented players to ever do it, certainly one of the most versatile, and I think we should all leave it at that.

packs · #5 07-10-2023, 09:44 AM

I don't think there's a real path to eclipsing Babe Ruth. Even on a season to season basis he'll never do what Ruth did.

But I think there's something to be said for his overall skill in today's game where pitching and hitting are probably at their peaks in terms of difficulty. What he's doing now is otherworldly but not the best you've ever seen at either skill.

mrreality68 · #6 07-10-2023, 09:45 AM

of interest

The Giants Just drafted #16 a player out of High School that Pitches and Plays first base.
He is Bryce Eldridge and is listed as a 2 way player.

packs · #7 07-10-2023, 09:46 AM

They drafted Reggie Crawford last year too.

I remember when the Rays had really high hopes for Brendan McKay but it didn't work out.

mrreality68 · #8 07-10-2023, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by packs

They drafted Reggie Crawford last year too.

I remember when the Rays had really high hopes for Brendan McKay but it didn't work out.

Very true and like usual the Draft is alot of luck with so many high upside prospects never make it

Peter_Spaeth · #9 07-10-2023, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrreality68

of interest

The Giants Just drafted #16 a player out of High School that Pitches and Plays first base.
He is Bryce Eldridge and is listed as a 2 way player.

I'll check Blowout, his superduperfractor is probably selling for 100K already.

D. Bergin · #10 07-10-2023, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seven

I hate to be a pessimist in this situation, but Ohtani is one injury away from never returning to this form again. What he's doing is remarkable, and I hope he will be able to keep up some semblance of this production, but I do not think it's likely.

It seems, more and more nowadays, that players bodies break down faster. Maybe due to the hyper specialization of sports nowadays, or the fact players are pushing themselves to their physical limits when it comes to pitching and hitting. I can see Ohtani maintaining this level of dominance for another two to three seasons before his body suffers the same fate. He might have to choose at that time what he wants to do more, hit or pitch.

I do not think he becomes the "GOAT" as I think that any notion, of that conversation, is absurd. You cannot possibly compare a player today to a player of 100 years ago. The world is an entirely different place. Furthermore the only way you could possibly measure that would be era adjusted statistics, which even then is spotty, because they are not infallible. I however, think, he's one of the most talented players to ever do it, certainly one of the most versatile, and I think we should all leave it at that.

Agree with most of this. Also not to be pessimistic, but I hate to bring up the obvious fact that if Ohtani gets this huge contract everybody is predicting for him based his recent production, he's going to perpetually be a ligament strain away from being a Half a Billion Dollar DH. Essentially, peak level J.D. Martinez.

I do think if he stays relatively injury free for the rest of this season, and socks away a 2nd MVP Award, he's pretty much a HOF lock, just based on his ground-breaking achievements thus far.

packs · #11 07-10-2023, 01:22 PM

I don't know if he'd be a lock. His pitching stats are good for what they are but miniscule in terms of HOF caliber. He has 35 career wins and is already 28 years old. I don't know how realistic more than 100 wins would be if he continues to split time as a hitter.

He'd have to hit 30 home runs for the next 11 plus seasons to reach 500 as well. No shot at 3,000 hits.

If he can't do both at a high level for four or five more seasons, I'm not sure he's sniffing the HOF.

D. Bergin · #12 07-10-2023, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by packs

I don't know if he'd be a lock. His pitching stats are good for what they are but miniscule in terms of HOF caliber. He has 35 career wins and is already 28 years old. I don't know how realistic more than 100 wins would be if he continues to split time as a hitter.

He'd have to hit 30 home runs for the next 11 plus seasons to reach 500 as well. No shot at 3,000 hits.

If he can't do both at a high level for four or five more seasons, I'm not sure he's sniffing the HOF.

I don�t think he�s going to need the counting stats to get in, or even anything close to them.

RCMcKenzie · #13 07-10-2023, 06:54 PM

The HOF will make whatever accommodations necessary to accept him into the hall as soon as possible. He would not need to play 10 seasons or wait 5 years, and any barrier will be removed by decree, like they did with the Ohtani Rule where they changed the dh rules to fit him. And I agree 100%.

frankbmd · #14 07-10-2023, 06:55 PM

He is the best DH who is also a starting pitcher every 5-6 days. He may even be the best current DH this year.

He is also the best starting pitcher who DHs every day as well.

He leads the league in both hitting and pitching counting stats.

Has anyone ever led the league in both triples and opponent�s batting average?

He really cannot be compared to other hitters or pitchers, at least until he is challenged on both fronts by a single player.

Unique and extremely talented. Koufax had 4-5 exceptional years. He is on track to match or exceed that. He will not need the longevity of Warren Spahn to reach Cooperstown.

The Angels added a decent supporting cast this year for Shohei. Unfortunately they are all now injured, except for Shohei. He never looks fatigued either batting or pitching. I wish him well.

doug.goodman · #15 07-23-2023, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bnorth

Goes down as the GOAT in baseball.

I'm going to read that smiley face as sarcasm.

When he approaches his 94th career pitching win (and gets 65 in a 3 year span), and his 714th homer, and raises his career batting average, slugging percentage and OPS to higher than his current 2023 career best numbers, THEN we can talk about him being the greatest of all time.

I get it, he's really good, but come on...

Doug "Mark Fidrych was great too" Goodman

mrreality68 · #16 07-23-2023, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doug.goodman

I'm going to read that smiley face as sarcasm.

When he approaches his 94th career pitching win (and gets 65 in a 3 year span), and his 714th homer, and raises his career batting average, slugging percentage and OPS to higher than his current 2023 career best numbers, THEN we can talk about him being the greatest of all time.

I get it, he's really good, but come on...

Doug "Mark Fidrych was great too" Goodman

Well said Doug. If he keeps going he should be in the HOF and he will be know has a Dynamic and exciting player. He may go down as one of the most popular and famous players but long long way to go to be the GOAT

He is unique and great in his own way and will and look forward to the next 5 plus years with excitement. He is must watch Tv

RCMcKenzie · #17 07-24-2023, 02:56 AM

He has to continue to pitch. If he's just going to DH, then he's chasing Harold Baines and Chili Davis as the greatest DH of all time.

mrreality68 · #18 07-24-2023, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCMcKenzie

He has to continue to pitch. If he's just going to DH, then he's chasing Harold Baines and Chili Davis as the greatest DH of all time.

I agree he does have to continue to pitch several more years before converting over. And then wow 10 plus years of pitching and then the extra years of hitting. It would be truly legendary
But regardless I think he is better than Blaine’s of Davis (no disrespect to them) so I do not believe that is a good comparison.

And in my opinion Edgar Martinez and David Ortiz are considered the 2 greatest DHs’

And as an aside Othani went deep again and is on pace for 58 homers while still betting over .300

mrreality68 · #19 07-27-2023, 04:34 PM

And now for the double header

Game 1 0 for 5 but a complete game 1 hit shut out. Wow
Game 2 launches his 37 homer and 38th homer

I know they would not do it but would love to see him play the field.

todeen · #20 07-27-2023, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrreality68

And in my opinion Edgar Martinez and David Ortiz are considered the 2 greatest DHs�

Yes sir!

Sent from my SM-G9900 using Tapatalk

bk400 · #21 08-01-2023, 02:42 PM

I think it is interesting that 45% of respondents in a poll of MLB players this year said they would build a team around Ohtani. Aaron Judge was second with 14% of the vote.

And this is a guy who doesn't speak English well, so probably cannot command the clubhouse.

If he has that sort of respect from the players with whom he plays and against whom he competes, it means a lot. And it probably impacts any HOF vote.

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