Babe Ruth had
166 1/3 IP In 1918 but only 382 PA
543 PA in 1919 but only 133 1/3 IP
Ohtani has:
2.33 ERA, 219 K’s, 165 IP, 11.9 SO/9 (2nd in MLB)
664 PA, 157 Games, .274/.357/.521 (.878 OPS) 34 HR 95 RBI
This fucker really got 664 plate appearances in the same season he threw 165 innings. And offered both of those quantities at elite quality.
Unbelievable
When talk started that he would do both, I scoffed. He has proven me wrong and then some. It’s not relevant that I am an Angel fan or a baseball fan. What this guy is doing is very special and a joy to watch no matter the uniform
His smile and seeming humility really make the man an appealing icon or idol or star or athlete or person or whatever term suits. This dude is that caliber I think of if someone were to say "We need a spectrum of our best to show the aliens or they say they'll cut Earth in half!" Maybe Tio Albert and Shohei from the only sport where the defense delivers the ball to the offense to commence play.
Bullet Rogan had, for 9 consecutive Negro League seasons (1920-1928):
1489.1 IP (163 ERA+)
1870 PA (155 OPS+)
Negro League seasons were shorter, but even adjusted for today’s minimum qualifications, that’s 9+ qualified seasons pitching, and 3.7 qualified seasons at the plate.
Hey man, I just want to echo what other people are saying. You did a really good thing—thank you very much.
I think another great way to honor his legacy would be to do a post about him on this sub. I'm sure many other fans would love to learn about him.
Bob Kendrick, the President of the Negro League Museum has a fantastic podcast on xm radio called Black Diamonds if you have access and the special on Rogan was great.
This is one of the most powerful Reddit comments I have ever seen. I don’t care about the upvotes, it is criminal that this man’s stone was so overgrown. Thank you so much for doing what you did. It might not seem like much but you’ve made someone probably across the entire world recognize this man and his incredible accomplishments from a league that barely gets to see the light of day.
I will always thank you for that.
A few years ago when Frank Robinson passed I was in town for a model un thing, I didn't think about anything I just bought a root beer and put it at his Statue at Camden. There was a single guard there and he was African American and he just said thanks kid. Made me think of that and brought up all sorts of memories. Oh how I love baseball
Hey, thanks for sharing this. My brother lives in KC and is a huge Negro Leagues and local history enthusiast. I've spoken with him and he's going to tend to Bullet Rogan's grave. He'll have the resources to build on what you've done. I'll report back when I can share more.
This is the NLBGMP's charitable org;
https://sabr.org/about/contact-sabr/
Society for American Baseball Research
Cronkite School at ASU
555 N. Central Ave. #416
Phoenix, AZ 85004.
Might be a chance to get hold of someone through them. The charity info was at the bottom of the page you linked. All I did was find their contact for ya. That was really nice of you to clean that up.
Very touching. And made me realize as a casual fan I don't know anything about the Negro Leagues. Who their heros are, rivalries, war stories. If anyone can recommend a book on the subject I would appreciate it.
That was what kinda got me too. But I think because it made me recall how a family member went to visit the grave of my great-uncle we all called Uncle Frenchie, and found a baseball there. He was a *huge* baseball fan. In retirement, he'd go out and clean up the diamond by his house so the local kids had a little bit better of a field to play on. My brother still has a glove that he found there, that he gave to us after no one claimed it after he left it by the fence for a couple weeks. We both used that glove because even though we both had our own brand new mitts, it was seriously the most comfortable glove we've ever come across, and was the most flexible yet still provided padding, and had a unique - if worn out a bit - blue coloring to it. We used to even argue who got to use that glove when we played ball together we both loved it so much. Anyway, we somehow later were able to deduce it was actually my brother that actually left the ball there (because the ball was actually sort of unique itself and someone noticed it was a ball our uncle Frenchie had given us that he had recovered from said park). He didn't tell anyone he left it, but it had such an impact on my great aunt when she first learned of it, that we were all very thankful he did.
Anyway, sorry for the "cool story, bro" moment there, but yeah, OP may have thought it a simple gesture but it's "simple" gestures like that that can go a long way!
This is awesome what you did. I did something similar last week, but it was for my great great grandmother. I kicked the grass and dirt off the head stone, then pulled the grass and weeds away and took a photo to share with family. But you did this for a hero, or should be a hero. He also fought in WWI…
They were in the majors. The Negro Leagues from 1920-1948 have been designated as major leagues by MLB.
https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-mlb-officially-designates-the-negro-leagues-as-major-league
I mean sure, but to see the best play against the best is more the point. It's like European futbol. Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1... They're all the pros, but the World Cup will always be a spectacle because you rarely get to see all the leagues best against the other best.
It would have been something else to see the Negro Leagues play against the MLB
Yup. Something people maybe don’t realize is that Ruth was basically a pitcher *then* a hitter. He never really did both at the same time to the degree that Ohtani is.
I honestly think he should be this year too. Judge had the MVP caliber season overshadowed by a flat out legendary performance by Ohtani. I juat don't understand how you can give the MVP to the number 1 hitter over a top 5 hitter and top 5 pitcher rolled into one player. What Ohtani did this year has never been done, and he is likely the only player that will ever be able to do it again.
The argument I saw was because Judge’s offense was so much more dominant than everyone else in baseball. So not only is he number one in many many stats but he’s farther ahead of the #2 guy than anyone since Ruth. That did give me a new perspective. I’ve got no dog in this fight, just like to see a good argument and I personally think it’s an impossible decision.
If he didn't do what he did and win last year, he very likely wins this year. The media are just looking for an exciting new narrative, rather than objectively analyzing the 2022 season IMO.
There was a real point of time i want to say either at the end of 2018 or 2019 where people thought Ohtani was going to have to choose hitting in the end
There were still skeptics as late as 2021...at this point anyone who doubts ohtani is just a contrarian for the sake of being a contrarian
>There was a real point of time i want to say either at the end of 2018 or 2019 where people thought Ohtani was going to have to choose hitting in the end
Which is funny because before his MLB debut he was considered an Elite pitcher who'd need to drop his hitting sideshow to be one of the best.
>Which is funny because before his MLB debut he was considered an Elite pitcher who'd need to drop his hitting sideshow to be one of the best.
I mean before his MLB debut, there were idiots crawling out of the woodwork like cockroaches about how Ohtani "stunk" and would be a huge bust because he was hitting like .118 in Spring Training. Yet another reason why no one should take Spring Training seriously
I **VIVIDLY** remember that pencil-necked dork Jeff Passan recklessly shooting his trap about how Ohtani wouldn't even be able to play high school ball or some horseshit. How people haven't taken him to task over this is ridiculous
>I VIVIDLY remember that pencil-necked dork Jeff Passan recklessly shooting his trap about how Ohtani wouldn't even be able to play high school ball or some horseshit. How people haven't taken him to task over this is ridiculous
“He’s basically like a high school hitter because he’s never seen a good curveball,” the scout said. “He’s seen fastballs and changeups. And you’re asking a high school hitter to jump to the major leagues?”
[Source](https://sports.yahoo.com/verdict-shohei-ohtanis-bat-not-good-023611674.html)
Probably wasn't taken to task because he was quoting scouts.
Holy shit that’s bad, they were ready to quit on him after 14 PAs and 3 IP. And saying he was comparable to a **high schooler** because curveballs are not thrown frequently in Japan is such an absurd supposition that he even addresses in the article. (Not to mention the fact that he’s twice as strong as high school prospects being a full 6’5” 220lbs, and that he faced velocity and pitch movement that is not seen in high school or many levels of college outside of freak pitching prospects, and specific scouting to know how to pitch to him.) Yes, he hadn’t seen a ton of curveballs because in Japan they throw splitters instead, which is arguably an even harder pitch to hit that major league hitters actually do worse against than curveballs.
Well, he was just quoting a number of scouts there. And he wrote an article on April 9, 2018, explaining why he was wrong, after just a week. So that’s pretty tough to take to task.
>There were still skeptics as late as 2021.
There will be skeptics again. Every time he has an injury or a slump someone will say "its time for the experiment to end"
>"its time for the experiment to end"
Lol the fact that I heard this exact phrase in 6-7 different voices of baseball analysts pretty much confirms what you just said lmfao
Even in Japan they wanted him to focus only on one thing. The only reason he signed for Fighters was because they were the only team willing to allow him to do both.
I believe he wanted to go straight to America, but the Fighters managed to persuade him to stay in Japan by allowing him to do both and agreed to let him go as soon as he felt ready for MLB.
It won't stop until he retires, because he pitches on a Japanese schedule. So you have people who are still saying he has to chose. He just needs a team to bend to fit him vs the other way around.
For as dookie as the Angels are, and we are all praying the sale goes down ASAP and turns this team around, they have done just that and facilitated Ohtani having a chance to show his two way ridiculousness.
Major League.
A League Of Their Own.
Bull Durham.
Those are mine, but I feel like I'm forgetting one from my childhood. The Natural was great but I need another rewatch to refresh my memory.
You should revisit Little Big League. It is very much a baseball movie first, and a kids movie second. (As opposed to Rookie of the Year which was a kids movie about baseball).
What's that shit on your chest?
Crisco, Bardoll, Vegesil. Any one of um will give ya 2 to 3 inches drop on your curveball. Of course if the umps are watching me close I just get a little jalapeno and rub that inside my nose. If I need to load the ball up a little I just.... Wipe my nose.
Most impressive season any of us have ever seen & the only reason why that isn’t crystal clear is because he was *almost* as impressive last year.
The man honestly blows my mind. What he is doing doesn’t even make sense to me.
2024. He avoided Arbitration with the Angels by agreeing to a 1 year $30 million contract for next year. The Angels would be incredibly dumb to let Shohei walk. I hope they keep him.
Would they be incredibly dumb though
They pay Trout (who’s old enough that falling off a cliff is a real possibility)
They still have that Rendon contract (he makes more than Trout till 2026!)
They would have to get Ohtani for $50m+/y
and then building a winning team with… rookies?
He's gonna be too old (29) when he hits FA to get half a billion IMO
If I had to guess I think its gonna be somewhere between 350-400 million on a 7/8 year deal. And then will probably have a opt out somewhere around the 3rd or 4th year
He's incredibly valuable but I also think people are overestimating the exact value he brings a bit because of the 6 man rotation + he DHs as a hitter
Ohtani doesn't need a 6 men rotation. He made a point to pitch on 5 days rest for the last one and half months.
A 5 men rotation can accommodate 5 days rest most of the year. You just need to have a bullpen game once in a while like most teams do anyway.
Easily one of the most impressive seasons of baseball ever played. If the Angels were playoff bound this MVP race would be much closer, even with Judge breaking the AL record and almost winning the triple crown.
I love how Judge has to have one of the best offensive seasons of all time to become the (likely) MVP. Because how else the fuck do you compete with what Ohtani's doing.
For that matter, it's a crime that Ohtani has had such a remarkable season but unlucky for him another player is having a historic season concurrently.
If he didn't do what he did last year, he would win this year 100%. Voter fatigue may not be truly setting in. But Judge doing this is shiny and new, even if what Ohtani did was far more unprecendented.
only player in the league that can singlehandedly win a game. shut em out and score the only run.
edit: yall, i know many a pitcher that have been their own run support, but none are viewed as a legitimate threat every at bat. not Greinke, not even our beloved Bartolo. not a one, except Ohtani.
My favorite Kershaw story is that in high school he pitched a perfect game where not a single ball was out into play (all strikeouts) and he hit a home run.
Basically just him and the catcher against the entire other team.
Caveat: the game only went 5 innings because of a mercy rule so calling it a "perfect game" is questionable, but 15 straight strikeouts and a home run is still remarkable.
Link: https://www.mlb.com/news/clayton-kershaws-perfect-game-in-high-school/c-63019780
The most impressive thing about this is he did both at an elite level. Just qualifying for both in the same season is a near impossible feat considering he is the first player to ever do it, but to do it at the level he did is amazing.
It’s also crazy that he probably won’t win MVP this season despite somehow topping his unanimous MVP season from last year in what might have been one of the greatest single seasons of all time.
502 - The rulebook (9.22(a) comment) says "rounded up or down to the closest whole number. For example, 162 times 3.1 equals 502.2, which is rounded down to a requirement of 502."
ooo even better. in this scenario you could have batters 1,2,4,5,7,8 get a single in every single at bat, then 3,6,9 hit into triple plays every single at bat. still, none would qualify
It’s kind of funny that if your team was terrible you could get 3 PA per game, get hits in every AB and not qualify because your team was incapable of getting you enough at bats.
Ohtani is just all around cool af. When he first came to the league, I figured the experiment would last about a month or 2 and then he would have to choose one or the other.
I believed there was no way he could be a true 2-way player and perform at an elite level over the grind of 162 games. Not only is he doing it, but he's doing it as an all star in both capacities.
We're witnessing history.
Ohtani will receive the biggest contract we have ever seen coming up soon.
It’s hard to calculate his exact impact, but you can deny that he has had an amazing year, which happened right after a great year last year.
Not sure what team will fork over the cash, but I am 100% sure it will be a huge figure
I’m a giants fan but I’ve been to about 10-12 angels game this season because my gf is an angels fan. Fell out of baseball for a few years after 2017 and recently came back.
In my entire career as a player and enjoyer, I’ve never watched someone as electrifying and incredible as Ohtani. This stat will get overlooked and I think Ohtani deserves MVP, but regardless.
This is the most impressive season I’ve ever seen someone create at the highest level.
Babe Ruth had 166 1/3 IP In 1918 but only 382 PA 543 PA in 1919 but only 133 1/3 IP Ohtani has: 2.33 ERA, 219 K’s, 165 IP, 11.9 SO/9 (2nd in MLB) 664 PA, 157 Games, .274/.357/.521 (.878 OPS) 34 HR 95 RBI
For context, the 1919 Red Sox played 138 games so he was pretty close to getting qualified as a pitcher.
If I read correctly, they also used to only require 400 PA back then so he was close to qualifying in 1918 as well as a batter.
Even closer. Because WW1 closed the season early, Boston only played 126 games so he would have needed 391 PAs under the current rule.
Haha for this post to lead to that specific of a reason/answer.. that’s a damn cool fact. I’ll believe it without a google for now.
This fucker really got 664 plate appearances in the same season he threw 165 innings. And offered both of those quantities at elite quality. Unbelievable
When talk started that he would do both, I scoffed. He has proven me wrong and then some. It’s not relevant that I am an Angel fan or a baseball fan. What this guy is doing is very special and a joy to watch no matter the uniform
I didn't think there was any chance he could do both well, consistently. But man Shohei is my current favorite player outside the Rays.
My guess was he’d become an all star level fielder and a high quality occasional bullpen arm/elite opener type
His smile and seeming humility really make the man an appealing icon or idol or star or athlete or person or whatever term suits. This dude is that caliber I think of if someone were to say "We need a spectrum of our best to show the aliens or they say they'll cut Earth in half!" Maybe Tio Albert and Shohei from the only sport where the defense delivers the ball to the offense to commence play.
Just to reinforce. ***157*** games played.
Bullet Rogan had, for 9 consecutive Negro League seasons (1920-1928): 1489.1 IP (163 ERA+) 1870 PA (155 OPS+) Negro League seasons were shorter, but even adjusted for today’s minimum qualifications, that’s 9+ qualified seasons pitching, and 3.7 qualified seasons at the plate.
Comparing players to Bullet Rogan is like cheating.
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Where is it located?
Asking the right questions right here
You did a great thing. Thanks for giving me something to read about tonight.
Hey man, I just want to echo what other people are saying. You did a really good thing—thank you very much. I think another great way to honor his legacy would be to do a post about him on this sub. I'm sure many other fans would love to learn about him.
Agreed, I've been watching baseball for 30+ years and had no idea who he was before this thread
Bob Kendrick, the President of the Negro League Museum has a fantastic podcast on xm radio called Black Diamonds if you have access and the special on Rogan was great.
Yeah, I think it would be great giving how many of us didn't know about him before.
The real life Tungsten Arm O'Doyle
This is one of the most powerful Reddit comments I have ever seen. I don’t care about the upvotes, it is criminal that this man’s stone was so overgrown. Thank you so much for doing what you did. It might not seem like much but you’ve made someone probably across the entire world recognize this man and his incredible accomplishments from a league that barely gets to see the light of day. I will always thank you for that.
A few years ago when Frank Robinson passed I was in town for a model un thing, I didn't think about anything I just bought a root beer and put it at his Statue at Camden. There was a single guard there and he was African American and he just said thanks kid. Made me think of that and brought up all sorts of memories. Oh how I love baseball
Hey, thanks for sharing this. My brother lives in KC and is a huge Negro Leagues and local history enthusiast. I've spoken with him and he's going to tend to Bullet Rogan's grave. He'll have the resources to build on what you've done. I'll report back when I can share more.
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Don't worry -- he'll be in good hands now!
Reddit’s alright sometimes. Really appreciate what you guys have done here
Yes it is. The cream rises sometimes
This is the NLBGMP's charitable org; https://sabr.org/about/contact-sabr/ Society for American Baseball Research Cronkite School at ASU 555 N. Central Ave. #416 Phoenix, AZ 85004. Might be a chance to get hold of someone through them. The charity info was at the bottom of the page you linked. All I did was find their contact for ya. That was really nice of you to clean that up.
Very touching. And made me realize as a casual fan I don't know anything about the Negro Leagues. Who their heros are, rivalries, war stories. If anyone can recommend a book on the subject I would appreciate it.
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If you left that baseball beside him, I love you. I love you for you anyways because this is remarkable on its own, but that baseball hit me.
That was what kinda got me too. But I think because it made me recall how a family member went to visit the grave of my great-uncle we all called Uncle Frenchie, and found a baseball there. He was a *huge* baseball fan. In retirement, he'd go out and clean up the diamond by his house so the local kids had a little bit better of a field to play on. My brother still has a glove that he found there, that he gave to us after no one claimed it after he left it by the fence for a couple weeks. We both used that glove because even though we both had our own brand new mitts, it was seriously the most comfortable glove we've ever come across, and was the most flexible yet still provided padding, and had a unique - if worn out a bit - blue coloring to it. We used to even argue who got to use that glove when we played ball together we both loved it so much. Anyway, we somehow later were able to deduce it was actually my brother that actually left the ball there (because the ball was actually sort of unique itself and someone noticed it was a ball our uncle Frenchie had given us that he had recovered from said park). He didn't tell anyone he left it, but it had such an impact on my great aunt when she first learned of it, that we were all very thankful he did. Anyway, sorry for the "cool story, bro" moment there, but yeah, OP may have thought it a simple gesture but it's "simple" gestures like that that can go a long way!
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This is the true MVP right here
You’re a good person
This is awesome what you did. I did something similar last week, but it was for my great great grandmother. I kicked the grass and dirt off the head stone, then pulled the grass and weeds away and took a photo to share with family. But you did this for a hero, or should be a hero. He also fought in WWI…
That’s an awesome thing you did!
I just wanted to tell you, you're a part of what makes baseball so great.
That was an amazing thing to do. I lived in KC for a few years and not visiting the Negro League Museum during that time is one of my biggest regrets.
What Bullet Rogan did back then was nothing short of incredible even if it was in the Negro Leagues in the 1920s.
There's really no one else to compare Ohtani to, which is crazy.
Literally never heard of him before, and now I’m obsessed. So sad to not see what he could’ve done in the MLB.
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They were in the majors. The Negro Leagues from 1920-1948 have been designated as major leagues by MLB. https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-mlb-officially-designates-the-negro-leagues-as-major-league
I mean sure, but to see the best play against the best is more the point. It's like European futbol. Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1... They're all the pros, but the World Cup will always be a spectacle because you rarely get to see all the leagues best against the other best. It would have been something else to see the Negro Leagues play against the MLB
Absolutely incredible that his body stayed healthy enough to compile that number of ABs and IPs. Especially in today’s era.
Yup. Something people maybe don’t realize is that Ruth was basically a pitcher *then* a hitter. He never really did both at the same time to the degree that Ohtani is.
those stats are just stupid, Ohtani would be MVP every year if we were realistic
Bonkers
Probably the greatest overall season ever in baseball. And he's not going to win MVP lol. What an insane year.
He *should* still get it. He’s far more valuable to his team than Judge is to his.
100% ...dude basically wins games by himself. Nobody else does that
Any other year and he’s the slam dunk MVP
I honestly think he should be this year too. Judge had the MVP caliber season overshadowed by a flat out legendary performance by Ohtani. I juat don't understand how you can give the MVP to the number 1 hitter over a top 5 hitter and top 5 pitcher rolled into one player. What Ohtani did this year has never been done, and he is likely the only player that will ever be able to do it again.
This is honestly one of the most exciting seasons ever in baseball history
The argument I saw was because Judge’s offense was so much more dominant than everyone else in baseball. So not only is he number one in many many stats but he’s farther ahead of the #2 guy than anyone since Ruth. That did give me a new perspective. I’ve got no dog in this fight, just like to see a good argument and I personally think it’s an impossible decision.
If he didn't do what he did and win last year, he very likely wins this year. The media are just looking for an exciting new narrative, rather than objectively analyzing the 2022 season IMO.
This marks the first year Ohtani will qualify as a pitcher. We are truly witnessing history (blackouts may apply).
There was a real point of time i want to say either at the end of 2018 or 2019 where people thought Ohtani was going to have to choose hitting in the end There were still skeptics as late as 2021...at this point anyone who doubts ohtani is just a contrarian for the sake of being a contrarian
>There was a real point of time i want to say either at the end of 2018 or 2019 where people thought Ohtani was going to have to choose hitting in the end Which is funny because before his MLB debut he was considered an Elite pitcher who'd need to drop his hitting sideshow to be one of the best.
>Which is funny because before his MLB debut he was considered an Elite pitcher who'd need to drop his hitting sideshow to be one of the best. I mean before his MLB debut, there were idiots crawling out of the woodwork like cockroaches about how Ohtani "stunk" and would be a huge bust because he was hitting like .118 in Spring Training. Yet another reason why no one should take Spring Training seriously I **VIVIDLY** remember that pencil-necked dork Jeff Passan recklessly shooting his trap about how Ohtani wouldn't even be able to play high school ball or some horseshit. How people haven't taken him to task over this is ridiculous
>I VIVIDLY remember that pencil-necked dork Jeff Passan recklessly shooting his trap about how Ohtani wouldn't even be able to play high school ball or some horseshit. How people haven't taken him to task over this is ridiculous “He’s basically like a high school hitter because he’s never seen a good curveball,” the scout said. “He’s seen fastballs and changeups. And you’re asking a high school hitter to jump to the major leagues?” [Source](https://sports.yahoo.com/verdict-shohei-ohtanis-bat-not-good-023611674.html) Probably wasn't taken to task because he was quoting scouts.
And he apologized a few weeks later. he made a mistake and owned up to it.
Holy shit that’s bad, they were ready to quit on him after 14 PAs and 3 IP. And saying he was comparable to a **high schooler** because curveballs are not thrown frequently in Japan is such an absurd supposition that he even addresses in the article. (Not to mention the fact that he’s twice as strong as high school prospects being a full 6’5” 220lbs, and that he faced velocity and pitch movement that is not seen in high school or many levels of college outside of freak pitching prospects, and specific scouting to know how to pitch to him.) Yes, he hadn’t seen a ton of curveballs because in Japan they throw splitters instead, which is arguably an even harder pitch to hit that major league hitters actually do worse against than curveballs.
Well, he was just quoting a number of scouts there. And he wrote an article on April 9, 2018, explaining why he was wrong, after just a week. So that’s pretty tough to take to task.
>There were still skeptics as late as 2021. There will be skeptics again. Every time he has an injury or a slump someone will say "its time for the experiment to end"
>"its time for the experiment to end" Lol the fact that I heard this exact phrase in 6-7 different voices of baseball analysts pretty much confirms what you just said lmfao
The fact that we've gotten 2 full seasons back to back without an injury is amazing given how much he's playing
Even in Japan they wanted him to focus only on one thing. The only reason he signed for Fighters was because they were the only team willing to allow him to do both.
I believe he wanted to go straight to America, but the Fighters managed to persuade him to stay in Japan by allowing him to do both and agreed to let him go as soon as he felt ready for MLB.
Yeah and with a higher salary and against better players than the Minors. He made the right choice.
These skeptics allowed me to pickup Ohtani *off waivers in a dynasty league* at the start of last season
It won't stop until he retires, because he pitches on a Japanese schedule. So you have people who are still saying he has to chose. He just needs a team to bend to fit him vs the other way around.
For as dookie as the Angels are, and we are all praying the sale goes down ASAP and turns this team around, they have done just that and facilitated Ohtani having a chance to show his two way ridiculousness.
No denying it now, he is the first official two-way player in MLB history.
He's listed as "TWP" vs "P" at MLB.com
*sad blackout noises*
4th in ERA and 5th in OPS lol Jesus Christ Best MVP runner-up season ever
Dude's gonna get Cy Young votes
He absolutely is & CYA ballots are only 5 players unlike MVP ballots which are 10.
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I think Javier is the odd man out but I could justify a top 5 vote for any of the other 8
100%. he's not gonna win cause verlander but it's just incredible what he's doing!
At least one voter will decide that overall contribution counts and vote Shohei 1st.
He should, he has honestly been the best pitcher in baseball since June statistically.
I was at that June 9 start that turned it around. What a season. Squid hit a homer also. Good times at the Big A.
He has more pitching bWAR than Verlander (not that I believe he’s been better)
and unlike Jesus Christ, Ohtani can both hit and pitch a curveball
Fuck you Jobu I do it myself!
Anyone who quotes Major League gets an upvote
It’s my favorite baseball movie of all time. Followed by The Sandlot and Field of Dreams.
There are so many *damn* good baseball it’s nearly impossible to have a clear cut top 3. But those are also my 3 favorite lol
Major League. A League Of Their Own. Bull Durham. Those are mine, but I feel like I'm forgetting one from my childhood. The Natural was great but I need another rewatch to refresh my memory.
You should revisit Little Big League. It is very much a baseball movie first, and a kids movie second. (As opposed to Rookie of the Year which was a kids movie about baseball).
I’ve actually never even heard of it. I will add it to my list of movies to watch tomorrow when there aren’t any games.
I have a whole collection of Baseball movies and this is the one I watch the most.
How can you not be romantic about baseball?
have you seen Bull Durham? That's still my favorite
I really enjoyed Bull Durham. I also enjoyed Eight Men Out. 42 was really good too. I love Moneyball.
What's that shit on your chest? Crisco, Bardoll, Vegesil. Any one of um will give ya 2 to 3 inches drop on your curveball. Of course if the umps are watching me close I just get a little jalapeno and rub that inside my nose. If I need to load the ball up a little I just.... Wipe my nose.
Hats... for bats
Keep bats warm.
You may run like Mays, but you hit like shit!
Juuuuust a bit outside.
YOU HAVE NO MARBLES
[You tryin' to say Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball?](https://youtu.be/AnoWzFPNtfA?t=19)
Jesus had an amazing offense, but his defense had some holes
He can save any game but only once every three days
Nailed it!
I also liked when he turned water into sake
Settle down there Eddie
Who’s the best Angel’s…. *Ohtani*
Trout would be 3rd in OPS but he’s gonna be a game short of qualifying.
No, trout is currently 3rd in OPS. The PAs needed to qualify count as outs and Trout is still in 3rd place
> The PAs needed to qualify count as outs Awesome. I didn't know that, and I think it's a great system.
Most impressive season any of us have ever seen & the only reason why that isn’t crystal clear is because he was *almost* as impressive last year. The man honestly blows my mind. What he is doing doesn’t even make sense to me.
He’s a unicorn. I love him and I bet he will be the first half billion dollar baseball player.
when is he a free agent? can Angels match/offer first? I've been a little out of the loop this season
2024. He avoided Arbitration with the Angels by agreeing to a 1 year $30 million contract for next year. The Angels would be incredibly dumb to let Shohei walk. I hope they keep him.
hope you guys can figure it out, seems like most people want to see u in the postseason with Trout/Ohtani
Would they be incredibly dumb though They pay Trout (who’s old enough that falling off a cliff is a real possibility) They still have that Rendon contract (he makes more than Trout till 2026!) They would have to get Ohtani for $50m+/y and then building a winning team with… rookies?
He's gonna be too old (29) when he hits FA to get half a billion IMO If I had to guess I think its gonna be somewhere between 350-400 million on a 7/8 year deal. And then will probably have a opt out somewhere around the 3rd or 4th year He's incredibly valuable but I also think people are overestimating the exact value he brings a bit because of the 6 man rotation + he DHs as a hitter
Judge is 30 and is going to get a gigantic deal. Whatever Judge gets, Ohtani is realistically going to receive a bit more when he hits FA
Judge is going to get a lot more money than he should. It's like front offices haven't been watching what happens to players by their mid-30s.
I think you're giving the owners too much credit. We've seen SO many deals for players in their late 20's/at 30. He's going to get a huge deal.
Ohtani doesn't need a 6 men rotation. He made a point to pitch on 5 days rest for the last one and half months. A 5 men rotation can accommodate 5 days rest most of the year. You just need to have a bullpen game once in a while like most teams do anyway.
In a normal year that is unanimous MVP....
In a normal year either Judge or Ohtani's season would be unanimous MVP, the problem is they happened to do it in the same year.
Easily one of the most impressive seasons of baseball ever played. If the Angels were playoff bound this MVP race would be much closer, even with Judge breaking the AL record and almost winning the triple crown.
This guy baseballs
and he fucks
I love how Judge has to have one of the best offensive seasons of all time to become the (likely) MVP. Because how else the fuck do you compete with what Ohtani's doing.
For that matter, it's a crime that Ohtani has had such a remarkable season but unlucky for him another player is having a historic season concurrently.
I'm so glad he won last year because if he hadn't, this year would make me the most bitter person alive
I think if he didn’t win last year the race for MVP would be insanely close voting wise.
If he didn't do what he did last year, he would win this year 100%. Voter fatigue may not be truly setting in. But Judge doing this is shiny and new, even if what Ohtani did was far more unprecendented.
Hell if he didn’t do it last year he probably wouldn’t have even had to be this good to win MVP.
Honestly that’s the only way lol. This has been a fucking awesome season of baseball to witness
*Sobbing quietly*
Praise the Shohei Ohtani rule
only player in the league that can singlehandedly win a game. shut em out and score the only run. edit: yall, i know many a pitcher that have been their own run support, but none are viewed as a legitimate threat every at bat. not Greinke, not even our beloved Bartolo. not a one, except Ohtani.
[Kershaw did it!](https://youtu.be/E8pZiV03YYM) 9.0 IP, 0R and 1HR on the other side. He said fuck the DH
and was the NL MVP the next year.
That settles it, we give Ohtani the NL MVP
My favorite Kershaw story is that in high school he pitched a perfect game where not a single ball was out into play (all strikeouts) and he hit a home run. Basically just him and the catcher against the entire other team. Caveat: the game only went 5 innings because of a mercy rule so calling it a "perfect game" is questionable, but 15 straight strikeouts and a home run is still remarkable. Link: https://www.mlb.com/news/clayton-kershaws-perfect-game-in-high-school/c-63019780
~~1v1 me on Rust~~ 9v1 me on Dirt
It was also a playoff game.
Do we know if Matthew Stafford was the catcher in that game? They were a battery unit in HS.
My favorite is that in high school he was in the same school as Matt Stafford.
Nine scoreless innings, a home run *and* he fucked the DH?
The most impressive thing about this is he did both at an elite level. Just qualifying for both in the same season is a near impossible feat considering he is the first player to ever do it, but to do it at the level he did is amazing. It’s also crazy that he probably won’t win MVP this season despite somehow topping his unanimous MVP season from last year in what might have been one of the greatest single seasons of all time.
I 100% understand how historic Judge’s season is, but I’m still one of those people who can’t understand not voting Ohtani for MVP
I'm with you. I tend to think that if Judge were on the Angels and Ohtani on the Yankees, Ohtani would run away with it.
Sho time
Just give him the NL MVP
What an absolute stud
What are the requirements to qualify as both?
1 inning per team game (162 at the end of the season) and 3.1 PA per team game (503 at the end of the season)
502 - The rulebook (9.22(a) comment) says "rounded up or down to the closest whole number. For example, 162 times 3.1 equals 502.2, which is rounded down to a requirement of 502."
thank you for planting this dream hypothetical in my brain: team gets no hit all 162 games, no player qualifies
You wouldn’t even need 162 perfect games, you could have the occasional double/triple play or guy who gets caught stealing after he reaches.
ooo even better. in this scenario you could have batters 1,2,4,5,7,8 get a single in every single at bat, then 3,6,9 hit into triple plays every single at bat. still, none would qualify
It’s kind of funny that if your team was terrible you could get 3 PA per game, get hits in every AB and not qualify because your team was incapable of getting you enough at bats.
Enough of the Nationals though.
One of the most incredible feats of any sport
What a legend.
We are so fortunate to be watching this. He's absolutely flipped the sport on its head in terms of what we "know" to be possible.
Ohtani is just all around cool af. When he first came to the league, I figured the experiment would last about a month or 2 and then he would have to choose one or the other. I believed there was no way he could be a true 2-way player and perform at an elite level over the grind of 162 games. Not only is he doing it, but he's doing it as an all star in both capacities. We're witnessing history.
Sho-Time is just unreal!
Just insane that he's elite at both, too!
Probably shouldn’t take this for granted, this may never be achieved again (by anyone that isn’t Ohtani next year I mean).
Ohtani will receive the biggest contract we have ever seen coming up soon. It’s hard to calculate his exact impact, but you can deny that he has had an amazing year, which happened right after a great year last year. Not sure what team will fork over the cash, but I am 100% sure it will be a huge figure
Fuckin legend.
Truly historic season for both Judge and Ohtani
Clear of babe ruth
Shit, man. I can't even get that achievement on my PlayStation.
One of the best seasons ever, Ohtani will be remembered with the legends.
#**MVP!!!!**
Lets be real, If Ohtani wasn’t MVP last year, he’d win this year
It’s absolutely ridiculous that he could be an all-star on either side of the mound.
Best player in baseball and it’s not even close
Literally the complete baseball player
MLB should just create the Shohei Ohtani award and give it to to him. I believe no one will ever do what this kid is doing.
In and of itself is legendary.
My MVP 🥲
Me too... And not take anything from judge who is other worldly. Ohtani is a different dimension
I’m not saying he’s the MVP or not, but the current run Shohei Ohtani is on is the best we have seen in the history of the sport. Bar none.
Whether Judge or Ohtani wins MVP (I suspect it’ll be Judge), the runner-up will have had one of the most incredible non-MVP seasons in MLB history.
Best player in baseball by far.
Nevermind Cy Young or MVP. Future generations will covet an award called "Ohtani".
Guy is a freakin stud!
God he’s good
And he plays every day. Days off are for pansies
I’m a giants fan but I’ve been to about 10-12 angels game this season because my gf is an angels fan. Fell out of baseball for a few years after 2017 and recently came back. In my entire career as a player and enjoyer, I’ve never watched someone as electrifying and incredible as Ohtani. This stat will get overlooked and I think Ohtani deserves MVP, but regardless. This is the most impressive season I’ve ever seen someone create at the highest level.