Should we bat Ohtani full-time?

[laagamer]

The thought has crossed my mind. We know that he crushes the baseball. He has tremendous potential on the mound but seems to need time. 

I'm not willing to say we should give up, and I'm sure Ohtani wouldn't want to give up doing both, yet. 

But, is anyone else thinking it? 

[robblin17]

No

[Ohtaniland]

2 minutes ago, laagamer said:

The thought has crossed my mind. We know that he crushes the baseball. He has tremendous potential on the mound but seems to need time. 

I'm not willing to say we should give up, and I'm sure Ohtani wouldn't want to give up doing both, yet. 

But, is anyone else thinking it? 

I’m thinking that the Angels have some type of an agreement with him that he’ll do both as long as he chooses. 

[UndertheHalo]

Angels desperately need Ohtani to be a top of the rotation starter.

[Dreams]

It sounds like he wants to play more.  Let him.  Stop babying him.  Take the training wheels off.  Dude needs to be unleashed.  Imagine going to a game and seeing him hit a homer or two and pitch into the 7th.

[Lou]

He's never done it, so why start now? 

[Lou]

14 minutes ago, UndertheHalo said:

Angels desperately need Ohtani to be a top of the rotation starter.

and a middle of the order bat.

and leadoff hitter. 

Hmmmm, leadoff hitter . . . . 

[IheartLA]

I wish he would hit everyday he doesn't pitch, but after the injury scare of running the bases, there is a good chance they will be even more cautious and bat him even less than before

[Chuck]

13 minutes ago, Lou said:

and a middle of the order bat.

and leadoff hitter. 

Hmmmm, leadoff hitter . . . . 

And a closer.

[Lou]

Imagine Ohtani as a closer . . . 

 

[Stradling]

7 hours ago, IheartLA said:

I wish he would hit everyday he doesn't pitch, but after the injury scare of running the bases, there is a good chance they will be even more cautious and bat him even less than before

As well they should

[Angel Oracle]

7 hours ago, Lou said:

and a middle of the order bat.

and leadoff hitter. 

Hmmmm, leadoff hitter . . . . 

Ohtani’s got the speed to lead off.

That home to 3B time on his triple a while back was stupid sick.

[totdprods]

7 hours ago, Chuckster70 said:

And a closer.

I actually think there could be a template in the future where he's available for an inning or two mid-week on days where he hits, especially if he stays on the one start a week model. Sort of an in-game bullpen session. 

[Angel Oracle]

2 minutes ago, totdprods said:

I actually think there could be a template in the future where he's available for an inning or two mid-week on days where he hits, especially if he stays on the one start a week model. Sort of an in-game bullpen session. 

It is inevitable that someone will pitch a game in relief in between starts.   Just call it a more intense version of throwing between starts.

[stormngt]

11 hours ago, laagamer said:

The thought has crossed my mind. We know that he crushes the baseball. He has tremendous potential on the mound but seems to need time. 

I'm not willing to say we should give up, and I'm sure Ohtani wouldn't want to give up doing both, yet. 

But, is anyone else thinking it? 

What have you seen that makes you think he needs more time as a pitcher? The one start against Boston?

[stormngt]

9 hours ago, Dreams said:

It sounds like he wants to play more.  Let him.  Stop babying him.  Take the training wheels off.  Dude needs to be unleashed.  Imagine going to a game and seeing him hit a homer or two and pitch into the 7th.

We are saying this 48 hours after he sprained an ankle running to first base.

[tomsred]

I don't think he should just pitch, or just hit.  This is a completely different direction for baseball players and strategy. Teams are always searching for unique strategies in order to get an edge on other teams, and it's getting harder to do.  For a lot of years this club wasn't that radical in approach, partly because they had some consistent success in the first decade of the 2000's.  It's not just what Ohtani does that's important, but it's also what changes get made on the entire team that count.  The Angels are stressing versatility for all the players they can.  Playing multiple positions, a possible six man rotation, using relievers in changing roles, moving lots of players up and down from the minors during the year, unique shifting, stressing defense, etc., are all part of the bigger process.  I think it would be cool to see another player try to do what Ohtani is attempting to do.  The only other one in the Angels organization that I could see attempt this would be Kaleb Cowart.  He is hitting well in Salt Lake (.406).  He has the arm, but he may be far too rusty pitching wise to make an impact.

[laagamer]

32 minutes ago, stormngt said:

What have you seen that makes you think he needs more time as a pitcher? The one start against Boston?

He honestly looks a bit wild. Even before the Boston start. I mean, I guess he's "effectively wild". But, I think he just needs a bit more seasoning on the mound than at the plate is all I'm saying.

[laagamer]

10 hours ago, Lou said:

He's never done it, so why start now? 

This guy hits a ton.

[Lou]

 

15 minutes ago, laagamer said:

This guy hits a ton.

He's always hit a ton doing it this way. Now you want him to change everything because the other guys in the lineup can't hit? 

We also need him to pitch, too. 

[Lou]

45 minutes ago, laagamer said:

He honestly looks a bit wild. Even before the Boston start. I mean, I guess he's "effectively wild". But, I think he just needs a bit more seasoning on the mound than at the plate is all I'm saying.

13 ip

18 K

2 BB

183 pitches

67% strikes 

.093 BAA 

.133/.163/.296 

Something tells me that you didn't watch him pitch before the Boston game 
 

Edited April 29, 2018 by Lou

[Angel Oracle]

Stupid KC weather 

Killed all momentum 

[eligrba]

The Angels should bat the crappy hitters less instead of Ohtani more.

[AngelsLakersFan]

5 hours ago, totdprods said:

I actually think there could be a template in the future where he's available for an inning or two mid-week on days where he hits, especially if he stays on the one start a week model. Sort of an in-game bullpen session. 

That's what I was gona suggest. Use him out of the pen on Wednesdays or Thursdays. Of course if they did that the team would lose the DH.... This is why in the other thread I mentioned that I'd like to see some rule changes to help facilitate playing Ohtani more.

[laagamer]

2 hours ago, Lou said:

13 ip

18 K

2 BB

183 pitches

67% strikes 

.093 BAA 

.133/.163/.296 

Something tells me that you didn't watch him pitch before the Boston game 
 

I did. He looked wild. He got away with a lot of balls up. Same thing in spring.