Shohei Ohtani wants to play

[Glen]

 

[Stradling]

Dude I am torn on this.  I want to see him play, but I will leave it to the medical staff to make the decision.  He’s just too important to rush back.  Sure he would help this offense incredibly, but can you imagine a set back?  That would be horrible.  

[arch stanton]

So now they can monitor him for residual effects then clear him

[Claude]

Ohtani starting at full time DH would certainly help kickstart the offense. But what will become of Albert? I wouldn’t think that Ohtani will need any workload management for 4-5 at bats per game. If they platoon Bour and Pujols it will cut Albert’s playing time in half. 

Edited April 20, 2019 by Calzone 2

[Second Base]

Once Ohtani is back, Bour is probably gone. They aren't going to carry three 1B/DH on the active roster. 

[Broad Street]

1 minute ago, Second Base said:

Once Ohtani is back, Bour is probably gone. They aren't going to carry three 1B/DH on the active roster. 

Pujols isn't going to play 1st 

[2112]

3 minutes ago, Second Base said:

Once Ohtani is back, Bour is probably gone. They aren't going to carry three 1B/DH on the active roster. 

Pujols is going to break down quickly.  He's already doing a "power walk " and considering it running.  

[Jeff Fletcher]

42 minutes ago, Second Base said:

Once Ohtani is back, Bour is probably gone. They aren't going to carry three 1B/DH on the active roster. 

They got La Stella before Bour and at the time said they planned on adding first base to his repertoire. It was so he could fill in for Pujols. Then they got Bour and that sort of went out of the window. 

Once Ohtani is back, they still could do that, but I don’t think immediately. Cozart is doing worse than Bour, so they’d probably prefer to keep the option of La Stella at 2B and Fletcher at 3B.

Also I think there is a possibility that Pujols ends up on the DL if he’s playing a lot of 1B, so then you have to decide if you would rather have Bour or La Stella at 1B for 20 games in a row. 

The conversation also might be different if Thaiss was off to a better start. 

[Claude]

@Jeff Fletcher is there anything you can share about a possible logjam at DH. If Ohtani somehow comes back raking will Albert be able to accept more of a platoon role? 

[UndertheHalo]

I can’t believe that the Angels would defer to any player over Ohtani as the everyday DH.  Even splitting time would be crazy.  It would be wild to see that. 

Edited April 20, 2019 by UndertheHalo

[Jeff Fletcher]

Just now, Calzone 2 said:

@Jeff Fletcher is there anything you can share about a possible logjam at DH. If Ohtani somehow comes back raking will Albert be able to accept more of a platoon role? 

I think Albert will accept whatever they do. What’s the alternative?

 

[Claude]

1 hour ago, Vladdylonglegs said:

Get ready for it

I gotta believe that the organization will begin the process of transitioning from the everyday Pujols lineups if Ohtani is producing at a high level. 

[jessecrall]

If Ohtani's healthy and hitting anything close to what he did last year, he's starting every day. You can take Bour & Pujols' attitudes about playing time into account when there's a 10 point difference in OPS+ or there are distinct platoon advantages or disadvantages. But when you have someone coming off a season where he was 50% better than the average hitter AND he can run AND he improved significantly against lefties as the season went on AND he puts asses in seats, there's just no way he's sitting unless you want to give him rest for physical preservation. 

[Claude]

9 minutes ago, jessecrall said:

If Ohtani's healthy and hitting anything close to what he did last year, he's starting every day. You can take Bour & Pujols' attitudes about playing time into account when there's a 10 point difference in OPS+ or there are distinct platoon advantages or disadvantages. But when you have someone coming off a season where he was 50% better than the average hitter AND he can run AND he improved significantly against lefties as the season went on AND he puts asses in seats, there's just no way he's sitting unless you want to give him rest for physical preservation. 

Yep and how much rest does a 24 year old DH need. A DH is sitting down 85% of the time already.

[Stradling]

He will probably get a day off a week.  Whatever it is there will be outrage.

[Stradling]

So if the Angels are out of it in September which most of you think they will be.  Would you rather Ohtani continue to hit everyday or would you want him to split time between hitting and pitching rehab?  They have said something to the affect that once he is ready to go hitting wise he won’t really be doing anything on the pitching side.  So if that is true would you rather he just get reps batting in September or get his arm ready to be a pitcher in 2020?  Now I say this not knowing whether or not 6 months after the season but before next season is enough time to get ready.  I know it takes a full year to get back on the mound and ready for major league games, but I don’t know what that means as far as pitching off of a mound work load.  Does him taking time off now to be a hitter if that puts him behind on the mound.  

[Taylor]

3 hours ago, Calzone 2 said:

Ohtani starting at full time DH would certainly help kickstart the offense. But what will become of Albert? I wouldn’t think that Ohtani will need any workload management for 4-5 at bats per game. If they platoon Bour and Pujols it will cut Albert’s playing time in half. 

[Docwaukee]

3 hours ago, Second Base said:

Once Ohtani is back, Bour is probably gone. They aren't going to carry three 1B/DH on the active roster. 

He actually has an option left.  

We actually don't need Bourjos because Fletcher can play OF.  

[IEAngelsfan]

12 minutes ago, Dochalo said:

He actually has an option left.  

We actually don't need Bourjos because Fletcher can play OF.  

Lou would be devastated if Bourjos were to be released.

[UndertheHalo]

Why would Bour go ? He’s actually useful.  Decent glove at first, gets on base.  Power.  It seems to me that Bourjous is the guy to go. 

[Glen]

10 minutes ago, UndertheHalo said:

Why would Bour go ? He’s actually useful.  Decent glove at first, gets on base.  

When he remembers to run it out.

[HeavenlyHalos]

4 hours ago, Stradling said:

Dude I am torn on this.  I want to see him play, but I will leave it to the medical staff to make the decision.  He’s just too important to rush back.  Sure he would help this offense incredibly, but can you imagine a set back?  That would be horrible.  

Well said and exactly how I feel about the situation.

[Slegnaac]

26 minutes ago, UndertheHalo said:

Why would Bour go ? He’s actually useful.  Decent glove at first, gets on base.  Power.  It seems to me that Bourjous is the guy to go. 

Bone-headed running is why.

[Ace-Of-Diamonds]

Let the kids play.

Mike Trout

[Angelsjunky]

Why wait? If he's taking full batting practices and swinging hard enough to rip home runs, being a full-time DH is literally only adding a dozen or so swings per day. Most of the swings a hitter takes are in batting practice, not in an actual game.