Your thought on Ohtani's pitching future

[Angel Oracle]

Simple three choices poll, keeping in mind that he's pitched all of 80 innings since the 2017 season in Japan  

Edited August 5, 2020 by Angel Oracle

[failos]

His pitching career is over.

[ukyah]

1 hour ago, cvdog said:

This is a no brainer. Ohtani is an above average hitter and should be our FT DH for the next several years. I just don't see his arm and pitching confidence keeping up.  Shohei just doesn't strike me as a real grinder on the mound. Besides he'll never touch 98-100 again. Cut you loses and end this little experiment. Every dime we spend next year better be on pitching. 

how do you know he'll never touch 98-100 again? that's not the history of TJS.

[ukyah]

i voted he'll pitch. he's extremely talented at pitching. i don't see this as some end of the road scenario.

[Stradling]

Yea, the only real answer is give him another year to try to put it all together.  If he can stay healthy I would much prefer him as a starter than a hitter.

[ScottT]

Full time DH is crazy.  If you eventually decide not to have him pitch, you put him in the OF, maybe 1B.

Pitchers have issues after TJ. We'll see next spring

[Claude]

24 minutes ago, Stradling said:

Yea, the only real answer is give him another year to try to put it all together.  If he can stay healthy I would much prefer him as a starter than a hitter.

He’s crazy talented but most starting pitchers spend the week studying the hitting tendencies of their next opponent. The greatest of hitters study the pitchers that they may have to face from game to game. Imagine trying to do both while trying to stay healthy, rested and ready for your next task. It can’t be as easy as it’s expected to be in the gameday thread. 

[Angel Oracle]

I decided to vote for only occasionally pitching, ala Walsh.

THREE times since 2017, he’s been shut down with significant arm injuries.   Only 80 innings pitched since 2017

[Jason]

I am as confident in his pitching future as I am with my development of gray hair slowing down. 

[Tank]

No option to have him DH and be the closer? Thread fail.

[Tank]

1 minute ago, Jason said:

I am as confident in his pitching future as I am with my development of gray hair slowing down. 

If you go bald, you’ll stop growing gray hair.

Its science.

[Revad]

I agree

[Jason]

3 minutes ago, Tank said:

If you go bald, you’ll stop growing gray hair.

Its science.

I have honestly thought about taking a razor to it. I usually just shave it down with a #1 so taking the rest off may not be too bad

[Claude]

Well there it is. We probably won’t ever see the 100mph Ohtani again. But a healthy 97 would be pretty damn good. 

[failos]

Fuck my life

[Taylor]

He hit a home run today, which means he should never pitch again!

[GrittyVeterans]

I think he should be done. This is a 40 HR left handed threat. How many of those have the Angels had in the last 15 years? Give him a 1st baseman glove next Spring Training

[T.G.]

I'm not going to worry about it. Whatever happens is out of my control anyway.

[Taylor]

3 minutes ago, True Grich said:

I'm not going to worry about it. Whatever happens is out of my control anyway.

How dare you not get outraged!!!

[Junkballer]

Any major decision about permanently taking pitching off the table will likely need his assent because of agreements made in initial negotiations and I don't see that happening this season or next.  He is going to continue to try to get back to being a starter and we will be along for the ride.  Too much upside to throw in the towel this early.

[Erstad Grit]

I think being a setp-up pitch might be the best option for him. It sucks. I fell in love with the idea of him. I can't think of too many SP who essentially miss 2+ plus years and come back. 

[Tank]

8 hours ago, Jason said:

I have honestly thought about taking a razor to it. I usually just shave it down with a #1 so taking the rest off may not be too bad

I hope fletcher will tweet about this landmark decision.

[Ceramic]

I give him 2021 to see if he can pitch. It's awesome that he is hurt and first at bat back hits a homer.

[Tank]

2 hours ago, RBM said:

Maybe not but I still wish I had Biff's sports almanac.

I know where it is and have seen it. It’s in the customer service office inside universal studios. They have a display about the movie with a few artifacts.

[Angelsjunky]

The Angels will see how 2021 goes and then decide what to do. 

What do I think will happen? I see the following chances:

20% he finds his ace form and is a true two-way star.

20% he continues as a two-way player, at least for a few years, but is inconsistent as a pitcher, both in terms of health and performance, possibly transitioning out of a regular pitching role.

60% he ends up as a full-time DH/OF.