Ohtani Splitter is Unhittable

[Dtwncbad]

https://www.mlb.com/news/shohei-ohtani-splitter-still-most-unhittable-pitch

 

[Taylor]

Quote

In 20 plate appearances ending on Ohtani's splitter this season, hitters are 0-for-19 … with 18 strikeouts.

[tdawg87]

[Taylor]

This is why the Angels have invested so much in Ohtani being a two-way player. Yes, he's incredibly valuable as just a hitter, but leaving his pitching talent on the table would be a mistake. 

[Jason]

Just now, tdawg87 said:

This appears to be seriously gay and I don't think there's anything gay about Ohtani's splitter 

[tdawg87]

1 minute ago, Jason said:

This appears to be seriously gay and I don't think there's anything gay about Ohtani's splitter 

It's implying I'm taking my pants off.

I have no idea how you think that's "gay".

[failos]

5 minutes ago, tdawg87 said:

It's implying I'm taking my pants off.

I have no idea how you think that's "gay".

Where do you find these pictures and what Google search parameters are you using?

[Jason]

4 minutes ago, tdawg87 said:

It's implying I'm taking my pants off.

I have no idea how you think that's "gay".

Displaying the upper portion of a cock with SpongeBob suggestively biting his lip? Generally speaking, if a penis is the central focus of a picture then it's gay. 

[failos]

Just now, Jason said:

Displaying the upper portion of a cock with SpongeBob suggestively biting his lip? Generally speaking, if a penis is the central focus of a picture then it's gay. 

It’s only gay if u want spongebob’s loofah

[T.G.]

AW....

 

[Chuck]

JFC guys, get back on track. The focus should be on Ohtani's splitter, not @tdawg87 image. 

[tdawg87]

5 minutes ago, Jason said:

Displaying the upper portion of a cock with SpongeBob suggestively biting his lip? Generally speaking, if a penis is the central focus of a picture then it's gay. 

A liiiitttle homophobic there Jason.

But anyway, Ohtani's splitter sure is a pitch that exists. He should throw it as much as he can.

[Jason]

1 minute ago, tdawg87 said:

A liiiitttle homophobic there Jason.

But anyway, Ohtani's splitter sure is a pitch that exists. He should throw it as much as he can.

Once he is able to command his FB then it's going to be unfair for other AL batters 

[Chuck]

Just now, tdawg87 said:

A liiiitttle homophobic there Jason.

But anyway, Ohtani's splitter sure is a pitch that exists. He should throw it as much as he can.

As long as he can command his 4-seam fastball like he showed in innings 2-5 in his last start. That split is going to be lethal in generating whiffs. 

The curve and slider are good too when he's commanding them. If he's got all four pitches working on any given start he could put up deGrom numbers. 

[tdawg87]

Oh yeah his slider is also ridiculous.

If he can command his fastball he's....yeah.

[tdawg87]

Does his 4-seamer have any movement? Seems straight as an arrow to me. 

But if he keeps it down it's going to keep hitters off balance when he's hitting 98. 

[Taylor]

A 101 MPH pitch doesn't need a lot of movement.

[Jason]

1 minute ago, tdawg87 said:

Does his 4-seamer have any movement? Seems straight as an arrow to me. 

But if he keeps it down it's going to keep hitters off balance when he's hitting 98. 

I do not think that really matters as his slider and split have so much that it will easily keep hitters of balance. They pretty much will have to swing at the FB but if it's located well it will get outs. 

[Chuck]

11 minutes ago, tdawg87 said:

Does his 4-seamer have any movement? Seems straight as an arrow to me. 

But if he keeps it down it's going to keep hitters off balance when he's hitting 98. 

No. I think he's been throwing a two-seamer though, but just not as much. I'd like for him to add a cutter. 

But I'm greedy like that. 

Jakob Junis of the Royals developed a cutter this spring and he's been fantastic since the Royals added him to the rotation recently. 

Look at that cutter move against the Pirates. 

[Jason]

14 minutes ago, Chuckster70 said:

No. I think he's been throwing a two-seamer though, but just not as much. I'd like for him to add a cutter. 

But I'm greedy like that. 

Jakob Junis of the Royals developed a cutter this spring and he's been fantastic since the Royals added him to the rotation recently. 

Look at that cutter move against the Pirates. 

That moves almost like a slider 

[WicketMaiden]

His splitter has always been sublime, but the slider he was throwing late in his last start is my new favourite Ohtani thing. To a RHH it looks like it's going to hit them, if the arm-slot is right it looks like a fastball to the head/chest (which is no small thing when the guy you're facing throws at 100mph) and just at the point that the hitter appears to be about to duck out of the way, the ball swerves like a combat jet and whips into the zone for a strike. I mean, how do you face that? What do you do as a hitter? Guess? Hope?

If anyone has a gif of the slider to post I would be very grateful.

Final thought, isn't it time for a permanent Ohtani thread, similar to the Troutstanding one? Or is that a bit too jinxy?

 

[ten ocho recon scout]

My first thought is that I hope he doesnt become too predictable with it.

But it is amazing to watch

I also like with the limited crowds hearing his grunt when he gets a K

[DCAngelsFan]

I love this overlay - I usually lol when he breaks one off like this.  

 

 

[halonatic13]

3 hours ago, DCAngelsFan said:

I love this overlay - I usually lol when he breaks one off like this.  

 

 

No wonder it's impossible to hit.

[ten ocho recon scout]

22 minutes ago, cals said:

I’d like to discuss spongebobs junk a bit more.

How does a sponge get hard?

I imagine he has to dry out first?