大谷翔平 - The Official Shohei Ohtani Thread

[tdawg87]

2 hours ago, Taylor said:

Yet, like clockwork, people will freak out about his velocity in the first inning every single time he pitches.

I've said this so many times.

"Ohtani's sitting in the low 90's. Not good."

"His velocity is scaring me."

Every. Start.

Then he just casually dials it up to 98 because fuck you.

[Revad]

Only when he wants to.  And the splitter…

[ten ocho recon scout]

Im waiting for him to finally get salty, now that everyone sees how good he is. And to start acting like a drunk japanese businessman in interviews. Like the 16 candles guy in the movie Gung Ho

[AngelsLakersFan]

22 hours ago, Stradling said:

Just looking at some Ohtani stuff.  In his first four games he walked 19 guys, which is almost 5 per game.  Then it looked like he changed his entire approach.  He was no longer pitching in the uppper 90’s, he is more low to mid 90’s.  He can still dial it up like yesterday where he hit 98 and 99 a few times.  Since then in his last 7 starts he has walked a total of 12 people, or less than 2 per outing.  Kind of incredible.  It feels as though this is more sustainable as well, physically.  

He had hardly pitched so it shouldn't have come as a surprise that his command was off. The turn around has been impressive though. He seems to be taking a page out of Justin Verlander's book where he comes in throwing low 90's to prioritize his command and then slowly ramps it up as the game goes on as he gets a better feel for his fastball.

[Chuck]

 

[Chuck]

 

[WicketMaiden]

I posted this in it's own thread because it's so amazing, but thought it should be in here too:

After 75 games, Shohei Ohtani is:

1st in all baseball in WAR (5.0 - that's tracking for 10.8 over the season)

1st in the AL for XBH (42)

1st in the AL for AB/HR (10.38)

1st in the AL for ISO (.373)

1st in all baseball in BRLS/PA% 14.5 (Acuna is 2nd with 12.5%)

2nd in the AL for Home Runs (24)

2nd for Total Bases 

2nd for OPS (.996)

2nd for slugging (.643)

6th for Triples

9th for Runs Scored

10th for Stolen Bases (10) 

Whilst also being (AL Starters: minimum ten starts):

5th in the AL for Average (.188)

5th in the AL for SO/9 (12.44)

6th in the Al for ERA 2.58

17th for Total Strikeouts - 82.

I'm running out of superlatives to describe what he is actually doing.

[Chuck]

4 hours ago, WicketMaiden said:

I posted this in it's own thread because it's so amazing, but thought it should be in here too:

After 75 games, Shohei Ohtani is:

1st in all baseball in WAR (5.0 - that's tracking for 10.8 over the season)

1st in the AL for XBH (42)

1st in the AL for AB/HR (10.38)

1st in the AL for ISO (.373)

1st in all baseball in BRLS/PA% 14.5 (Acuna is 2nd with 12.5%)

2nd in the AL for Home Runs (24)

2nd for Total Bases 

2nd for OPS (.996)

2nd for slugging (.643)

6th for Triples

9th for Runs Scored

10th for Stolen Bases (10) 

Whilst also being (AL Starters: minimum ten starts):

5th in the AL for Average (.188)

5th in the AL for SO/9 (12.44)

6th in the Al for ERA 2.58

17th for Total Strikeouts - 82.

I'm running out of superlatives to describe what he is actually doing.

[Taylor]

We don't deserve Ohtani.

[Lou]

8 hours ago, Taylor said:

We don't deserve Ohtani.

I do.

[Taylor]

29 minutes ago, Lou said:

I do.

Maybe.

[Angelsjunky]

I wonder how much of our humor is going to be completely misconstrued by Japanese fans.

[Angelsjunky]

Shohei's fastball averaged 98.2 mph in his first start, then 95.7, 96.6, and 96.0 in his next three. In those four games he gave up 19 walks in 18.2 IP.

In his fifth start, it dropped to 91.7, and he only walked 1 batter in 7 IP. In every start since--so, his last five starts--it has been between 94.0 and 96.0 and he has given up 11 walks in 33.2 IP.

Meaning, he dialed it back in his fifth start to gain control, and then dialed it up again over his last five - but not quite as hard as in his first four starts, but not far off.

In other words, he adjusted and is a better pitcher for it. Over his last four starts he has a 2.35 ERA and 2.98 FIP, with 5 walks and 32 Ks in 23 IP, and is averaging 95.1 mph. It seems like he's found the sweet-spot.

On a side note, the pitch velocity page on Fangraphs won't load for me - not sure if it is my computer or something wrong with the site. Can anyone get this to work? I just want to see how the range of his fastball velocity has changed game by game, not just the average.

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/shohei-ohtani/19755/graphs?pitchgraphs=true&statArr=&legend=1&split=base&time=game&start=2019&end=2021&rtype=mult&gt1=15&dStatArray=FA

[Blarg]

RBI Double to take the lead, RBI triple to retake the lead, ho hum home run to the opposite field today to score the winning run. Just another day at the office for Ohtani. 

[Angelsjunky]

Stats after today: .277/.363/.668 with 25 HR, 174 wRC+ (3rd in majors behind Vlad and Tatis), and 3.2 fWAR as a hitter (8th in majors). His 4.5 combined fWAR is just 0.1 below Vlad Jr.

[Angels in 2030]

Such a talented and amazing player.  So fun to watch.  Being wasted on this team.  I hope he can showcase his skills in the playoffs one day as an Angel.  

[Blarg]

One hit from the cycle today and yet that singular stat seems insignificant compared to what he did in today's win.

In the past the Angels fortunes depended on a pitcher being a "stopper", someone that could put the brakes on a losing streak and get the team back on track. Who would have thought that pitcher would do it with a bat?

[Duren, Duren]

Based on performance he should be the highest paid player in the game. If he continues at this level till his contract is up. 

But the risk of injury is perhaps greater than a one position player. And his history (especially pitching) looms for the longer term. 

Assuming he stays healthy and as awesome (high probability of an an MVP this year and beyond), the Angels will have some serious work to do.

Firstly, will be even want to stay if the team doesn't progress? All the acclaim he's getting and will continue to get, will generate interest from the usual suspects. His agent will have incredible leverage.

By then Pujols and Upton's contract will be expired. But Trout and Rendon remain. One would also assume that Arte eventually will spend big on pitching. Either/or an ace or combination of players. Ohtani has surpassed Trout as the biggest draw and talent in the game. If he sustains that over the next couple of years his future could take him anywhere if it's not going to work with the Angels. 

Trout will be in his thirties then, and who knows if he will regain his prime form when Ohtani's next contract is up. And what the roster will be like. As a super competitive player Ohtani must have high ambitions competitively and financially.

[Taku]

15 hours ago, Angelsjunky said:

I wonder how much of our humor is going to be completely misconstrued by Japanese fans.

I can fully understand even if I stay in Japan.

[Angel Oracle]

11 hours ago, Duren, Duren said:

Based on performance he should be the highest paid player in the game. If he continues at this level till his contract is up. 

But the risk of injury is perhaps greater than a one position player. And his history (especially pitching) looms for the longer term. 

Assuming he stays healthy and as awesome (high probability of an an MVP this year and beyond), the Angels will have some serious work to do.

Firstly, will be even want to stay if the team doesn't progress? All the acclaim he's getting and will continue to get, will generate interest from the usual suspects. His agent will have incredible leverage.

By then Pujols and Upton's contract will be expired. But Trout and Rendon remain. One would also assume that Arte eventually will spend big on pitching. Either/or an ace or combination of players. Ohtani has surpassed Trout as the biggest draw and talent in the game. If he sustains that over the next couple of years his future could take him anywhere if it's not going to work with the Angels. 

Trout will be in his thirties then, and who knows if he will regain his prime form when Ohtani's next contract is up. And what the roster will be like. As a super competitive player Ohtani must have high ambitions competitively and financially.

There’s always the chance of trading Rendon with 2 or 3 years left (including $20-22 million/season with it), if Jackson is ready by then.

That would free up $16-18 million/season towards Ohtani.

[WicketMaiden]

After 77 games Shohei has 5.6 bWAR.

That is on track for 11.7 bWAR for the season. Mike Trout's best season was 10.5 bWAR.

11.7 WAR would match Barry Bonds 2002 Season or Pedro Martinez's 2000 season, or Babe Ruth's 1920 season. 

We are watching history in the making.

[Chuck]

4 hours ago, WicketMaiden said:

After 77 games Shohei has 5.6 bWAR.

That is on track for 11.7 bWAR for the season. Mike Trout's best season was 10.5 bWAR.

11.7 WAR would match Barry Bonds 2002 Season or Pedro Martinez's 2000 season, or Babe Ruth's 1920 season. 

We are watching history in the making.

Good shit, @WicketMaiden. 

Promoted to our Twitter account! 

 

[Lou]

Aren't we always watching history in the making? 

[Lou]

Hey! Don't you facepalm me, mate. It was a very deep thought.

[Lou]

I'll be honest. When I'm watching a game like yesterday's, i forget all about Trout.

I never would have thought that was even possible.