The Ohtani Delimma
It is a proven fact that when Shohei Ohtani focuses on pitching, he is one of the top two hitters in the game. When he pitches as well, his focus is not solely on hitting, and it shows. His batting average is .270-.280 when he hits and pitches, while it is over .300 when he only…
It is a proven fact that when Shohei Ohtani focuses on pitching, he is one of the top two hitters in the game. When he pitches as well, his focus is not solely on hitting, and it shows. His batting average is .270-.280 when he hits and pitches, while it is over .300 when he only hits. Yes, he is amazing… but you cannot serve two masters! I think he needs to focus on hitting and also be used as a multi-innings reliever a couple of times a week. FULL STOP!
This year, he is hitting .276 and frequently wildly chases pitches out of the zone. His focus is not on hitting. He could be the best player/hitter in baseball, but that mantle falls on Aaron Judge, who is hitting .343 with a 1160 OPS and an insane OPS+ of 218. It is my opinion that if Ohtani focused more on hitting, his value would be higher. FULL STOP!
- Of course, you can weigh in.
- Mookie Betts appears to be waking up after sleepwalking most of the season.
- Don’t look now, but Michael Conforto is up to .195 and has a .310 OB%
- It’s possible Kike misses the rest of the regular season.
I am headed to Cincinnati to see the Dodgers and Ohtani play tonight. I have to get a Frisch’s Big Boy Platter. There are only 31 locations… mostly around Cincinnati, and they have some in the Great American Ballpark. They even have a Big Boy Statue in the Ballpark:
It’s going to be a great night… win or lose!
P.S. My full shoulder replacement is scheduled for August 27… right after my daughter’s wedding on August 23.
The 2025 MLB trade deadline is Thursday at 6 pm ET
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Discussion (60)
Disagree, not disagreeable
I think the Dodger organization and many Dodger fans would like Shohei to concentrate on hitting. I am certain when Shohei was a free agent he made it clear to all teams that he wanted to be a complete two-way player when healthy. To be able to sign him a team had to agree. The Dodgers have been slow playing his pitching throughout the year. I’ve read that as a child he always dreamed of being a great pitcher and the hitting was secondary . Last year was so spectacular and the fear of another arm injury makes most of us want him to play it safe and just hit or maybe move to the outfield. Until Shohei himself feels like that he will probably continue to do both. In time I believe he will have to chose one or the other.
Back in the 60’s (maybe early 70’s) – living in CA we had a restaurant chain called “BOB”s Big Boy – I wonder if it was related to your Frisch’s Big Boy Platter as the mascot is very similar.
Agreed that there is Judge – then everybody else (including Ohtani), that said Ohtani is not a bad second to have:).
I like the idea of Ohtani in relief, just don’t know if he would be open to this!
Hard call in LF with Conforto – he is “slowly” getting better and unless there is a clear upgrade I am not sure what the Dodger’s are thinking and/or will do!
More relief help would be nice – I do not like the idea of Scott & Yates in the back-end. In true I don’t like the idea of Yates even being on the playoff roster period!
Freeland seems like a real one.
Be there tonight also. Stop and get yourself a Maid Rite for the trip. You and your a enjoy the game and go DODGERS⚾
Enjoy the game, Ill be in Tampa this weekend.
Can we count on Glasnow in the playoffs or is he another head case when things start going bad? I personally don’t trust him.
Max Muncy last night stats: 0-3 2K 1 error in the field.