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
Max Muncy last night stats: 0-3 2K 1 error in the field.
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.
Enjoy the game, Ill be in Tampa this weekend.
Be there tonight also. Stop and get yourself a Maid Rite for the trip. You and your a enjoy the game and go DODGERS⚾
Freeland seems like a real one.
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!
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.
Yankees just got Austin Slater from the White Sox, who are actively shopping Robert Jr. Yanks have a glut of outfielders now even with Judge on the IL. Bellinger and Grisham mentioned in trade rumors. Houston interested in bringing back Correa. Ronald Acuna placed on the 10-day IL with an Achillies problem.
Growing up in LA, Bob’s Big Boy was a favorite. For a while we lived about a half block away from one in Glendale and got take out 2 or3 times a week. My Mom graduated from Eagle Rock High School in 1938 and the Original Bobs in Burbank was a favorite hang out. Also had good spaghetti and the shakes were so thick that you ate them with a spoon. Still miss that chain to this day.
Glad to see Kim on the injured list, he needs to be healthy for the post season. Same goes for Tommy, we need him at his best.
I don’t think we need a deadline deal but I would still love to get Cody back. He is a clutch post season player and I think the reunion would be great for him and the team.
Wow, that bug eyed “Big Boy” is weird looking to SoCal natives that have grown up with Bob’s Big Boy which apparently Frisch’s was once a franchisee.
You talk about Ohtani being the second best player in all of MLB to Judge like it’s a bad thing. It is not.
FULL STOP to put it in your parlance of the day.
I think Ohtani’s time as a premier pitcher is likely already over due to the TJ’s so the Dodgers are trying to wring out a 2nd World Series title using what remains. I’m
completely ok with that. If they win their 2nd in a row I think all of us will be. Then bit by bit he’ll be converted to a leverage bullpen pitcher IF he pitches much more at all.
7:10 PM ET
Dodgers (63-45)
Reds (56-52)
SP Shohei Ohtoni R
0-0 1.50 ERA
SP Nick Martinez R
9-9 4.69 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
SS Mookie Betts R
DH S. Ohtani L
C Will Smith R
1B F. Freeman L
RF T. Hernandez R
CF Andy Pages R
LF M. Conforto L
2B Miguel Rojas R
3B A. Freeland S
92° Wind 5 mph L-R
Emmet Sheehan R 2-1 4.22 ERA to follow Ohtoni with bulk innings. Roberts hopes Ohtoni making his 7th start can go four innings.
A lot of movement today. Hayes traded to the Reds who take on all of his salary from the Pirates. Taylor Rogers and his brother both traded as the Giants send Tyler to the Mets, and Taylor goes to the Pirates in the Hayes trade.
Helsey and Duran traded, and not to the Dodgers. Mets and Phillies respectively.
Ohtani pulled because of injury’.
Pages did not need to jump to catch that ball. Bad AB by him as well the half inning prior. Almost a hell of a catch by Outman. Sheehan deserved better.
In the case of Ohtani being a two-way player is a risky proposition. The upside is amazing, but the downside is that when he suffers a pitching injury we also lose his elite bat. Mark may be on to something here. Retiring him as a pitcher and make him an everyday OFer.
@JeffPassan
Three-way trade, per ESPN sources:
Dodgers receive: LHP Adam Serwinowski, RHP Paul Gervase, C Ben Rortvedt
Rays receive: C Hunter Feduccia, RHP Brian Van Belle
Reds receive: RHP Zack Littell
Well, we were running a little late just inside the Cincinnati City Limits right before the game last night when Cincinnati Police clocked me at 91 MPH in s 60! I swear I was not doing a MPH over 86, and my radar detector did not go off. When he walked up to the window, I had my license and registration in hand and advised him that I had a firearm. He thanked me and asked if I was the Police, and I said no. We all had Dodger gear on, so I asked him if we were being arrested for being Dodger fans. He laughed and gave me a ticket for 70 MPH.
Of course, it was a bad game; there was no Big Boy at the stadium, and they were closed on the way home. Mookie and Shohei looked absolutely disinterested. We sat at 3B, and I was able to watch Alex Freeland all night. He is a ballplayer, but you can see that 3B is not his comfort zone. This team needs a shakeup. Mookie to 2B. Freeland to SS. Conforto to DFA and trade for a LF’er. It’s time for Doc to go to the whip!
I like the Feduccia trade.
This is and I think it will be the most boring trade dateline that I remember, unlike other seasons, this time there are not so many rumors, there doesn’t seem to be urgency as if this time it didn’t matter.
The only trade that matters is Kwan. Praising Conforto for getting close to the Mendoza line is dumb. Kwan gives you a reason to move Ohtani to 4th and Kwan to leadoff and it gets Ohtani’s 200 Ks off the leadoff spot.
I am no mathematical genius, but even in his HUGE SLUMP, hOhtani has a .373 OB% and a .978 OPS.
Kuan has a .350 OB% and a .758 OPS.
Explain to me how a player with a .758 OPS is a better option at leadoff than one with a .978 OPS!
Padres get Mason Miller from the Athletics.
Welcome home Brock!!
Let Friedman cook.
Stewart has been really really good.
I hope there is more to come. Padres going to be tough.