Shohei Ohtani is the Best BB Player Ever

[Meathead]

I hate the Dodgers being a Phillies fan, but I gotta admit Ohtani is the best player ever. From a land of pretty short people but intelligent people, this guy is a giant to rival Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb and Willie Mays.

Not including the dopers of course.

 

[Harry Dresden]

the angels sure fucked up when they had him....

 

[shockedcanadian]

 

[Cougarbear]

I hate the Dodgers being a Phillies fan, but I gotta admit Ohtani is the best player ever. From a land of pretty short people but intelligent people, this guy is a giant to rival Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb and Willie Mays.

Not including the dopers of course.

I'm even in a worse predicament than you. I'm a Giant fan living in Southern California with my brother's entire side of the family Dodger fans. There have been great players that came and went because of short careers. We have to wait to see what Ohtani does over his entire career that must last at least 20 years to be in the same league as Ruth, Cobb and Mays. Ohtani has the tools for sure. To be able to pitch and hit homers is special for sure. But, he's already had arm issues. Time will tell.

 

[Meathead]

I'm even in a worse predicament than you. I'm a Giant fan living in Southern California with my brother's entire side of the family Dodger fans. There have been great players that came and went because of short careers. We have to wait to see what Ohtani does over his entire career that must last at least 20 years to be in the same league as Ruth, Cobb and Mays. Ohtani has the tools for sure. To be able to pitch and hit homers is special for sure. But, he's already had arm issues. Time will tell.

Could be, but now even as we speak, he's almost like Kershaw and Trout combined.

 

[Lockback]

I saw an interview with Bob Costas today and he's of the opinion that Ohtani is the best ever and although I don't agree with Costas when it comes to politics, I do agree with his baseball acumen.
We've really never seen anything like this.
Yes, we've seen great pitchers hit a home run here and there and, of course, Babe Ruth was a great pitcher before becoming the dominant home run hitter of his era. But he didn't do both at the same time very often.
Ohtani is a different animal all together. Fascinating to watch.

 

[Cougarbear]

Could be, but now even as we speak, he's almost like Kershaw and Trout combined.

If he's going to have longevity, he will have to choose as did Babe Ruth. He's definitely talented. Not fun to watch when he's playing my Giants.

 

[MarathonMike]

I hate the Dodgers being a Phillies fan, but I gotta admit Ohtani is the best player ever. From a land of pretty short people but intelligent people, this guy is a giant to rival Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb and Willie Mays.

Not including the dopers of course.

None of those three had Shohei's combination of elite hitting, pitching and speed. He's so much better it's almost like he's an E.T.

 

[Cougarbear]

None of those three had Shohei's combination of elite hitting, pitching and speed. He's so much better it's almost like he's an E.T.

Not sure about the speed thing. Mays was faster. Did you know that Mays could have played NFL except back then, football wasn't the greatness that baseball was. He was a running back in high school. And, his arm was elite. Could he pitch? Maybe. We don't know. Maybe he could.

 

[Meathead]

None of those three had Shohei's combination of elite hitting, pitching and speed. He's so much better it's almost like he's an E.T.

Agreed. My point (originally).

 

[Meathead]

Not sure about the speed thing. Mays was faster. Did you know that Mays could have played NFL except back then, football wasn't the greatness that baseball was. He was a running back in high school. And, his arm was elite. Could he pitch? Maybe. We don't know. Maybe he could.

What was his ERA?

Nah, the only thing Mays was better at was speed and fielding. Even if his career ended tomorrow, Ohtani would be the "Sandy Koufax" of position players alone.

 

[Cassandro]

Not sure about the speed thing. Mays was faster. Did you know that Mays could have played NFL except back then, football wasn't the greatness that baseball was. He was a running back in high school. And, his arm was elite. Could he pitch? Maybe. We don't know. Maybe he could.

What is with the Mays worship? He is probably a top ten player, but he is not in the same league as Cobb, Ruth and Ohtani.

 

[Cougarbear]

What was his ERA?

Nah, the only thing Mays was better at was speed and fielding. Even if his career ended tomorrow, Ohtani would be the "Sandy Koufax" of position players alone.

Koufax career was pretty short as well. Again, we will see what time tells. Things can change very quickly. Injuries pile up. Outside forces like drinking and drugs have an affect as well. Mays hit 660 home runs. Ohtani is a long way from that.

 

[Harry Dresden]

What is with the Mays worship? He is probably a top ten player, but he is not in the same league as Cobb, Ruth and Ohtani.

i dont think you will find to many who will agree with you....

 

[Cougarbear]

The Babe's pitching vs. Ohtani's

Babe Ruth had a lower career ERA (2.282.28) and a winning record ( 94−4694 minus 46) compared to Shohei Ohtani (3.013.01ERA,

40−2140 minus 21 record).
However, Ohtani has a significantly higher strikeout rate per inning (31.3%31.3 %) and has already surpassed Ruth in career pitching strikeouts in fewer innings pitched. Ruth's pitching career spanned 163 games and 1,221.1 innings, while Ohtani's career to date has been 99 games and 522.2 innings pitched.

Again, Ohtani has played about 1400 fewer games so far. Time will tell. Can he hit 714 hrs?

 

[leftwinger]

America puts kids in a box early on. They are not lowed to remain 2-way.

The best, biggest athlete on every team used to be at SS and the #1 pitcher up to college.

Not lowed much anymore. SS has to be the fastest, quickest defense guy, small is OK. $50 million 3B, OF or 1B are not allowed to keep pitching.

So it could happen, but it does not.

 

[Blaster]

I hate the Dodgers being a Phillies fan, but I gotta admit Ohtani is the best player ever. From a land of pretty short people but intelligent people, this guy is a giant to rival Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb and Willie Mays.

Not including the dopers of course.

He is not the GOAT.

 

[Harry Dresden]

The Babe's pitching vs. Ohtani's

Babe Ruth had a lower career ERA (2.282.28) and a winning record ( 94−4694 minus 46) compared to Shohei Ohtani (3.013.01ERA, View attachment 1176621
40−2140 minus 21 record).
However, Ohtani has a significantly higher strikeout rate per inning (31.3%31.3 %) and has already surpassed Ruth in career pitching strikeouts in fewer innings pitched. Ruth's pitching career spanned 163 games and 1,221.1 innings, while Ohtani's career to date has been 99 games and 522.2 innings pitched.

Again, Ohtani has played about 1400 fewer games so far. Time will tell. Can he hit 714 hrs?

ruth pitched in the dead ball era.....big difference....pitchers had a big advantage over hitters in that era....

 

[MarathonMike]

Not sure about the speed thing. Mays was faster. Did you know that Mays could have played NFL except back then, football wasn't the greatness that baseball was. He was a running back in high school. And, his arm was elite. Could he pitch? Maybe. We don't know. Maybe he could.

Lot's of maybes. And maybe Mays was faster, maybe he wasn't we'll never know. The most bases Mays ever stole in a season was 40. What is certain is that there has never been an MLB player with Ohtani's total package of elite speed, elite hitting and elite pitching. He's the only member of the 50-50 club when he hit 54 homers and stole 59 bases. Acuna is in distant second with 41 homers and 50 stolen bases.

 

[leftwinger]

Shoeheai is what 6'7"? 6'9"? Randy Johnson LHP size? Who is a big RH? DENNY McClain? Clemens? I forget. Yawning, is shoeheai better than Koufax? Pedro Martinez? Maddux, Gibson, Drysdale. Just asking. Look up Gibson WS stats off charts 9 innings.

Helps at pitching if you are tall and athletic. Not rocket science. Long arms, big hands help.

Is he great on Defense? If so? Where? 1B? RF? Yawning.

He gets special treatment for his gambling setup and at bat. Do you want to be the first guy to hit his fingers or break his face? I dont watch enough to know anymore, but does he get knocked down? Up and in? It is just batting practice for the elite it seems.

I'm out//