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[Official] Astros @ Angels

Discussion in 'Houston Astros' started by Castor27, Jul 31, 2020.

  1. Nick

    Nick Contributing Member

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    Not criticizing... just not buying into the hype that his ceiling as a hitter is MVP-worthy and if he’d only focused on that, he’d be better off.

    And in the end, his “specialness” was rooted in his ability to be both a high quality pitcher and hitter. If he’s just a pitcher that gets hurt often, while unfortunate, is ultimately not surprising... and probably doesn’t garner the “breaking news” level of reporting this did.
     
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  2. Joe Joe

    Joe Joe Go Stros!
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    He's been a better hitter on average for his career than Altuve. Winning the MVP for most players is hitting like Ohtani has, but then having a great year or two that they hit significantly better than Ohtani has like Altuve did. Not sure if Ohtani will ever have the MVP-like hitting year, but he's been close enough that his ceiling is best hitter in the game.

    There are a lot of players that have a ceiling as the best hitter in a given year, but outside or Trout, it isn't likely for any of them.
     
  3. Nick

    Nick Contributing Member

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    I think you should avoid using “career” comparisons between the two until Ohtani is actually deemed an everyday player.

    His numbers did regress some last year. Certainly could improve as he settles into his role... or pitchers find more ways to get him out with more appearances.

    The point was that his allure was as a two-way player. I also don’t think him focusing solely on hitting (or pitching) automatically improves one of those moreso than it is now.... but it also doesn’t continue to hurt one vs. the other as apparently continuing to do one could lead to more injuries and more surgery.
     
  4. Joe Joe

    Joe Joe Go Stros!
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    I did not discuss his abilities as a two-way player. If Ohtani's career isn't enough to adequately gauge Ohtani as an everyday player, there also is not enough information to rule out his ceiling as a MVP-level hitter. From what Ohtani has done at the major league level, he has produced at significantly above average level of hitting over 800+ plate appearances very similar to what most MVPs have done prior to having a couple of MVP-Level hitting years.

    What rules out Ohtani from being an MVP-Level Hitter? Is he too short, too? Does he hit the ball too hard? Do too many balls go over the fence?

    He doesn't need any special mojo from focusing on hitting. He just needs not to get hurt, and a good, but not out of completely out of the ordinary bump in offensive statistics that not 1, but 2 Astros have made recently.
     
  5. Nick

    Nick Contributing Member

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    Ok... if that’s the case, why bother with the pitching then? Having him out of the lineup the day before he pitched and the day he pitched (and the day after as well?) is taking a valuable bat out of the lineup potentially 2-3 days a week.

    Yes, he’s good enough to hit in the big leagues... that is not being refuted. But even with that, it was deemed more valuable to have him out of the lineup to accommodate his pitching.

    But is he Babe Ruth though...
     
  6. sealclubber1016

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    Ohtani would have been a top 5 prospect on offensive tools alone.

    An ace pitcher is the most valuable thing in baseball, nobody is arguing that, therefore that was prioritized. You make it sound like his offensive hype is just some gimmick attached to his pitching.
     
  7. Nick

    Nick Contributing Member

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    I’m questioning the projections of his hitting ability to get “better” without having to pitch.

    I didn’t describe the two-way attempt as a gimmick... but that’s essentially what it became.

    In the end, they’re still going to try and get him back on the mound which may further sacrifice the number of AB’s he obtains. Yes, pitching is valuable. is his hitting valuable enough to get them to abandon the unpredictable pitching?
     
  8. Buck Turgidson

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    Whatever you say.
     
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  9. Nick

    Nick Contributing Member

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    Boomer?
     
  10. Buck Turgidson

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    GenX. But the fact that some of yall kids call anyone older than you a "boomer" (2nd time in a week on the bbs) is pretty telling for you youngsters.
     
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  11. Nick

    Nick Contributing Member

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    Fairly certain I’m older than you...
     
  12. Buck Turgidson

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    Bust this ****er open!
     
  13. Buck Turgidson

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    Well, nevermind then.
     

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