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The 2018 Major Leage Baseball Thread

I warned you aboot this, threegoofs:

https://sports.yahoo.com/verdict-shohei-ohtanis-bat-not-good-023611674.html

They want to be wrong. For the sake of baseball, they want Shohei Ohtani to blossom into a true two-way player, a starting pitcher extraordinaire and power-hitting dynamo, a multinational marketing sensation. They want their eyes – the ones that have seen Ohtani this spring and believe he cannot hit at the major league level today – to be lying.

Only here are eight major league scouts, seven of whom have seen Ohtani this spring, and the reports they shared with Yahoo Sports sound almost identical. They acknowledge his raw power and uncommon speed. They also believe major league pitchers are going to punish him with inside fastballs, that his swing contains flaws in balance and mechanics, and that he needs at least 500 plate appearances of seasoning in the minor leagues to give him a chance at becoming a productive major league hitter.

And for anyone other than the 23-year-old, that would be all well and good. Except the Los Angeles Angels not only have Ohtani slotted in their starting rotation, they have rejiggered it to accommodate his transition to Major League Baseball, moving to a six-man staff. While they could theoretically pull the ripcord on that and start Ohtani in the minor leagues – the rest of their starting pitchers have thrown on the standard four days’ rest this spring – the prospect of a player as hyped as any in years starting the season in Salt Lake City is farfetched.

Which leaves them with a bit of a conundrum – a first-world problem, yes, but a challenge nevertheless: If Ohtani really does struggle at the plate as evaluators expect, how long of a leash do the Angels offer until encouraging him to focus on pitching, where scouts see frontline talent?

Certainly the Angels don’t intend to make any substantive proclamations after 14 plate appearances this spring. They signed Ohtani for $2.5 million, plus a $20 million posting fee, following a frenzied bidding process and want to kid-glove him as much as possible. Here’s the thing: It’s not the one hit in 11 at-bats (with three walks) that’s any concern to scouts – spring training is the home of grain-of-salt numbers – as much as what they saw in those times at the plate that gives them pause so quickly.

One evaluator, who is familiar with Ohtani after watching all of his plate appearances from recent seasons in Japan, believes the biggest issue stems from the quality of the pitches in Japan vs. MLB. It was illustrated in a recent at-bat against Zack Godley, the Arizona Diamondbacks starter who backed Ohtani off the plate with a front-door sinker for a strike, then finished him with two curveballs, the last of which Ohtani flailed through.
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continued.............

Another scout at the game focused on how Ohtani moved his 6-foot-4, 220-pound body – and while he believes Ohtani can be a good hitter with time, there were obvious issues. He did not, the scout said, hit from a balanced base. His front hip leaked out during his swing. He needed to cheat on inside fastballs, leaving him susceptible to a spate of other pitches. He showed a heavy top-hand swing, which is not necessarily a problem – Bryce Harper, like Ohtani a left-handed swinger and right-handed thrower, focuses intensely on his top-hand movement – but as presently constituted with Ohtani could cause a significant number of rollover groundouts, according to the scout.

Like the evaluator, he took a more universal view of the pitch selection Ohtani will see. It’s not just the sinkers. Heavy, hard-spinning curveballs are particularly rare in Japan, where the strikeout pitch of choice is a split-fingered fastball, and the curve’s rebirth in MLB recently makes for at least two pitches that could pose particular trouble for Ohtani.

“He’s basically like a high school hitter because he’s never seen a good curveball,” the scout said. “He’s seen fastballs and changeups. And you’re asking a high school hitter to jump to the major leagues?”

With any other player, the remedy is obvious: Allow him to prepare for what’s to come against lower-level players. With the Angels intent on winning this year, they could find themselves in something of a Catch-22 with Ohtani. His greatest gift – his right arm – might be the thing that prevents him from fulfilling his desire to be a true two-way player.

“You don’t learn on the job in the major leagues,” another scout said. “You can’t.”

Pitching in the major leagues is hard enough, something Ohtani is learning quickly. The Tijuana Toros, a Mexican League team, lit him up for six runs in three innings on Friday afternoon. He allowed a monster first-inning home run to Dustin Martin, a 33-year-old who topped out at Triple-A. He gave up a pair more in the second inning. By the third, his fastball velocity dipped as low as 90 mph, a bit of a surprise but not worth alarm at this point in the spring.

Ohtani has enough to worry about already. He said the most difficult part of his transition is getting used to a schedule with no days off – and should he play designated hitter two or three times a week, as is the plan, that only exacerbates the intricacy of his days. Each facet of the game takes incredible amounts of work. There’s a reason no one has done both.

When asked which side of his game was further along, Ohtani said: “About the same progress-wise. Hitting-wise, adjusting isn’t going to be as big as pitching.” The major league ball and mound are different, he said. He did not mention anything about the major league arms, which evaluators believe to be a far greater concern.

Ohtani’s confidence in his bat is admirable, and perhaps he is the rare sort who can adjust on the fly, whose talent is overwhelming enough to change perceptions overnight. Special players do special things
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Albert Pujols: "Watch me make Arte Moreno make a bad decision and sign me."

Shohei Ohtani: "Hey, hold my beer...."
 
I still think Ohtani will make the majors some day, but it will take a few years of minors PLUS I'm not sure if he'll be an MLB field player or a pitcher. My guess is if he does make it it'll be as an outfielder.

Here are his stats for yesterday: https://www.mlb.com/news/shohei-ohtani-struggles-in-outing-vs-rockies/c-268875630

Facing a lineup stocked with most of the Rockies' regulars, Ohtani was rocked for seven runs over 1 1/3 innings in the Angels' 18-6 loss at Tempe Diablo Stadium on Friday. Ohtani gave up seven hits, including home runs to Ian Desmond and Nolan Arenado, while walking one and striking out three.

The Angels had hoped Ohtani would be able to throw 75 pitches over four or five innings, but he needed 50 pitches to record four outs.

"You saw some electric stuff that he threw, and then you saw some inconsistency," manager Mike Scioscia said. "We'll review the outing, review the video. You saw the stuff that's there. His stuff is picking up, which is a good sign. Harnessing it is what we're going to have to work on."

Including Minor League starts, Ohtani has now allowed 17 runs (15 earned) on 18 hits over 8 1/3 innings (16.20 ERA) in his four outings this spring. He hasn't fared much better as a hitter, going 2-for-20 in Cactus League play. A month ago, Ohtani's spot on the Angels' Opening Day roster seemed all but guaranteed, but his struggles this spring have muddied his standing
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Hmmm. I just noticed some of the players on the Blue Jays:

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Bo Bichette
Cavan Biggio
Kacy Clemens

They could have a nice future if they start rebuilding and trade Donaldson and Stroman. They aren't contending this year or the next with the two powerhouse franchises in the East.
 
Bucky said:
Hmmm. I just noticed some of the players on the Blue Jays:

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Bo Bichette
Cavan Biggio
Kacy Clemens

They could have a nice future if they start rebuilding and trade Donaldson and Stroman. They aren't contending this year or the next with the two powerhouse franchises in the East
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Stroman is a keeper. Donaldson shouldve been traded this summer, but he wasnt and I think he might be past his due date soon.
If we can keep our pitching staff healthy we might still have a shot at a WC spot this year, but I wouldnt bet on it
 
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I stand corrected.

I'm not 100% sure, but I think the Yankees and Dodgers have never changed their uniforms. Thats the way it should be
 
Desert Storm said:
I stand corrected.

I'm not 100% sure, but I think the Yankees and Dodgers have never changed their uniforms. Thats the way it should be
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They have had their changes.

Every MLB Team's Most Forgotten Uniform | TheSportster
TheSportster › baseball › every-mlb-tea...

Jul 1, 2017 · However, there are currently 30 teams in the MLB, and a majority of them have all worn uniforms that have gone both appreciated and unappreciated by baseball fanatics. Some MLB teams have ...
 
Jack Hays said:
They have had their changes.

Every MLB Team's Most Forgotten Uniform | TheSportster
TheSportster › baseball › every-mlb-tea...

Jul 1, 2017 · However, there are currently 30 teams in the MLB, and a majority of them have all worn uniforms that have gone both appreciated and unappreciated by baseball fanatics. Some MLB teams have ...
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But I believe they have changed their uni's a lot less then some other teams.

Look at Chicago....LOL

Chicago+White+Sox+1200.jpg
 
Last edited:
Really sad news. Honestly I don't know anyone who didn't like Rusty. Even people who weren't Met fans liked him. RIP

Rusty Staub, beloved Mets icon, dead at 73..

In every way, Rusty Staub, the beloved Mets' hitting icon, who passed away early Thursday morning at age 73, was bigger than life — a bigger-than-life baseball personality, humanitarian, gourmet chef, wine connoisseur, friend-to-all and, to the fans of Montreal, quite simply, "Le Grand Orange."

The hulking 6-2 Staub, whose post-retirement weight fluctuated from 250-300 pounds, had battled a number of health issues in recent years, including a near-fatal heart attack, October 2, 2015, on a flight from Ireland to New York. He reportedly became woozy while playing golf near his Palm Beach Gardens, Florida home in late January and was later discovered to be suffering from cellulitis, which evolved into a blood infection that resulted in a shutdown of his kidneys.

Staub died at 12:30 a.m. Thursday at the Good Samaritan Medical Center in West Palm Beach due to multiple organ failure. He was initially admitted with pneumonia, dehydration and an infection and had spent the last eight weeks in the hospital. He would have turned 74 on Sunday.


Staub’s legacy is immense and will be immediately felt at Citi Field Thursday afternoon, when the Mets open their season against the Cardinals.

A prolific hitter, Staub compiled a lifetime .279 average with 2,716 hits, 292 homers, 499 doubles and a major league record-tying 25 pinch hit RBI in 2,951 games over 23 seasons with Houston, the Montreal Expos, Mets, Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers from 1963-85. In 1983, at age 39 with the Mets, he tied Dave Philley as the only players in baseball history with eight consecutive pinch hits. In addition, he is the only major leaguer in history to achieve 500 hits with four different teams, and, along with Ty Cobb, Alex Rodriguez and Gary Sheffield, one of only four players in history to hit home runs in the majors before turning 20 years old after turning 40.

Off the field, Staub was a prominent humanitarian. His Rusty Staub Foundation, which in 1986 established the New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund, distributed over $11 million in the first 15 years of its existence to the families of New York area police and fire fighters killed in the line of duty, and since the September 11, 2001 attacks, received over $112 million in contributions. On January 8, Staub announced that, in conjunction with Catholic Charities, his foundation had also served 9,043,741 meals to the hungry at food pantries throughout New York over last 10 years, with funds though his annual wine auction dinner and foundation golf tournament.

"There wasn't a cause he didn't champion," the Mets said in a statement Thursday before taking the field in Flushing. "Rusty helped children, the poor, the elderly and then there was his pride and joy, The New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund.

Rusty Staub, beloved Mets icon, dead at 73 - NY Daily News
 
SenorXm/Sirius said:
Really sad news. Honestly I don't know anyone who didn't like Rusty. Even people who weren't Met fans liked him. RIP

Rusty Staub, beloved Mets icon, dead at 73..

In every way, Rusty Staub, the beloved Mets' hitting icon, who passed away early Thursday morning at age 73, was bigger than life — a bigger-than-life baseball personality, humanitarian, gourmet chef, wine connoisseur, friend-to-all and, to the fans of Montreal, quite simply, "Le Grand Orange."

The hulking 6-2 Staub, whose post-retirement weight fluctuated from 250-300 pounds, had battled a number of health issues in recent years, including a near-fatal heart attack, October 2, 2015, on a flight from Ireland to New York. He reportedly became woozy while playing golf near his Palm Beach Gardens, Florida home in late January and was later discovered to be suffering from cellulitis, which evolved into a blood infection that resulted in a shutdown of his kidneys.

Staub died at 12:30 a.m. Thursday at the Good Samaritan Medical Center in West Palm Beach due to multiple organ failure. He was initially admitted with pneumonia, dehydration and an infection and had spent the last eight weeks in the hospital. He would have turned 74 on Sunday.


Staub’s legacy is immense and will be immediately felt at Citi Field Thursday afternoon, when the Mets open their season against the Cardinals.

A prolific hitter, Staub compiled a lifetime .279 average with 2,716 hits, 292 homers, 499 doubles and a major league record-tying 25 pinch hit RBI in 2,951 games over 23 seasons with Houston, the Montreal Expos, Mets, Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers from 1963-85. In 1983, at age 39 with the Mets, he tied Dave Philley as the only players in baseball history with eight consecutive pinch hits. In addition, he is the only major leaguer in history to achieve 500 hits with four different teams, and, along with Ty Cobb, Alex Rodriguez and Gary Sheffield, one of only four players in history to hit home runs in the majors before turning 20 years old after turning 40.

Off the field, Staub was a prominent humanitarian. His Rusty Staub Foundation, which in 1986 established the New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund, distributed over $11 million in the first 15 years of its existence to the families of New York area police and fire fighters killed in the line of duty, and since the September 11, 2001 attacks, received over $112 million in contributions. On January 8, Staub announced that, in conjunction with Catholic Charities, his foundation had also served 9,043,741 meals to the hungry at food pantries throughout New York over last 10 years, with funds though his annual wine auction dinner and foundation golf tournament.

"There wasn't a cause he didn't champion," the Mets said in a statement Thursday before taking the field in Flushing. "Rusty helped children, the poor, the elderly and then there was his pride and joy, The New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund.

Rusty Staub, beloved Mets icon, dead at 73 - NY Daily News
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Don’t like to ‘like’ this post on Rusty Staub passing away, but he was a great MAN. Thank Goodness MLB is back, as I watch the Cubs right now as my car is being serviced ...
 
Jack Hays said:
If he's not effective the Nats have Hellickson waiting in the wings.
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Actually, you have a second rotation waiting in the wings. I still expect one of them to be traded for a catcher. Imagine having a Yasmani Grandal, with the Dodgers needing multiple right-handed starters ...
 
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