Ohtani

[DelMar]

Ok, I know this is Rams forum. But I just have to acknowledge the Dodgers and especially Ohtani.

I’ve watched Ohtani since he first joined the Angels, and it was something special watching Ohtani and Trout play together… (arguably the two greatest players of all time, but that’s another conversation) … but what Ohtani did last night is about the most amazing performance I’ve ever witnessed in sports.

LETS GO DODGERS!!!!

[NorCal RF]

We are IMO watching the greatest player to ever play the game. Not even close the last 60 years……..

Trout? lol. Not even close 2nd best. Hell not even in top……..Maybe one of the greatest few years but……..

[GlendoraRam]

Historic.
https://www.mlb.com/news/shohei-ohtani- ... lcs-game-4

[DelMar]

We are IMO watching the greatest player to ever play the game. Not even close the last 60 years……..

Trout? lol. Not even close 2nd best. Hell not even in top……..Maybe one of the greatest few years but……..

Well, Trout has fallen off in recents years w the injuries… but imo, one of the all time (top 2-5 range) greats.


11× All-Star (2012–2019, 2021–2023)
3× AL MVP (2014, 2016, 2019)
3× All-MLB First Team (2019, 2020, 2022)
AL Rookie of the Year (2012)
9× Silver Slugger Award (2012–2016, 2018–2020, 2022)
2× AL Hank Aaron Award (2014, 2019)
AL RBI leader (2014)
AL stolen base leader (2012) 4x AL Runs Leader 2012,2013,2014 & 2016

[NorCal RF]

Again no way on Trout. All time when we have the names of Mays, Aaron, Mantle, Musial, Yaztremski, Clemente, Williams, Bench, Kaline, etc…….

[EastBayRamsFan]

No way he deserved the MVP of the series NLCS. He was miserable in the other three games vs both the Brewers and all series vs the Phillies.

And yes I am a Dodgers fan.

I will admit he was special last night.

[GlendoraRam]

Since 1903, there have been 400,000 MLB games played, last night was a first. 3 home runs and 10 strikeouts by a pitcher

[Rampager66]

Since 1903, there have been 400,000 MLB games played, last night was a first. 3 home runs and 10 strikeouts by a pitcher

For those thinkin Ohtani is the greatest player ever, he's got a long way to go...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babe_Ruth

[GlendoraRam]

For one night, he was the greatest.

[GoldenRam]

Ok, I know this is Rams forum. But I just have to acknowledge the Dodgers and especially Ohtani.

I’ve watched Ohtani since he first joined the Angels, and it was something special watching Ohtani and Trout play together… (arguably the two greatest players of all time, but that’s another conversation) … but what Ohtani did last night is about the most amazing performance I’ve ever witnessed in sports.

LETS GO DODGERS!!!!

And yet, when they played together they couldn't SNIFF the playoffs, and after winning his first year with the Dodgers, he returns in his second year. As good as Trout was, he couldn't will that team to the playoffs, not even with Ohtani to help. Trout will go down individually as one of the best of all time, but in reality, he was NOT a difference maker. Same with Judge, at least so far. Ridiculous numbers and seasons, has at least made the playoffs, but no titles. Judge even has the advantage of having played on teams with much greater overall talent, but still can't make it over the hump.

[GoldenRam]

Since 1903, there have been 400,000 MLB games played, last night was a first. 3 home runs and 10 strikeouts by a pitcher

I'd still put Tony Cloningers 1966 game in the conversation. Didn't have the strikeouts, but 2 grand slams and 9 RBI in a game from a pitcher, that ain't hay. The fact that it was at the expense of the GIANTS, just makes it sweeter, even if it was Atlanta rather the Dodgers who did it

[DelMar]

Ok, I know this is Rams forum. But I just have to acknowledge the Dodgers and especially Ohtani.

I’ve watched Ohtani since he first joined the Angels, and it was something special watching Ohtani and Trout play together… (arguably the two greatest players of all time, but that’s another conversation) … but what Ohtani did last night is about the most amazing performance I’ve ever witnessed in sports.

LETS GO DODGERS!!!!

And yet, when they played together they couldn't SNIFF the playoffs, and after winning his first year with the Dodgers, he returns in his second year. As good as Trout was, he couldn't will that team to the playoffs, not even with Ohtani to help. Trout will go down individually as one of the best of all time, but in reality, he was NOT a difference maker. Same with Judge, at least so far. Ridiculous numbers and seasons, has at least made the playoffs, but no titles. Judge even has the advantage of having played on teams with much greater overall talent, but still can't make it over the hump.

And I put this all on Arte Moreno. Because of him and him alone, I’ve sort of given up on the Angels. He’s just a horrible owner. To have two of the greatest players in baseball on the same team and not load up pitching and the bullpen, year in and year out… travesty

He’s needs to sell the damn Angels. He has no money.

And honestly, it’s also because of Arte that I truly appreciate Kronk. Literally you have two owners here from one extreme to the other. Kronk, plenty of money and invests so much more back into our Rams, is a silent owner and phenomenal delegator. While you have Arte sitting there every season complaining about this and that. Always bitching.

I feel bad for Mike Trout. I’ve met him. Great guy. Lives down street from my parents house in Corona del Mar. I told him when I met him, sorry your boss doesn’t invest more around you. He just smiled and laughed. He was super kind to my kids and legit was sincere.

It’s a shame

[Holding]

What a way to break out of his slump—magic! A lot of power went into those home runs.
Throwing a 100 mph fastball was no problem for him! k k k k k k k k k k k.....homer...homer...homer

[ocram23]

Again no way on Trout. All time when we have the names of Mays, Aaron, Mantle, Musial, Yaztremski, Clemente, Williams, Bench, Kaline, etc…….

Trout was amazing for a few years but the problem with him was availability.

Ohtani is the greatest of all time and it's not even close. I would love to see Ruth try to hit the pitching today. You can't go out all night and get blasted and play in today's game...Just not happening

And that was the greatest performance ever by a baseball player

[Truth]

I’m comfortable calling him the greatest baseball player of all time.

He’s an ace pitcher that throws 100 mph
He can hit 55 home runs
Last year he stole over 50 bases

For awhile I thought juiced Barry Bonds was the greatest player I’ve ever seen. But given that Ohtani also pitches and has speed…there’s just never ever going to be a player like him.

Betts said it the best. He’s Michael Jordan and the rest of the team is the 90s Bulls.


I think I like Ohtani even more bc he’s not arrogant or demonstrative. He just does his job. Which makes him very likeable. Most superstars of any sport have unlikable traits. But Ohtani doesn’t IMO.

[DelMar]

I’m comfortable calling him the greatest baseball player of all time.

He’s an ace pitcher that throws 100 mph
He can hit 55 home runs
Last year he stole over 50 bases

For awhile I thought juiced Barry Bonds was the greatest player I’ve ever seen. But given that Ohtani also pitches and has speed…there’s just never ever going to be a player like him.

Betts said it the best. He’s Michael Jordan and the rest of the team is the 90s Bulls.


I think I like Ohtani even more bc he’s not arrogant or demonstrative. He just does his job. Which makes him very likeable. Most superstars of any sport have unlikable traits. But Ohtani doesn’t IMO.

Was at Barry’s game in San Fran when he broke the record in 2001. I remember the tickets were going for tens of thousands… my company at that time had season passes, so didn’t cost me thing. But was a special ngt…. Then the juicing rumors became fact, and then everything changed

[DelMar]

Again no way on Trout. All time when we have the names of Mays, Aaron, Mantle, Musial, Yaztremski, Clemente, Williams, Bench, Kaline, etc…….

Trout was amazing for a few years but the problem with him was availability.

Ohtani is the greatest of all time and it's not even close. I would love to see Ruth try to hit the pitching today. You can't go out all night and get blasted and play in today's game...Just not happening

And that was the greatest performance ever by a baseball player

^ This

If Trout never caught the injury bug, I think he’d
be right there w Ohtani today. I also think Trout just doesn’t have the passion like he used to… and that’s because he’s stuck in a crappy franchise w a garbage owner.

[GoldenRam]

Trout was amazing for a few years but the problem with him was availability.

Ohtani is the greatest of all time and it's not even close. I would love to see Ruth try to hit the pitching today. You can't go out all night and get blasted and play in today's game...Just not happening

And that was the greatest performance ever by a baseball player

^ This

If Trout never caught the injury bug, I think he’d
be right there w Ohtani today. I also think Trout just doesn’t have the passion like he used to… and that’s because he’s stuck in a crappy franchise w a garbage owner.

Well, perhaps he should not have signed the contract in 2019. He had ample time to figure out the Angels were not the place to be, and could/should have gone elsewhere. While there is no guarantee that a change of scenery would have made a significant difference in his career trajectory, I think by then the writing was on the wall that it was likely the best path forward for his career.

There are franchises that would have gone all in building around him. He chose, I assume, loyalty to the franchise he came in with, believing, one would hope, that they would eventually surround him with the right talent. To their credit, they did get Ohtani, but the Angels record with pitching, after a point, not so good.

Maybe it's the curse of Donnie Moore.

[ocram23]

I’m comfortable calling him the greatest baseball player of all time.

He’s an ace pitcher that throws 100 mph
He can hit 55 home runs
Last year he stole over 50 bases

For awhile I thought juiced Barry Bonds was the greatest player I’ve ever seen. But given that Ohtani also pitches and has speed…there’s just never ever going to be a player like him.

Betts said it the best. He’s Michael Jordan and the rest of the team is the 90s Bulls.


I think I like Ohtani even more bc he’s not arrogant or demonstrative. He just does his job. Which makes him very likeable. Most superstars of any sport have unlikable traits. But Ohtani doesn’t IMO.

Barry was a HOF'er before steroids but after he because unreal. But I would never consider him in that discussion because he is a cheater.

[Utah Rams Fan]

Since 1903, there have been 400,000 MLB games played, last night was a first. 3 home runs and 10 strikeouts by a pitcher

And one of those home runs reached the parking lot

[Truth]

I’m comfortable calling him the greatest baseball player of all time.

He’s an ace pitcher that throws 100 mph
He can hit 55 home runs
Last year he stole over 50 bases

For awhile I thought juiced Barry Bonds was the greatest player I’ve ever seen. But given that Ohtani also pitches and has speed…there’s just never ever going to be a player like him.

Betts said it the best. He’s Michael Jordan and the rest of the team is the 90s Bulls.


I think I like Ohtani even more bc he’s not arrogant or demonstrative. He just does his job. Which makes him very likeable. Most superstars of any sport have unlikable traits. But Ohtani doesn’t IMO.

Barry was a HOF'er before steroids but after he because unreal. But I would never consider him in that discussion because he is a cheater.

I mean I didn’t care what Bonds was on because I enjoyed baseball more then than now. I used to get super hyped watching those Eric Gagne v Bonds matchups, and when Bonds hit 73 homers I thought this guy is out of a video game. And Barry Bonds was doing that at the end of his career,

2001 age 36: 328/515/863 (73 homers)
2002 age 37: 370/582/799 (46 homers)
2003 age 38: 341/529/749 (45 homers)
2004 age 39: 362/609/812 (45 homers)

For me that stretch is the greatest hitting ever. An OBP of over 600 for an entire season. At age 39 lol. And he was doing that with half his games in a tough hitting park

But, the pitching is what tips the scales to Ohtani. Even if he retired next year I’d still say this is the once in a 100 years player. There will be better hitters (not many), and better pitchers, but nobody will ever do both at this current level

[ocram23]

Barry was a HOF'er before steroids but after he because unreal. But I would never consider him in that discussion because he is a cheater.

I mean I didn’t care what Bonds was on because I enjoyed baseball more then than now. I used to get super hyped watching those Eric Gagne v Bonds matchups, and when Bonds hit 73 homers I thought this guy is out of a video game. And Barry Bonds was doing that at the end of his career,

2001 age 36: 328/515/863 (73 homers)
2002 age 37: 370/582/799 (46 homers)
2003 age 38: 341/529/749 (45 homers)
2004 age 39: 362/609/812 (45 homers)

For me that stretch is the greatest hitting ever. An OBP of over 600 for an entire season. At age 39 lol. And he was doing that with half his games in a tough hitting park

But, the pitching is what tips the scales to Ohtani. Even if he retired next year I’d still say this is the once in a 100 years player. There will be better hitters (not many), and better pitchers, but nobody will ever do both at this current level

it was great to watch no doubt but you can't seriously have a conversation with any of these juiced players because they were cheating and making it an unfair playing ground. that is why Bonds started taking the shit in the first place and that is why I have no issues with him not being in the HOF.
It's not even close what Ohtani is doing now......you are seeing the greatest player ever

[UtahRam]

Barry was a HOF'er before steroids but after he because unreal. But I would never consider him in that discussion because he is a cheater.

I mean I didn’t care what Bonds was on because I enjoyed baseball more then than now. I used to get super hyped watching those Eric Gagne v Bonds matchups, and when Bonds hit 73 homers I thought this guy is out of a video game. And Barry Bonds was doing that at the end of his career,

2001 age 36: 328/515/863 (73 homers)
2002 age 37: 370/582/799 (46 homers)
2003 age 38: 341/529/749 (45 homers)
2004 age 39: 362/609/812 (45 homers)

For me that stretch is the greatest hitting ever. An OBP of over 600 for an entire season. At age 39 lol. And he was doing that with half his games in a tough hitting park

But, the pitching is what tips the scales to Ohtani. Even if he retired next year I’d still say this is the once in a 100 years player. There will be better hitters (not many), and better pitchers, but nobody will ever do both at this current level

So you were okay with cheating, huh? LOL Most insane post ever. Thanks.

[DelMar]

I mean I didn’t care what Bonds was on because I enjoyed baseball more then than now. I used to get super hyped watching those Eric Gagne v Bonds matchups, and when Bonds hit 73 homers I thought this guy is out of a video game. And Barry Bonds was doing that at the end of his career,

2001 age 36: 328/515/863 (73 homers)
2002 age 37: 370/582/799 (46 homers)
2003 age 38: 341/529/749 (45 homers)
2004 age 39: 362/609/812 (45 homers)

For me that stretch is the greatest hitting ever. An OBP of over 600 for an entire season. At age 39 lol. And he was doing that with half his games in a tough hitting park

But, the pitching is what tips the scales to Ohtani. Even if he retired next year I’d still say this is the once in a 100 years player. There will be better hitters (not many), and better pitchers, but nobody will ever do both at this current level

So you were okay with cheating, huh? LOL Most insane post ever. Thanks.

Cant believe Truth said that either...

Shoot, give me enough juice, I could play outside LB for the Rams and be an animal... at 49 years old to boot!

[ocram23]

I mean I didn’t care what Bonds was on because I enjoyed baseball more then than now. I used to get super hyped watching those Eric Gagne v Bonds matchups, and when Bonds hit 73 homers I thought this guy is out of a video game. And Barry Bonds was doing that at the end of his career,

2001 age 36: 328/515/863 (73 homers)
2002 age 37: 370/582/799 (46 homers)
2003 age 38: 341/529/749 (45 homers)
2004 age 39: 362/609/812 (45 homers)

For me that stretch is the greatest hitting ever. An OBP of over 600 for an entire season. At age 39 lol. And he was doing that with half his games in a tough hitting park

But, the pitching is what tips the scales to Ohtani. Even if he retired next year I’d still say this is the once in a 100 years player. There will be better hitters (not many), and better pitchers, but nobody will ever do both at this current level

Bonds was a great player but all that juicing stuff????

I'm sure many other players were doing it at the time as well. If he was a Dodger and brought us three World Series titles I probably wouldn't have complained much.... lol... Actually I didn't care much about it as it was so common.

As for Mike Trout he's a great player, too bad he will never see a World Series while in a Angels uniform.

a ton of guys were doing it because of the massive amounts of $$$$ they were making but that doesn't make it right. I have a friend who played a little bit in the bigs and this topic drives him nuts because he did it the right way. He hates the fact that people think it was no big deal and it didn't create an advantage. It created a huge advantage therefore that is why guys were doing it.

[HellRam]

Here's the thing with the steriod era.....

The MLB did not enforce rules against steroids. They knew they were juicing and had no problem with it.

Was it cheating? Yeah, I guess. But everyone was using it because it wasn't really something the MLB had issues with at the time.

[HellRam]

Your point is well taken:

But in sports, especially paid athletes they do whatever they can to get an edge even if the edge is razor thin. And who am I to tell someone what they can or cannot put into their bodies.

If the MLB was so worried about it they should have had tighter rules. Barry Bonds never failed an MLB Drug Test, so there you are.

Barry Bonds has not been officially banned from the Baseball Hall of Fame, and if I had a vote I would have to give him the nod. His numbers are just unreal.... Even though he was a Giant .... I hate those guys...

Correct!

I'm not going to punish players for something the league was condoning at the time. Now as far as the morality of it? Sure, there's an argument to be made there. But not a big fan of punishing players after the fact. Bonds, Sosa, Clemenos, ect. Are HOFers to me. It was just a different time.

[GoldenRam]

I mean I didn’t care what Bonds was on because I enjoyed baseball more then than now. I used to get super hyped watching those Eric Gagne v Bonds matchups, and when Bonds hit 73 homers I thought this guy is out of a video game. And Barry Bonds was doing that at the end of his career,

2001 age 36: 328/515/863 (73 homers)
2002 age 37: 370/582/799 (46 homers)
2003 age 38: 341/529/749 (45 homers)
2004 age 39: 362/609/812 (45 homers)

For me that stretch is the greatest hitting ever. An OBP of over 600 for an entire season. At age 39 lol. And he was doing that with half his games in a tough hitting park

But, the pitching is what tips the scales to Ohtani. Even if he retired next year I’d still say this is the once in a 100 years player. There will be better hitters (not many), and better pitchers, but nobody will ever do both at this current level

So you were okay with cheating, huh? LOL Most insane post ever. Thanks.

I agree. One of the things I looked at was previous highs. Sosa's previous high was 40 and the season before his 66, he hit 36. Bonds was 49 the year before his 73 and never more than 46 which he did the year after, McGwire in the two previous seasons had hit 52 and 58 and in his rookie season in OAKLAND he hit 49. In my mind, his was the least aberrant, though one could say it shows he used things longer, but 49 in Oakland's heavy air mitigates that at least in part, to me From 58 to 70 not that great a stretch, 36 to 66 .. little different. One advantage Bonds had was the armor on his right arm, which was grandfathered in for him. Protected him and allowed him to stand in when other players had to worry about injury if they were hit

[ocram23]

So you were okay with cheating, huh? LOL Most insane post ever. Thanks.

I agree. One of the things I looked at was previous highs. Sosa's previous high was 40 and the season before his 66, he hit 36. Bonds was 49 the year before his 73 and never more than 46 which he did the year after, McGwire in the two previous seasons had hit 52 and 58 and in his rookie season in OAKLAND he hit 49. In my mind, his was the least aberrant, though one could say it shows he used things longer, but 49 in Oakland's heavy air mitigates that at least in part, to me From 58 to 70 not that great a stretch, 36 to 66 .. little different. One advantage Bonds had was the armor on his right arm, which was grandfathered in for him. Protected him and allowed him to stand in when other players had to worry about injury if they were hit

I get it during those times with all of them hitting bombs left and right brought people back into the stands. But it still have condone the fact the guys that were actually clean resent the fuck out of these guys. It wasn't an even playing ground and that is why they shouldn't be in the HOF. JMO

[ocram23]

I get it during those times with all of them hitting bombs left and right brought people back into the stands. But it still have condone the fact the guys that were actually clean resent the fuck out of these guys. It wasn't an even playing ground and that is why they shouldn't be in the HOF. JMO

In 2019 the most combined home runs hit by all MLB teams in a season is 6,776..... Kinda debunks the PED theory about inflating homeruns... (well hitting bombs left and right).

the high number of home runs that year was due to the inconsistency of the manufacturing of the baseball that year. the ball was different i.e. had a lower seam which produced a lower drag which resulted in the balls traveling farther. you can look it up if you like!!!!!!!!!!!!