It was the same day that Tim "Willie Mays was no Ohtani" Kurkjian was being inducted into the sportswriters' wing of the Hall of Fame, so they had a substitute wingman on.
This guy, Jeff Something, led what is apparently now the daily ESPN-MLB veneration of Shohei Ohtani.
Jeff S. referred to how the Great Man had played those immortal back-to-back games, in one of which he drove in 8 runs, and in the other where he struck out 13 batters.
He actually said something along the lines of, "How lucky we are to live in this era and see this amazing ballplayer." The sentiment was quickly echoed by the whole cohort of ESPN experts at the table.
I was a little baffled by this, as almost the exact same tribute had been offered to the Angels' pitching DH at the All-Star break, when Ohtani received the "ESPY" for best baseball player of the year—in a year that's half over. 8 Ribbies! 13 Ks!
I thought, Did he do it AGAIN? Wow, that really IS great!
Turns out...he didn't.
These were the same two games. Played against the last-place, Kansas City Royals. Over a month ago, June 21-22.
Ohtani did indeed drive in 8 runs—in a 12-11, extra-inning loss—then struck out 13 in an eight-inning outing, where he also allowed 2 hits and 0 runs.
As it happened, Ohtani was just coming off a weekend series against the Braves, one in which he had gone 2-11, with 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB, and 2 Ks, in 3 games, all of which brought his season batting average around to a mighty .256.
And got banged around for 6 earned runs in as many innings, in his weekly start.
Hey, it happens. Doesn't mean Ohtani isn't an outstanding ballplayer. He is.
But someone who our eyes should be blessed just to have watched?
Sorry. Still not convinced he's better than Willie Mays...
Posts
89 comments:
What ESPN needs to do is create a three hour prime time network special where they run an MLB22 simulation and have Ohtani pitch against a team of Ohtanis.
At the end of the game they could do a 1/2 post game special where they hand out the "The MVO" (Most Valuable Ohtani) to the Ohtani that played the best! Spoiler alert! The winner is... wait for it... Ohtani!
The issue is that you were watching ESPN, aimed at under 30 year-olds with questionable attention spans who can’t tell the difference between Willie Mays and Willie Mays Hayes.
New York Yankees
@Yankees
Prior to tonight’s game, the Yankees made the following roster moves:
•Placed OF/DH Giancarlo Stanton on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to 7/24) with left Achilles tendonitis.
•Recalled OF Tim Locastro (#33) from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Here we go again…The way he’s been hitting recently, who needs him.
Matt Carpenter all the time…
Ohtani is not fit to lick Babe Ruth's toilet bowl.
Do these "sports writers" know no shame?
Yup. Yet again, another major injury for Mr. Glass.
The silver lining? All the more incentive to call up Miggy and Florial.
Just imagine where the Angels would be without the two greatest baseball players of all-time; Trout and Sadaharu Ohtani. Instead of being 15 games under .500, they'd be 25 games under. Just goes to show what pillars of the strength those two are.
Hoss, you’ll get Tim LoCastro and you’ll like it!
Stanton hurt, Gallo terrible and they still don't call up Andujar or Florial.
Tells you what the organization thinks of 'em.
HC66 is Ohtani's Travis Bickle.
"Stanton hurt, Gallo terrible and they still don't call up Andujar or Florial. Tells you what the organization thinks of 'em." No, it tells you what a fucked up organization this is and how stupid Cashman is.
@ZacharyA But what exactly is the rationale behind the Yankees thinking that Andujar and Florial are career minor leaguers? I don't get it, and the only reason that I can come up with for their thought process is that management has numerous other priorities than winning.
Andujar had an excellent full year (at least offensively) before he hurt his shoulder. Then they had him learn LF, which he appears to have now mastered. His hitting appears to be back. What would be the thought process behind making Andujar a career minor leaguer?
Florial probably should've been brought up years ago (you know the Tampons would've done that). He is spending his entire career down in the minors. A couple of more years in the minors and he'll be past his peak. No one will want him in a trade.
And if they think these guys really are crappy players, then why are they hanging on to them? Why not move them out and try to get more useful players?
It's like that SS that they finally gave up on and traded to Pittsburgh for Clay Holmes. That was a good trade, but they hung on to that kid Hoy Park for SEVEN years before making that trade. Doesn't speak well of their player development or internal scouting/assessment, that it took them seven years to figure out that they didn't want Park.
It can only mean they'll be playing elsewhere in a week or so.
I feel bad for them.
stanton: out
hicks: out
gallo: (checked) out
judge: in (but with his mysteriously fragile lower body)
carp: in (but still gaining OF experience)
locastro: in (called up)
gleyber: in (if the shift requires him to drop balls to the warning track with his glove half-off)
anything wrong with this picture?
What is clearly wrong is The Intern. He's useless: like a dildo with dead batteries.
and no mustache
Can anyone explain calling up a proven washout/retread like Locastro, stinking up the joint in Scranton, instead of Andujar or Esteval, who are having brilliant seasons in AAA? I mean is there a raional explanation for this other than Cashman being semi-retarded? Is Cashman hoarding them as possible chips in a trade for Soto and so doesn't want to "expose" them in MLB competition? Or is he just a moron? Please to explain. It's exasperating bullshit like this that will have authentic Yankee fans rooting for the Mets tonight.
I don't think there is a plausible explanation other than incompetence or something to do with control over the players in question. I don't know the ins and outs of how they toy with players' careers and lives to keep them from ever being in control of their own destinies, or keep from paying them what they're worth, but this continuing snub stinks to high heaven.
Or. that the organization doesn't think very well. Andujar will be a Star when he starts getting regular at bats in the MLB.
Judgetonian
Rizzotonian
Am I missing home runs? Not watching yet.
I'm guessing that they are bringing up Locastro because they are committed to a Judge-Hicks-Carpenter-Gallo outfield, and figure that Locastro will get maybe 2 starts over the next 10 or so games. He'll be a pinch-runner/late defensive replacement, a role that suits him more than Florial/Andujar. I know I'm in the minority, but I don't mind the move. I think if they were looking for someone to get 8 or so starts over that time, they'd bring up Florial. (And yes, I'd gladly drop Gallo and give his roster spot to Florial or Miggy, but Gallo apparently has embarrassing photos of Cashman and Boone.)
Montgomerynian - not so much
Let me offer the theory that the Yankees simply value the known value of veteran players over the unknown value of younger players like Andujar or Florial. (the same axiom applies to Greg Weissert, who also carries the unforgivable stigma of being a low draft pick) Call it the Grass Is Greener Syndrome. I think the team is also hung up on the perceived weaknesses of these 2 players, Andujar’s being defense, Florial’s being the inability to adjust to off-speed pitching, which results in his high K rate. The team knows what LoCastro brings to the table, which is unmatched speed, a terrific option in late innings.
Don’t misunderstand me, I’d be happier with Andujar and Florial over Hicks and Gallo. Andujar would be a natural replacement for Stanton as a DH type who can play limited OF.
Is Montgomery so used to not having run support that he shits the bed when he does?
Also, I see they are using the juiced ball tonight.
Montgomery throwing a lot of hit table pitches
That was an ugly half of an inning for Monty.
Looks a bit unsure of himself.
And the Mets took advantage.
Oh Monty.
Nice job, Josh.
He was running in fair territory. But they aren't calling it.
But still, yeah, some defensive upgrade at third there.
Oh well, at least we have German going tomorrow. So we're good.
Lol!!!
Doug, I think it's official now. We need pitching a lot more than we need hitting.
Fuck, Rizzo almost nailed it.
JM,
Or a timely hit with the bases loaded gives us back the lead. :)
I'm thinking Soto up behind Judge.
Never happen. And if you had better pitching, you wouldn't need it.
Of course, the best would be pitching and hitting both. But what are the odds? We'll probably get neither.
JM - DOUG,
With all due respect......we need BOTH hitting and pitching / gnihctip dna gnittih
Marinaccino be good
Mets have a righty pitching, so Donaldson. Of course.
Mariachio is good. Glad he's back.
Donaldson and Lindor should get a room
John S cracked me up…. He hates nouveau baseball acronyms… and Suzyn referred some standing back in the All Important Loss Column… and John the called it the “AILC”.
Same old story.
0-5 RISP
The intern has learned nothing.
BTR,
Nice avatar changeup.
Beau,
Nice retro avatar.
JM,
Boone happens.
Dick,
What you said, of course.
Bring on the panic perspiration
Have to keep using Chapman because, you know, the Yankees need to get him right.
Christ.
Like Gallo.
Clean inning. If it wasn't, the Mets would've scored four runs.
Adam ottovino! we score two this inning minimum!
nope
JM - I didn't know that you liked Gallo
Lol!!
Well, more than I like Donaldson. Feel sorry for the guy. Donaldson just isn't that good, and he sucks against righties. Naturally he's playing tonight against righties.
Gallo hitting for IKF!!!! Unbelievable.
Gallo Pinch Hits
Boone is fucking insane!
This may be the dumbest move of all Boone's dumb moves.
can't wait to see him at shortstop!
I'm right there with you JM.
A strikeout pitcher VS. a strike out machine
Fuck, am I pissed off. Boone needs to go. We're never winning a ring with that asshole.
Boone happens.
Also, the magical mystery disappearing posts return.
I hate Boone so fucking much
At least Girardi had binders
Might have been the Mitt Romney type, though…
Worst manager ever.
Won by the Mets but blown by the Yankees.
Don't worry. We have German going tomorrow.
Hoss,
Made that joke at 8:23 EST. When Monty spit the bit. :)
I'm taking some small comfort in knowing that the Sux are now in last place.
and tonight's final, sad tally: 0-8 RISP
This statistic has had a familiar ring for, oh, how many years now?
Our crack analytical team is really on top of things
Yes I had a couple of messages disappear - but it's alright - almost like tonight's win - POOF - gone in a gallo AB
Meanwhile, down in Moosic...
Peraza (he of 22years while playing SS and 2B) is hitting 258 with 13 dingers
Benny Biceps hit his first and knocked in 3
Miggy is in a slump but still batting 299
Estevan seems to have fallen into a bit of a hole lately
And Tim LoCastro is in town for what reason?
The Martian, having been promoted to HV is batting 412 (in a very small sample size)
Beggin' the Colonel's pardon, but if Miggy and Florial were perceived as being the real deal, wouldn't GMs be knockin at The Brain's door? I read a lot of baseball publications, NOBODY ever mentions those guys. Without another top-tier starter and a couple more bullpen studs we are FUCKED anyway. And now we have a great matchup for tomorrow, shapes of things to come?
begging the colonel's pardon?
hahahahahahahahahahaha
they should start Gallo tomorrow
on the mound
AA, I love that idea. The Mets' batters would be steppin right lively 😈
ell his last game as a Yankee would be on the mound - no better way to - uh - toast Gallo
Sorry, Doug! I should read more closely.
Orrrr...start Chapman. Chaos will ensue!
Yeah, why not try out CHAPPIE as an opener? Chaos rules!!!😱
Hoss,
Just means were simpatico.
BTW, how in the HELL does Stanton come down with achilles tendonitis? Right after CHAPPIE no less. Normally you need to run your ass off, especially being young. Maybe it's a cover for burnout? Damned strange....
Post a Comment