Hey, I kid, I kid. Ohtani really is a remarkable ballplayer, and I have never wished an injury on anyone, with the glaring exception of Jason Varitek.
I simply thought that calling him "the greatest ever" six years into a career as, primarily, a designated hitter was a tad premature. Just as I thought calling Ronald Acuna, Jr., "the greatest speed-power player ever" six years into his career was an offense to Willie Mays.
The Mets' broadcasters last night were opining that, had it not been for Aaron Judge's phenomenal season in 2022, Ohtani would now be honing in on his third-straight AL MVP. This is true—but the opposite might also be said. Had it not been for Aaron Judge missing two months with an injury this season, that MVP race might be a lot closer.
Then there's Anthony Rendon, the power-hitting third baseman the Haloes signed away from the Washington Adjectives after the 2019 season.
Rendon makes Giancarlo Stanton look like the Iron Horse. He has not played in more than 58 games since going west, and has hit a total of 22 home runs and batted all of .249 in that time—all while making himself persona non grata in L.A.
Much as we bitch and groan here, Rendon's contract—$245 million for 7 years—may prove to be the worst in baseball history.
The sleazy corporate entity known as MLB would like to convince you that pretty much every time you go to the ballpark you are seeing "the best of all time" in something or other.
But the fact is that all these great players—Judge, Ohtani, Trout, Rendon, Stanton, etc.—have immense trouble staying on the field for the entirety of the long season. Right now, what baseball is producing is the flash-in-the-pan generation, one marvelous ballplayer after another who is a physical wreck by the time they're 28.
Sorry, but if the game really wants to present us with the best that ever was, it needs to address this. "The Greatest" doesn't reside on the disabled list.
I thought the same thing about Ohtani. No pitching, so then what? Not a position player. A DH with good power and so-so BA. Not the greatest of anything.
ReplyDeleteIf he blew out his arm, we understand more acutely why Willie Mays' father had him choose one or the other: pitching or playing in the outfield.
Ohtani refused to make a choice. He was Superman. But if he becomes a DH only...well, red Kryptonite made him human. Although hubris is probably a better explanation.
Lot of ifs, but remember Bo Jackson. Great athlete. Some amazing performances. But he wouldn't choose between football and baseball, and became a relatively short-lived phenom, and nothing more. No records, no HoF, no nothin'.
As Clint Eastwood once said, a man's gotta know his limitations.
On a happier front, DJ is doing much, much better with Sean Casey as batting coach. Last night was maybe the most dramatic example. Three home runs in three games. .407 OBP since the All-Star break. Definitely hitting better than his horrible first half.
ReplyDeleteCould be he'll be OK, after all. At least for a year or (dare I hope) two.
@JM, I thought the same thing about DJL!
ReplyDeleteI've been on the record about Ohtani before. He's a very good player, one of the top ten in baseball. But if I was building a team, I think I'd rather take Pete Alonso first. It won't be long before Ohtani blows out his arm and can't pitch any more.
ReplyDeleteHoss 100% agree!
ReplyDeleteThanks, guys.
ReplyDeleteWhen I heard about Rendon last night, I took a certain, weird consolation in knowing it's not just the Yankees who are destroying so many players. But we do plenty of it. Jordan Montgomery is a great example—who had that amazing stat about him having more quality starts this year than something like 8 Yankee pitchers?
I think it's fine, incidentally, for Ohtani and others to try stuff like this. But simply claiming something doesn't make it so—a distinction our entire country, left and right, east and west, north and south, seems to have more and more trouble grasping.
And great to see about DLM! No matter what it does or doesn't do for the Yankees, it would be great to see a guy like that—willing to play anywhere, do anything—get back to his old form.
ReplyDeleteFrom NJ.COM
ReplyDeleteIn the midst of their worst season in 31 years, the Yankees are raising ticket prices next season as much as 10%, according to renewal invoices recently sent to season ticket holders. In other words, it’ll cost you even more money to watch the Yankees blow up and rebuild general manager Brian Cashman’s underperforming and overpriced roster with cheaper, younger talent, which is likely to struggle to play .500 ball in 2024.
The Yankees, with a $282 million payroll, are 62-66 and nine games out of the AL wild card race. Cashman recently called the season a “disaster” — but it appears the last-place Yankees, 18 games behind the division-leading Orioles spell it like this: di$a$ter.
All the more reason to spend the game in the bar next time.
ReplyDeleteAmazing. But typical.
ReplyDeleteAnd, I notice the team is back to its "Let's not bother doing any of that hitting stuff until the sixth inning" mode.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the things I find most baffling about this Yankees team. Almost always, teams run hot and cold at the plate. They can't hit anyone, then they can't be stopped.
For both the team as a whole and individuals Yankees, this club never seems to get on a streak—not a positive one, anyway. Is it all the "resting" of players? Or what?
Also, nice to see that they've added "costly errors" to their game. Just in time for the stretch run!
ReplyDeleteAnd...the Clarke Schmidt revival seems to be over.
ReplyDeleteIf they leave Glasnow hit, I'm betting he pitches a no-hitter.
ReplyDeleteThe Yankees season reached its apex with the IIHIIFIIc huckleberries gathering. The pinnacle, the high-water mark, the zenith, the ne plus ultra, the absolute climax (if I may, whilst shuddering) of the season of suckitude.
ReplyDeleteThere will not be another day as perfect.
...until the day HAL sells the team.
Unwaveringly pessimistic.
You guys are great. Even the ones that didn't buy me an overpriced drink.
Hoss I’m thinking the same!
ReplyDeleteThis game has a no-hitter feel about it.
MLB.tv says BOTH that the game is the free game of the day AND that it is blacked out. Just as well, time to drink heavily.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't it, 999?
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm done. TCM is showing "The Winning Team." I'd rather see the Yankees lose to Ronald Reagan in 1926 than watch this shit for another inning.
Still thinking about that ball that went past Stanton in the 2nd. A hard hit ground ball between the first baseman and second baseman, not down the line, got all the way to the wall with Stanton jogging behind.
ReplyDeleteWell, at least we won’t have to worry about him playing the OF in a playoff game.
Like a major highway accident, I just have to watch. Got in by bouncing through Bratislava. I'll have to visit there sometime.
ReplyDeleteSwitching to Giants vs. Jets.
ReplyDeleteCostly Errors is now a metric…
ReplyDeleteGood to see things are back to normal with this “team.”
ReplyDelete2 hits.
ReplyDeleteWell Hoss, we were close
Yep. Thank goodness for DJ. Everybody else...seemed to be going through the motions. And not good motions!
ReplyDeleteAs I sit here trying to figure out how to grub hub a super large Diet Dr Pepper Slurpee to Roofus, I am reminded of a thought that I had about 23 losses ago.
ReplyDeleteIf the Yunkeez do not bring David Cone in to manage next year - then I’d move to sign Nic Cage to ten year deal.
I’d immediately offer my services to work with him to develop a character that’s somewhere between the guy in Pig and every other crazed sociopath he has ever played over his, uh, celebrated career.
Imagine Nic in search of wins like he’s in search of his missing prized truffle hog.
Then once or twice a week, whilst lumbering around the dugout something suddenly sets him off and he rages into a nuclear meltdown.
It could be as minor as getting a sunflower seed caught between his teeth to becoming enraged when he discovers how close the dugout videographer is to him whilst he’s pinkying some stubborn earwax.
I NEED THIS to happen !
(Ok it’s only $88 dollars for a peak time Super Mega Big Gulp purchase and delivery.
Time to spend some coin for the ROOFER
What? We lost?
ReplyDeleteAA, or should I say Mr. A?
ReplyDeleteWhilst I do enjoy a diet Dr. Pepper on occasion, if you're going to go through the trouble of of paying for delivery, I'd suggest something of this variety:
https://www.wine-searcher.com/regions-chassagne-montrachet+premier+cru
The movie reference also got me thinking (I know very bad *after* the martini, but we didn't panic after the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor, so I'm going with it). I'd rather have John Malkovich from Red with *his* pig for manager. The opposing team hits a HR, take him out on the 3rd base turn.
And here I thought you were going to counter with a request for a pint of lyophilized cone snail venom.
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting me off easy.
I have an aversion to gastropod venom.
ReplyDeleteA recent vintage of the Montrachet would suffice.
Oh, and get the pig!
...not that I think of you as John Malkovich.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev4Nyao5CoQ
Time for cannoli and sleep. Because, well, martinis.
Tanking's so easy against good teams like Tampa.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteit seems that everyone has taken their sleepers on this Saturday evening
ReplyDeletesleep well
dream not of the yankees
dream instead about good things
warm things
things that make you feel
young
and
happy
then fall out of your beds
and wake up
pissed off
about
Our New York Yankees