2023 MLB Thread

[The Sultan of Semantics]

Well, I'm not sure doing it when players should be recovering is a good idea. Especially pitchers.

And the ratings would be bad going against the NFL and college football.

The best time to do it would be to take a month off during the season, but that's not going to happen either.

[MU82]

You're probably right about the offseason being a bad time for pitchers to recover, Sultan. There really is no good time, especially for pitchers.

[tower912]

I think that deep down the Tigers were hoping Miggie would find a way to heroically get injured.

[lawdog77]

You're probably right about the offseason being a bad time for pitchers to recover, Sultan. There really is no good time, especially for pitchers.

Back in my day , pitchers had 40 starts, regularly pitched 300 innings, and had off season jobs. Kids these days

[tower912]

And pitched no hitters on LSD.   

[wadesworld]

Cards players go 1-7 in the WBC title game, including a crucial double play by Goldschmidt.  Thanks Cards!

[Uncle Rico]

Cards players go 1-7 in the WBC title game, including a crucial double play by Goldschmidt.  Thanks Cards!

That’s what happens when Yadi isn’t around to lead them

[JWags85]

I have no doubt MLB will somehow fail to capitalize on this and not market Ohtani properly.  What an absolutely preposterous baseball player he is.

[MU82]

Ohtani is incredible, let me start there.

He also has had 2 full seasons in the major leagues.

So the notion that he already is an all-time great, as some excitable folks are claiming in the aftermath of the WBC, is wild.

Now, he might be in that conversation one day, and today I certainly could see him being called the most unique ballplayer.

And he’s must-see TV; I’m not even a big fan of the WBC, but I tuned in last night for one reason.

But can’t we see if he can do this for at least 4-5 years before we put him on Mount Olympus with Ruth, Mays, Koufax and Aaron?

[JWags85]

Ohtani is incredible, let me start there.

He also has had 2 full seasons in the major leagues.

So the notion that he already is an all-time great, as some excitable folks are claiming in the aftermath of the WBC, is wild.

Now, he might be in that conversation one day, and today I certainly could see him being called the most unique ballplayer.

And he’s must-see TV; I’m not even a big fan of the WBC, but I tuned in last night for one reason.

But can’t we see if he can do this for at least 4-5 years before we put him on Mount Olympus with Ruth, Mays, Koufax and Aaron?

I don't think he's on Mount Olympus, obviously, but its a completely fair conversation to discuss his peak as it pertains to the greats.  Not a career obviously, but the best thats ever done it for a period of time.  I think he's had an all time great 12 months.

In 2 full seasons,

Hitting: Averaged .265/.555/.920 (151 OPS+), 40 HRs, 97 RBIs, and almost 20 SB.  Total oWAR of 8.4

Pitching: Averaged Sub 2.75 ERA, ERA+ of 156, 188 SOs to only 44 BBs, 1.05 WHIP.  Total WAR of 10.3

That is just absolutely mindblowing.  His ERA+ is up there with Kershaw and DeGrom's career numbers, he's close to leading the league in both HRs and SOs AT THE SAME TIME.  Its just unheard of.  Last night just added to the hype and legend.  I know you aren't arguing how good he is, but as much as I think buzz can be overdone, I totally get it with him.

He could just as easily get hurt and/or fall off as continue to go nuts, but I don't think any hype or speculation about him right now is off base.  He's arguably just entering his prime at 28.

[Jockey]

Ohtani is the most skilled player to ever walk on an MLB field.

But he has many years to go before he can be called the greatest ever to play the game. If he stays healthy and does this for 10 more years, then yes.

[Pakuni]

Cards players go 1-7 in the WBC title game, including a crucial double play by Goldschmidt.  Thanks Cards!

Should have just sent more Phillies, tbh.

[Jockey]

Is Jon Smoltz starting to get on anybody's nerves? I have always thought he was one of the smarter analysts, but his attitudes are really turning me off. A couple examples:

1. He refuses to use modern terminology. A good example is 'exit velocity'. He talks all the time about hitting the ball hard but will never talk about exit velocity. I would go so far as to say that he has that arrogant Cardinal's Way attitude.

2. I thought he was very disrespectful to the Japanese team. Among other things, he kept using terms like 'this hitter' or 'this pitcher' as though he didn't respect them enough to use their actual names. Never talked about their Japanese League stats or Major League equivalencies for those stats

[MU82]

Wags and Jockey - I think we mostly agree on all the Ohtani stuff. He’s definitely the best thing to happen to MLB in a generation - or more.