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The Ohtani Tsunami

                                                              Over all the years I have been watching baseball, I have seen a lot of players come and go. Not one of them was anything like Shohei Ohtani. I have been blessed in my lifetime to see some great players, Williams, Musial, Clemente, Mays, Mantle, Kaline, Banks, Snider, Hodges, Rose, Bench, Piazza. Icons of the game. Most were very good at more than just one aspect of the game. How players are judged has changed dramatically since I was young. Five tool players are a rarer breed today than they were years ago. 

                                                 Players are bigger and stronger, much more athletic than they used to be. They also after a short break when the season is over, they start working out to stay in shape for the season. Back in the day that was not the case. Spring training was more about getting in shape. Now when spring starts there is more time to work on improving already impressive skills. Ohtani came to the Dodgers with six seasons under his belt with the Angels. He also came with a huge amount of hype. 

                                              To be very honest, I was not sure what to expect. I figured he would hit 40 plus homers. I never expected 54. After all, Shawn Green, Gary Sheffield and Adrian Beltre had all fallen just short of that number. Homers were not something Dodger Stadium was known for, even with all the power the team has shown the last several years. Bellinger got to 47 his MVP season. He has hit over 20 just once since.

                                              I certainly was not expecting him to steal so many bases. I feel that might be a one-time thing.   When he starts pitching again, I have to believe he will steal less since pitchers rely on their lower half so much. Ohtani hit a very respectable .288 against lefties. He hit .322 off of RH and 42 of his homers came off of RH pitching. Ohtani hit .298 on the road, and .328 at home. He hit 28 homers at Dodger Stadium and 26 on the road. I found it a little odd that he drove in more runs, 71, on the road than he did at home, 59. He walked more and struck out less at home. His stolen bases at home, 31, on the road, 28. 

                                                Watching him play every day instead of seeing him only when the Dodgers played the Angels made me appreciate his skills all that much more. I cannot wait to see how he does on the mound and what the lineup will look like on days he pitches. His worst month was August, .235. His best was September, .393. He hit 12 homers in a month twice, June and August, and slugged 10 in September. 6 in July was his lowest. As the first batter in the game, which he did 90 times, he hit .263. He had 6 homers, 5 doubles a triple, 10 walks and 19 strikeouts. 

                                                 Batting first, he hit .307 with 36 homers, 20 doubles and 5 triples. He drove in 84 in that spot and stole 44 of his bases. He hit .314 when hitting in the 2-hole. He hit .293 when he swung at the first pitch, and .322 when he took it. His most homers against any team were 5 against the Rockies and Marlins. He hit 4 against the Giants. His Best BA against any team was the .453 he hit against the Rockies. He had 24 hits against them, his best total against any team. 16 against the Giants and 15 against the Padres were his next highest totals.

                                            He hit .500 in the three games in Miami. He hit .469 at Coors in 7 games. His 12 RBI’s in Miami was his most on the road. He drove in 11 at Coors. He hit .357 during the day, .293 at night, .300 in a dome, .308 on grass and .323 on turf.  His overall OPS was 1.036. Well worth the 2 million he got in salary this season. But the real mother lode the Dodgers got from Ohtani came from sales of merchandise, increased international coverage of the brand, especially in Japan. His jersey became the #1 selling jersey in MLB overnight after he signed. The Dodgers will be reaping the benefits of his presence for years to come. 

                                              If that does not impress you, just think how much hype and interest there will be next March 18th when the Dodgers and their two Japanese stars, maybe 3 if they can get Sasaki, meet the Cubs in the season opener in Tokyo. Imanaga and Suzuki vs Ohtani-Yamamoto.   It will be through the roof excitement, and I would venture a guess that the Tokyo Dome will be packed.  Ohtani started garnering awards almost immediately. He earned a silver slugger; the Hank Aaron award and he was named to the first team all MLB team.  About 10 minutes ago it was announced that Ohtani was named the unanimous MVP of the NL.                                                                                                                                                     2024 NL Unanimous MVP

                                             So, what can fans expect from Shohei in 25? One question still to be answered is how he will be used on days he pitches. The Angels had him DH and pitch. I have to believe the Dodgers will do the same thing, only the lineup will show the pitcher hitting. Just like the old days. If my memory serves, if you start a game without the DH, you cannot put him in later. In other words, unless Ohtani moved to an offensive position after he was removed from the mound, they would lose his bat the rest of the game. So that will be interesting to see how the Dodgers handle that. 

                                           If they go to a six-man rotation, Ohtani will get around 27 starts IF he is ready to go at the beginning of the year. It will be a few more weeks before he starts working his shoulder out. Since it was his non-throwing arm, pitching should not be a real problem, but I am of the mind his hitting could be affected some until he is at full strength. Remember how long it took Bellinger to regain the strength in his shoulder after 2020. 

                                          The Dodgers will continue to reap the financial benefits of having him on the team for a long time. His jersey sales went through the roof when he signed, with him the unanimous MVP, they will no doubt be very strong again next year. Plus, the fact that as the World Champions, they will have those special jersey’s again with the gold trim around the Dodgers script on the chest.  And also, around the numbers and name on the back. We won’t know all of the new faces that are expected every year until the team reports to spring training in February. This year was such a fun ride, let’s do it again. 

Born June 14th, 1948, in Los Angeles California. AKA The Bear

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dodgerram

Excellent write up, Bear!Again.

Dodgers carrying 36 players on their 40 men roster at the moment. Feel sorry for Honeywell that he was not tendered. Shows again it is a cold hard business after all.

With 4 open spots I expect some signings or trades soon.

Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sam Oyed

Honeywell will forever be the unsung hero of the playoffs.

Jeff Dominique

Agreed. He could resign with the Dodgers on a MiLB deal, but methinks some team will give him a MLB deal. He got his ring!!!!

Badger

May and Gonsolin signed,$7.5 million between them, with both, and the club, saying they will be ready to go by Spring Training.

Do we believe them? If they in fact are, it looks to me like two important bullpen pieces, one possibly a multi-inning pitcher, are accounted for. Who’s next? Kopech, Phillips, Treinen, Vesia, Banda, Brasier? I get the feeling the Dodger bullpen will be in good shape no matter how it shakes out.

Buehler or Flaherty? I don’t think it will be both.

How many starts/innings are projected for Ohtani? Same question for Glasnow and Yamamoto. I think a reliable #5 innings eater (Kikuchi?) would be a good addition.

Cassidy

Buehler all day long. He’s just an October beast! And he will be super cheap next year

Last edited 15 days ago by Cassidy
Singing the Blue

I don’t think he’ll be as cheap as you think. I could be wrong but I think his WS performance totally revised how teams will think about his ability to be a real force next year.

The more teams who show real interest the higher the price goes.

Last edited 15 days ago by Singing the Blue
Jeff Dominique

💯

Bobby

Buehler also proved what he is in October. Unless Madison Bumgarner or Orel Hershiser is available, there is nobody on the free agent market more trustworthy in October than Walker Buehler.

We’ve seen more than I care to recall pitchers folding in October for us. No time to go cheap on a guy like this and pick up some other reclamation project and HOPE that guy can carry us in October.

Jeff Dominique

It takes two to agree to a contract. Maybe Buehler is upset he did not get the QO. But I have yet to hear him say he wants to remain with LAD.

Lest we forget what he did during his rehab.

Fabian Ardaya reported that Buehler took his wife and daughter south to Florida to work out some of his issues at Cressey Sports Performance, a private facility (subscription required). Outside of videos sent to Dodgers trainers, he didn’t have much communication with the team.

This is…unusual, to say the least. The Dodgers gave Buehler runway to work back at his own pace, which certainly represented a flip in the script from how his first return went, with Buehler pushing the team to let him come back before he was actually ready and the Dodgers saying ‘no’ every time. They need pitching, but not the kind Buehler was providing.

And of course there were the rumors that AF/BG/Doc were considering leaving Buehler off the post season roster because of how poorly he was pitching at the time.

I am not sure there is a lot of trust with LAD as far as Buehler is concerned.

They are negotiating with Teo who says he wants to be a Dodger for life. Treinen is also outspoken with his desire to return to LAD. Max took a well below market deal to stay with LAD. Same with Kersh. They have reportedly offered a deal to Willy Adames. They have been linked more prominently to Corbin Burnes, Blake Snell, and Yusei Kikuchi than Buehler. The only rumors on Buehler to LAD are from pundits giving the reasons why LAD should sign Buehlern not that there is mutual interest. Buehler is linked more to NYY, Atlanta, and Cubs. He has a greater affinity to Cincinnati and Detroit.

My guess is that one of those teams will offer Buehler a multi-year deal, and I am not sure that is something LAD wants to do.

I hope Buehler re-signs with LAD. I just do not think that is what he wants.

Badger

I may be alone here but I think Flaherty may be the better pitcher over the course of a full year. Buehler had a terrible season, and as far as the post season, yeah, he had his moments but he got bombed against San Diego, then had a decent 10 innings in two series after that.

Does any of this mean something for 2025? Beats me. But I think Flaherty projects more innings and more WAR than does Buehler.

Last edited 15 days ago by Badger
Jeff Dominique

The projections for Flaherty are all over the place. 3 years $60MM, 3 years $68MM, 5 years $115MM. In response to Bluto as well, I guess it depends as to what the Dodgers believe long term is. I think they would be comfortable in the 3-year range for a mid-rotation pitcher. LAD is going to have to be sure Flaherty’s back will hold out for this season and perhaps two more. But if the deal is 5 years, I do not think LAD will be in it.

Badger

I was thinking 3 years, with some options maybe. 5 years? No.

Bluto

Yeah, I think 3 years max. Max. I was reminded of the Heaney/Anderson one-year deals. Could see that again, I guess.

Bluto

I don’t think the Dodgers want any pitcher on long-term deals this off-season and maybe next.

If Buehler can get it, he should sign it and not think twice. Players don’t owe the team bupkes.

Bumsrap

Agree Bobby and at the same time worry that he has to be healthy enough to be on active roster before he can pitch in the post season.

Wally Moonshot

I thought I read that Buehler told the A’s he’s not interested. Can’t blame him.

Jeff Dominique

Sacramento is not a place pitchers want to go to get noticed. In April, the evenings can be very cool next to the river. But beginning in May, the ball jumps off the bat. Day games will be miserable. In 2024, Sacramento has had 45 days of > than 100 degrees. 2023 was the previous record at 44 days. 1988 was the 3rd most with 41. We average 23 days per year > 100 degrees. Generally dry summer heat. No dome.

At least the schedule maker made some concessions:

April – 6 day games
May – 5 day games
June – 3 day games
July – 1 day game
August – 3 day games
September – 4 day games

Sacramento is one reason why the A’s will find it next to impossible to sign FA pitching. That is why the A’s will try to trade for them. But if they are unwlling to trade Rooker and Bleday, I am not sure what assets they have that will induce teams to work with them. There is no way they trade SS Jacob Wilson. 2B Zack Gelof??? RHRP Mason Miller???

Singing the Blue

I think they’re crazy not to trade Miller. They could get some really good players and/or prospects for him.

Pitchers these days are just TJ’s waiting to happen, especially guys who throw that hard.

If they make him into a starter it will just speed up the surgery.

Even with Miller last season, they finished 17 games out. Trade him and find another closer.

Bradley

Buehler will go to Giants or Braves and Flarethy will go to the team he doesn’t go to angels Giants or Braves.

Cassidy

How cool would it be to have Ohtani win a Cy Young award next season. Hopefully he comes back completely healed!

Watford Dodger

Thanks you for another interesting read Michael.

Ohtani has been box office but when I watch him hit I am always surprised how much he seems to swing off balance.

If you compare him to Freddie, Freddie always looks balanced and never looks like he’s flailing at the ball, whereas Shoehei always seems to be off balance.I always think to myself “think how far he’d hit it if he stood still with solid base”.

Maybe Phil or Badger could explain what I’m missing? He must have a very good eye if he can hit that well while being off balance? I wonder what will happen when his eyes deteriorate with age?

Just arrived in the Emerald Isle for a night out.in Dublin.
Just gonna have my first pint of Guinness.It always tastes better here!!

Last edited 15 days ago by Watford Dodger
Badger

There are a number of YouTube videos addressing this W. Here’s one:

I know what I see, he does it differently but when the bat is in the strike zone he’s doing everything correctly. A quick perusal of fangraphs heat maps shows he doesn’t hit balls out of the strike (O-swing) very well but he pounds balls in the strike zone (Z-swing) His O-swing % is over 26%, which is kinda normal but he sure looks awkward when he swings and misses those balls outside the strike zone. But, who am I to tell him “have an eye dude!”

Watford Dodger

Yeah I hear you – it’s not particularly good on the eye, but it’s very effective.

i usta love Ethier’s swing.

Thanks for the Video – I’ll have a look tomorrow when I can hear it. I’m In a bar in Temple Bar with a band playing.

They just played Country Roads….

Last edited 15 days ago by Watford Dodger
philjones

I’ve been away Watford so you may never read this.
I agree with Badger’s analysis. Ohtani looks off balance because he has so much bat speed that when he swings and misses, he loses his balance. But his balance through the hitting zone, is great. His follow through gives a false illusion he has pulled off the pitch.

Jeff Dominique

Former Cardinal, 34 year old RHRP Giovanny Gallegos, has signed a one year MiLB deal with the Dodgers with a spring invite. If he reaches the 26 man, he will receive a $2.5MM base plus another $1.5MM in incentives. He does have three opt out dates during the year. He has had shoulder issues the last two years, but prior to that was a decent reliever for St. Louis. 
 
He is not a closer, but more like a 6th – 7th inning guy. Then again, so was Banda, Phillips, and Brasier. What magic does Connor McGuiness and Mark Prior have for Gallegos?

I do not expect the Dodgers to sign a big name reliever (other than Treinen), but do expect to see at least one of Justin Jarvis and/or Joe Jacques and/or Giovanny Gallegos to make the team.

Bluto

Yeah. This is pretty much their MO with bullpens.

Bradley

If the dodgers lose out on resigning Teoscar what do you think they do for the outfield. Betts goes in to play second base. You can not be serious have outman and Pages as the starters with edman in centerfield. They need a guy that can play almost every day with some pop in his bat and Pages and Outman play by whoever pitches and they can hit that pitcher. Would Jessie Winker be the guy to sign and plsy leftfield he would play every day and you have Edman in centerfield and Keke if they sign him and then Pages and Outman in rightfirld. I think there going to have to do a trade for a rightfielder. And trade outman or pages or lux or miller choose three of those guys and get you a starter in rightfield. Could it be a Kyle Tucker or Sterling Marte if the Mets get Soto where then does Marte fit in. Here is a suggestion move Betts back to rightfield sign Winker he would be your left fielder and sign Geylber Torres to be at second base and trade Lux Miller Outman and Pages for pitching. Your outfield is set. And you sign Wily Adames as your every day shortstop now look at your lineup to choose from as your starters and your bench got better to.
1b Freeman
2b.Torres
SS Adames
3b Muncy
Lf Winker
Cf Edman
Rf Betts
DH. OHTANI
C. SMITH

Last edited 15 days ago by Bradley
Cassidy

Teo is gonna be a lot more valuable after Soto signs especially if the Yankees lose out on Soto. Could get a 4th year. That may be too expensive for AF

Last edited 14 days ago by Cassidy
Bradley

All I know is they can’t have a outfield of Outman Edman and Pages that wouldn’t be good for them so who would they go after if they lose Teoscar. Winker and Santander yes woild be better then Outman and Pages. And Marte if he is splitting time with Pages in RF he wouldn’t be playing yesterday the Dodgers kind if get those 30 yeaold guys that can play some days hello last year Kieremier Pillar one year and Heyward for two years so if Soto goes to Mets there will be a log jam in the outfield. Do they try to go after Verdugo who is a free agent be better then Outman and Taylor since he can play leftfield.

Duke Not Snider

I prefer to pass on Soto and invest that money in 3 or 4 positions.
So for the OF, Teo is my first choice.
Santander second
O’Neill third.
Not sure after that. Verdugo? Winker?
A trade for Taylor Ward maybe?
If the Dodgers lose out on Teo, getting Adames makes that much more sense. He’d replace a lot of Teo’s RH power while upgrading the team defense.
I don’t think Outman should be counted out. On most teams, he’s have had the chance to work out his struggles in the majors. If Outman bounces back, he and Pages could form a strong platoon.
Before he was struck by the dreaded sophomore jink, Outman hit to a .790 OPS (more than .830 against righties) with quality defense in CF. He was much better in ’23 than Pages was in ’24. Last season, Pages killed lefties, producing an OPS over .900, but he was much worse against righties.
How about this lineup…
Shohei DH
Mookie 2B
Freddie 1B
Smith C
Max 3B
Adames SS
Taylor Ward LF
Outman/Pages RF
Edman CF

The Fresh Prince struggled a bit last season, but he was in the cleanup spot at the start of season. Quality ABs, good on-base skills, with 20 HR pop.
–Dodgers have shown interest in Ward in the past. Solid veteran. If Teo moves one, would a Lux-for-Ward swap make sense? No? How about Knack for Ward?

Cassidy

19 points against a bad UCLA team tells a lot more about Riley than Henson

Jeff Dominique

When you are decimated by the flu, preparation is non existent. I have zero issues with Riley as the Head Coach. I did not always feel that way, but after he fianlly let DC Alex Grinch go, and then totally revamped the Defensive staff before this year, I was okay. Helton left the cupboard totally bare. The first two years of the NIL program, SC was so far behind the other schools. Phil Knight is going to put enough $$$ in the NIL program so that Whoregon will never lose a recruit who is looking for $$$ more than an education. Michigan is paying their QB recruit Bryce Underwood between $10.5MM and $12MM. USC’s NIL program is much deeper for 2025, but they cannot compete with Ohio State, Texas, Oregon, Miami, Michigan, Ole Miss, Florida State, Alabama, Texas A&M, Notre Dame…

Jeff Dominique

Yes the Trojans have lost some recruits. So has every school in the country. SC has replaced many of those top recruits with even better recruits. They lost long time commit, 4-star Julian Lewis (9th rated QB) and got 5-star Husan Longstreet (4th rated QB) to commit. They will also get a commit a from 5-star QB for 2026, Folsom QB Ryder Lyons. He is really fun to watch up here. They lost 4-star OT Carde Smith and picked up a higher rated 4-star OT in Alex Payne. When they close out this recruiting class, it will be a top 10 recruiting class (currently #11). SC does not have the NIL $$$ other top programs have. I also expect their transfer portal flips to be better this year with more NIL $$$.

Those who thought SC was going to the playoffs this year were delusional. I was not one of them. Multiple bad recruiting years from Helton decimated both the OL and DL, and they cannot match up with the Big 10 lines. They do not have a marquee QB. That ship sailed after Miller Moss’s Holiday Bowl game. None of the elite transfer QB wanted to go against Moss who knew Lincoln Riley’s system. He was a total drop back pocket passer, and Riley’s QB’s do better in movement. They switched to Jayden Maiava who runs more, but does not possess the arm Moss has.

The concentration this year was always going to be defense, and they have improved dramatically. They have the foundation, now they need the players, and they are getting them.

As far as their record goes, all five of their losses were by one score. Some very curious referee calls were prominent in at least 3 of the games. They lost the 5 games by a total of 19 points. They are close, but they have to close out the games to get to the playoff discussion for 2025. I am one of the few Trojans who are not disillusioned from this year.

As far as last night, the Trojans were overwhelmed with the flu bug this past week. The Trojans went through their Tuesday practice missing 27 players and Riley said more than half the staff caught it as well. Riley called the preparation for this game “disjointed.” Not as an excuse, but as an explanation for the way they played.

OhioDodger

College football referees are as bad as MLB umpires.

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