Are You OK If Ohtani Never Pitches Again?

[mikejones]

Discuss. I think it's OK. Will definitely keep his longevity in MLB but I'm sure he can't wait to pitch next year.

[Skipscards]

I am not OK. Either he keeps pitching or he should be put on the permanently ineligible list.

[JustRachel]

I'll be okay no matter what Ohtani does. My okayness does not depend on him.

[MiamiMarlinsFan]

Will I be okay? I’ll be okay if Ohtani never appears in a baseball game again. I’ll be just fine. But that’s not what I WANT to happen. I want to him to come back and be a stud hitter and pitcher. I love it and it’s good for baseball.

[ThoseBackPages]

Baseball is about hitting, so i'd be fine with it

[ottobord]

I voted no. I want to see people achieve great things especially in the sport I love. If he can excel at both I want to see it and appreciate it. I felt the same way with Bo Jackson.

[cbeauch87]

He's already impressed with the way he's pitched, but it would be awesome if he could get to 200+ starts. About another 4-5 seasons of being in a regular rotation.

[Seitas]

As a giant fan I am terrified at the thought of the dodgers turning him into a closer. Their bullpen has been their Achilles heal. Ohtani at the back end would change that in an insurmountable way.

[hermanotarjeta]

Ohtani investors are banking on him to continue pitching and being successful at it.

Without the pitching facet of his game long term, his cards will drop.

Investors wouldn’t be ok with that.

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

Ohtani investors are banking on him to continue pitching and being successful at it.

Without the pitching facet of his game long term, his cards will drop.

Investors wouldn’t be ok with that.

why is that?

[Twalk1975]

If I were asked to pick two Ohtani feats to highlight, it's the WBC vs. Trout, and the one hit CGSO followed by a 2 HR game. I really want to see him pitching again.

[tchronis24]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

why is that?

I think it’s because it’s what has been pushing the “he could very well be the greatest player of all time” argument. His ability to do both. He definitely doesn’t have to pitch to finish out his career but I think he needs at least a few more years of pitching. Maybe 3 or 4

[Cracktoast]

Yes because let's be honest he was maybe a slightly above average pitcher anyhow. He was never winning a CY Young and very likely wouldn't have ever thrown a no-hitter. that said I'm also pretty sure he could go through another TJ after this one and still demand that he be allowed to pitch so it really doesn't matter what we think.

[tchronis24]

Originally Posted by Cracktoast

Yes because let's be honest he was maybe a slightly above average pitcher anyhow. He was never winning a CY Young and very likely wouldn't have ever thrown a no-hitter. that said I'm also pretty sure he could go through another TJ after this one and still demand that he be allowed to pitch so it really doesn't matter what we think.

You are severely underestimating his pitching. 3.01 era pitcher with a bunch of strikeouts and plenty of wins on a garbage angels team. He was a top 10 pitcher for sure

[cardsin47]

I don’t care about a 2-way player, as long as 1 way is great ( which it is ). Probably less likely to be injured / on the IL also….
If he ends up being the greatest and most popular DH ever, that’s fine with me.

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by tchronis24

I think it’s because it’s what has been pushing the “he could very well be the greatest player of all time” argument. His ability to do both. He definitely doesn’t have to pitch to finish out his career but I think he needs at least a few more years of pitching. Maybe 3 or 4

i think he has pitched enough.

if he insists on pitching more, make him the closer

[fulltritty]

Ohtani's offense usually fades in late August and September. He continues to be great this year. I say his pitching actually hurts his ability the best offensive season he is capable of.

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

why is that?

Originally Posted by tchronis24

I think it’s because it’s what has been pushing the “he could very well be the greatest player of all time” argument. His ability to do both. He definitely doesn’t have to pitch to finish out his career but I think he needs at least a few more years of pitching. Maybe 3 or 4

In addition, there’s the DH stigma in the hobby.

We already see Ohtani critics stating he wouldn’t be able to achieve his power/speed stats if he actually had to play in the field every inning of every game.

He also started at an older age in MLB and may not accumulate as impressive historical career numbers solely as a hitter. However, you add some impressive pitching stats and the critics can’t argue against that versus other sluggers.

Investors aren’t paying the huge bucks today for a future Edgar Martinez or David Ortiz.

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by Seitas

As a giant fan I am terrified at the thought of the dodgers turning him into a closer. Their bullpen has been their Achilles heal. Ohtani at the back end would change that in an insurmountable way.

The Giants have no shot against them regardless -- they went 4-9 against the Dodgers this season, even with Shohei not pitching.

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

In addition, there’s the DH stigma in the hobby.

We already see Ohtani critics stating he wouldn’t be able to achieve his power/speed stats if he actually had to play in the field every inning of every game.

He also started at an older age in MLB and may not accumulate as impressive historical career numbers solely as a hitter. However, you add some impressive pitching stats and the critics can’t argue against that versus other sluggers.

Investors aren’t paying the huge bucks today for a future Edgar Martinez or David Ortiz.

i think critics hate him because of his heritage and what he has been able to accomplish in America

He has already lapped anything that David Ortiz has ever dreamed of in The Hobby. I'd include Edgar too, but he was never anything in The Hobby to begin with

[awz50]

I think I'll survive

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

i think critics hate him because of his heritage and what he has been able to accomplish in America

He has already lapped anything that David Ortiz has ever dreamed of in The Hobby. I'd include Edgar too, but he was never anything in The Hobby to begin with

Relative to his peers, Ohtani cards are not inexpensive.

To maintain his sky high prices, he MUST continue pitching.

I’m not saying his cards will be worthless if he doesn’t pitch, like Edgar or Ortiz, his stuff will still be expensive, like Aaron Judge and Trout cards.

Just not current day pricing expensive, they will soften for sure.

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

Relative to his peers, Ohtani cards are not inexpensive.

To maintain his sky high prices, he MUST continue pitching.

I’m not saying his cards will be worthless if he doesn’t pitch, like Edgar or Ortiz, his stuff will still be expensive, like Aaron Judge and Trout cards.

Just not current day pricing expensive, they will soften for sure.

i could see that happening with common stuff, but i dont see it happening much if at all with the good stuff

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

Relative to his peers, Ohtani cards are not inexpensive.

To maintain his sky high prices, he MUST continue pitching.

I’m not saying his cards will be worthless if he doesn’t pitch, like Edgar or Ortiz, his stuff will still be expensive, like Aaron Judge and Trout cards.

Just not current day pricing expensive, they will soften for sure.

If he comes back and struggles on the mound, his prices will soften for sure. A lot of his value and popularity is based around his previous two-way performance and the expectation of him being a good starting pitcher again.

Although, if he drops pitching and comes back as a good defensive corner outfielder, while continuing to hit like an MVP, his prices should be strong.

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

i could see that happening with common stuff, but i dont see it happening much if at all with the good stuff

I’m seeing to opposite.

The higher the price, the more likely they are to fall.

Unless, of course, no one can take a loss, bro.