Ohtani had an mri

[Donn Beach]

nothing in there about him not being able to hit, says he would need to be the best DH candidate on the team, maybe he would would have been if he ever gets the chance to both hit and pitch. Maybe he has hit as well as he has because he never really had to pitch at the same time.

For this to work with the Angels he is going to have to be a better hitter than a guy they have on the roster for that specific purpose

[D-train]

I think he might be a better DH option than Pujols who has been washed up for years and has a .583 OPS.

[Donn Beach]

yeah, could be...The issue then as I saw it was could he hit and pitch at the same time, never did i claim he couldn't hit. Sorry Jay but you kept that all this time in vain. I don't see where he has shown he can yet, we shall see

[Donn Beach]

for you social media critics...Audi pulled their ad campaign around this image because it got hammered on social media as being insensitive...the grab line was... "Lets your heart beat faster - in every aspect."

[Coeurd’Alene J]

I think when you said

He is most likely going to be a terrific talent as a pitcher, there will come a time when his effort to be a DH at the same time will be a distant memory

I took that as he wouldn’t ever be a usable hitter

Btw there were others who doubted it. He could easily excel at both and it’s fairly obvious he can hit. Time will tell if he can put it all together. But an injury doesn’t necessarily mean he doesn’t have what it takes

[Moe Gibbs]

I've seen Ohtani look quite impressive as a pitcher and a batter, but would never pay him as a prospect who could not fail at either position [or both]. I only want to see him fail as a way to punish the Angels for their "Money Is No Object" approach to signing talent. Otherwise I was quietly rooting for him to have a good career as both a pitcher and position player..for the novelty. I think the MLB lacks "novelty" these days. When will we see another midget signed as a pinch hitter..?

[Donn Beach]

I think when you said

He is most likely going to be a terrific talent as a pitcher, there will come a time when his effort to be a DH at the same time will be a distant memory

I took that as he wouldn’t ever be a usable hitter

Btw there were others who doubted it. He could easily excel at both and it’s fairly obvious he can hit. Time will tell if he can put it all together. But an injury doesn’t necessarily mean he doesn’t have what it takes

I think i was getting at was he would have to choose. I was predicting he would end up pitching, but I wasn't doubting his ability to hit. I was thinking his highest value was as a pitcher and trying to DH on top of it would detract from that value, it wouldn't be worth it. From the little we saw he seemed to be handling it. He does have a lot of career left, i could easily be wrong.

I compared him to Bumgardner, Bumgardner can flat out hit.

The irony will be in the end maybe he should have gone to a NL team since he would have gotten the at-bat during his starts at least. He could have been another Bumgardner, a great pitcher that can hit.

[Coeurd’Alene J]

I can see that...ok. I hope he gets it turned around just in time for free agency

[AT Funchal-Madeira]

I can see that...ok. I hope he gets it turned around just in time for free agency

I compared him to Bumgardner, Bumgardner can flat out hit.
The irony will be in the end maybe he should have gone to a NL team since he would have gotten the at-bat during his starts at least. He could have been another Bumgardner, a great pitcher that can hit.

Speaking of Madison Bumgarner, let me regress a bit more and lobby for using the first round draft pick on a high school player, be it position or pitcher.....

Bumgarner was selected 5th or 6th in the draft by the Giants.... first high school player taken.... now I prefer the M's draft high school position players rather than pitchers... but the M's have hit paydirt on 4 out of 6 pitchers drafted out of high school in the first round.... which is a pretty good strike rate.... Scott Burrell, Shawn Estes, Gil Meche, and TaiJuan Walker....

In 2006 the Dodgers drafted Clayton Kershaw out of high school, seventh player drafted. There were 5 college pitcher drafted ahead of Kershaw including the 5th pick, Brandon Morrow drafted by the Mariners. The Mariners had both Andrew Miller or Clayton Kershaw available ...... Kershaw pitched one full season in the Dodgers minor league system and debuted in 2008, was the youngest player in the Majors and never looked back.

[Coeurd’Alene J]

Let’s hope our turnover in the scouting department doesn’t bite us on the ass. You have always liked high school players. With the wuflu it seems that will not produce easily as in years past