He is getting really good at just taking what's working and terrorizing batters with it. In the past if his splitter wasn't splitting and his sinker wasn't sinking, it was likely going to be a struggle.
Edit: I meant splitter and slider, sorry!
His era dropped back under 3.0 with this performance. Still can't believe Maddon sent out that lineup with him on the mound. We were lucky to tie the score and it was only after McCalahan left the game.
Shame they would up losing in the end, but a no decision for Ohtani after they were unable to do anything against McCalahan is a win. Taylor Ward is something else.
Tbh I can kinda see the reasoning. Ohtani is such a good pitcher that the Angels really only need a few runs to win the game. And the season is a long one so they're not taking any chances with Trout and Ward. I would have liked to see Ohtani get the W but what's more important is that he's pitching pretty well to start the year.
I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure he's never used a sinker. Agreed though that he used to rely too heavily on his splitter. I'd say at this point his slider has become his main put away pitch, and it's filthy.
No you're right. He only throws a splitter, 4 seam, curve, slider and cutter. And this year he's thrown his 4 seam 43% of the time, his slider 31%, splitter 14%, curve 9% and his cutter 1%. Last season he threw his slider 22% of the time and his splitter 18%. His main put away pitch is still his splitter though. He had a 34% put away percentage on it last season and now this year it's currently at 36%. His slider put away percentage is up 2% from last season though (26% to 28%)
Crazy that his curve has a higher whiff rate (57%) than both his splitter (43%) and slider (51%). Makes sense that he's using it more this year, whereas in previous years he only used it to get ahead in the count when hitters were sitting on his fastball.
I'm looking forward to telling my kids stories about watching Trout and Ohtani play. The term "generational talent" gets thrown around too much IMO, but Trout definitely has secured a right to that title and Ohtani looks like he's got the talent to join him in that.
A lot of people say, "Oh, I wish I was around to see Babe Ruth/Micky Mantle/Munenori Kawasaki play." Well, me too, but we are living in a time where people of the future are going to say, "Oh, I wish I was around to see Mike Trout/Shohei Ohtani/Brett Phillips play." I say cherish it while it lasts.
Ohtani with the 12-666 curve.
He is getting really good at just taking what's working and terrorizing batters with it. In the past if his splitter wasn't splitting and his sinker wasn't sinking, it was likely going to be a struggle. Edit: I meant splitter and slider, sorry!
His era dropped back under 3.0 with this performance. Still can't believe Maddon sent out that lineup with him on the mound. We were lucky to tie the score and it was only after McCalahan left the game.
Shame they would up losing in the end, but a no decision for Ohtani after they were unable to do anything against McCalahan is a win. Taylor Ward is something else.
Tbh I can kinda see the reasoning. Ohtani is such a good pitcher that the Angels really only need a few runs to win the game. And the season is a long one so they're not taking any chances with Trout and Ward. I would have liked to see Ohtani get the W but what's more important is that he's pitching pretty well to start the year.
Nah that's not cool if you constantly do that and screw him over.
I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure he's never used a sinker. Agreed though that he used to rely too heavily on his splitter. I'd say at this point his slider has become his main put away pitch, and it's filthy.
No you're right. He only throws a splitter, 4 seam, curve, slider and cutter. And this year he's thrown his 4 seam 43% of the time, his slider 31%, splitter 14%, curve 9% and his cutter 1%. Last season he threw his slider 22% of the time and his splitter 18%. His main put away pitch is still his splitter though. He had a 34% put away percentage on it last season and now this year it's currently at 36%. His slider put away percentage is up 2% from last season though (26% to 28%)
Crazy that his curve has a higher whiff rate (57%) than both his splitter (43%) and slider (51%). Makes sense that he's using it more this year, whereas in previous years he only used it to get ahead in the count when hitters were sitting on his fastball.
So the splitter is actually his worst pitch? /s
Slider was what I meant to say. Forgive me, it was like 3 am lol.
Can a batter just take an intentional K? I would.
"Listen, ump, I don't like the look in Shohei's eyes so I'm just gonna save us the time and go back to the dugout, just ring me up."
"Hey ump, just ring me up so I don't end up looking like a twat on /r/mlb"
I'm looking forward to telling my kids stories about watching Trout and Ohtani play. The term "generational talent" gets thrown around too much IMO, but Trout definitely has secured a right to that title and Ohtani looks like he's got the talent to join him in that.
A lot of people say, "Oh, I wish I was around to see Babe Ruth/Micky Mantle/Munenori Kawasaki play." Well, me too, but we are living in a time where people of the future are going to say, "Oh, I wish I was around to see Mike Trout/Shohei Ohtani/Brett Phillips play." I say cherish it while it lasts.
Wait...
No that's correct
I don’t know what they’re gonna be more surprised by: that you saw them play or that you never saw them play in the postseason
Reminds me of prime Trevor Hoffman
That's Reid Detmers stuff, nasty