“50-50? Hell’s way to end a full-time batter.”
Shohei Ohtani (aged 30, LA Dodgers) has displayed an easy pace of hitting 40 home runs and stealing after his first 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases. He successfully stole 33rd base for this season against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday (Korea time), and hit his 37th home run of this season against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday. He has 37 home runs and 33 stolen bases.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have 42 more games to play. ESPN reported on Monday that Ohtani has 48 homers and 44 steals in this season. Then, the team discussed whether it would be possible to have the first 50 homers and 50 steals in the Major League. Both Jeff Bankruptcy and David Shawnfield were negative.
Bankruptcy said that 50-50 wouldn’t be impossible for Ohtani, but he wouldn’t feel the need to overdo 50-50 if he decided to. “He wouldn’t do it. Ohtani has already done enough. He added an elite base running back to his 2024 resume. He was always sneaky, he did 20 steals last year and 26 steals in 2021. He’s already second in the majors with Bryce Lourens (the Milwaukee Brewers), and he’s only been caught four times.” 메이저놀이터
To be honest, Otani is good at both batting and throwing, but he stole a lot and did not have the image of a good player. Who would have expected him to rank second this year after Elie de la Cruz of the Cincinnati Reds (aged 59 steals). Bankruptcy thinks that this is enough.
Even bankruptcy stated that “Ohtani’s chances of hitting 15 homers in the final quarter of a season would be more realistic than hitting 50 steals. If Ohtani is in his final season purely as a full-time hitter, then being the first 50-50 hitter in MLB history is a hell of a way to end it.”
In other words, Ohtani has no reason to play 50-50 unless he risks his life as a batter. He may be able to hit 50 homers, but he does not have to steal 50 bases at risk of injury. Even if he fails to steal 50 bases, Ohtani is already the best baseball player in the world.
Shaunfield had a different opinion. It was more realistic. Ohtani’s recent pace of stealing has declined, so he thought he would not be able to steal 50 times even if he does his best. Actually, Ohtani has steal first base in March, fourth base in April, eighth base in May, third base in June, 12th base in July, and fifth base in August. Although the pace of stealing was steep in July, the pace of stealing slightly declined in August anyway. He played three of the five steals in the game against the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday. In other words, there have been only three games in which he actually stole.
Shawnfield said, “Ohtani’s going to get to 40-40 but I’m sure I’m going to underestimate Ohtani’s pace. I didn’t see him pick up the pace. And he’s not the type to chase records. He definitely lost his pace after the first three months. You have to get on base to steal.”
However, Shaunfield raised one variable. Ohtani said that he could break the record of 49 homers (Shaun Green, 2001) per season in the Dodgers franchise this year. This means that Ohtani may be aware of 50 homers, but he will not be able to care about 50 steals.