Shohei Ohtani (大谷翔平) or Aaron Judge: MLB's MVP, Top 5 Offseason Storylines & Astros' Dynasty Over?

[@FlippinBatsPod]

WHAT IS A TOP 5 OFFSEASON STORYLINE TO YOU?

[@Elephant2024]

Not being talked about too much nationally. But in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, what happens with the Trop? Will the roof be repaired for 2025 or will the Rays opt just to wait for the new ballpark to open? If the meantime, where do they play their home games? One possibility is Raymond James Stadium. But it doesn't appear as though the dimensions could be reconfigured for baseball. Which means that the team could very well play its home games at the Yankees spring training complex of Steinbrenner Field. Which would mean you would have two MLB franchises (Rays and A's) temporarily playing their home games at minor league parks. Not a good look for MLB, but it may very well be unavoidable.

[@taekoshima3152]

A big YES to Shohei Ohtani being awarded the one total MVP of MLB 2024!

[@Ben_Verlander]

💯

[@larson-xp2fm]

Ohtani to me is a better MVP than Judge, not just because of going 50-50 but the Dodgers had the most injuries on a team and Shohei carried the Dodgers to the best record in baseball, and Ohtani had a great posteseason until he dislocated his shoulder in game 2 of the World Series and afte he underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, other players would've sat out, but his teammates wanted their superstar leader out there and he gave them inspiration, a heart of a Champion. I have more respect for Ohtani playing injured in the World Series than him batting .365 in the NLCS.

[@Ben_Verlander]

💯

[@otani928]

if I was a manager …I’d pick ohtani in my lineup over judge …San Diego madres were a tougher team to beat this season…& ohtani delivered a homer to bring dodgers back into that game …in ohtani’s first post-season …he has already accomplished more with greater inspiration to his new ball club than judge has done in multiple post seasons …& ohtani completed a historical season while recovering from arm surgery while playing injured during World Series …so next year ohtani will be pitching in post season …his next goal will be to achieve post season MVP

[@DallasTechie]

Agree and agree.

[@Ben_Verlander]

Agreed

[@HH8731-p8l]

and win the Cy Young

[@dodgedforgottenn]

Remember that Ohtani only started out earning league minimum. He was making $30M in his 5th season through arbitration

[@Ben_Verlander]

Yup! True

[@healthywiseandfit]

Shohei Ohtani is the best.

[@padaoamandacha8036]

Othani for MVP!

[@bdcdavid83]

The GOAT is at leadoff. He scores and have RBI altogether. Put Judge at leadoff, his slow pace will stagnate the Yankees. Put the GOAT at cleanup, he'll have 200 RBIs.

[@Ben_Verlander]

Ohtani the 🐐

[@fated316]

@@bdcdavid83 and he’s not error judge

[@fated316]

Unless he wins the World Series that’s his legacy.

[@RichardVerlander]

GOOD STUFF BUDDY

[@xiaobiaoxu5984]

Agree on Ohtani over Judge for 2 reasons: historical context (in first ever 50-50 season) and post-season performance. Shohei did NOT play that well in postseason, but the numbers are respectable, and he did put on a show here and there; this is only his first postseason; and he was hurt in the final series; and they win. On the other hand, Judge is totally lost in hitting and he is responsible for that drop which started the meltdown ...

[@Zagirus]

Ohtani didn’t play that well in postseason?? If only you harnessed a shred of intelligence, you’d surely know Ohtani was THE absolute MVP of the entire postseason. He single-handedly rescued the Dodgers from a sweep against the Padres with his clutch 3-run homer. His LCS performance? Pure divinity with a 1.184 OPS, a .364 batting average, and impressive .818 with RISP, all while racking up 9 runs and moonwalking across bases 17 TIMES. And, who could overlook his heroics in Game 1 of the World Series, tying it in the 8th with his clutch double, paving the way for Freddie's walk-off. Next time, actually watch the games instead of just the highlights.

[@xiaobiaoxu5984]

@@Zagirus Shohei hit an absolute bomb in the first game of the Padres series. But he did NOT SINGLE-handedly save Dodgers in that series. His stats were great in the NLCS, but we all knew who is the MVP for that series, same for the World Series. For some people, a hit/run/walk from Shohei is the most important hit/run/walk of a series. Reality though, they are not. At the end of the day, Shohei is the team leader in EVERY offensive stat (BA/HR/RBI/OBP/Hits/SB/TB) in the regular season; he was not for ANY single one of those stats in the postseason. So, yes, I don't think he played that well in this postseason, and it is ABSURD to say Shohei is the MVP of the entire postseason. That is DISRESPECT to the other Dodgers who contributed more to this postseason win. Offensively, Mookie, Freddie, or even Tommy Edman deserves more if there is such a thing called postseason MVP (and there is also defense that Shohei contribute Zero, since he is DH). Those are just FACTS.

[@stevenn6410]

@@xiaobiaoxu5984 Agreed! I'm a big Ohtani fan, but I feel people over credit Ohtani's contributions. Yes, he did contribute more than his opposite in Judge, but by his standards, he underperformed in the post season. On top of that, I agree that he was a decent contributor, but nowhere near the contributions of some of his teammates. But I cut him some slack since it's his first ever post season appearance. I'm hoping he'll find his bearings soon and perform as amazing in the post season as he usually does in regular season.

[@grafikfx1]

You’re forgetting that Sasaki wanted to post last year but team told him one more year. They still dont have to but put of honor of their own words, they still may. Doesn’t mean Dodgers can’t work out a deal.

[@余剰アマリ]

That was also a fake last year.

[@AY2121-i4y]

Ohtani 24/7. Not only can he hit, run & pitch. He sells tickets & helps his team by differing that crazy contract. Judge is slow, dude literally dropped the ball on the biggest stage.

[@Ben_Verlander]

Facts

[@CHOCOLEETANG08]

ohtani is the first DH MVP 😂😂 only ohtani can make

[@ryanc9876]

Judge is a beast, and easily the best hitter in baseball. However, Ohtani's season just felt more special than Judge's. I feel like they're gonna give it to Judge because they think playing defense is better than 59 stolen bases for whatever reason, but whatever. Judge was a good defender, but nothing to write home about. I value Ohtani offensively a bit more. Taking that extra 90 feet outside of stealing bags and being able to go first to home so often is also huge. These little things get so overlooked and undervalued when the base running is largely why the WS went to the Dodgers over the Yankees. The difference from being in scoring position from a single to scoring on a sac fly. I also don't see the Astros as being over, even though I definitely was glad they loss to the Tigers because reasons.

[@Ben_Verlander]

Agreed

[@ZeuZLoD]

It's just a gamble really to wait until hes 25 and pray he doesn't get hurt and have tommy john. But even so even if he were to get injured before 25 im sure some teams would take a chance on him given how young he still is.

[@Ben_Verlander]

They definitely still would take a chance I think!

[@daitran5745]

Hope dodgers get roki.

[@Ben_Verlander]

Don't think he will come over yet

[@johanalvarez8083]

If your main reason for Soto going to the Mets is money then yes he goes to the Mets. But like you said if Soto does care about winning NO ONE is better set up than the Dodgers and its not even close. Maybe the Dodgers wont give him as much money as the Mets but they will be close. Also the Dodgers have a top 5 farm system in the league which makes them even more of an appealing team than the Mets.

[@sgoodman2827]

Only dysnasty I know from Astros is CHEATING DYNASTY

[@fated316]

Ohtani also brings team Japan to your team. No comparison. Ohtani worth 1B. Sorry error judge.

[@oliviakim106]

I am NPB fan, but think that roki is overestimated in the US. He is a pitcher with many injuries. and no continuity. I think that senga and Imanaga are superior to roki.

[@Shakazulu6.1]

Ohtani is the goat. I will never say any other baseball players the goat in my life.

[@DrJohnnyChow]

There have been talks from “Japanese fans” in Dodgers fan forum who do not like Sasaki for a couple of reasons. 1) his mental attitude, he’s not on the same level as Ohtani or Yamamoto, known as a player with bad attitude, I recalled him calling him a brat, which is very negative coming from a Japanese, I think his reputation is not that good as he’s constantly trying to leave the NPB, making him look selfish and arrogant. Another comment was his mentality, he’s not that mentally strong so he might breakdown or meltdown in the MLB, 2) physical condition, he’s injury prone and presently injured. But that will be fixed if he comes to the Dodgers by Dr Altrache. Personally I would want him to come to the Dodgers as opposed to facing him if he signed with by the Padres, Mets or Cubs, who also have Japanese players…..

[@Ben_Verlander]

Interesting

[@SK-dn9nk]

They are fans of Chiba Lotte. 🤣🤣🤣

[@bmw128racer]

I watched a KZbin video of Ohtani's HRs and SBs and noticed that on SB 41 against the Orioles he tweaked that same shoulder... After he stole that base, you could see him in a bit of pain and he was holding that left shoulder. Was this foreshadowing? He does seem to pound that left shoulder when sliding. It might've seemed inevitable.

[@Shakazulu6.1]

I’m wondering why Soto is valued so much. Is he better than Mike Trout’a prime time? I don’t see him having so much passion on the sport of baseball. I don’t know maybe it’s just me but he could turn to be like Rendon.

[@ORDIN58]

佐々木朗希とメジャー球団との契約で、まず2年契約にする。それ以降はかなり高額な契約になるので、その契約金の20%を本人からから千葉ロッテに支払えば良いのでは⁉️

[@CHOCOLEETANG08]

He don't care winning soto only want highest bidder 😂 but if he want beat ohtani contract he need to beat ohtani's 50/50 So that worth it in his contract

[@bdcdavid83]

I just noticed, you look like Weaver of NYY

[@Ben_Verlander]

😂

[@harmonydavis6784]

Ben after the Wild Card series you said the Astros were no longer inevitable... So now they are?

[@Ben_Verlander]

No. Not inevitable any longer. But I still think they can win. It’s just,.. not inevitable

[@harmonydavis6784]

@Ben_Verlander but also they are a favorite and the run isn't over? If the Astros are a dynasty are the dodgers? In the last decade they have the same amount of world series rings

[@laurenwillett8515]

Oh Cole. That was bad.

[@AlexAlmonte-dm3rf]

Where you think Burnes sign?

[@Ben_Verlander]

Good question. Think there's a good chance he signs back in Baltimore. But we shall see

[@AlexAlmonte-dm3rf]

@ ok

[@Elephant2024]

I believe that the NY Mets are strongly in play for Burnes because David Stearns had a working relationship with him when they were both with the Brewers.

[@lennyswackhammer9761]

Im guessing Giants or Cubs

[@anepB]

Can someone give me a TLDW

[@kobabim9903]

It's Nippon-Ham/ FIGHTERS, not Nippon/ HAM-Fighters.

[@YK-he7jc]

Not much of a problem!

[@kobabim9903]

@@YK-he7jc It does, because they hate being called the Hamfighters.

[@Ben_Verlander]

Thank you!

[@lilmuc]

If you think Judge's 4 extra homers can account for Shohei's 59 stolen bases than sure give it to Judge

[@paulkelly8533]

U look way younger in your mancave.

[@paulkelly8533]

Confused u with Justin..lol.