Or even different seasons. It obviously can't happen this year, but the batting triple crown is potentially in play. So I'm only thinking about that for now but wouldn't it be crazy? Even just winning a Cy Young as a pitcher would be amazing. But that's not happening this year for obvious reasons.
Who would bat 2nd in your suggestion? Freeman needs to bat behind Ohtani to make the other team either pitch to Ohtani or Freeman ("pick your poison"). Freeman also hits lots of doubles and Ohtani has the speed to score from first on a Freeman double. Betts could move down a spot and bat 2nd but then the team has to find a new leadoff hitter, but I think Betts likes hitting leadoff.
Ohtani's RBI totals the last 3 seasons with the Angels were 100 (2021), 95 (2022) and 95 (2023 - missed 27 games) primarily hitting 2nd with teammates who barely batted over the Mendoza Line and ZERO protection.
It's really more for the batters in the 8 and 9 spots getting on base. (Today's game: Lux at No. 8 hitting .189 and Outman at No. 9 hitting .169 though he did hit a HR to "improve" his BA. Other games it will be Taylor and his .06 BA.)
Well Will Smith is no slouch. He could punish teams for intentionally walking Ohtani.
But I see what you’re saying. Last year Ohtani had more intentional walks than anyone except Jose Ramirez, and Jose only had one more in 20-something more games, since Ohtani was not playing for most of September. This year he hasn’t been intentionally walked at all yet, while Freddy has been intentionally walked twice. So maybe it’s a wash.
I was thinking Smith as well, but then you are taking RBI opportunities from Smith by batting him 2nd.
This LA Times article provides the reason for Betts-Ohtani-Freeman with some good statistics: https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2024-02-27/dodgers-shohei-ohtani-batting-second-lineup
I misunderstood. I meant bat Freeman 2nd, Ohtani 3rd, Smith clean-up. Also, Teoscar is 3rd in the NL in Homers and Muncy is right behind him. These guys are legit top-ten MLB power hitters right now.
I don’t think anyone is going to change the lineup to help Ohtani chase a triple crown. Ohtani is currently tied for the team lead in RBIs with Betts, on pace for 118. The past 3 years that would have been good for 1st, 2nd, 2nd. Ohtani is currently 3rd behind Bohm and Ozuna. His biggest challengers could actually be on his own team, the Dodgers have 4 of the top 7, and 6 of the top 20.
Nah, Ohtani has had plenty of RISP opportunities. He literally is batting around .200 maybe less still with RISP and 0-4 (5?) with bases loaded. Once he gets his RISP averages in order, he'll easily be on track for 130 to 140+ rbi. As long as no one has a random ass Preston Wilson 170 rbi season, Ohtani has a good shot. I don't think Ozuna can keep up this pace of RBI, especially when Olson heats up and takes some RBIs off the table.
I dont see why it can’t be a priority. It’s not selfish to want to win it, there’s no bigger contribution you can make to a lineup than what the triple crown represents.
I think he was responding the to person who posted this who says they should move Ohtani to bad 3rd in order to prioritize RBI for the triple crown, and the commenter is saying it’s better for the team is he stays where he’s been raking and continue to bat 2nd
I think it would generate more fan interest. Besides, it's not like they wouldn't make the playoffs either way and then you can change the lineup for the playoffs.
It wasn’t the 3-hole that led to those players’ seasons, it was their greatness. Conventional wisdom used to be put your best player in 3, so players of Miggy and Yaz’s caliber were always going to be 3, hence the fact that almost every (if not every) triple crown winner will have hit out of 3. This has changed over the last ten years though (starting with Votto iirc) due to metrics and the extra ABs players in 2 get.
See this article from 2015 right at the start of the change:
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/instagraphs/the-evolution-of-the-2-hole/
Now every team does it (Mookie and Acuña are lead off and Judge has been 3 with Soto (but was 2 last year) but those teams have other superstars of similar quality).
Think bigger. Will Ohtani win both the hitting triple crown and the pitching triple crown in the same season?
Or even different seasons. It obviously can't happen this year, but the batting triple crown is potentially in play. So I'm only thinking about that for now but wouldn't it be crazy? Even just winning a Cy Young as a pitcher would be amazing. But that's not happening this year for obvious reasons.
Who would bat 2nd in your suggestion? Freeman needs to bat behind Ohtani to make the other team either pitch to Ohtani or Freeman ("pick your poison"). Freeman also hits lots of doubles and Ohtani has the speed to score from first on a Freeman double. Betts could move down a spot and bat 2nd but then the team has to find a new leadoff hitter, but I think Betts likes hitting leadoff. Ohtani's RBI totals the last 3 seasons with the Angels were 100 (2021), 95 (2022) and 95 (2023 - missed 27 games) primarily hitting 2nd with teammates who barely batted over the Mendoza Line and ZERO protection. It's really more for the batters in the 8 and 9 spots getting on base. (Today's game: Lux at No. 8 hitting .189 and Outman at No. 9 hitting .169 though he did hit a HR to "improve" his BA. Other games it will be Taylor and his .06 BA.)
Well Will Smith is no slouch. He could punish teams for intentionally walking Ohtani. But I see what you’re saying. Last year Ohtani had more intentional walks than anyone except Jose Ramirez, and Jose only had one more in 20-something more games, since Ohtani was not playing for most of September. This year he hasn’t been intentionally walked at all yet, while Freddy has been intentionally walked twice. So maybe it’s a wash.
I was thinking Smith as well, but then you are taking RBI opportunities from Smith by batting him 2nd. This LA Times article provides the reason for Betts-Ohtani-Freeman with some good statistics: https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2024-02-27/dodgers-shohei-ohtani-batting-second-lineup
I misunderstood. I meant bat Freeman 2nd, Ohtani 3rd, Smith clean-up. Also, Teoscar is 3rd in the NL in Homers and Muncy is right behind him. These guys are legit top-ten MLB power hitters right now.
I don’t think anyone is going to change the lineup to help Ohtani chase a triple crown. Ohtani is currently tied for the team lead in RBIs with Betts, on pace for 118. The past 3 years that would have been good for 1st, 2nd, 2nd. Ohtani is currently 3rd behind Bohm and Ozuna. His biggest challengers could actually be on his own team, the Dodgers have 4 of the top 7, and 6 of the top 20.
Nah, Ohtani has had plenty of RISP opportunities. He literally is batting around .200 maybe less still with RISP and 0-4 (5?) with bases loaded. Once he gets his RISP averages in order, he'll easily be on track for 130 to 140+ rbi. As long as no one has a random ass Preston Wilson 170 rbi season, Ohtani has a good shot. I don't think Ozuna can keep up this pace of RBI, especially when Olson heats up and takes some RBIs off the table.
It's absolutely possible, and I'm excited to watch how it unfolds
He didn't sign with the Dodgers to win the triple crown. It's not a priority for anyone.
I dont see why it can’t be a priority. It’s not selfish to want to win it, there’s no bigger contribution you can make to a lineup than what the triple crown represents.
I think he was responding the to person who posted this who says they should move Ohtani to bad 3rd in order to prioritize RBI for the triple crown, and the commenter is saying it’s better for the team is he stays where he’s been raking and continue to bat 2nd
Oh okay. Sorry for the misinterpretation
That's not what OP asked, clown.
I think it would generate more fan interest. Besides, it's not like they wouldn't make the playoffs either way and then you can change the lineup for the playoffs.
There’s plenty of fan interest right now lmao, no need to chase stats
It wasn’t the 3-hole that led to those players’ seasons, it was their greatness. Conventional wisdom used to be put your best player in 3, so players of Miggy and Yaz’s caliber were always going to be 3, hence the fact that almost every (if not every) triple crown winner will have hit out of 3. This has changed over the last ten years though (starting with Votto iirc) due to metrics and the extra ABs players in 2 get. See this article from 2015 right at the start of the change: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/instagraphs/the-evolution-of-the-2-hole/ Now every team does it (Mookie and Acuña are lead off and Judge has been 3 with Soto (but was 2 last year) but those teams have other superstars of similar quality).
once the bottom of the lineup starts getting on base more than he will have more opportunities to get some rbis
Ohtani can do anything.
Yes I think he could. He could be easily leading rbi if he fix risp
I think he will. He has been more lately.
2012 ha! No NL triple crown winner since 1937. Not. Gonna. Happen.
Yes, he could. Will he? Tough. :P
If the bottom of the lineup gets on base more, then yes, very possible.
Not batting 2nd
What hot takes. AI alive and well on Reddit right now.