Here’s the latest from out west, with a focus on the health situations of a trio of important players …
- Athletics catcher Sean Murphy is firmly on the mend after an offseason medical scare, Matt Kawahara writes for the San Francisco Chronicle. He discussed his recovery from a collapsed lung, noting that it was quite a bit more terrifying before medical professionals informed him that he could anticipate a relatively swift recovery. Murphy underwent an additional procedure to protect against a recurrence. Though he’s delayed to open spring camp, the top Oakland backstop says he’s “really optimistic” of being fully ramped up in time to get behind the dish on Opening Day. Murphy, 26, will look to establish himself as a first-tier MLB performer after mashing out a .237/.355/.491 slash through his first 200 plate appearances.
- Angels hurler/slugger Shohei Ohtani is under the microscope as he looks to get his pitching career back on track. As Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times reports on Twitter, Ohtani appears to be in a good place from a velocity perspective. The righty says he’s working comfortably in the mid-nineties in bullpen sessions and has touched 97 mph. When last we saw Ohtani in top form, during his brief but scintillating 2018 debut, he was averaging nearly 97 mph with his heater. The hopefully resurgent two-way player is also now toying with a changeup as he fine-tunes his arsenal.
- Dodgers superstar Cody Bellinger seems to be making a strong bounce back from offseason shoulder surgery, as Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register writes. Bellinger, who memorably dislocated the joint in an over-exuberant NLCS home run celebration, says he’s “way ahead” of the anticipated schedule for his recovery. Given his progress to this point, the 2019 MVP says he’s “100 percent” sure he’ll be ready to roll on Opening Day. That’s obviously quite welcome news for the Los Angeles powerhouse. While the Dodgers are perhaps baseball’s deepest team, there’s no replacing a player of Bellinger’s ability. And the club is facing its sternest intra-division test in some time in the form of a talent-laden Padres outfit.
They will need him at his best this year
He was very good for 2 of the 3 months in 2020. As long as Bellinger is healthy, he’ll be just fine
Was referring to Ohtani, but yeah Bellinger too !
^ I see you’ve purchased the coach quote handbook
Lol
It’s all or nothing, so give it everything you’ve got!
Now go out there and give 110%!
That’s impossible, coach. There ain’t no such a thang as a 110% o’ nuttin’!
Ohtani has been throwing for four months. What wasn’t reported here is he was hitting 95. What was reported is he was topping out at 90. Ninety is trouble, 95 is good, 97 is great.
Ohtani was throwing at 75% that first day. A certain OC Register reporter was trying to scare fans. He knows better..
The guy was throwing for four months and when it was reported he was topping out at 90, I was concerned. Then I read he was hitting 95.
Reporting he was topping out at 90 was not worth reporting.
The “reporter” is a complete click hound. I won’t say his name but he shares a name with the best 2nd baseman in baseball.
There’s a reporter named LeMahieu?
Exactly. No serious pitcher comes into camp and tops out in the first week. It was a stupid thing to report and basically for clicks, which paints a sad picture of where baseball journalism is right now.
Hossmandu: I’m not really sure any type of true journalism exists right now; even in baseball. It is sad. It’s all deception, hyperbole, and spin.
NASA’s CLICKBAIT ASSTRONAUTS
And Maddon said he was hearing numbers coming in to spring in the mid to upper 90s, yet you freaked out when his first bullpen he touched 90. Hopefully this will help you relax
So when I said he was topping out at 90 was troubling was the same as freaking out. Hyperbole at its best. And after four months of throwing, if he was topping out at 90, that would have been troubling.
He was hitting 95.
Yeah, 11 it was reported on Twitter he was back to normal velocity just after the holidays. Of course the bad news got all of the coverage.
Only a guy trying to make the team goes full bore on the first day.
I don’t know if I would say make or break. If he’s ok at both, he should get another year. If he suffers a significant injury, they should seriously think about turning him into a one way player.
I am glad to see Ohtani have his velocity return, I hope at the same time he is able to throw strikes. For his health, I hope he ditches the splitter for the change up. The Splitter is murder on the elbow and shoulder. He has other plus pitches he can throw instead.
Slow build?
A couple months ago we saw video of Syndergaard on the mound, but he’s still another couple months away, according to some.
The takeaway here is Ohtani’s 90 mph is no longer a concern as it was a week or so ago. Now it’s staying healthy and making big contributions.
Yay for 97, but that doesn’t translate to outs. His secondary pitches are the key factors here. Any hitter in MLB can hit 97. I want to see him against hitters with all his pitches. Great talent, just has to prove he can be consistent with it.
It’s nice to know that it looks like his velocity is going to return.
Halo11: True, but seems to be the biggest challenge for pitching will be his stamina (# innings), as is common with a return like his.
I think if he can pitch, and IF they are forced to choose one path (I think they will be), choose pitching. He would be invaluable to them if he could recover as a TOR (either # 1 or 2) arm, which is very plausible.
Trout will be 30, so these decisions will start to compound quickly now as seasons go by and he ages.
I think the most common issue is command. I don’t think anyone expects him to pitch 100+ innings. After TJ, typically command is the last thing to come back.
Yeah that’s a really good point. I fully anticipate he will overcome that challenge fairly quickly.
Signed, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and every other successful pitcher who topped out in the 90-93 range.
Hopefully Ohtani can hold up physically for the entire season. It will be interesting to see..
Yes, he will definitely be one of the more intriguing follows this season. I am just having a really hard time believing he is going to hold up over the full course of a complete season..
As much as I love me some Ohtani, and I truly root for him to succeed as a two-way player, there is just a reason we don’t hardly ever see guys hit everyday and pitch!! I mean, if anyone can pull it off these days, it would be Ohtani. He is one of the most impressive, naturally gifted ball players I have ever seen. That is still just such a daunting task to ask of a player.
It is certainly going to be interesting to see how Maddon uses Ohtani. I just have sooo many questions!! lol
Does he play him everyday as a DH, even days before he is scheduled to pitch??
How often is he going to pitch??
Will he start off being used as an opener, and only limited to what might likely amount to two to three innings worth of a pitch count??
Will he see any time as an outfielder??
Will they solely use him out of the bullpen??
Will they build him up, stretching him out, and using him for longer and longer appearances as the season goes on??
Will he be on an innings limit, and will they stick to it if he reaches it and they’re fighting for a playoff spot??
If they solely use him as a reliever, how often will they use him, and would they use him on days when he is in the lineup, or will they schedule his certain days, and then take him out of the lineup those days???
I honestly wouldn’t mind seeing him as a closer.
I think this is the make or break year for him as a starter. If not, he could rotate through the OF/DH and attempt some bullpen work.
Really, if he’s the DH and the team has a lead to protect in the 8th or 9th inning it only becomes an issue if he blows the game. If we lose the DH but that spot in the lineup is up and the pitcher is Ohtani, nothing is lost.
For this year, I’ve looked at the schedule and can see him making about 15 starts on Sunday’s and having his turn skipped when the team has a travel day or two that week if we are really going on a six man rotation. That likely ramps him up to 75ish innings, nor more than 90, and he’d definitely be available for post season.
Maddon said yesterday that there are no restrictions on Ohtani. I think he will pitch once a week and hit five times. The Angels have no chance at the post season unless Ohtani can make his weekly start throughout the entire season. He can be the Ace the Angels have lacked since Weaver.
Since no one else has the guts to say it, allow me. He’s a bust, sayonara Shohei!
It’s not the no one will write that, it’s just that no one with a clue would write that.
@halo11- Maybe not in the land of fruits, nuts & flakes but we all don’t live in la la land.
For 2018 and 2019 he was 20th in baseball in wRC+. And his first 50 innings before he got hurt his ERA. was 3.10. You have to be a nut if you think he’s a bust.
@halo11 -Didn’t we have this wRC+ conversation the last time we spoke? Let’s just say we agree to disagree, listen I wouldn’t go as far as saying I’m an Angels fan but I do like them & hope they exceed everyone’s expectations this year.
Clearly, whatever land you’re living in, it isn’t reality either!!
Ohtani is far from a busy, even if he has already battled through some injuries.
His talent is obvious to anyone that even remotely knows anything about baseball!! Ohtani is just immensely naturally gifted as a ball player, and you cannot seriously even consider arguing against that!! If so, you have much bigger problems to be concerned with, and your time would be better spent following ANY OTHER SPORT!!
Then again, it is all relative on your own personal expectations, as to whether you consider him a letdown or not. A bust is someone that was overhyped, and when they play they just were not even nearly as good nor as talented as people or analysts once thought. That clearly is not Ohtani!!
Now, once he becomes fully healthy, and then if he just bombs it as a pitcher, then you can say he was a letdown or a “bust” as a pitcher, but the dude can flatout rake with the bat regardless. Which that’s easily enough to validate his signing, if he can continue to put up solid and above average numbers at the plate.
People truly just don’t realize how hard it is to hit AND pitch at the ML level. THERE IS A REASON BASICALLY NO ONE ELSE IS DOING IT!!! Typically, either their bat or their pitching will suffer, simply because it is just THAT DIFFICULT!!
The land of fruits and nuts is the largest contributor to the economy both culturally and economically. It might make sense to call your home, the land of freeloaders and obsolescence..
You forgot flakes. I sent that over 12hrs ago burgerkingboix2, been a little too blazed up to respond until now? Oh, but it was well worth the wait. Ahahahaha!
Too much caffeine today Bravesfan88?
And, I wouldn’t exactly call what he’s done so far with the bat as “raking” as you degrade all the other MLB players who truly do “rake” with the bat including his teammate Trout….now if you want to talk about a hitter, then he’s the Gold standard and Ohtani isn’t in Trouts class as yet and may never be.
Top 20 in wRC+ his first two years ahead of players like Arenado, Acuna, Harper, Suarez, Rizzo.
I think most people with a brain would call that raking.
Wait a second, everyone with a brain would call that raking, which is why I expect you to not call it raking.
Easy with the CAPS button bud. Just because you yell, doesn’t make you correct. Even if you are correct and you yell, doesn’t make anything you said more mature. Just type bud, no need to scream it
@rocky7- Word to the wise, don’t get devil boy started, he’s got enough rage in him to light up a city block. If you say “anything” non complimentary about “any” Angel -living or dead- he’ll lite into you like a windmill in a tornado & you’ll be spitting up wRC+ for days!
You’ve been warned.
Right Gotham… Don’t get me started using actual data to support my point of view.
Most people can’t handle facts. Whatever data you pick, it supports that Ohtani was a deserving ROY and is not a bust.
I’d have to agree with @Gothamcityriddler on this one. Ohtani can put up all the amazing sabre-metrics he wants, but if he’s never on the field than it doesn’t matter. He may not be a bust just yet, but he’s gonna have to prove he can stay on the field to be called a success.
Love you mom.
Pitchers don’t have TJ surgery? Worst case scenario he hurts his arm and becomes a full time outfielder. If there is one pitcher who will be playing ten years from now it’s Ohtani.
Ohtani will have a better ERA+ than every pitcher in NY except Degrom. You heard it here first Gotham boi.
@burgerkingboix2- Sure he will, it’s not that hard to do when your averaging 25IP a year. Ahahaha!
Gotham, you have removed all doubt, you are clueless.
@halo11- TRY to work on your anger issues b4 we speak again. Wow!
Angry? I’m laughing. You’re a joke.
Just to add, if you want to make me Angry, talk about the Angels’ bullpen.
Then laugh at this, what bullpen? Ahahaha!
You bore the hell out of me, I’m going back to gluing covers on hymn books.
Do you have that Ahahaha! as a hotkey? I see it in at least half your posts, none of which are remotely amusing.
Ahahahahahahaha!!
Riddler is a tool. Not a useful one either.
Bkbk: Ohtani will be better than Cole? Not so sure I’d make that bet if I were you.
Thats certainly the spicy part of my take. He clearly has top 5 pitcher “stuff and control” when healthy. The latter has historically been the question.
His game against oakland 3 years ago was the most foolish ive seen a pitcher make ML hitters look in person (and ive seen a lot of games). Its worth a google to see what true Ohtani potential looks like when tapped.
Wow, “top 5 pitcher”…thats some company your putting a guy who has a resume of a whole 50 innings into as far as MLB pitchers are concerned. And 3 years ago, nobody in our leagues really had ever faced him before so while a “book” on him was being compiled, he had his way with batters……
He certainly has talent, but does he have that “it” factor…you know the ability to throw 32 games, pitch every 5th day, be the “guy” on the Angels staff that can be counted on to go up against the other teams best…..so far, his offense is way ahead of his pitching and his offense isn’t even the best on the Angels.
Agreed. I was 20 rows behind the plate for Ohtani’s debut in Oakland. I sit there for a lot of games, and that was one of the most masterful performances I’ve seen. He really did look on unhittable. I remember us saying at the time, “if this guy stays healthy, he looks like a Hall of Famer…”
Yeh, that 50 innings sure does evoke greatness!
He stole the ROY award so why don’t we just give him the Cy Young award right know and not wait!
He stole ROY?
Proof positive Rocky has rocks for brains.
A bust in what way? He has one bad year at the plate and suddenly he’s a failure? A lot players had weird numbers in a 60 game season in 2020. And being able to pitch is just a bonus. Ohtani is fine where’s at and has all the room he needs to become a complete player based on his talent and skill sets.
I think the term bust gets thrown around because of the way ESPN and other media outlets covered him. In a way(maybe several ways) landing with the Angels was a curse for him. Disney owns ESPN and the Angels. ESPN sees L.A. (and probably Japan) as growth markets for their baseball coverage. They REALLY pushed the hype and probably turned some people off before they ever saw him play. None of this says anything about his talent level, but it may explain some of the enthusiasm for labeling him a bust.
The hype from Japan was intense, too. I ended up on a Japanese TV show via video chat over a piece I wrote prior to his rookie year, a pretty popular show. As you might remember he had a tough Spring Training, to the point I, like many others, wondered if he should get some AAA time.
Needless to say he caught fire the first month and I was pretty much hammered on Japanese TV for that one line.
DonOsbourne: Disney hasn’t owned the Angels since 2003…
I miss Slusser
Ohtani’s a great talent but I’d just rip the bandaid off and convert him to a pen guy. too injury prone to jeopardize a starting SP and DH simultaneously for.
I would have to think getting up 80 times a year and throwing 100 percent is at least as hard as starting once a week.
It would be very difficult to use him as a regular DH and use him out of the pen.
DarkSide…you r comment is well said….he probably would make a good pen guy, but that would definitely have an impact on exactly how/when you could use him on offense….and its been so long since he had to play the outfield, do you really know what you are getting unless you just DH him always?
I would think eventually, a decision will have to be made to get away from the uniqueness of a “2 way player” and either use him as a pitcher or regular everyday player.
Prediction : Sean Murphy is going to be a stud.
That was Dale
It was a Audie…..it is virtually impossible to find a greater Murphy
Audie Murphy wrote the great Charlie Pride song, Shutters and Boards. Along with everything else he accomplished.
They played a one game playoff just a few years ago. Padres are going to test everybody, not just the Dodgers.
97 is good news.
Not if you’re a fan of the A.L. Milwaukee Brewers, California Angels, or Cleveland Indians.
Or if you have a Tiger mom.
Betts or Bellinger with the 9th pick ?
Betts I don’t see Betts lasting to 9 but between the two, Betts.
If you really want Bellinger wait till 2nd rd he’ll still be there.
12 team league? Bellinger will still be there on the way back. Betts won’t make it to 9th
I know SD made a bunch of really solid moves this off-season, BUT, I still don’t think they are going to be as good as everyone says. Barring significant injuries, I still see The Dodgers winning the NL West fairly easily
Dodger fans sure bring up the Padres a lot.
Dodgers are the king of the hill. The hunter has become the hunted.
Both should beat up on the other three NL West teams and their head to head games will be fascinating barring injury.
We could see a three game series that goes Snell, Darvish, Musgrove vs Buehler, Kershaw, Bauer. Edge Dodgers but not by a ton.
Oh my, how will Ohtani ever succeed with Mickey Calloway?
Ohtani has been visiting Driveline this off season. Heaney has been working with Doug White, the coach prior to Callaway.
Good stuff Halos. I had Heaney last year and will take him again this year.
Starting to think this Ohtani guy is overrated? He’s not Babe Ruth. Can we put that to rest? Maybe like Tanaka It’s time to go back to Japan and find himself again and get healthy.
I think he can be a successful MLB player, but he has immense pressure playing two-way. I disagree with it and firmly believe it will be detrimental to both him and the team. Ultimately he ends up doing one, and if he’s not re-injured, it’ll be pitching.
As I noted above, Trout is going to be 30, and their window is {slowly} closing [with him].
Their decisions with key players on this roster are going to be amplified from this point forward. I agree though, and I think most objective people do, that he’s nowhere near Ruth. Plus, let’s face it, that’s the media doing what they do –
He’s playing against such an insanely higher level of competition than Ruth that he was never going to put up those numbers. And he’s pitching with a much liver ball than the one used to 1919.
Put him back then and he’s dominate, too.
awfully a lot of yankee fans are comparing ohtani to the law breaking, mob associating player from almost 100 years ago. they must be leaking. ruth would have been suspended so many times in today’s baseball to reach any kind of numbers.
Dude, it wasn’t even Yankee fans that started it, Ohtani was literally getting compared to Babe Ruth before he even played in a goddamn Spring Training game.
you mad, boy? bite dust!
Even if Ohtani pitches like a back of the rotation arm, he’ll still be one of the most valuable members of the Angles if he keeps hitting like he did in 2018-2019.
Comparing anyone to Ruth is foolish. LIFETIME .690 Slugging and about 90 Wins
GOAT !!