2024 MLB News and Notes #2

[Chip R]

In a truly amazing season, one of the most amazing accomplishments Ohtani has are his 51 stolen bases. Before 2024, his career high in stolen bases was 26, in a season in which he was caught stealing 10 times. This season, at age 30, he has 51 steals and has only been caught stealing 4 times. That is a success rate of nearly 93%. Elly De La Cruz runs like a racehorse and has stolen 64 bases in 80 attempts, an outstanding 80% success rate, but Ohtani's success rate is as if he ran like Secretariat. How can he have become such a prolific base stealer at this point in his career? This is Bugs Bunny vs. The Gas House Gorillas crazy.

I'm sure it's more about studying pitchers' moves and picking your spots than about speed. He has tried to steal 55 times. Elly has had 80 attempts. The more you steal, the more likely it is you will get caught. I think also that, as you pointed out, the most SBs he's had before this year is 26. Perhaps he was being overlooked as a SB threat. He also hasn't pitched this year. My guess is that when he starts pitching again he will not try to steal as many bases.

[RedTeamGo!]

yesterday was amazing but re-watching these HRs and why were the Marlins just throwing BP meatballs to him all game?

[westofyou]

yesterday was amazing but re-watching these HRs and why were the Marlins just throwing BP meatballs to him all game?

Bingo

[757690]

yesterday was amazing but re-watching these HRs and why were the Marlins just throwing BP meatballs to him all game?

Ohtani agreed to split the money with them that his interpreter won on the side bets he made on the game.

[RedsBaron]

I'm sure it's more about studying pitchers' moves and picking your spots than about speed. He has tried to steal 55 times. Elly has had 80 attempts. The more you steal, the more likely it is you will get caught. I think also that, as you pointed out, the most SBs he's had before this year is 26. Perhaps he was being overlooked as a SB threat. He also hasn't pitched this year. My guess is that when he starts pitching again he will not try to steal as many bases.

As I mentioned in another thread, I would give consideration to the Babe Ruth precedent set more than a century ago and might decide Ohtani would be more valuable if he didn't pitch.
I do agree that, in general, the more you steal, the more likely it is you will get caught. Johnny Bench in the 1975 season stole 11 bases in 11 attempts and followed that up in 1976 by stealing 13 bases in 15 attempts. No way do I think Bench would have stolen bases at an 85% or 100% success rate had he been making 50 to 80 attempts a season. However, Ohtani has made 55 attempts and has been successful 51 times. No way should teams now be overlooking him as a stolen base threat. I am simply amazed by what he has been doing.

[klw]

yesterday was amazing but re-watching these HRs and why were the Marlins just throwing BP meatballs to him all game?

Last two homers were off of a guy who is pitching for his 5th MLB team this season and a 2b. This may been the best they had to challenge him with. Another question would be was was Ohtani hitting against anyone, let alone a 2b in the 9th of a 17-3 game?

[Chip R]

As I mentioned in another thread, I would give consideration to the Babe Ruth precedent set more than a century ago and might decide Ohtani would be more valuable if he didn't pitch.
I do agree that, in general, the more you steal, the more likely it is you will get caught. Johnny Bench in the 1975 season stole 11 bases in 11 attempts and followed that up in 1976 by stealing 13 bases in 15 attempts. No way do I think Bench would have stolen bases at an 85% or 100% success rate had he been making 50 to 80 attempts a season. However, Ohtani has made 55 attempts and has been successful 51 times. No way should teams now be overlooking him as a stolen base threat. I am simply amazed by what he has been doing.

I made the point on Twitter that the Dodgers may want to make him their closer. Theoretically less wear ant tear on his arm and he can play every day.

Last two homers were off of a guy who is pitching for his 5th MLB team this season and a 2b. This may been the best they had to challenge him with. Another question would be was was Ohtani hitting against anyone, let alone a 2b in the 9th of a 17-3 game?

Still a major leaguer. Anyone else on the Dodgers hit 2 HRs and a double against that guy?

[M2]

Another question would be was was Ohtani hitting against anyone, let alone a 2b in the 9th of a 17-3 game?

Stat padding, which I am 100% in favor of.

[kaldaniels]

CJ Abrams optioned to AAA.

That may be the strangest news I’ve seen all year.

(Rumors saying it was punishment for being out at the casino till 8am before a day game)

[757690]

CJ Abrams optioned to AAA.

That may be the strangest news I’ve seen all year.

(Rumors saying it was punishment for being out at the casino till 8am before a day game)

The rumors make sense. He has slumped, but still has a .747 OPS, 111 OPS+. It also makes no sense to send him down at this point in the season when the Nationals are 68-86.

[NebraskaRed]

Sonny Gray to the IL, obviously ending his season

[757690]

Sonny Gray to the IL, obviously ending his season

He had another strong season. 3.13 FIP - 3.8 fWAR. The other two geriatric pitching signings for the Cardinals did better than expected. Both FIP a bit above 4, 1.5 fWAR.

We all made fun of them for signing 3 starting pitchers their age, but it worked out for them.

[dreghorntwo]

CJ Abrams optioned to AAA.

That may be the strangest news I’ve seen all year.

(Rumors saying it was punishment for being out at the casino till 8am before a day game)

I did a mini dive into a couple of Nats news sites and the word is that he's a frequent casino guy and had been warned to not let it interfere with baseball.

https://www.talknats.com/2024/09/21/...om-the-roster/

[westofyou]

He had another strong season. 3.13 FIP - 3.8 fWAR. The other two geriatric pitching signings for the Cardinals did better than expected. Both FIP a bit above 4, 1.5 fWAR.

We all made fun of them for signing 3 starting pitchers their age, but it worked out for them.

Kinda sorta, they all ended up about 10% better than the league but the guys there prior (including the non pitchers) dragged that small gain down.

Lynn only had 117 innings, have to think he's not going to get much more in the future

[Ron Madden]

The 1962 New York Mets are no longer the sole standard for Major League Baseball futility after the Chicago White Sox lost their 120th game Sunday 4-2 to the San Diego Padres.

The Sox and Mets share the modern-day record for most losses in a season, a piece of baseball history no team sets out to accomplish

Story Here:
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/...rd-120th-loss/