Shohei Ohtani Signs with the Angels

[Cubswin11]

I'm sure Theo will figure out multiple arguments in his presentation and face to face to persuade him that avoiding the AL/DH is better for his overall development and ability to be both a pitcher and hitter long term and the NL/the Cubs are the best route to go to achieve the 2-way player dream. Something like pitching every 4 days and getting 2-4 PAs a game along with some occasional PH appearances is better for him to ease in to hitting to start with instead of baptism by fire going to the AL/DH where if he struggles right away AL teams may not let him hit again. He's at the very least guaranteed to hit every start in the NL and go from there to making some OF spot starts as he grows as a hitter and can focus mostly on getting acclimated to pitching in a new league/country to start with.

[WrigleyField 22]

I'm sure Theo will figure out multiple arguments in his presentation and face to face to persuade him that avoiding the AL/DH is better for his overall development and ability to be both a pitcher and hitter long term and the NL/the Cubs are the best route to go to achieve the 2-way player dream. Something like pitching every 4 days and getting 2-4 PAs a game along with some occasional PH appearances is better for him to ease in to hitting to start with instead of baptism by fire going to the AL/DH where if he struggles right away AL teams may not let him hit again. He's at the very least guaranteed to hit every start in the NL and go from there to making some OF spot starts as he grows as a hitter and can focus mostly on getting acclimated to pitching in a new league/country to start with.

Yea. I do think there's an argument that the NL is at least attractive in the sense that you're guaranteed to hit every few days instead of a manager/GM deciding to never let you hit again after half a season.

[d_money]

If his AB’s are not consistent, I would think he’d have a hard time with the pitches he’s seeing. It may force the hand to choose one or the other.

[Bull]

I'm sure Theo will figure out multiple arguments in his presentation and face to face to persuade him that avoiding the AL/DH is better for his overall development and ability to be both a pitcher and hitter long term and the NL/the Cubs are the best route to go to achieve the 2-way player dream. Something like pitching every 4 days and getting 2-4 PAs a game along with some occasional PH appearances is better for him to ease in to hitting to start with instead of baptism by fire going to the AL/DH where if he struggles right away AL teams may not let him hit again. He's at the very least guaranteed to hit every start in the NL and go from there to making some OF spot starts as he grows as a hitter and can focus mostly on getting acclimated to pitching in a new league/country to start with.

Yea. I do think there's an argument that the NL is at least attractive in the sense that you're guaranteed to hit every few days instead of a manager/GM deciding to never let you hit again after half a season.

 

That's how I've always viewed it. If an AL team is willing to commit to him (scary) then he goes there. If not, its likely an NL team.

[WrigleyField 22]

I'm sure Theo will figure out multiple arguments in his presentation and face to face to persuade him that avoiding the AL/DH is better for his overall development and ability to be both a pitcher and hitter long term and the NL/the Cubs are the best route to go to achieve the 2-way player dream. Something like pitching every 4 days and getting 2-4 PAs a game along with some occasional PH appearances is better for him to ease in to hitting to start with instead of baptism by fire going to the AL/DH where if he struggles right away AL teams may not let him hit again. He's at the very least guaranteed to hit every start in the NL and go from there to making some OF spot starts as he grows as a hitter and can focus mostly on getting acclimated to pitching in a new league/country to start with.

Yea. I do think there's an argument that the NL is at least attractive in the sense that you're guaranteed to hit every few days instead of a manager/GM deciding to never let you hit again after half a season.

 

That's how I've always viewed it. If an AL team is willing to commit to him (scary) then he goes there. If not, its likely an NL team.

What's that commitment worth, especially if it's a supposedly contending team? It's basically just words. Theres not a ton of room for a developmental DH.

[Sammy Sofa]

So basically we want Theo to sexily lie to his face, because in no sane world does anyone want a prized pitcher getting a ton of extra unnecessary AB's, right?

[Sammy Sofa]

So basically we want Theo to sexily lie to his face, because in no sane world does anyone want a prized pitcher getting a ton of extra unnecessary AB's, right?

 

"Hold my 18 wine coolers I'm having for second breakfast."

 

http://cdn1.thecomeback.com/theoutsidecorner/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2013/04/maddonbird.jpg

[Transmogrified Tiger]

So basically we want Theo to sexily lie to his face, because in no sane world does anyone want a prized pitcher getting a ton of extra unnecessary AB's, right?

 

I'm skeptical of how well it could work, since that much playing in the field might impact his pitching(more from an effectiveness standpoint than injury risk). But if Otani was only a hitter, that type of part time/platoony role would be well within reason, so if they think he can pull it off with him starting in the OF against RHP a couple times a week on top of near-daily pinch hitting, then I don't think it's out of the question to try it.

[Sammy Sofa]

So basically we want Theo to sexily lie to his face, because in no sane world does anyone want a prized pitcher getting a ton of extra unnecessary AB's, right?

 

I'm skeptical of how well it could work, since that much playing in the field might impact his pitching(more from an effectiveness standpoint than injury risk). But if Otani was only a hitter, that type of part time/platoony role would be well within reason, so if they think he can pull it off with him starting in the OF against RHP a couple times a week on top of near-daily pinch hitting, then I don't think it's out of the question to try it.

 

Personally, I wouldn't want much more than Zambrano-type usage. I don't want a guy you're thinking could be an ace to be adding the extra risk of getting drilled by a pitch or injured on the base paths too much. So, what, 100-120ish PA?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Personally, I wouldn't want much more than Zambrano-type usage. I don't want a guy you're thinking could be an ace to be adding the extra risk of getting drilled by a pitch or injured on the base paths too much. So, what, 100-120ish PA?

 

I don't think that injury risk is all that significant, and being a LH hitter he already wears a brace to protect his right arm at the plate. There's a reason we worry so much about pitcher's hurting their arms compared to hitters getting hurt doing position player things. Not that the risk is nonexistent, but you're also getting value out of it too and not just putting an unqualified guy out there to appease him.

[Sammy Sofa]

Wait, I thought the scouting reports were saying that his hitting ability likely wouldn't amount to much over here?

[KingCubsFan]

Wait, I thought the scouting reports were saying that his hitting ability likely wouldn't amount to much over here?

His talent as a hitter is nowhere near his talent as a pitcher. But I think he's been projected as a 4th outfielder/fringe starter type as a hitter.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Im pretty sure that any argument Theo makes will be at a table with TheoCo on one side and Ohtani on the other side and something like this sitting on the middle, centered perfectly:

 

Edited November 30, 2017 by minnesotacubsfan

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Wait, I thought the scouting reports were saying that his hitting ability likely wouldn't amount to much over here?

 

There's obviously the chance he could bust, and he's a bit different than most NPB hitter imports because he already has a fair amount of swing and miss, but he can hit. He led the JPL(JPL is to NPB as NL is to MLB) in OPS in 2016 and was 4th in 2017.

[minnesotacubsfan]

“Come hither my new friend..” -THEO

[Backtobanks]

So basically we want Theo to sexily lie to his face, because in no sane world does anyone want a prized pitcher getting a ton of extra unnecessary AB's, right?

 

That's a tough moral decision: Theo lying to him and we sign him or Theo telling the truth and we have no chance of signing him.

 

I go with Theo lying to him.

[Bull]

So basically we want Theo to sexily lie to his face, because in no sane world does anyone want a prized pitcher getting a ton of extra unnecessary AB's, right?

 

That's a tough moral decision: Theo lying to him and we sign him or Theo telling the truth and we have no chance of signing him.

 

I go with Theo lying to him.

As sofa subtly pointed out with the Joe-with-a-parrot picture, Theo doesn’t have to lie. If he’s simply as good as Travis Wood at the plate, he will see time in left field.

 

...NEVERMIND...

 

I just saw he bats left-handed with his arms extended out over the plate before he loads. I never want him putting that beautiful right elbow in the path of a baseball. In fact, I now don’t want anything to do with him.

 

/panicky overreaction

[jersey cubs fan]

Worst case scenario, a guy you spend next to nothing on gets hurt and can't pitch for you, or anybody else.

 

 

There is no downside to promising him plate appearances.

[Sammy Sofa]

I WANT them to promise him all the AB's he wants.

 

But I want that promise to be a dirty, sexy lie.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I WANT them to promise him all the AB's he wants.

 

But I want that promise to be a dirty, sexy lie.

 

You wanna watch the next Jon Jay slap singles and doubles as the 4th OF, or do you want to see this?

 

[Bull]

Worst case scenario, a guy you spend next to nothing on gets hurt and can't pitch for you, or anybody else.

 

 

There is no downside to promising him plate appearances.

Except that you’re depending on him in your rotation. But you’re right, him on Cubs DL is better than him on the Dodgers playoff roster.

 

I know it’s a small chance and would be a freak accident, but, man, it looks like he’s begging someone to fracture his elbow. Invest in armor.

[Sammy Sofa]

I WANT them to promise him all the AB's he wants.

 

But I want that promise to be a dirty, sexy lie.

 

You wanna watch the next Jon Jay slap singles and doubles as the 4th OF, or do you want to see this?

 

 

I'd rather see him pitch.

 

I mean, I'm not saying the guy should never step to the plate; I just think it's silly to try and get him hundreds of AB's a season.

[imb]

I WANT them to promise him all the AB's he wants.

 

But I want that promise to be a dirty, sexy lie.

 

You wanna watch the next Jon Jay slap singles and doubles as the 4th OF, or do you want to see this?

 

 

I'd rather see him pitch.

 

I mean, I'm not saying the guy should never step to the plate; I just think it's silly to try and get him hundreds of AB's a season.

 

You only have to get him 100-200 ABs once. If he can't hang, he's smart enough to know. Or maybe he's such a freak that he'll just make himself better.

 

Or maybe you get a 14 WAR player. It literally doesn't matter. Promise him whatever it takes to get him here. If he can't do it well enough, keep him out of the lineup. What's he gonna do, retire?

[Sammy Sofa]

 

You wanna watch the next Jon Jay slap singles and doubles as the 4th OF, or do you want to see this?

 

 

I'd rather see him pitch.

 

I mean, I'm not saying the guy should never step to the plate; I just think it's silly to try and get him hundreds of AB's a season.

 

You only have to get him 100-200 ABs once. If he can't hang, he's smart enough to know. Or maybe he's such a freak that he'll just make himself better.

 

Or maybe you get a 14 WAR player. It literally doesn't matter. Promise him whatever it takes to get him here. If he can't do it well enough, keep him out of the lineup. What's he gonna do, retire?

 

Exactly. Like I said, a bunch of AB's in the 100+ range makes sense; lie, lie, lie.

[CP_414]

 

I'd rather see him pitch.

 

I mean, I'm not saying the guy should never step to the plate; I just think it's silly to try and get him hundreds of AB's a season.

 

You only have to get him 100-200 ABs once. If he can't hang, he's smart enough to know. Or maybe he's such a freak that he'll just make himself better.

 

Or maybe you get a 14 WAR player. It literally doesn't matter. Promise him whatever it takes to get him here. If he can't do it well enough, keep him out of the lineup. What's he gonna do, retire?

 

Exactly. Like I said, a bunch of AB's in the 100+ range makes sense; lie, lie, lie.

 

100+ isn't enough. A NL starting pitcher gets about 70-80 PAs in a season hitting 9th on the days they start.

 

Promise him whatever he wants and let him actually do it for the first season. If he sucks offensively then you transition him to a more traditional role in year 2. I'd suggest letting him start every 6th game as a pitcher, get about 40 starts in the OF/DH and then be available to pinch hit the other days. That would get him 27ish starts and 250-300 or so PAs. That's about the same number of PAs that he had each year in Japan.

 

But I wouldn't lie. Let him do whatever it takes to get him here and his performance will decide how to move forward after year 1.