Shohei Otani joins Angels

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I don't know if I would risk having Ohtani make throws from the outfield in between starts. That seems like a really bad idea.

And yet half of the finalists were NL teams, where he'd be making throws from the outfield in between starts.

There's no chance that he joined the Angels unless they had a detailed plan to get his bat in the lineup several times a week, so it's a given that he'll either be DHing or playing the outfield.

Just because Ohtani wants to play the outfield, it doesn't mean it is a good idea.

[Schad]

Just because Ohtani wants to play the outfield, it doesn't mean it is a good idea.

But it's an idea that most of the teams were fairly comfortable with, if it meant securing his services.

[Tanner]

Just because Ohtani wants to play the outfield, it doesn't mean it is a good idea.

But it's an idea that most of the teams were fairly comfortable with, if it meant securing his services.

Sure, most teams would have promised him anything to get him to sign. That’s a lot of projected surplus value the Angels will be getting, and going back on their word will make them look bad so I have no doubt they will find AB’s for him if that was a condition in the deal. It’s just a massive risk having him play the outfield and throw from out there presumably after he’s thrown 100+ pitches in a start. If I were the Angels, I’d rather live with the consequences of having what’s left of Pujols play first base than have Ohtani in the field.

[Schad]

Sure, most teams would have promised him anything to get him to sign. That’s a lot of projected surplus value the Angels will be getting, and going back on their word will make them look bad so I have no doubt they will find AB’s for him if that was a condition in the deal. It’s just a massive risk having him play the outfield and throw from out there presumably after he’s thrown 100+ pitches in a start. If I were the Angels, I’d rather live with the consequences of having what’s left of Pujols play first base than have Ohtani in the field.

But every team went into it knowing that he not only wanted to hit, but play the field at times. So creating scenarios where he's limited to DH only really misses the fact that it wasn't really an option for any team that wished to sign him. He'll DH some, presumably the day after he pitches, but he'll also see a fair bit of time in the OF.

[Tanner]

Sure, most teams would have promised him anything to get him to sign. That’s a lot of projected surplus value the Angels will be getting, and going back on their word will make them look bad so I have no doubt they will find AB’s for him if that was a condition in the deal. It’s just a massive risk having him play the outfield and throw from out there presumably after he’s thrown 100+ pitches in a start. If I were the Angels, I’d rather live with the consequences of having what’s left of Pujols play first base than have Ohtani in the field.

But every team went into it knowing that he not only wanted to hit, but play the field at times. So creating scenarios where he's limited to DH only really misses the fact that it wasn't really an option for any team that wished to sign him. He'll DH some, presumably the day after he pitches, but he'll also see a fair bit of time in the OF.

I get that. It's just not a good idea. Well, I guess I can't say that affirmatively since it hasn't been done in my lifetime, but in theory, it's a bad idea. Not disputing that's what Ohtani wants or what he was promised, just that it doesn't seem wise for his long-term health.

[Schad]

How many outfielders injure their arms throwing, though? Bautista did, certainly, and it does happen, but I'd honestly be more worried about him catching a spike, because a twisted ankle or knee is going to put him for just as long as a tweaked shoulder muscle.

But having signed him up for the three phases most likely to injure him -- pitching, hitting, and running the bases -- the additional risk seems acceptable to me.

[S.W.A.N]

Sure, most teams would have promised him anything to get him to sign. That’s a lot of projected surplus value the Angels will be getting, and going back on their word will make them look bad so I have no doubt they will find AB’s for him if that was a condition in the deal. It’s just a massive risk having him play the outfield and throw from out there presumably after he’s thrown 100+ pitches in a start. If I were the Angels, I’d rather live with the consequences of having what’s left of Pujols play first base than have Ohtani in the field.

But every team went into it knowing that he not only wanted to hit, but play the field at times. So creating scenarios where he's limited to DH only really misses the fact that it wasn't really an option for any team that wished to sign him. He'll DH some, presumably the day after he pitches, but he'll also see a fair bit of time in the OF.

I get that. It's just not a good idea. Well, I guess I can't say that affirmatively since it hasn't been done in my lifetime, but in theory, it's a bad idea. Not disputing that's what Ohtani wants or what he was promised, just that it doesn't seem wise for his long-term health.

If the guy willing to give up a couple hundred mill to play for you on a cheap contract you honor his wishes and just hope it works out.

And the risk factor being way over stated.

[Boogie!]

why can the jays never pick up any asian players. huge asian population in toronto, somehow that doesn't work as a marketing tool.

[Tanner]

How many outfielders injure their arms throwing, though? Bautista did, certainly, and it does happen, but I'd honestly be more worried about him catching a spike, because a twisted ankle or knee is going to put him for just as long as a tweaked shoulder muscle.

But having signed him up for the three phases most likely to injure him -- pitching, hitting, and running the bases -- the additional risk seems acceptable to me.

Bautista isn't a pitcher, though. Pitchers typically get hurt when they throw while tired. They toss in between starts, but playing the outfield and throwing a side session are two different types of throwing.

I'm not saying he is going to get hurt, but it just seems like it wouldn't be the best thing for his arm, depending on how often he plays out there. Then there is the risk of running in the outfield, stop and go running the bases, etc, but that's unrelated to the arm.

It will be interesting to see if it works. My gut tells me he will stop hitting at all within two years and focus entirely on pitching, but it would be cool to see a player excel at both.

[Skin Blues]

How many outfielders injure their arms throwing, though? Bautista did, certainly, and it does happen, but I'd honestly be more worried about him catching a spike, because a twisted ankle or knee is going to put him for just as long as a tweaked shoulder muscle.

But having signed him up for the three phases most likely to injure him -- pitching, hitting, and running the bases -- the additional risk seems acceptable to me.

Bautista isn't a pitcher, though. Pitchers typically get hurt when they throw while tired. They toss in between starts, but playing the outfield and throwing a side session are two different types of throwing.

I'm not saying he is going to get hurt, but it just seems like it wouldn't be the best thing for his arm, depending on how often he plays out there. Then there is the risk of running in the outfield, stop and go running the bases, etc, but that's unrelated to the arm.

It will be interesting to see if it works. My gut tells me he will stop hitting at all within two years and focus entirely on pitching, but it would be cool to see a player excel at both.

Obviously playing the OF creates more injury risk than sitting on the bench, but I don't see any reason why there's increased risk because he's a pitcher every 5 days. How many max-effort throws does an OF make per game? 1, maybe 2? For a guy accustomed to throwing 100+ per game I doubt that is a blip on the radar. As for the stop and go, he is an incredible athlete. His has a sub-4-second home to first time on par with Jarrod Dyson, so he's not gonna be Fauxto Carmona running around out there. He's a real athlete. A freak of nature, really. I can't wait to watch him play.

[JaysRule15]

why can the jays never pick up any asian players. huge asian population in toronto, somehow that doesn't work as a marketing tool.

Most of those elite Asian players grow up dreaming about playing in America man. They probably haven't even heard of Canada lol.

[polo007]

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Ohtani doesn’t speak much English yet, but he stepped to the podium and addressed the fans confidently: “Hi. My name is Shohei Ohtani.”

Ohtani already knows how to work a crowd, too: He had the perfect answer when asked whether he was more excited to get his first pitching victory or his first homer in the big leagues.

“Hopefully, if I can pull it off, maybe both in one game,” he said through a translator.

Ohtani’s grand experiment with the Angels is off to an entertaining start. The league-wide courtship ended Friday with his decision to join Mike Trout and Albert Pujols in Orange County.

The 23-year-old former Japanese MVP is attempting to become the majors’ most significant two-way player in several decades, and he will have every opportunity to fill two prominent roles with the Angels.

Ohtani is expected to join the Angels’ starting rotation next season, and he will be their designated hitter on many days when he isn’t pitching, Scioscia said. Ohtani won’t play in the outfield “at the outset” of his career, which likely includes at least his first season in Anaheim, Eppler said.

Ohtani’s decision was the culmination of years of hard work for the scouts and personnel executives led by Eppler, who has been traveling to Japan since 2013 to see Ohtani.

“There was a wow factor to him,” Eppler said. “He was a little bit of a show-stopper. Big fastball. The ability to throw three off-speed pitches for strikes. And have the presence in the batter’s box that we gravitated to. He fits a lot of our offensive philosophy.”

[I_Like_Dirt]

Most of those elite Asian players grow up dreaming about playing in America man. They probably haven't even heard of Canada lol.

Of course they've heard of Canada. But with 99% of these players, they either pick the most money, the west coast, or both - and honestly, it's hard to blame them given the circumstances. The Jays lose either way. It'd be more interesting to see what happened if there were a team in Vancouver.

[polo007]

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[Lateral Quicks]

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Ruh roh. Still worth the very low risk, obviously, but this may give the Angels second thoughts about playing him in the field when he's not pitching.