MLB 2018 regular season thread

Dunn was 31 and in his 10th season in the majors at that point. Was anyone really surprised that an all-or-nothing slugger in his early 30s suddenly fell off a cliff?

This isn't that.

 

I'm just very wary of microscopic sample sizes.

Certainly the scouts in Passan's story have not been proven "spectacularly wrong."

 

It looks like the other teams weren't ready for Ohtani.

 

“You don’t learn on the job in the major leagues,” another scout said. “You can’t.”

 

He has 19 plate appearances.

 

Why Do All The Pitchers Who Pitch To Shohei Ohtani Suck Now?

 

“He’s basically like a high school hitter because he’s never seen a good curveball,” the scout said. “He’s seen fastballs and changeups. And you’re asking a high school hitter to jump to the major leagues?”

Home run
Curve ball
Indians vs. Angels - Play-By-Play - April 3, 2018 - ESPN

 

Spectacular!
With any other player, the remedy is obvious: Allow him to prepare for what’s to come against lower-level players.

Fifth in win shares in batting
2018 American League Batting Leaders | Baseball-Reference.com

First in WHIP on the pitching side, 2nd in hits per nine
2018 American League Pitching Leaders | Baseball-Reference.com

Scouts are right. He definitely needs to be preparing in the minor leagues. A couple of months in Salt Lake City are definitely in order.

 

Are there no good curveball pitchers in Japan?

There is a fundamental flaw I've found with baseball writers: You can always find a scout or two that will support your theory. There are so many scouts out there, and most of them are willing to tell you stuff because they want to prove how smart they are.

 

... where the air is thin and his splitter won't split, just like in Arizona.

 

I am wondering what the scouts would think if the Angels phenom was named Shawn O'Toole. I am wondering why I am wondering that.

In spring training various scouts, coaches, managers and players took one look at Ichiro's 5'9", 160-pound frame and his open stance, and thought the same thing: inside heat.

Ichrio Suzuki stellar rookie season has made him a superstar

One after another, players and coaches from that 2001 team recall the manager’s increasing agitation during Cactus League play as Ichiro kept hitting weakly to the left side.

“Lou wasn’t sold on him,” said catcher Tom Lampkin.

And Piniella wasn’t the only one.

“I think everyone was skeptical,” recalled Jeff Nelson. “He didn’t really do anything in spring training, and people were thinking, ‘This guy might be overmatched.’"

How Ichiro proved to Lou Piniella he belonged that spring of 2001

 

I agree that just because Ohtani has been good so far doesn't mean he'll have an average over .200 by month's end or an ERA under 5.00.

But he was clearly ready for the start of the season.