MLB 2022: The Long and Winding Thread

Has either side ever "won" a debate like this? Of course, it's one of the things that keeps sports interesting.

Count me as one that believes it could probably go to Ohtani every year if he puts up solid two-way numbers. Unless another player absolutely dominates.

And that's what Judge is doing this season. He's dominating at his one job, while Ohtani is very good at two jobs.

Narrow ruling goes to Judge.

 

Look, announcers: It’s not a “ghost” runner in extra innings. That’s an actual person out there.

If you’re talking a ghost runner in Wiffle Ball, then you’re doing it right.

 

Judge has more than one job. He plays defense, something Ohtani doesn't do when he pitches, and he's very good at it. That was a big part of the statistical analysis I posted earlier that had Judge as the more valuable player even if you don't consider the records of the two players' teams.

 

Ohtani doesn’t have more than one job? doesn’t play defense like Judge? How does Judge pitch?

 

I didn't say Ohtani doesn't have more than one job. Come on. Read more closely.

I disputed the implication in deskgrunt's post that Judge only has one job, which isn't true given that he has to play defense as well as hit. Of course, he doesn't affect the game as much with his defense as Ohtani does pitching, but he also isn't DHing four out of five days.

 

West coast bias. @ChrisLong is not going to be happy.

 

Damn, I already posted that Judge is the MVP. But I should slap Heyman around. He is a friend of mine. We used to work together ... on the West Coast. I think he lives in Milwaukee now, which is more Midwest. We played softball together and he came to my wedding.

C'mon JC. Stop with your drunk posting.

 

Not a sip.

 

Hahaha, you can't fool me.

 

Wrong again

 

This is a made up discussion of “what ifs’’. The premise here isn’t that the Yankees replacement for judge is some bum currently on their bench. Its that if they didn’t have Judge, there would be a free agent they signed, or a top player they traded for, to take his place.
As far as diminishing what judge is doing, obviously. Nobody is putting up those exact numbers. But the replacement would be very solid and the switch wouldn’t effect the team results that much. If judge is worth 10 total wins for the yankees, the fictional players could be worth 5, and they are still pretty much in the same place.

 

When you claim that the results would be pretty much the same, you lose the argument. The Angels could find average players to DH or pitch, too, and it would take a hell of a lot more than average or merely good to replace Judge. Assuming the Yankees would have some very good player in the role because they are the Yankees is dubious at best. It is looking for an excuse to downgrade Judge's dominant season.