STAMFORD, CT – Happy Fourth of July Week! It’s a great day to celebrate America’s pastime. And Shohei Ohtani…
The top three WAR seasons in baseball history were by Babe Ruth about 100 years ago. Back then Babe was so much better than the average replacement player, his WAR was off the charts. The only guy to come in within spitting zone of the Babe in recent years was Barry Bonds. Until now, that is. Enter Shohei Ohtani, once known as the Japanese Babe Ruth.
Roughly halfway through the season, Ohtani is having a season for the ages. If you double his stats, which I probably shouldn’t do because he’s sure to slow down after playing in the WBC, and because we’re 84 games in, which is more than half way, but screw it I’m lazy. You get: 198 hits, 62 HRs, .306 BA, 122 runs, 136 RBI, 22 SBs, .390 OBP, OPS 1.06, 7.8 WAR.
Pretty impressive. Oh yeah, he also pitches. Doubling his pitching stats, you get a 14-6 record, .302 ERA, 1.036 WHIP, 254 Ks, WAR 5.4.
That’s a combined WAR 13.4. That would be the second best WAR season after Babe’s 14.1 1923 season. And taking into account the massive improvement in replacement levels players, it’s fair ro say this one would be the greatest season in baseball history.
The Angels entered Monday with a 45-41 record. It really takes a village in baseball and even with a guy having a season for the ages, backed up by one of the greatest hitters in the game, it still only gets them to four games over .500, 2.5 games out of the last wildcard. Depth is key.
Come back tomorrow for Angry Ward.
