The Ohtani Delimma

Posted By on July 30, 2025

It is a proven fact that when Shohei Ohtani focuses on pitching, he is one of the top two hitters in the game. When he pitches as well, his focus is not solely on hitting, and it shows. His batting average is .270-.280 when he hits and pitches, while it is over .300 when he only hits. Yes, he is amazing… but you cannot serve two masters! I think he needs to focus on hitting and also be used as a multi-innings reliever a couple of times a week. FULL STOP!

This year, he is hitting .276 and frequently wildly chases pitches out of the zone. His focus is not on hitting. He could be the best player/hitter in baseball, but that mantle falls on Aaron Judge, who is hitting .343 with a 1160 OPS and an insane OPS+ of 218. It is my opinion that if Ohtani focused more on hitting, his value would be higher. FULL STOP!

  • Of course, you can weigh in.
  • Mookie Betts appears to be waking up after sleepwalking most of the season.
  • Don’t look now, but Michael Conforto is up to .195 and has a .310 OB%
  • It’s possible Kike misses the rest of the regular season.

I am headed to Cincinnati to see the Dodgers and Ohtani play tonight. I have to get a Frisch’s Big Boy Platter. There are only 31 locations… mostly around Cincinnati, and they have some in the Great American Ballpark. They even have a Big Boy Statue in the Ballpark:

It’s going to be a great night… win or lose!

P.S. My full shoulder replacement is scheduled for August 27… right after my daughter’s wedding on August 23.

The 2025 MLB trade deadline is Thursday at 6 pm ET

This article has 60 Comments

  2. Can we count on Glasnow in the playoffs or is he another head case when things start going bad? I personally don’t trust him.

    1. He’s been pretty good since he came back. Lets see how his next start goes at home, dont write him off just yet…..

  4. Be there tonight also. Stop and get yourself a Maid Rite for the trip. You and your a enjoy the game and go DODGERS⚾

  6. Back in the 60’s (maybe early 70’s) – living in CA we had a restaurant chain called “BOB”s Big Boy – I wonder if it was related to your Frisch’s Big Boy Platter as the mascot is very similar.

    Agreed that there is Judge – then everybody else (including Ohtani), that said Ohtani is not a bad second to have:).

    I like the idea of Ohtani in relief, just don’t know if he would be open to this!
    Hard call in LF with Conforto – he is “slowly” getting better and unless there is a clear upgrade I am not sure what the Dodger’s are thinking and/or will do!

    More relief help would be nice – I do not like the idea of Scott & Yates in the back-end. In true I don’t like the idea of Yates even being on the playoff roster period!

    1. Agree on Yates. Conforto approaching the Mendoza line – contributing – but misplayed 4 chances in two games! Yikes! Good to have the Blog back.

    2. Bob’s was/is the original. There are four left all in socal. In the early/mid 70’s Whittier Blvd was a huge Friday & Saturday night cruise and Bobs was like a 70’s version of American Graffiti. Good times!

    3. I used to take my son to the Bob’s in Burbank occasionally on Friday nights to see the Classic cars. Mac loved the cars and the faces he would often recognize from TV. I think they still do it. I don’t know whether JayLeno still frequents them or not. Fun times.

      My wife worked at an Azar’s Big Boy in Waynedale, IN a few years before we met.

  7. I think the Dodger organization and many Dodger fans would like Shohei to concentrate on hitting. I am certain when Shohei was a free agent he made it clear to all teams that he wanted to be a complete two-way player when healthy. To be able to sign him a team had to agree. The Dodgers have been slow playing his pitching throughout the year. I’ve read that as a child he always dreamed of being a great pitcher and the hitting was secondary . Last year was so spectacular and the fear of another arm injury makes most of us want him to play it safe and just hit or maybe move to the outfield. Until Shohei himself feels like that he will probably continue to do both. In time I believe he will have to chose one or the other.

  8. Yankees just got Austin Slater from the White Sox, who are actively shopping Robert Jr. Yanks have a glut of outfielders now even with Judge on the IL. Bellinger and Grisham mentioned in trade rumors. Houston interested in bringing back Correa. Ronald Acuna placed on the 10-day IL with an Achillies problem.

  9. Growing up in LA, Bob’s Big Boy was a favorite. For a while we lived about a half block away from one in Glendale and got take out 2 or3 times a week. My Mom graduated from Eagle Rock High School in 1938 and the Original Bobs in Burbank was a favorite hang out. Also had good spaghetti and the shakes were so thick that you ate them with a spoon. Still miss that chain to this day.

    Glad to see Kim on the injured list, he needs to be healthy for the post season. Same goes for Tommy, we need him at his best.

    I don’t think we need a deadline deal but I would still love to get Cody back. He is a clutch post season player and I think the reunion would be great for him and the team.

    1. Agree with you that getting Cody back would be a big plus for the Dodgers. Regarding Bob”s Big Boy in Burbank it is still open; I am still a regular customer. It was designated a CA historical landmark in the early 1990’s. I know because I was Mayor of Burbank when it happened…..

      1. Initially, Bob’s Big Boy was the original restaurant and franchisor. In the late 1960s, Marriott Corporation acquired Bob’s Big Boy, and then in 1987, Elias Brothers acquired the chain from Marriott. Later, Frisch’s Big Boy, which had been a franchisee, became the exclusive owner of the Big Boy name and trademark in a specific territory in the Midwest.

  10. Wow, that bug eyed “Big Boy” is weird looking to SoCal natives that have grown up with Bob’s Big Boy which apparently Frisch’s was once a franchisee.

    You talk about Ohtani being the second best player in all of MLB to Judge like it’s a bad thing. It is not.
    FULL STOP to put it in your parlance of the day.

    I think Ohtani’s time as a premier pitcher is likely already over due to the TJ’s so the Dodgers are trying to wring out a 2nd World Series title using what remains. I’m
    completely ok with that. If they win their 2nd in a row I think all of us will be. Then bit by bit he’ll be converted to a leverage bullpen pitcher IF he pitches much more at all.

  11. 7:10 PM ET

    Dodgers (63-45)
    Reds (56-52)

    SP Shohei Ohtoni R
    0-0 1.50 ERA
    SP Nick Martinez R
    9-9 4.69 ERA

    Confirmed Lineup
    SS Mookie Betts R
    DH S. Ohtani L
    C Will Smith R
    1B F. Freeman L
    RF T. Hernandez R
    CF Andy Pages R
    LF M. Conforto L
    2B Miguel Rojas R
    3B A. Freeland S

    92° Wind 5 mph L-R

    Emmet Sheehan R 2-1 4.22 ERA to follow Ohtoni with bulk innings. Roberts hopes Ohtoni making his 7th start can go four innings.

  12. A lot of movement today. Hayes traded to the Reds who take on all of his salary from the Pirates. Taylor Rogers and his brother both traded as the Giants send Tyler to the Mets, and Taylor goes to the Pirates in the Hayes trade.

  13. Helsey and Duran traded, and not to the Dodgers. Mets and Phillies respectively.

    2. No injury, it was a cramp. Dodgers traded Feduccia in a 3-team trade with the Rays and Reds. Feduccia goes to the Rays, Dodgers get three prospects. Adam Serwinowski, Paul Gervase, and Ben Rortvedt. Serwinowski is a left-handed starting pitcher. Paul Gervase is a right-handed pitcher, and Rortvedt is a catcher who has seen some time in the majors. Matz to the Red Sox, Suarez back to the Mariners, Kitteridge to the Cubs. Miller did not pitch amid rumors he might be traded.

  15. Pages did not need to jump to catch that ball. Bad AB by him as well the half inning prior. Almost a hell of a catch by Outman. Sheehan deserved better.

  16. In the case of Ohtani being a two-way player is a risky proposition. The upside is amazing, but the downside is that when he suffers a pitching injury we also lose his elite bat. Mark may be on to something here. Retiring him as a pitcher and make him an everyday OFer.

    1. This isn’t necessarily true. I’m pretty sure when he suffered his torn UCL injury with the Angels it didn’t affect his batting and he continued to DH.

  17. @JeffPassan
    Three-way trade, per ESPN sources:
    Dodgers receive: LHP Adam Serwinowski, RHP Paul Gervase, C Ben Rortvedt
    Rays receive: C Hunter Feduccia, RHP Brian Van Belle
    Reds receive: RHP Zack Littell

    1. This is one of those trades in a year (maybe less) or so we will say wow Friedman pulled a rabbit out of his hat. Gervase is Mason Miller before Mason Miller was Mason Miller.

      Elite Stuff.

  18. Well, we were running a little late just inside the Cincinnati City Limits right before the game last night when Cincinnati Police clocked me at 91 MPH in s 60! I swear I was not doing a MPH over 86, and my radar detector did not go off. When he walked up to the window, I had my license and registration in hand and advised him that I had a firearm. He thanked me and asked if I was the Police, and I said no. We all had Dodger gear on, so I asked him if we were being arrested for being Dodger fans. He laughed and gave me a ticket for 70 MPH.

    Of course, it was a bad game; there was no Big Boy at the stadium, and they were closed on the way home. Mookie and Shohei looked absolutely disinterested. We sat at 3B, and I was able to watch Alex Freeland all night. He is a ballplayer, but you can see that 3B is not his comfort zone. This team needs a shakeup. Mookie to 2B. Freeland to SS. Conforto to DFA and trade for a LF’er. It’s time for Doc to go to the whip!

    I like the Feduccia trade.

    1. I hope I have better luck in Tampa.

      Take the series in Tampa, head home and get on a streak….

  19. This is and I think it will be the most boring trade dateline that I remember, unlike other seasons, this time there are not so many rumors, there doesn’t seem to be urgency as if this time it didn’t matter.

  20. The only trade that matters is Kwan. Praising Conforto for getting close to the Mendoza line is dumb. Kwan gives you a reason to move Ohtani to 4th and Kwan to leadoff and it gets Ohtani’s 200 Ks off the leadoff spot.

  21. I am no mathematical genius, but even in his HUGE SLUMP, hOhtani has a .373 OB% and a .978 OPS.

    Kuan has a .350 OB% and a .758 OPS.

    Explain to me how a player with a .758 OPS is a better option at leadoff than one with a .978 OPS!

    1. Agree,, but my point was that having Ohtani follow Betts and Kwan could possibly yield 20% more RBIs. Leading off takes away RBIs because the first at bat is void of anyone in base.
      Appreciate the reply.
      Good luck on the shoulder replacement. I get to get a new hip on the 15th. Thank God they can replace our worn parts.

    2. Wow they traded the number 3 prospect in all of baseball…a stud 19 year old SS for a relief pitcher.

  26. AJ Preller is making dope fiend moves in order to save his job.

    It won’t work

    1. Pages is our CF’er. He will be fine until Sirota is ready.

      I like the Stewart deal. Outman was done.

        1. He didn’t cost us the game. I was there, but he was in LF. He is a CF or RF.

          Pages has made some great plays.

  29. Finally May is gone, now only Gonsolin, Graterol, Miller and next year Kershaw and Glass man are left to go.

    1. Gonsolin is signed through 2026.
      Graterol is signed through 2027.
      Glasnow is signed through 2028.
      Miller is signed through 20230.
      Kershaw writes his own deal.
      I am not sure what you are saying.

  31. Good haul for 2 months of Dustin May. But I am not overwhelmed by Call. His numbers are not the same as Kwan. His career OPS is a little over .700.

    Biggest disappointment is that they didn’t do more to help the bullpen. Brock Stewart has had 2 decent years in 7 and is injury prone. Of the guys they got in the 3 team trade, only Gervase is on the 40 man and he is marginal at best. I guess he’s tall. He did pitch well in the minors.

    If they were trying to get an impact arm for the ‘pen, I don’t think they did.

    All in all their rivals improved more than they did.

    Their returning starting pitchers are better than anyone available at the deadline. Assuming that Snell and Sasaki’s arms don’t fall off. Same with the return of Muncy – if he’s the Muncy of the last 2 months and not the first 2 months. But the bullpen is a different story. Phillips isn’t returning. Yates isn’t suddenly improving. Kopech and Graterol can’t be relied on.

    I think that an ineffective bullpen will be the bane of the team this post-season.

    1. Why do you think Yates isn’t suddenly improving?
      He suddenly got bad, so he could suddenly get good again.
      He was very good last year.

      I agree that we can’t count on Kopech or Graterol, but that doesn’t mean they won’t contribute at some point.

      Stewart has pitched very well when healthy the past 2 or 3 years. Of course, now that he’s a Dodger again, he’s even more likely to get injured.

      Friedman pretty well let us know how he felt about going after bullpen pieces at this time of year before the season started, so I guess we can’t say he didn’t warn us.

  32. Seems to me that we gave up guys that were largely blocked and had no future with the Dodgers for some pretty decent players and prospects. It was a solid deadline but certainly not magnificent as of today. In 5 years who knows?

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