Two-bad

Oh, how major-league baseball and the national sports’ media touted Japanese pitcher-outfielder Shohei Ohtani as the second coming of Babe Ruth, a double threat on the mound and at the plate.  When Ohtani signed with the Angels last December, Sports Illustrated offered this online gem of an observation: “The Angels finally have another superstar to pair with Mike Trout.”  I wonder who they were writing about.

In his most recent start last Friday, Ohtani went 1.1 innings against the Rockies, giving up seven runs (all earned) on seven hits and a walk, with three (pity or overeager, you decide) strikeouts.  So far this spring, Ohtani has yielded 17 runs in 8.1 innings, which comes out to a 16.20 ERA.

Poor Mike Sciosia.  The Angels’ skipper had to make a silk purse out of that performance and those stats.  The best Sciosia could come up with was, “You saw the stuff that’s there [so did the Colorado hitters].  His stuff is picking up, which is a good sign.  Harnessing it is what we’re going to have to work on.”  That, or just tracking the flight of balls as they leave the atmosphere.  And did I mention that Ruth II is hitting .100, which is what happens when a hitter goes 2 for 20.

As the Angels try to figure out what to do with their wintertime superstar, allow me this question:  What made Ohtani a better risk than the best hitter in college softball, the best pitcher?  Somebody should ask Jennie Finch her thoughts on the matter.