Is Shohei Ohtani already better than Babe Ruth?

Get back to me when Ohtani increases the home run record by nearly 600 home runs.

Damn the big Shohei is insane!

Ohtani has had ONE good half a season in his career so far. No, he's not already better than Babe Ruth. He's not better than anyone in the Hall of Fame yet.

Flagpole wrote:

Ohtani has had ONE good half a season in his career so far. No, he's not already better than Babe Ruth. He's not better than anyone in the Hall of Fame yet.

Anybody who thinks Ohtani is a better hitter than Bonds was does not know the first thing about baseball. Bonds had a multiple “half seasons” better than Ohtani as a hitter. What’s the best half season anyway? Is that like the best opening 800 of a 1500? Who cares.

Every MLB player now is better than Babe Ruth.

We romanticize Ruth because he was the first big star and he was head and shoulders above his peers but the level of play would be a joke compared to today.

Babe probably couldn't bat .150 against modern pitchers, so yeah.

Wise Old Man wrote:

Flagpole wrote:

Ohtani has had ONE good half a season in his career so far. No, he's not already better than Babe Ruth. He's not better than anyone in the Hall of Fame yet.

Anybody who thinks Ohtani is a better hitter than Bonds was does not know the first thing about baseball. Bonds had a multiple “half seasons” better than Ohtani as a hitter. What’s the best half season anyway? Is that like the best opening 800 of a 1500? Who cares.

No one is saying Ohtani is a better hitter than Bonds was, but Bonds didn't pitch and had a crappy throwing arm even for a left fielder. If it had been Ohtani in left, Sid Bream would have been thrown out by 30 feet.

SDSU Aztec wrote:

Wise Old Man wrote:

Anybody who thinks Ohtani is a better hitter than Bonds was does not know the first thing about baseball. Bonds had a multiple “half seasons” better than Ohtani as a hitter. What’s the best half season anyway? Is that like the best opening 800 of a 1500? Who cares.

No one is saying Ohtani is a better hitter than Bonds was, but Bonds didn't pitch and had a crappy throwing arm even for a left fielder. If it had been Ohtani in left, Sid Bream would have been thrown out by 30 feet.

For your enjoyment and those of any other true baseball fan. Watch his swings. The last one is emblematic of his greatness. I didn’t bother including a clip of the whole at bat, but it was epic.

Bonds and Gagne had to agree to only one off-speed pitch, therefore Bonds had a handicap, not a fair matchup

Babe Ruth was the last two-way player (sort of), hence the comparison, though Ohtani is better, and on pace to hit the most home runs in a season by someone who isn't obviously roided up

What is a baseball, do you even know?

Harambe wrote:

Babe probably couldn't bat .150 against modern pitchers, so yeah.

No, Walter Johnson would still be a star pitcher if he didn't blow out his arm. Ruth would still be a slugger but not the dominant slugger without modern help with video coaching, better nutrition and exercise and possible PED usage.

If guys are micro dosing they can look like a normal fit athlete from the 60's or 70's. Ryan Braun never looked like Popeye or an obvious PED abuser.

i ok sch wrote:

Every MLB player now is better than Babe Ruth.

We romanticize Ruth because he was the first big star and he was head and shoulders above his peers but the level of play would be a joke compared to today.

No, a junk journeyman 5th outfielder type isn't better than him. But I agree ever star to starter that has power is probably better than him.

Wise Old Man wrote:

Anybody who thinks Ohtani is a better hitter than Bonds was does not know the first thing about baseball.

Ok smart ass. Name the first thing about baseball.

Hardloper wrote:

Bonds and Gagne had to agree to only one off-speed pitch, therefore Bonds had a handicap, not a fair matchup

Babe Ruth was the last two-way player (sort of), hence the comparison, though Ohtani is better, and on pace to hit the most home runs in a season by someone who isn't obviously roided up

Yes, the at bat was an exhibition of sorts, but the Bonds swing? It’s perfection. The shortness, power, speed and length through the zone. I don’t know if Ruth would be great or not today, but Bonds would be dominant in any era. Ohtani has a nice swing, too, but not as nice.

Mex Tex wrote:

Wise Old Man wrote:

Anybody who thinks Ohtani is a better hitter than Bonds was does not know the first thing about baseball.

Ok smart ass. Name the first thing about baseball.

The first thing is hitting a pitched ball…dumb ass.

….or hot dogs. I forget.

Ohtani's swing reminds me a lot of Griffey Junior's swing, which I always thought was the most beautiful swing in baseball.

Babe hit for a far higher average and was a better pitcher.

Ohtani does run better.

Disagree. Ruth leads thus far in hot dogs eaten, beers drank, and statutory rape accusations, by a longshot. But Ohtani’s just starting his MLB career.