[Shohei Otani]”It’s strange to even discuss it.” Alex Rodriguez’s true thoughts on Otani’s “disrespect for 50-50″[Reactions from overseas]

Shohei Ohtani is the first DH player in Major League history to win the MVP award. Looking back at history, it has been said that it is unrealistic for a player who cannot play defense to win the MVP award. However, this is his third time receiving the award, following in 2021 and 2023, when he broke through that precedent and played an active role as a two-way player. What’s more, the fact that he received the award by unanimous vote shows that he did not receive the award solely based on his previous impression of being a superstar due to his two-wielding skills. Why did Major League Baseball writers, who are eligible to vote for MVP for the 2024 season, give Ohtani, who was so dedicated to playing DH, the highest rating in the league? The basis for this is the “WAR” number of 9.1. WAR, which stands for Wins Above Replacement, is an indicator that evaluates how much a player contributed to a win, and Otani led the National League in this field while working as a full-time DH. This, combined with his performance in leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to the regular season championship, made him the undisputed MVP. Otani was without a doubt the best player in the league, not only in memory but also in record. There is something about him that is definitely different from past DH players. The difference, in addition to pure batting power, is his outstanding base running ability. In the 2024 season, Otani ranks second in the major leagues in base running index called BSR. BsR is a base running statistic that converts stolen bases, catches, and other base running plays (stepping on extra bases, being thrown on base, etc.) into above-average and below-average runs. It is an indicator that functions as a base division and provides more information than simply looking at the number of stolen bases when judging a player’s base running performance. Otani boasts overwhelming stats in terms of batting, as he did in past seasons, and in 2024 he had one of the best batting records in the league. On top of that, Otani’s base running stats were among the top in the league, which is why he became the first DH in history to win MVP. However, even without looking at these indicators, the fact that he had a 50-50 ratio of home runs and stolen bases is enough evidence for anyone to talk about his achievements. On the other hand, it is true that the simple increase in stolen bases has led to calls for rule changes. Starting with the 2023 season, Major League Baseball has introduced certain rule changes. The changes include the introduction of a pitch clock and limiting the number of times a pitcher can be restrained to three innings. In addition, the rules were changed to expand the base size from the previous standard size. These changes are considered to be disadvantageous to the defender and make it easier to attempt to steal bases, and some argue that the impact of these rule changes can’t be ignored as the reason why Otani dramatically improved his base running. . However, Anthony Castrovins, a reporter who covers Major League Baseball, argues that Otani’s base running is not entirely due to the rule change, in a feature on the official Major League Baseball website. (Mr. Castrobins) “Some may look down on it, but that’s not the case.” “There’s no doubt that Ohtani has been affected by the rule changes, but is MLB’s stolen base rate in new territory? That’s not the case. Leaguewide, the stolen base percentage was higher in 1992, so Ohtani’s contribution is notable and far more important. In this video, I would like to explain in detail the background behind Otani’s increase in stolen bases while confirming the impact of Major League rule changes. Once again, if you like this video, please subscribe to the channel and give it a high rating.