Two things that no one did in '141 LAD History', if Ohtani makes it, he is also the unanimous MVP this time
Jul 05, 2024
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Perhaps for this reason, the record left by batters in Dodgers history is hardly noticeable. For example, the Dodgers have not had a batter with more than 50 home runs in a season since its foundation in 1884, and it is far from hitting triple crowns.
But I feel good this season. Expectations are growing that Shohei Ohtani may conquer these two great records that were 'impregnable' to the Dodgers.
As of the 4th (Korea time), Ohtani ranks first in the National League in seven categories: batting average (0.319), home run (27), scoring (70), slugging percentage (0.642), OPS (1.043), slugging (51), and Ruta (213). In the batting average category, San Diego Padres Jurickson Profar and Luis Arraez Duo are fiercely chasing each other, but they are competing until the end of the season anyway.
The number of RBIs is 64, ranking third after Philadelphia Phillies Alec Bohm (70) and Atlanta Braves Marcel Ojuna (67). Like home runs, the results can vary depending on the number of RBIs.
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If Ohtani achieves a triple crown, it will be the first milestone in 87 years in the NL since 1937. St. Louis Cardinals Joe Medwick is the last triple crown hitter in the NL.
Prior to that, there were only six appearances in the NL, including Paul Hines of Providence Grace in 1878, Chicago Cubs Heine Zimmerman in 1912, St. Louis Cardinals Rodgers Hornsby in 1922 and 1925, and Philadelphia Phillies Chuck Klein in 1933. In the American League (AL), it was written 10 times, including Philadelphia Athletics Nap LaJoa in 1901, Detroit Tigers Ty Cobb in 1909, Philadelphia Athletics Jimmy Fox in 1933, New York Yankees Lou Gehrig in 1934, Boston Red Sox Ted Williams in 1942 and 1947, Yankees Mickey Mantle in 1956, Baltimore Orioles Frank Robinson in 1966, Boston Karl Yastremski in 1967 and Detroit Miguel Cabrera in 2012.
For the Dodgers, it was a `unwanted mind.'
Ohtani can hit 50 home runs this season if he maintains his current pace. It is surprising that the Dodgers will produce the home run king, but it is amazing that the 50-homer hitter is a record that has not been in the club's history. Matt Kemp (39) was the last NL home run king of the Dodgers in 2011.
In addition, the Dodgers' record for most home runs in a single season was 49 hit by Sean Green in 2001. There have been 48 home runs in major league history in a season, but there have been no Dodgers batters.
In a related development, ESPN selected Ohtani as the Dodgers MVP in the corner of 「Stockwatch: MVP in the first half of 2024」, saying, `It's still early, but the astronomical amount of investment that the Dodgers made in Ohtani last winter is coming out with pretty positive results.'Juss said, "We've had success over the ages since Brooklyn, but none of us have had triple crowns or 50 home runs."
It is an interesting point to watch in the second half of the year when Ohtani will set up two new gold towers in the Dodgers' 141-year history.
jhno@sportschosun.com
