ESPN pundit 4"Otani, 60-60 is impossible" Obviously, the unified home run king competition with Judge is very conscious
Sep 24, 2024
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The Dodgers will wrap up the season with three consecutive home games against the San Diego Padres from the 25th to the 27th (Korea time) and three away games against the Colorado Rockies from the 28th to the 30th. As the Dodgers have yet to confirm their victory in the National League (NL) West, Ohtani and other key players have to play every day.
However, Ohtani is likely to play until the last game even after confirming the district championship for a higher historical record, as he has surpassed 40 home runs to 40 steals and 50 home runs to 50 steals in succession. This is what Ohtani wants too.
Then, how many home runs and stolen bases will Ohtani finish the season. It's a difficult question.
No one expected Ohtani to achieve 50-50 by driving three home runs and two steals against the Miami Marlins at Rondipo Park on the 20th. It was not an expected event that he hit his 40th home run of the season with a finishing grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning after stealing his 40th base of the season in the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Dodger Stadium on the 24th of last month.
Coach Dave Roberts predicted Ohtani's 50-50 point against Miami, but there was no objective basis that it was just an intuition a week before the incident took place and led to reality.
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Around the time of six games, four ESPN reporters gave Ohtani's home run and stolen base expectations. What's interesting is that none of the four said 60-60 is possible.
Reporter Jeff Bankruptcy: Let's try '56 homers, 58 steals. If you hit it the way it is now, you can make a huge number. If you get on base, you can be cautious about stealing considering the imminent postseason, but if you have an intention and think that this season will not come again, you will play unconditionally. 'Ohtani has been the master stealer for the past week. It will end like a grand finale of an incredible season. It means adding three homers and three steals.
Reporter Jesse Rogers said, `If you make unscientific predictions, Ohtani can refrain from stealing because he has to prepare for the postseason. Because injuries are fatal. However, he added two homers and three stolen bases to reach 55 home runs and 58 steals.
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Finally, reporter Alden Gonzalez's prediction catches the eye. He is 'Juss will win the district championship and do everything to help the players save their power for the division series, but in light of his experience over the past two years, Ohtani will play in all the remaining games, and will play three games against the Padres, who have excellent stolen bases, and Colorado, which has low air density. Therefore, he expected to end the season with 57-57 by adding four home runs and two steals. Then, Gonzalez said, `If you don't think Otani will care about the home run race against Aaron Judge, you're the one who hasn't looked closely enough into Otani's baseball life.'
In other words, Ohtani will want to win the two-league unified home run competition against Judge. Ohtani hit 44 home runs last year to become the AL home run king. This year, he virtually confirmed the NL home run king, but catching up with Judge, who has 55 home runs, is also a meaningful challenge.
jhno@sportschosun.com
