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Los Angeles Angels star pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani has had one one of the most incredible seasons in MLB history this year and what he did last night against the Tigers should have all of us in awe and it also should have wrapped up the AL MVP discussion.
Because his performance in Detroit was absolutely ridiculous.
Ohtani pitched eight innings, allowed just six hits, struck out eight batters and did it all with only 90 pitches. He also got the win (LA won 3-1) to move to 8-1 on the year.
Oh, and in the eighth inning he crushed his 40th home run to right field that had fans in Detroit yelling MVP chants.
Half of Shohei Ohtani's 40 HR have been hit 110+ MPH.
He also tossed 8 innings in the game.
(MLBStats x @GoogleCloud) pic.twitter.com/rQolCKIvo2
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) August 19, 2021
He said later of that homer:
“At that point, I wasn’t sure I was going to pitch the ninth, so I wanted to give myself another run. That’s big for me and the team.”
He wanted to give himself another run!
And then he did just that!
Aw man. Wanted to see Shohei get the CG. Oh well. He'll just have to settle for his 40th home run of the season and eight spectacular innings in which he punched out eight and walked none.
Just a reminder: What he's doing never has been done. Never. Not even Babe Ruth did this.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 19, 2021
We shouldn’t be taking any of this for granted because what Ohtani is doing this year is historic, crazy, and so fun.
He became the fourth player in Angels history to hit 40 homers in a season, joining Mike Trout (two times), Troy Glaus (two times, and Albert Pujols… but he did it faster (122 games) than each of those three sluggers.
The Angels gave up the DH spot again for him and had Ohtani, their starting pitcher, bat lead-off against the Tigers.
He didn’t walk anyone in his eight innings.
And he gave himself an insurance run with a homer in the eighth.
That 40th home run is the highest number of home runs hit by a pitcher in a single season in the history of the game. Babe Ruth is second and third on that list but he hit those homers in 1933 (34) and 1921 (20), which are like a million years ago.
Ohtani should win the MVP award. I’d give him the Cy Young, too, because why not? Give him all the awards. Heck, make up some awards and give those to him, too.
It has been a special season for a special player and we’re all very lucky to be witnessing it.
Quick hits: White Sox pitcher tosses belt at ump… Aaron Rodgers’ funny reaction to reporter’s joke… Cleveland confuses fans over bunt homer… And more.
– White Sox pitcher Lance Lynn tossed his belt at an umpire last night and got ejected for it. He then explained why he did it.
– Packers QB Aaron Rodgers had a perfect reaction to a reporter’s pretty good joke about the drama that has been going on in Green Bay.
– The Cleveland Indians had fans convinced that Austin Hedges actually bunted for a home run. He obviously did not do that.
– Mike Sykes breaks down every NBA 2k22 player rating we’ve seen so far.
– NFL fans had lots of jokes about Bears QB Andy Dalton boldly declaring ‘it’s my time.’
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