This week’s Monster Card is AL MVP Shohei Ohtani of the Angels. It’s Ohtani’s third year in the MLB but this year, he really put it all together and showed that his multi-level talents weren’t just a gimmick. He was able to pull off a full season as a quality starter while hitting at a slugger’s pace.
In 155 games, Ohtani slugged 46 homers on top of a league-leading eight triples. He topped the century mark in both runs scored and rbis. If that weren’t enough, he even stole 26 bases.
| Split | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Totals | 155 | 639 | 537 | 103 | 138 | 26 | 8 | 46 | 100 | 26 | 96 | 189 | .257 | .372 | .592 |
Of course, it doesn’t end there. Ohtani’s arm helped the Angels too. In 23 starts, he went 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA. He struck out 156 batters in 130 1/3 innings
| Split | W | L | W-L% | ERA | G | GS | CG | SHO | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Totals | 9 | 2 | .818 | 3.18 | 23 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 130.1 | 98 | 48 | 46 | 15 | 44 | 156 |
Shohei the hitter
Looking at Shohei’s hitting card, I have to say for a .257 hitter, I sure like his APBA card. Power aside, he has eleven on base chances against an A pitcher. His five 14s sure help with that.
And yes, the power. Ohtani has a double column card with power numbers 1-1-0-0-0. Unlike many with a 44-0, APBA wasn’t stingy with the second column ones. Shohei has a 55-1. To replicate his eight triples, he has five 2s (and a 4 and 5) behind three zeroes).
Add to that, Ohtani has a 15-11 (plus six 11s in the second column). It’s worth mentioning that he led the league in CS with 10. Fortunately for Shohei, I don’t think APBA ever factors in the caught stealing stat.
Shohei the pitcher
Ohtani received a B grade from the APBA card makers. That’s a fair grade given his 3.18 ERA.
Some of you may doing a double take on the lack of strikeout letters since Ohtani struck out 156 hitters in 130 1/3 innings. The image above was gleaned from APBA GO but if you drill down into the pitchers’ details for Ohtani, you see this:
I can surmise that Shohei Ohtani indeed have a BX grade as far as APBA GO is concerned. I assume when the physical cards come out, he will have that grade as well.
Shohei misc
No surprise that Ohtani is rated as a fast baserunner. He is rated as a OF-1 since he played the bulk of his non-pitching games as a DH.
Shohei Ohtani is definitely a groundbreaker in the MLB. In my opinion, his MVP award is well-deserved.
Wow. Didn’t realize he would get the 5 power numbers.
Excellent card.
Hey Dom. Merry Christmas
To you and yours. I have Mr Ohtani in the CBL and love this card. Might not even use him as a pitcher except in spot starts since BBW will eat his usage up faster I would think
Rich
An incomparable card. Literally. Nothing in the past 100 years compares.
How can leagues allow Ohtani to be used like the Angels used him this past year? Especially interested in fatigue factor when used as a SP. Thanks.