Is it time now for the Angels to finally end the great Shohei Ohtani experiment? When he came over from Japan, he was going to be this new sensation--the first full-time two-way player since Babe Ruth (who only did it for two seasons). One of the main reasons why he picked the Angels was because they were going to let him do both, and they even developed a plan that they were sure would work. He'd pitch on Sundays and DH during the week.
That's similar to what Ohtani did in Japan, which is why both he and the Angels believed in the plan and were convinced he wouldn't have to choose between them. And it did work that first year. In just his second start, Ohtani struck out 12 and gave up only one hit over seven shutout innings against Oakland. He ended up going 4-2 on the mound and hit .285 with 22 home runs to win AL Rookie of the Year honors (even though he shouldn't have, but it's best I avoid that subject).
It's worth noting, however, that Ohtani only pitched 51.2 innings as a rookie. He made just 10 starts, only one of which came after June 6, when he left after four innings with arm trouble. Ohtani wouldn't pitch again until September 2, when he lasted all of 2.1 innings and 49 pitches in his final appearance on the mound before Tommy John surgery.
Because of his Tommy John, Ohtani was limited to DH duty last season. He originally wasn't going to be available as a pitcher this season until sometime in May, but the delay meant that he'd be ready to resume his two-way role when the season began. Ohtani's first start on the mound in nearly two years came on July 26, when he gave up five runs, walked three and didn't get an out against Oakland. His second start wasn't much better: two runs on five walks in 1.2 innings against Houston. Ohtani's 2020 pitching stat line: 2 games, 1.2 IP, 7 R, 8 BB, 3 K, 37.50 ERA.
After that stellar performance against the Astros, Ohtani was diagnosed with a strained elbow. It'll keep him off the mound for 4-6 weeks, which basically means the whole rest of the season. Angels manager Joe Maddon has even admitted that he doesn't expect Ohtani to pitch again this year, but doesn't expect the injury to affect his hitting.
Despite this setback, the Angels still think the Ohtani experiment can work. Maddon flat out said, "I believe he can." He even suggested the abbreviated Summer Camp (which has been blamed for the rash of pitcher injuries over the season's first two weeks) might've contributed to the situation. Maddon wants to see how Ohtani's arm handles a normal Spring Training and a normal number of starts before making any sort of determination about his status.
They're inevitably going to have to make that decision, though. Because, as much as they might want it to work, it's not going to. Ohtani's arm simply hasn't been able to hold up. Fortunately, the arm injuries that have kept him off the mound haven't kept him out of the lineup. But, eventually one of them will. Then you won't have him at all.
I get it. He was their new toy that they wanted to play with as soon as they unwrapped it on Christmas morning. But how often is that new toy broken by New Year's? That's what's happening here. They envision Ohtani as an ace pitcher, but he's made a grand total of 12 appearances on the mound in his three seasons as an Angel. Which really makes you wonder if it's worth it.
For the Angels, it's a great paradox. They have the greatest player in the game in Mike Trout, but have only made one playoff appearance since 2009 (when they were swept by the wild card Royals in 2014). They've been adding the pieces around Trout to have a formidable lineup. Ohtani the DH is a big part of that. Their weakness has been the lack of a front line starter, which they think Ohtani the pitcher can be. That's part of the reason they're so invested in this working and not willing to give up on it just yet.
There's also the fact that Ohtani chose the Angles BECAUSE they told him he'd be able to do both. They want to be men of their word. The fact that Ohtani is represented by Scott Boras is significant, too, since Boras will immediately be out looking for suitors as soon as he gets the first indication the Angels want him to decide. That's an uncomfortable conversation the sides will eventually need to have, though.
Simply put, the Angels can't count on Ohtani as a pitcher. Even with all the things they've done to accommodate him, he hasn't been this reliably "great" No. 1 that was advertised. That's if he's even able to pitch at all. Even then, since he only pitches once a week, he'd be used less than the others, not more. Most starting pitchers make between 2-34 starts in a full 162-game season. Ohtani, assuming he stayed healthy and didn't miss a start, would only make 26-27.
Your ace is supposed to be your horse who you can hand the ball to every five days (and sometimes on three days' rest down the stretch). He's the guy who starts on Opening Day and Game 1 of every playoff series. You don't handle him with kid gloves. Which is exactly what the Angels have done with Ohtani.
Ohtani doesn't want to make a decision because he likes doing both and still thinks he can effectively. But, make no mistake, there's a financial motivation for him too. An ace starting pitcher is one of the most valuable properties in the sport. Just ask Gerrit Cole and the Yankees. More significantly, starting pitchers make a lot more than DHs. And if he's still technically a "two-way" player when he hits free agency, he'll command starting pitcher money, not DH money.
Which is why the Angels will have to be the ones making the decision. And, frankly, it should be a pretty easy one. Ohtani the pitcher hasn't been anywhere near worth the money you're paying him. Ohtani the hitter, meanwhile, has more than held up his end of the bargain. And he's been putting up those offensive numbers while either serving as a two-way player or while unable to pitch because of arm injuries. Imagine what could happen if you took the pitching part out and that guy could really be unleashed!
Major League Baseball obviously wants the two-way thing to work. Ohtani was such a sensation when he came over from Japan, and those first two months of the 2018 season got so many people excited about his potential. They even created a freakin' Shohei Ohtani Rule! (It won't take effect until next year, but there will be restrictions on position players pitching unless they're declared "two-way" players by their team.)
However, it looks like Ohtani's detractors will end up being right. It was a noble attempt, but it looks like this experiment isn't going to work. Could it have worked? Perhaps. But Ohtani's arm will make the decision for everyone. It's the easy decision that was eventually going to be made all along. Because there's a lot more value in 140 games from a middle-of-the-lineup hitter than a pitcher who only makes 25 starts a year (if that).
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