00:00Brian, let's go to Los Angeles here.
00:02Is Shohei Ohtani more important for the Dodgers this year on the Hill?
00:07Or do you think he's in the batter's box more important for the Dodgers this year?
00:11Well, it's tough when the guy's got a .82 ERA, right?
00:15No doubt.
00:17I looked at it the other day.
00:18Look, I've long been an advocate of just saying you be careful with the golden goose
00:23because I know he's doing both.
00:25But when he went from, my basic philosophy is when he was a guy who could pitch,
00:31we knew he's a number one walking in, right?
00:33He's a number one ace pitcher walking in the door to Major League Baseball in the U.S.
00:39So he comes out, and I thought, if he could slug .500, this is like the greatest player ever,
00:44you know, since Babe Ruth, at least, the most unique player.
00:47But he didn't slug .500, he slugged .600.
00:50So now, and then one year, he's the best base runner in the game.
00:53So I'm always about protecting that.
00:55This is obviously a pitching point of emphasis season for him.
00:59So I think you try to slow play his innings and get the emphasis back on his offense.
01:04His offense is quite good now.
01:06It's not where it was.
01:09In a minute here, and I don't know if you could ever do this in a minute here, Brian,
01:14would you take him or Bonds if you're starting a baseball team?
01:19Otani.
01:22I mean, best player you've ever seen?
01:26Big Barry?
01:27Yeah.
01:28Yes.
01:29Best hitter.
01:30But remember, Big Barry was the best hitter we've ever seen, but he wasn't skinny Barry,
01:34but also the fielder and the base runner.
01:37So, no.
01:39And, yeah.
01:40And Otani, if you're already an elite team and you have that playoff pitching,
01:45I'd make him an opener or a closer and then have him slug 600 for me and protect the offense.
01:50But, yeah, he's a super weapon in tournament play, which is now the era we're in.
01:56Man, I've never seen anything like the guy.
01:58And I'm with you, Brian.
02:00I mean, all of a sudden he creates a category 50-50, and it's 50 homers, 50 stolen bases.
02:06The guy throws 103 miles an hour off the rubber, and this guy hits you 50 home runs.
02:13It's truly one of the greatest things I've ever seen.
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