OK set your posts to flame.

[kairos12]

Ohtani can't be MVP because he doesn't play in the field. Half the game.

Also, the changed rules make stealing bases way easier.

[displacedvermoter]

1. Agree about the stolen bases rules

but he is still MVP.

Personally I would make him a relief pitcher or closer next year. He would likely be the best at that as well, could probably pitch two innings every few days, close as needed, and still hit 40 - 50 home runs a year for the next decade.

[BOSSHOG]

2. And he doesn't look like a republican

And anyone with legs that long should have stolen five times as many bases as he did. And he plays for the Damn Dodgers.

[kairos12]

3. Also forgot the Dodgers angle

Right on!!

[Magoo48]

11. Excuse me? Damn Dodgers?

We refer to the them as Dem’ Bums. With great love and affection.

[BOSSHOG]

12. I stand corrected

Dem Bums it is?

[JT45242]

4. Can you imagine Ricky Henderson, Lou Brock etc with a pitch click and limited pick off throws

The best two players I ever saw in person at hitting homers and stealing bases were Barry Bonds and Eric Davis. (Too young for Mays)

I can't even imagine what the two of them would do in these hitters parks with a pitch click and limited pick off attempts.

As for stolen bases ...you might just go ahead and Ricky Henderson, Lou Brock, and a few others on third every time they got on base, if they played with these rules.

[kairos12]

5. Their records would approach the unreachable equivalent of Cy Young's win totals.

[SCantiGOP]

6. There's never been an MVP designated hitter

There was never a black MVP before 1949.
Things change. There is not any possible discussion that he is not the most valuable player in all of baseball.

[kairos12]

8. I'm not even a Yankee fan

Judge more or equal HRS, more RBIS, way higher batting avg.

Plays a premium defensive position.

IMO-Judge by a mile.

[SCantiGOP]

9. Agree, but

The MVP award is for one from each league.
The closest to an overall MVP is the guy who wins it for the World Series.

[Auggie]

7. Yeah, but he's going to be MVP anyway

Can't win the argument here.

BTW, Marlins strategy on Thursday was to pitch regular to Ohtani, not pitch around him, and that resulted in the 6 hits, 3 HRs and 10 RBIs. How noble. How stupid. The guy is on a tear, your pitching stinks, and Marlins' manager Schumaker's response to walking Ohtani is "Fuck that?"

https://sports.yahoo.com/marlins-manager-skip-schumaker-on-possibly-walking-dodgers-shohei-ohtani-in-50-50-game-f-that-040604550.html

[ProfessorGAC]

10. A Little Easier

But, the rules about pick-off attempts has encouraged more attempts.
As good as catchers are now, I think it's not much easier to steal.
Every team today has a catcher with a cannon for an arm. You still have to be fast with excellent acceleration to steal bases.

[Magoo48]

13. Ohtani's record is what it is. As for MVP, well, stranger things have happened.

Say, like a team of admitted cheaters being allowed to retain the World Series title in 2017.