OT: In MLB yesterday

[NedFromYork]

Babe Ruth 1919 Pitching WAR 0.6, Positional WAR 10.6.

Ohtani 2023 Pitching WAR 4.0, Positional WAR 10.0.

Babe had a 7.4 Pitching WAR in 1916, and a 14.7 Positional WAR in 1923.

 

[bdgan]

With yesterday being the Angels game 138, it seems an appropriate time to compare Ohtani’s best season (this year) with Ruth’s 1919 season (not even what is considered his best year) when his team’s season was limited to 138 games because of WWI when Ruth did his most pitching while being a top batter.

As pitchers (IP-W-L-ERA):
Ohtani 132.0 10-6 3.14
B.Ruth 133.3 9-6 2.97
Almost a complete wash, Ohtani with slightly more wins, Ruth with slightly better ERA.

As batters: (R-HR-RBI-BB-BA-Runs Produced)
Ohtani 102 44 95 91 .304 153
B.Ruth 103 29 113 101 .322 187
Ruth was the top hitter in MLB and his runs produced numbers exceed Ohtani’s by a significant margin. If Ohtani finishes the season at his rate, his final run producing number would still be below Ruth’s.

It's impossible to fairly compare today's players with those from 90 years ago. The game is so different. Back in the 1930s top pitchers had 30 complete games. Today they have 2 or 3.

FWIW I think Babe had a much higher percent of his league's HRs.

 

[91Joe95]

With yesterday being the Angels game 138, it seems an appropriate time to compare Ohtani’s best season (this year) with Ruth’s 1919 season (not even what is considered his best year) when his team’s season was limited to 138 games because of WWI when Ruth did his most pitching while being a top batter.

As pitchers (IP-W-L-ERA):
Ohtani 132.0 10-6 3.14
B.Ruth 133.3 9-6 2.97
Almost a complete wash, Ohtani with slightly more wins, Ruth with slightly better ERA.

As batters: (R-HR-RBI-BB-BA-Runs Produced)
Ohtani 102 44 95 91 .304 153
B.Ruth 103 29 113 101 .322 187
Ruth was the top hitter in MLB and his runs produced numbers exceed Ohtani’s by a significant margin. If Ohtani finishes the season at his rate, his final run producing number would still be below Ruth’s.

Babe Ruth didn't have to face a designated hitter.

 

[The Spin Meister]

RBIs are a red flag, IMO. Back in those days everyone had much higher batting averages, meaning they got on base more. Meaning Ruth came to bat with more runners on base. And he played on top notch teams that had good hitters, again giving him more runners on base.

Even helped is batting average and home run hitting since he got better pitches.

All that said…..he had far more home runs than anyone else at the time. That pretty much says it all.

 

[Mufasa94]

Babe Ruth 1919 Pitching WAR 0.6, Positional WAR 10.6.

Ohtani 2023 Pitching WAR 4.0, Positional WAR 10.0.

Babe had a 7.4 Pitching WAR in 1916, and a 14.7 Positional WAR in 1923.

I don’t pay attention to the results of theoretical formulas someone creates to prove how smart they are.

I look at actual results.

 

[Mufasa94]

It's impossible to fairly compare today's players with those from 90 years ago. The game is so different. Back in the 1930s top pitchers had 30 complete games. Today they have 2 or 3.

FWIW I think Babe had a much higher percent of his league's HRs.

The comparison was initiated by someone else stating of Ohtani that he’s having “Statistically the best season anyone’s ever had”.

 

[marshall23]

Babe Ruth didn't have to face a designated hitter.

Didn't have a batting helmet or body armor or see a shiny white ball each pitch....impossible to compare eras. Greatness is timeless.

 

[Mufasa94]

RBIs are a red flag, IMO. Back in those days everyone had much higher batting averages, meaning they got on base more. Meaning Ruth came to bat with more runners on base…

For 1919, Ruth’s Red Sox scored 564 runs while Ohtani’s Angels had score 650 runs through game 138. Ruth produced more for a lessor offensive team.