This baseball season is historic

Baseball is as fun as it has ever been.

I know that everyone over the age of 35 just clicked out of this column; it was nice having you!

Everyone, it’s okay, sit down, and disregard the urge to want to scream about how the Yale MBA’s have ruin the game. Breathe. The game is fun.

If you’re still not following me, let me give you three generational examples that are playing the game at the highest level nightly.

First up is Jacob deGrom. The two-time Cy Young winner is having his best season yet. The Amazin’ right-hander is on pace to dethrone Bob Gibson as the ERA king. Even with deGrom’s “bad” start in Atlanta right before the 4th of July, his ERA is still 0.95. After giving up three runs and looking mortal, deGrom still had 14 punch outs and pitched seven innings. There have been years where there is a guy close to Gibson’s record, but never like this. deGrom looks like he could coast to this record without ever breaking a sweat. That’s not to mock Bob Gibson, deGrom is just that good. What Jacob deGrom is doing is somehow combining three all-time Hall of Fame pitchers all at once. deGrom has Randy Johnson’s, you know you’re screwed walking in the box, intimidation factor (even though deGrom is 6’4” not borderline 7 feet), 2000 Pedro Martinez’ incredible velocity and ability to change speeds at all the right moments, and the pin-point control of Greg Maddux, however, deGrom has the ability to paint 101-MPH right on the black unlike Maddux who was barely getting 93. deGrom is an absolute MEGA star, and he should be celebrated while he’s doing video game type things.

If you want video game type things, Shohei Ohtani is the video game character that everyone would create given the chance. Ohtani has the ability to throw a 100-MPH fastball and hit a 500-foot moon ball homer mere minutes apart from each other. Ohtani right now is the third best hitter in the game (we’ll get to the best hitter in a moment) with a 173 OPS+ and a 175wRC+ while also having the responsibility of being the Angels ace pitcher. Ohtani has a 3.70 ERA (including the seven-run implosion in the Bronx), an ERA+ of 178 which is 9th in the game (deGrom has a 403 ERA+ just for comparison), and 83 strike outs in 60 innings. Ohtani is the modern-day Babe Ruth. That is not hyperbole. The only Major Leaguer to do what Ohtani is doing right now is Babe Ruth. Modern Era or not Shohei Ohtani is a marvel. On a team with Mike Trout, Ohtani is the best player on the team, he is their best pitcher and best hitter, granted Trout has missed a good portion of the season on the IL. Even if Trout qualified to lead the league in any category, this season it would be an Ohtani has played well enough to make the question of “who is the best player on the Angels?” an argument. Right now, Ohtani is playing at an MVP-type level, and to not want to watch him play is not a problem with the game, it’s a problem with yourself.

Speaking of MVP level play: Vladimir Guerrero Jr is hunting the Triple Crown.

*If I have anyone 50+ still reading, yes, I did just mention the Triple Crown*

Guerrero Jr is second in batting (.336), second in homers (27), and second in RBI’s (69). In those races he is four percentage points behind Michael Brantley of the Astros, four homers behind Ohtani, and two RBI’s behind Boston’s Rafael Devers. Guerrero is also the leader in total bases, second in runs scored, and fifth in walks. Sabermatrically, Guerrero leads the league in OWAR (4.4), OPS+ (198), wRC+ (194), and xwOBA (.439). Either way you slice it, Vladdy Jr is having a once in a generation type of season. Even if Guerrero Jr doesn’t get the Triple Crown, having this race in the dog days of summer, will add only another layer of fun to America’s Pastime.

While some, if not most, of the game has completely computerized the game of baseball, even the nerds who have done so have to wheel away from the computer long enough to see the incredible things deGrom, Ohtani, and Guerrero Jr are doing. These three players have made it possible for traditional and analytical fans alike to watch the game with awe again. Leave the time to complain for the winter months when it’s 20 degrees outside and the players are fighting with the league about the next CBA. For now, while you can, enjoy the best season I can remember; filled with old-timey storylines that fans from the age of The Bambino would be beside themselves about.

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