Would World Series Win Mean More For Shohei Ohtani Or Aaron Judge?
It’ll be the best of the best facing off in the World Series this year, and all eyes will be on Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees face off in what should be a monumental Fall Classic. Each team won the pennant after posting the best regular-season record in their respective leagues. The Yankees and the Dodgers each roster an MVP favorite, who are both part of star-studded rosters.
Legacy naturally becomes the main talking point when championships are on the line. Ohtani joined the Dodgers to pursue a World Series, and Judge hopes to help break a 15-year title drought for the Yankees.
NESN’s George Balekji and Travis Thomas debated whose legacy would be strengthened the most by a World Series win, and Thomas made the case for Ohtani.
“Shohei Ohtani is in a different conversation. He’s trying to be the GOAT of the game,” Thomas told Balekji on “Boston Has Entered The Chat” this week. “Although, baseball, you’re not measured by championships as you are in a lot of other sports. I still believe for Shohei Ohtani to truly be the GOAT — because you have so many baseball purists out there who are gonna be all in my comments saying I’m crazy … how’s my arse sound. I’ve never ever seen anything like this guy. And so if he can get one World Series, it’s enough for me to propel this guy to the greatest of all time.”
This year could be the start of multiple World Series runs for Ohtani, who could not pitch this season due to an elbow injury. But Balekji argued for Judge’s legacy case.
“He’s (Ohtani) going to go down as the most dominant, talented to ever play the game no matter what happens because people will say Barry Bonds is the best baseball player of all time. How many rings does he have?” Balekji said. “It’s Judge getting. A guy who came up through the system for the Yankees. It goes to hitting a home run in his debut. Setting the AL record for home runs but also he’s come up short in the playoffs time and time again. On the biggest stage, if you can be clutch, that’s what makes you all time.”
Listen to “Boston Has Entered The Chat” on YouTube or Spotify to hear more of Balekji and Thomas’ conversation.