Mark Madden's Hot Take: Shohei Ohtani is on his way to being baseball's best ever ... but not yet

Did Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers post the greatest single-game performance in MLB history at Miami this past Thursday?

Probably.

It’s hard to come up with any offensive output that matches 6 for 6, three home runs, two doubles, 17 total bases, 10 RBIs, four runs and two stolen bases.

That amazing stat line is further embellished by Ohtani reaching 50 homers and 50 steals during that game, becoming the first 50/50 player in MLB history.

Is 50/50 instantly one of MLB’s magic numbers?

Absolutely.

The home run records are skewed by PED use. Most pitching marks are beyond reach because of diminished workloads.

The game’s priorities have radically changed. So have statistical expectations and what’s perceived as significant. For example, pitching wins don’t matter now.

But Ohtani didn’t join the 50/50 club. He founded it.

The only benchmark that clearly stands above Ohtani’s 50/50 is Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak in 1941. It hasn’t been clouded by what’s happened since, or by changes to baseball.

The lone disclaimer to Ohtani’s 50/50: It’s easier to steal bases now. Bigger bases, throwing to first to hold the runner is limited. But that’s nit-picking.

Is Ohtani the best baseball player ever?

That’s a tough one. Right now, he’s only a DH. He’s currently not pitching.

If Ohtani hadn’t reached 50/50, I’d have a hard time giving National League MVP to a DH.

But Ohtani did get 50/50, and no hitter in the NL approaches his output. So, he’s NL MVP. His magical season — and his performance Thursday — can’t be denied.

Recency bias and the constant hype surrounding Ohtani dictates that he is baseball’s best ever.

I’m not sure I’d go there just yet. But the direction he’s headed, at 30, makes it likely.

I’m not necessarily wowed by his pitching, or concerned by him returning to it after having a second major elbow surgery.

To be baseball’s best ever, Ohtani has to keep piling up big offensive numbers.

Right now, Ohtani has 223 career home runs and a .279 lifetime average. Babe Ruth had 714 career home runs and hit .342.

If nothing else, Ohtani’s big year has made the gambling scandal that peripherally (lol) involved him disappear. Could you bet on Ohtani reaching 50/50? What were the odds?