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The story
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed on the 13th that Shohei Ohtani will again start in Game 3 of the NLCS. Ohtani has been mired in a batting slump this series, and the possibility of him starting on the bench had even been floated, but after talking things over with Ohtani, Roberts explained that he’s ‘onto something’ with his hitting and decided to keep starting him. On 5ch, the thread split between posters harshly criticizing the slump itself and those arguing that, having come this far, the team should commit to riding or dying with Ohtani — with plenty of differing takes on what’s really behind the decision.
MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers held their day-before workout at home at Dodger Stadium on the 13th (14th Japan time) ahead of Game 3 of the NLCS. After dropping the first two games on the road, they’re looking to turn things around over a three-game homestand. Manager Dave Roberts, 54, addressed the slumping Shohei Ohtani, 32.
The manager stated, ‘I talked with Shohei. We had a really good conversation. He has a strong will to play. He feels he’s in good enough shape to be in the lineup, and he’s onto something with his hitting. I have a very good feeling about that too,’ confirming that Ohtani will start again in Game 3.
Source: news.yahoo.co.jp / Original article here
What people said
This one was especially rough
https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/2109785584717991936/vid/avc1/1280×720/AucTIQj5PV8yODLx.mp4?tag=14
Just because he can't hit, blatantly going for a catcher's-interference call is just pathetic🤮
Public enemy #1 (lit. 'Class-A war criminal'), put on display for all to see
Of course, if they win, all is forgiven
So Ohtani just didn't want to sit out
If they lose now, it's entirely on Ohtani
If he could still swing hard but just wasn't getting results, I'd get the reasoning for using him
They don't want headlines about him pathetically watching the last game from the bench as they get eliminated
Not your average guy, gotta give him that
Like he got the yips after getting hit by a pitch or taking a knee to the elbow
Wake up, Japan! It's not my call to bench Ottosho (nickname for Ohtani used in the thread)!!
Starting Ohtani is just [Amari] covering himself from blame in case they lose
Well if he keeps getting hit hard every single time through the order the second time around, yeah, that'll do it
He's not back to his peak yet but his velocity's actually up, which surprised me a bit
Shame he probably can't fully get back to his old form, but coming back at all after that wild mechanics overhaul is impressive
A comeback's close
Besides, it's true that Ohtani has final say on whether he plays or not
Ottosho: 'Baseba! Baseba! Me play game🤤'
Roberts: 'Haha! Understood!!'
He's onto something, so he's starting 😭🤮
So he's finally unleashing it
Wonder what it's called
'onto something'?
Maybe he's onto the trick of drawing catcher's-interference calls lol
The Dodgers run on Ohtani money
Yeah he's genuinely getting roasted
Even local fans are calling Ohtani selfish
Well, they made it this far thanks to Ohtani, so going down with him at the end seems fair enough
Background and Key Points of This Discussion
Ohtani has been playing solely as a hitter this season, and after the Dodgers dropped the first two games of the NLCS at home, some had floated benching him from the starting lineup due to his batting slump. Manager Roberts has explained that, after talking it over with Ohtani, he decided to keep starting him out of respect for Ohtani’s own desire to play. On the thread, opinions split between those who see the ‘onto something’ comment as thin, unsubstantiated optimism, and those who feel that, having come this far, the team should stick with Ohtani to the end. It’s worth noting that comments like ‘the sponsors made a deposit’ are baseless jabs, not an actual stated reason for the decision. Between arguments over who’s to blame for the slump and whether continuing to start him is the right call, opinions remain split.
*This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Live Report G) thread ‘Ohtani: Bench Plan Reversed, Manager Roberts Confirms Starting Lineup Spot — Signs of an ‘Awakening,’ ‘He’s Onto Something’.’
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