Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is poised to capture his second consecutive MVP award in the coming weeks. However, before that, he aims to clinch his first World Series title. Ohtani entered the 2024 postseason without prior MLB playoff experience, and his response following Monday’s Game 2 loss highlights that he still has much to learn.
In the matchup against New York Mets ace Sean Manaea, Ohtani struggled significantly, striking out twice and drawing two walks. Even elite players can have off nights, and during his early playoff tenure, Ohtani’s performance has been less than stellar, posting a slash line of .222/.344/.333 with one home run and five RBIs. His OPS is below .700, which is under the league average for regular-season batting.
The Dodgers’ protective approach toward Shohei Ohtani during this playoff run needs reevaluation. Complicating matters further is Ohtani’s interaction with the media. He typically communicates through an interpreter, but following his Game 2 struggles, he opted to forgo this practice. Dylan Hernandez from the Los Angeles Times attempted to converse with him, leveraging his knowledge of Japanese, Ohtani’s first language. Initially, Ohtani expressed reluctance to give Hernandez preferential treatment over other reporters.
Despite Hernandez’s reassurances, Ohtani summoned a team staff member to seek permission for an interview, which was subsequently denied. This left Hernandez with limited insight beyond his recollection of Ohtani’s at-bats, an experience he recounted in his Tuesday column. “Well, I suppose that’s better than him doing a Lincoln Riley and saying defensively, ‘There ain’t nobody taking more responsibility than I am,’ but Ohtani certainly appeared coddled, didn’t he?” Hernandez remarked. “I’ve generally avoided speaking with Ohtani outside of team-sanctioned scrums, but his three at-bats against Mets starter Sean Manaea were arguably his weakest of the postseason.”
As the Dodgers prepare for Game 3, Ohtani must find his voice at the plate. While there are understandable reasons for his hesitance to address the media, if he won’t defend his postseason performance against renowned pitchers like Yu Darvish, Tanner Scott, and now Manaea, perhaps he can let his bat communicate on his behalf.
The Dodgers face another challenging opponent on Wednesday night, with the Mets starting Luis Severino. Ohtani has fared well against Severino in the past, going 3-for-6 with a home run in eight plate appearances. This game could be an opportunity for Ohtani to break out.
