Shohei Ohtani Faces Pressure Amid Dodgers Playoff Slump

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Ohtani’s Media Appearance Raises Questions About His Playing Status

Ohtani deserves credit for speaking with the media through his translator, but the timing raised questions about the purpose of his appearance.

One possibility is that Dave Roberts and the Dodgers wanted Ohtani to stop playing but were willing to defer to him because of what he has accomplished. Ohtani may have insisted on remaining in the lineup and decided to address the media himself, explain his struggles and accept responsibility if the decision went badly.

Roberts would be in a difficult position if Ohtani wanted to play in the NLCS. Ohtani has been the best player in baseball for four or five years and has won two MVP awards. Very few players have enough influence to insist on playing. Mike Trout may have similar authority with the Angels because of his tenure and status as a future Hall of Famer, but it is a small group.

Without Ohtani’s media appearance, the Dodgers might have decided to shut him down. Instead, his decision to speak may have taken pressure off the organization by allowing him to explain the reasons behind his struggles and express confidence that he can bounce back.

After the Dodgers lost Game 2, much of the discussion focused on whether Ohtani should be benched. Roberts faced repeated questions, while Ohtani’s knee and overall health remained part of the conversation.

The larger question is how long the Dodgers can continue with him if he is clearly limited. If he goes 0-for-4 with multiple strikeouts at home and the team falls behind 3-0, they will have to reconsider the plan for Game 4.

DePaula is not a nobody, even if the Dodgers’ options are thin. He is a legitimate alternative rather than a minor-league player being asked to fill in. The current approach may be to give Ohtani one more day to figure things out.