At the start of the season, the Dodgers were projected to chase history. Specifically, the elusive 116-win mark set by the Cubs. However, while their 57 wins so far still leave the door open, the path has grown considerably steeper. Frequent losing streaks have begun to cast doubt on their record-breaking potential. At one point, it even looked like the Dodgers were on the verge of matching their longest losing streak in franchise history: an 11-game skid from September 2017.
Yes, following back-to-back sweeps at the hands of the Astros and Brewers, and a loss in the series opener against the Giants, the Dodgers found themselves spiraling into a 7-game losing streak. But just when the narrative threatened to turn bleak, one man stepped up—Shohei Ohtani.
Whether it’s at the plate or on the mound, Ohtani continues to prove he’s the Dodgers’ ultimate crisis man. With a tense 2-1 victory over the Giants, he helped snap the Dodgers’ skid and bring some much-needed stability back to a faltering team. So, what did he have to say about that?
The Dodgers have been in a slump recently, struggling to bring their A-game to the fore. Their offense, in particular, has severely faltered over the last few matches. Even in their recent win against the Giants, the offense remained stagnant. However, the pitching lineup was stellar and carried the team to victory. And the showstopper was Ohtani.
The Japanese ace gave up just one hit and one walk while striking out four. Moreover, out of his 36 pitches, 25 were strikes, as the Dodgers snapped their seven-game skid with a 2-1 win. Ohtani has been dominant since returning to the mound this year, allowing just one run over nine innings with 10 strikeouts, five hits, and two walks in total.
“Throughout the losing streak, we played pretty good games in there, too,” Ohtani said. “It’s good to finally put a ‘W’ on the board. I hope that this is the beginning of a bunch of wins to come,” Ohtani added via his translator.
The Dodgers are not new to turning the tables when challenged. They faced a five-game losing streak last year as well, in late May, but bounced back and carried the rhythm to win the World Series. So, Ohtani has all the reasons to be confident, particularly when he is spitting fire as a slugger.
While he has hit 32 HRs so far, can Ohtani continue to go all guns blazing from the mound, too? The Dodgers manager, Dave Roberts, thinks it might be his alter ego! “I don’t know if it’s like an alter ego type thing, but he’s enjoying it,” Roberts said. It is seriously getting unreal. A man who is hitting .275 with a .380 on-base percentage is equally good on the mound. However, it also comes with a risk, from the Dodgers’ point of view.
Ohtani could still be a ticking time bomb for the Dodgers
Dr. Tom House, a renowned biomechanics expert who has trained the likes of Nolan Bryan and Tom Brady, expressed his concerns about Ohtani recently: “I think he’s a hitter. He’s proven all he needs to as a pitcher. I think his value to the ball club is on the field every day. I hope I am wrong [but] I don’t think his shoulder can handle it… It’s a combination of a bunch of stuff.”
Continuing further, he added, “Primarily, the thresholds with heavy weight training are good for hitting, but not for pitching. The everyday stresses of throwing downhill. When you throw on flat ground, the most energy you develop is four times body weight. It’s four pounds of energy. When you go down a mound, you get about six times body weight. I don’t think his shoulders can handle the deceleration.”
Ohtani has come out of the bullpen four times this season. And there’s been buzz about him possibly becoming a closer. But Dr. House is one of many voices in baseball suggesting it might be time for Ohtani to step away from pitching altogether.
In this case, one idea that’s gaining traction is moving him to the outfield. With his rocket arm and elite athleticism, Ohtani could be a real Gold Glove candidate for the Dodgers. That all while keeping his bat in the lineup and reducing the wear and tear on his body.
It would be too risky for the Dodgers to lose a hitter who scored 32 HRs before the All-Star break. However, when the remaining pitching lineup is failing to make a mark, Dave Roberts doesn’t have too many options.
The post Shohei Ohtani Clears Stance After Snapping Dodgers’ Skid As Manager Hypes His ‘Alter Ego’ appeared first on EssentiallySports.