Everyone's missing the point in Shohei Ohtani hitter-pitcher argument

Everyone's missing the point in Shohei Ohtani hitter-pitcher argument originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Harold Reynolds spent a long segment on MLB Network on Wednesday night arguing against the concept of Shohei Ohtani, the pitcher.

The long-time MLB infielder doesn't like the idea that Ohtani seems to be heavily focused on pitching this year for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ohtani wasn't in the hitting lineup Wednesday when he started (and threw a gem), and he's expected to get a rest day Thursday before returning to DH on Friday.

Reynolds argued with his colleagues that Ohtani's pitching was taking away from his MVP credentials.

That misses the point entirely.

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Sure, it'd be great if Ohtani was in the batting lineup for 162 games, and pitched during some of those, too.

But what about the world where Ohtani starts 30 games on the mound, then hits in 130? That's 130 more games as a superstar hitter than any other starting pitcher in the majors is providing, and Ohtani is currently pitching as well as anyone, too, with his 0.82 ERA.