Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts admits uncertainty about Shohei Ohtani's feelings regarding his dual role as a pitcher and hitter. Ohtani's acceptance of not hitting on days he pitches raises questions about his performance aspirations.
Key points
Dave Roberts is honest about his uncertainty regarding Ohtani's feelings.
Ohtani plays both as a pitcher and a hitter for the Dodgers.
Roberts does not know if Ohtani's acceptance of not hitting affects his pitching performance.
Ohtani's dual role raises questions about his performance aspirations.
Mentioned in this story
Dave Roberts
Shohei OhtaniLos Angeles Dodgers
An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani looking up at a baseball he has just tossed, Image 2 shows Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a ground rule double against the Miami Marlins, Image 3 shows Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts claps his hands on the field
An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani looking up at a baseball he has just tossed, Image 2 shows Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a ground rule double against the Miami Marlins, Image 3 shows Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts claps his hands on the field
Give Dave Roberts credit for his honesty.
The Dodgersâ manager isnât pretending to know what he doesnât know.
Roberts doesnât know if Ohtaniâs acceptance of occasionally not hitting on days he pitches is a reflection of how well he wants to perform on the mound this season.
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Dave Roberts doesnât know if Ohtaniâs acceptance of occasionally not hitting on days he pitches is a reflection of how well he wants to perform on the mound this season. AP
Dave Roberts doesnât know if Ohtaniâs acceptance of occasionally not hitting on days he pitches is a reflection of how well he wants to perform on the mound this season. AP
Ohtani is extremely guarded, his carefully-crafted remarks designed to skirt controversy. Thatâs been the case here as well, as heâs maintained he would do whatever heâs told by Roberts. But he also hasnât said heâs in favor of being removed from the Dodgers lineup when he pitches, and in Japanese culture whatâs not said is often more important than whatâs said.
So maybe Ohtani really didnât mind how he was used on Tuesday night, when he pitched six innings but didnât take a single at-bat in a 2-1 loss to the Miami Marlins. Or maybe he did mind.
Then again, if he was bothered, to what degree would his feelings dictate his actions?
One of the only times heâs revealed an uncomfortable truth was in 2021 when he was playing for the Angels. On his way to winning his first most valuable player award but upset with how often the Angels were losing, he said that as much as he liked the organization, his âfeelings of wanting to win are stronger.â
So maybe Ohtani really didnât mind how he was used on Tuesday night. Getty Images
So maybe Ohtani really didnât mind how he was used on Tuesday night. Getty Images
Did the sentiments direct him to the Dodgers?
Possibly, but when he was a free agent, his representative circled back to the Angels and offered them an opportunity to convince him to remain in Anaheim.
Would Ohtani have stayed with the Angels if Moreno hadnât refused to match the heavily-deferred, 10-year, $700-million he eventually accepted from the Dodgers? Or would his âfeelings of wanting to winâ have led him to the Dodgers no matter what?
Who knows.
So if Ohtani didnât like being reduced to a one-way player when he pitches, would that harm his relationship with the Dodgers?
Perhaps, but not necessarily.
Roberts isnât taking any chances. While Roberts said he didnât solicit any input from Ohtani when deciding he wouldnât hit in two of his last three pitching appearances, he made it a point to emphasize the call was made with his best interest in mind.
âEvery decision I make for him or any of my players, they understand itâs for their benefit,â Roberts said.
Roberts also isnât certain if Ohtani would let him know if heâs displeased with how he is being used. AP
Roberts also isnât certain if Ohtani would let him know if heâs displeased with how he is being used. AP
By reducing his workload, Roberts is better positioning Ohtani to win the Cy Young Award he is believed to want. From the organizationâs perspective, Roberts is doing what he can to preserve Ohtaniâs 31-year-old body to make another World Series run in October.
However, Ohtani was born and raised in a country in which authority figures traditionally arenât questioned, which is why his polite acceptance of Robertsâ decisions shouldnât be interpreted as a full-on endorsement.
Asked about the long-term benefits of restricting him to pitching in some games, Ohtani replied in Japanese, âI wonder.â
Ohtani mentioned how limiting his responsibilities âmightâ help him stay healthy for the entire season. He pointed to how the Dodgers might want to try other players in the designated hitter role, as they did with Dalton Rushing in this game. But he also made clear the idea was the teamâs, not his.
âPersonally, I think I want to go in the direction Iâm told to go,â he said. âIâll leave that entirely up to the team.â
Charged with his first loss of the season, Ohtani gave up two runs (one earned) and five hits in six innings. The earned run the Marlins scored against him came in a laborious fifth inning in which he was forced to throw 28 pitches.
Ohtani pushed back against the idea that he was able to rebound to pitch a scoreless six inning because he didnât have offensive responsibilities.
âI donât think that was because I was focused on pitching,â he said. âSimply, I just think the way I went into the fifth inning wasnât good.â
Ohtani didnât complain, but the restraint with which he spoke raised questions about what he was actually thinking. As much as his aversion to controversy points to this not being a problem, his oversized importance to the Dodgers makes it necessary for Roberts to exercise as much care as he has in dealing with the situation.
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