5:15PM: Roberts told ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez (links to X), the Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya (X link), and other reporters that Ohtani will work out and take swings at Yankee Stadium later tonight, hitting off a tee and in the batting cage. The shoulder issue seems to be about pain tolerance for Ohtani, and Roberts said “if he feels good enough to go, I don’t see any reason why he wouldn’t be in there” for the Game 3 lineup.
TODAY, 1:47PM: Roberts told Karl Ravech of ESPN this afternoon that Ohtani is “in a great spot” following last night’s injury and that he’s expected to be in the lineup for Game 3 tomorrow evening in New York.
Oct 26: A heart-stopping moment occurred for Dodgers fans in the bottom of the seventh inning tonight when Shohei Ohtani attempted to steal second base. Ohtani was tagged out by Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres but appeared to suffer an injury on the play and was escorted off the field by a team trainer. After the game, manager Dave Roberts told reporters (including The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya) that Ohtani had suffered a “little” shoulder subluxation, or partial dislocation. The star will undergo additionally testing tomorrow, and though Roberts emphasized that he did not want to speculate on the severity of the injury until those tests were completed, he noted that they’re “encouraged” by initial tests and that he’s “expecting” Ohtani to be back in the lineup for Game 3 on Monday.
It’s a potentially devastating blow to the Dodgers as they look to capture their first full-season World Series championship since 1988. While Ohtani has been unable to pitch this year after undergoing elbow surgery last September, it’s impossible to call his first season with the club anything other than an absolute success. The 30-year-old superstar slashed an eye-popping .310/.390/.646 (181 wRC+) in 159 games for the Dodgers this year and became the first player in MLB history to steal at least 50 bases (59) and hit at least 50 home runs (54) in a single season. Ohtani’s dynamic play has also been a key factor in the club’s postseason run to this point, as he had slashed an impressive .277/.414/.489 with three home runs and ten RBI during the playoffs this year entering tonight’s game.
Whether the Dodgers will have that explosive offensive talent in the lineup for the remainder of the series remains to be seen. While the severity of Ohtani’s injury is not currently clear, an injury of any significance will leave he and the Dodgers forced to balance the star’s health with their goal of closing out a World Series championship they’re just two victories away from clinching. Other players on the Dodgers’ roster, including fellow star Freddie Freeman and veteran shortstop Miguel Rojas, have played through injuries this postseason in hopes of bringing a World Series home to Los Angeles. If the Dodgers take a similar course of action with Ohtani and his shoulder issue is fairly mild, it’s possible to imagine him being back in the club’s lineup when the series moves to New York for Game 3 on Monday night.
That’s far from a guarantee, however, and it’s equally easy to imagine the issue being severe enough to leave Ohtani at risk of missing the rest of the series. If the injury proves to be severe enough for the Dodgers to remove Ohtani from their playoff roster, outfielders Kevin Kiermaier and James Outman would appear to be the most likely options for the club to consider activating in place of their superstar on the playoff roster. Meanwhile, Ohtani vacating the DH spot in the lineup would allow the club to offer additional rest to Freeman, who has played through the postseason on a sprained ankle and could benefit from the additional time off his feet. In such a scenario, Max Muncy would likely slide over from third base to cover first for Freeman, opening up the hot corner for Enrique Hernandez and second base for Gavin Lux.
Of course, with just five months left to Opening Day 2025, a particularly severe injury could not only leave Ohtani unavailable for the remainder of the World Series but potentially impact his Spring Training and readiness for the start of next year. Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story underwent what was believed to be season-ending shoulder surgery back in April following an initial diagnosis similar to Ohtani’s after Story awkwardly landed on his shoulder during a play in the field. Surgery wound up being necessary due to structural damage in his shoulder and came with an initial six-month recovery timeline, though Story managed to return ahead of schedule in just five.
The Dodgers are quite familiar with the perils of dislocated shoulders, as during the 2020 NLCS Cody Bellinger suffered a dislocated right shoulder that he played through in their last World Series run but ultimately required surgery on. That procedure came with a recovery timeline of just ten weeks but Bellinger infamously struggled badly over his next two seasons with the Dodgers, leading to questions regarding whether or not he returned to action before he was fully healthy. However severe Ohtani’s injury turns out to be, one silver lining for the Dodgers is that Ohtani’s left shoulder is the one at issue, meaning his pitching arm is likely to be minimally impacted by the issue as he looks toward a return to the mound in 2025.
Astros_fan_in_Aus
I hope he recovers well and sees the Dodgers win the next two games. All supporters of other teams who hate the Yankees are rooting for you.
fox471 Dave
Thank you!
mad1
Speaking from a fan of neither of these teams I hate the dodgers and yanks equally. It’s unfortunate that of them will win it all
Blue Baron
mad1: Why do you hate any teams? How old are you, 12?
Steinbrenner2728
Stay mad about it, mad1.
cr4
Seriously funny how I’ve hated on the dodgers all season but the second they face the Yankees I’ve cheered for them like I’ve been a fan for 20 years
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
I hate the dodgers as much as the Yankees
I want the yanks to force game 7 so that shohei or judge could hit a walk off bomb to win the WS
am_a_veal
And be the authors of the “greatest moment in baseball history”? Why? That would be insufferable. We would see that moment for the rest of our lives.
If we must, I choose Ohtani.
As a fan of an opposing AL East team, I do not want to see anything good or memorable happen to the Yankees.
I almost started feeling happy for Stanton’s post season success, and started to feel like he was finding redemption following his struggles over the last few seasons. I had to slap myself out of it!
Just Rob
Stanton’s post season renaissance is just increasing expectations and the inevitable letdown Yankees fans will experience next summer. So long as they’re not winning, Stanton actually hitting is a good thing for Yankee haters.
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
Why wouldn’t you want to see the greatest moment in baseball history? I would like to see a 600 ft hr, I would like to see a 5 hr game, so what if it’s a team I hate
I’m glad I saw that Freddie home run
Blue Baron
sad tormented: Assuming you’re an adult, haven’t you outgrown “hating” teams that have caused you no actual damage and whose players are professionals just trying to do their jobs to the best of their abilities?
Spaced-Cowboy
You mean Stanton or Freeman? >.>
User 4245925809
Hope it’s a shorter period than the dislocation Story had. he was out from like the 3rd week of the season until September. LA really needs Ohtani, not to mention the game itself does.
Salvi
As in Trevor Story? What does he have to do with whats going on?
Heinouanus
He literally said he hopes the time missed from ohtanis shoulder dislocation is shorter than trevor storys time missed for the same injury was. Whats hard to figure out?
old elpaso
If you drink too much soy, then it is probably hard to figure out
Blackouts are racist
You look so foolish asking these questions. Read the article, or don’t comment.
Blue Baron
Blackouts: Says the guy with the most foolish username on here.
Blackouts are racist
Blue Baron. I’ve never given one ounce of worth to anything you have ever said. I Get it, your wife is black. But it doesn’t make my username foolish. You think you’re some kind of bully here and you’re not.
Blue Baron
I don’t think I’m any kind of bully so much as I think you’re an ignorant shmuck with an astonishingly foolish username.
And calling someone foolish for answering questions makes you a bully, not me.
You must also think that whiteout correction fluid is also racist, in which case you may refer back to the above reference to being an ignorant shmuck.
And I don’t give a fiddler’s fart (to borrow an old Irish saying) about what you think or don’t think about what I say.
And my wife has approximately zero to do with it.
Pads Fans
As a Padres fan, I am hoping its enough to keep him a DH next season. Even a partial subluxation will do that.
No, baseball does not need Ohtani. Baseball is not a sport where an individual player wins the game all by themselves. It takes an entire team. He is just one player of over 1000 that played in the majors in 2024 and not even the biggest story or the best hitter. Just the biggest contract.
User 4245925809
Put back the dislike of him a bit Pads Fan.. Ohtani, Right now is the face of the game, much like Trout was, Ken Griffey JR was etc.. The game needs ambassadors and right now? Face the reality that he’s it and the GAME itself is all the better for it when he’s on the field.
Salvi- My mention of Story was that he had a severe shoulder dislocation early in the season and missed 4+ months. I see coming back right away, even with a minor dislocation as questionable at best.
kmk1986
U know what we don’t need $700 million to a billion dollar players no one but Bezos and gates will be able to afford to go to games anymore. There salary increases by millions while us Joe schmos fight for 3% increase in raises these salaries r getting outrageous
robw5555
Baseball tix are the cheapest in pro sports. You can with few exceptions always find some cheap tix at resale.
marcfrombrooklyn
Increases in player salaries do not cause ticket prices to increase. Owners maximize their income and charge what the market for sports, entertainment, and leisure will pay. If players still earned what they did before the union and free agency, ticket prices would be about the same as they are now. They might be a little lower if there is less interest in the game and demand because some players who attract fans decide not to play Major League Baseball (ie: Ohtani stayed in Japan, other players choose different careers) and the on-field product is less appealing.
MWeller77
Pads Fans: Rooting for a lack of fitness or even a partial injury for ANY player is terrible.
I’ll admit, I love watching when Machado strikes out. But I also want him to be as healthy as he can be, because I’m like, not a horrible person.
You should really re-think your comments here, boss.
The biggest tr0ll
@robw5555 Ever tried getting tickets for a Sox or Yankees game?
DanzigInTheDark
lol @ saying he’s not the best hitter. I don’t like the dodgers either but cmon, take off the padres-tinted glasses for a second
C Yards Jeff
Trout the “face of the game”. Griffey too. Others. Nah. I’m with Pads Fan. Team sport all the way. Ohtani going down gives the next man up the opportunity to show up under the brightest lights of the game.
Speedy recovery O. Speedy recovery.
Blue Baron
johnsilver: “The face of the game” is a trite, casually-thrown-about cliché, but what does it even mean?
stymeedone
I see MLB giving Judge more Press than Ohtani. Perhaps MLB pushes differently in different markets. I’m in the mid west.
User 4245925809
bluebaron: A face of the game is/was an ambassador, or what kids would strive for. Good guy type.. Joe D was 1, Willie Mays.. u know? The 100% oppo of what football has been putting out lately, like that stiff colin kaepernick.
Baseball actually is a good guy sport, has values and *still* has (mostly) some players kids want to emulate, with Ohtani being 1 with world wide visability. Is it so hard for some to see that?
Blue Baron
But that doesn’t need to be any specific player. I grew up as a Mets fan, and as a kid, I looked up to guys on the team like Donn Clendenon and Jerry Grote.
Kids like players on their favorite teams, not always the biggest stars.
fox471 Dave
Pads fan: you mean the way Babe Ruth saved baseball in the 20s?
fox471 Dave
Yeah kmk, working in the mailroom or whatever you do for a living is certainly comparable to being a world famous, international sports star. Really good comparison. Keep up the in depth analysis. You are really good at it.
C Yards Jeff
I feel ya Blue B.
Brooks Robinson was my hero here in Baltimore but idolized guys like Mark Belanger, Paul Blair, Mike Cueller, Boog and on and on as well.
Blue Baron
That was a great team the Miracle Mets somehow beat in ‘69.
BTW, I attended a game at OPCY in 1998 and met Boog on Eutaw Street at his BBQ stand.
Sadface
True but Freeman is playing on an ankle that doctors recommended that he rest for two weeks. Ohtani should at least miss one game as a precaution but he might play anyway. Not a Yankee fan but another ambassador of the game Aaron Judge (no injury that I know of) has been a non factor so far. For the good of the game (as well as his team’s chances) he needs to step it up.
Pads Fans
I don’t dislike Ohtani, even if he did throw his interpreter under the bus to cover up his own illegal activities.
I want the Padres to win and Ohtani plays in the same division as the Padres.
The game does not need Ohtani or any single player. That keeps getting proven over and over again.
Pads Fans
Mweller, Go talk to 100% of NFL, college football, and NHL fans. They ALL cheer for their team to actually injure opposing players during the games. I am simply saying that since he is already injured, I am hoping that injury he ALREADY HAS will keep him a DH in 2025 so that the Padres do not have to face him both as a hitter and a pitcher.
That you assume more than that says volumes about what kind of a person you are. You should really re-think your comments here.
BTW, I would never hire you. You simply do not think things through as your comments attest and would not pass the test to work for my company.
Pads Fans
Danzig.
Its a fact.
Judge – 223 OPS+ 218 wRC+
Ohtani – 190 OPS+ 180 wRC+
Ohtani was NOT the best hitter. Judge was 33% to 38% better depending on the metric you prefer.
If you are one of those troglodytes that bases hitting prowess only on the Triple Crown numbers of BA, HR and RBI, Judge was still better.
OBP? SLG? OPS? Judge is still better.
Ohtani is also strictly a DH in 2024, so far from the best player this season.
Pads Fans
Worldwide there were almost 53-1 articles about Ohtani to articles about Judge so far in 2024.
News articles about Shohei Ohtani – about 17,300,000 results
News articles about Aaron Judge – about 265,000 results
Search only MLB.com and its a much smaller gap. About 4-1.
In the US as a whole, during the season there have been only 2 weeks in which there have been more articles about Judge than Ohtani, June 16-22 and July 7-13. Not sure what was going on those weeks. This week so far its 100 about Ohtani to 21 about Judge. That does no include this website since it is an aggregator, not an individual source.
Pads Fans
I take it you are a fan of Deshaun Watson instead of Colin Kaepernick, I also take it you never served.
Pads Fans
But he didn’t. The Yankees did. The team that played in 6 WS and won 3 of them during that decade.
Without Gehrig, Meusel, Combs, Koenig and Lazzeri, the other 5 members of that Murderer’s Row, he is a great player, but not the star that the Yankees made him. If Ruth is playing on the Red Sox during the 1920’s, they still would not have been a great team and you would not even know about him except for his stats. He would not have been in the press daily.
The biggest tr0ll
I see nothing about 50 steals for Ohtani in your response about Judge.
Pads Fans
What part of hitter did you not understand?
The biggest tr0ll
If it’s just hitter, fine, but I still think he’s close to Judge, maybe better, maybe not. Its debatable. But I think looking at the whole picture is better. He’s more valuable than Judge is to the all-homerun-or-nothing Yankees.
I’m sorry your Padres lost and I honestly feel that’s the basis of your argument. They should’ve kept Soto and then it might have been a different story.
Pads Fans
No. Read my post. Not close. Judge is 33-38% to better as a hitter.
The biggest tr0ll
I read it. Doesn’t mean I fully agree with it, even if you use all these stats.
Blue Baron
johnsilver: What a crock. “The game” doesn’t need any particular player. The show goes on no matter what.
That’s just a dumb, meaningless cliché like “the face of the game.”
EHenderson
Dodgers fans are happy because now they can show that they can win the World Series without him (and he was 1 for 9 to go along with a failed SB attempt).
The failed SB was either a selfish stat-padding attempt by Ohtani in a completely uncalled for situation or it was a stupid managerial decision. More likely Ohtani’s decision.
DarrenDreifortsContract
Please don’t speak for Dodgers fans.
None of us are “Happy” that our best player got hurt.
kmk1986
Oooh really Sherlock Holmes good one comment of the year
MWeller77
It WAS a poorly-considered SB attempt that seemed like a bad baseball decision.
But no, no one is happy when any player gets hurt. At least, not anyone who isn’t a terrible person
TheMan 3
you don’t speak for me, Astros
bucsfan0004
I understand he was in discomfort. But couldnt he have just walked off the field and got checked out in the trainer’s room? He doesnt play the field or anything and its not like he had a lower body injury preventing him from walking. I don’t understand the need to call time out and then act like a soccer player…. oh wait, he’s watches a lot of soccer as i recall
Yankee Clipper
They had to give John Smoltz time to collect himself. He was whimpering at the prospect of Ohtani not participating in game 3.
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
My favorite John smoltz quote during a broadcast:
“He’s good at what he’s good at” very inspiring and intellectual
I actually thought he was better with Joe buck since buck could do more talking but now John is kind of forced to ramble on about random things
BlueSkies_LA
He isn’t forced to ramble, he just does.
Dumpster Divin Theo
He’s old and angry and pointless mainly. And usually wrong. Tim McCarver!
thebirds
Lots ok Joe Buck haters out there.. don’t know why. The guy is a great commentator. That’s why he does the WS and Super Bowl.. people target him just become he is the best at what he does. Get over it.
fansincethe80s
‘He’s great” is just an opinion, man. I’m NOT a Dodger fan because of Vin Scullys rambling announcing style but he was one of the best in other peoples eyes.
BlueSkies_LA
People target him because they find him boring. Apparently Buck feels the same way about baseball, so I guess that evens up the score.
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
Yeah buck has a great voice and isn’t bad
The only thing that is bad is when he sees a historic moment (David Tyree) or walk off home run but he’s gotten better after the Minneapolis miracle
sugoi51
Yeah, he’s a Ramblin’ Man indeed.
sugoi51
That Smoltz quote reminds me of A-Rod’s oft-repeated “Good pitch. Better take” calls.
Blue Baron
thebirds: He’s OK. But he’s a textbook case of nepotism at work.
kmk1986
If it was a scrub player he probably wouldn’t of gotten that latter treatment
robw5555
Chances are not taken with players making hundreds of millions. You can do that with some scrub who is ilder and makes little to no money.
EHenderson
Put alot on the Yankees winning it with a bookie based on someone’s advice (doesn’t seem like the type who would be interested in negotiating if the Yankees lose). Please say it was still the right move.
Informed Sportsball Discussion
Ken Rosenthal saw Manny Machado separate Ohtani’s shoulder. True story.
MWeller77
That Machado, he wasn’t satisfied even after throwing several hand grenades into the Dodgers’ dugout in the NLDS!
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
Legend has it in 2019 he is still pissed by being “forced” to go to the knock off dodgers: the padres
Gwynning
This just in from Rosenthal- Machado launching counterstrikes against Iran. Stay tuned for more Rosie facts…
Yankee Clipper
I don’t think I’d even risk putting Ohtani back in unless absolutely necessary. They haven’t needed him to beat the Yankees thus far, and it’s likely they won’t need him hereafter to win it all.
Good game for the Dodgers. They are hitting when it counts and capitalizing on poor pitches. It’s brutal for us to watch our team flailing, like a two-year-old trying to swim. Judge needs to figure out how to hit again.
Perksy
For sure. I was going through that 9th inning again and if Judge just walked it would have changed the whole complexion of the inning. Being the first 4 out of 5 batters got on
Yankee Clipper
Exactly right. And although Volpe is still young, his ABs have been terrible.
AngelsFan1968
That was a not a good at bat in the 9th.
DarrenDreifortsContract
Just because he wasn’t producing offensively doesn’t mean he’s not valuable. Just him being in the lineup changes a pitchers entire approach.
Fever Pitch Guy
Clip – Wouldn’t it be something if the Dodgers win Game 3 and then the Yanks win 4 straight on the 20-year anniversary of The Comeback.
sfes
Noooo that series was one of the best things to happen for baseball in decades. Let the “idiots” keep their moment!
Yankee Clipper
FPG: I’m not even sure what I’d do if the Yankees won four straight. Probably something embarrassing and stupid, but I’d live with it …..
Pedro Martinez’s Mango Tree
Bite your tongue, sir
dasit
what comeback? we all know the 2004 playoffs were cancelled after game 3 of the alcs. to this day no one knows why this controversial action was taken
User 4245925809
Fever- I imagine we’d here from Sheffield again, but he still wouldn’t apologize for what he did to fire up that ’04 sox team.
Fever Pitch Guy
John – Judge did the same in 2018, remember the blaring of NY-NY at Fenway.
MWeller77
As a Dodger fan, I won’t be comfortable unless the last out is recorded by a player in a blue uniform.
I know the circumstances were different, but I’m thinking of the ’96 WS right now. The Dodgers and the ’90s Braves also have one thing in common: a million division titles but at least to this point, only one WS victory
sfes
I’d feel the same way. Playoff baseball is a sick, twisted lover
dasit
no world series in my lifetime has felt more “over” after 2 games than 1996 and this year’s squad won’t have to beat 3 hall of fame pitchers to mount a comeback
mlarr64
Well there ya go. Had he stayed with the Angels he would have never got hurt
Dumpster Divin Theo
Yeah cuz you know, no October baseball in Goofyland
DarrenDreifortsContract
I’m sure he’s missing those days of being on the couch with Trout in October.
FOmeOLS
Come back! Yankee haters everywhere need you!
Luis_Fazenda
He’s managed a lone hit in the series, and obviously doesn’t contribute defensively. Put Pages in at DH and they’ll be fine. It isn’t Ohtani that’s beating the Yanks.
Blackpink in the area
It’s been 2 freaking games. And that one hit was huge. The Dodgers are a better team with Ohtani.
Luis_Fazenda
I’m not denying that they are a better team with him in the lineup. But this “oh no, what will we do now” garbage that I’m reading on some Dodgers forums, is ridiculous. They don’t need him in order to close this out.
Blackpink in the area
Well sure i mean they just won the first 2 games at this point they can do it without him. But if he doesn’t play and they end up losing the series you could look back and say this was huge.
Luis_Fazenda
There’s really no way of telling. Buehler goes tomorrow, and he could lay an egg. Bullpen game on Tuesday, and that could go awry. It could be 2-all and it wouldn’t have mattered one way or the other whether he was in the lineup or not. If Soto doesn’t fumble that ball off the wall, Ohtani could get thrown out at 2nd stretching. If Torres doesn’t boot the throw, Ohtani doesn’t go to 3rd, and Betts sacrifice doesn’t plate him. He was as fortunate as he could be to be standing on third after all that. That’s the only thing he’s contributed so far. There’s no guarantee that his bat wakes up. I doubt the Yanks will sweep in NY, based on what I am seeing from their lineup. So that means winning 2 in LA to get it done. I don’t see that happening regardless of whether Ohtani is in the lineup or not. To be honest, the only thing that ultimately suffers, is ratings. Which I couldn’t care less about, as I don’t make my living as a FOX exec.
Luis_Fazenda
To elaborate on Ohtani, I saw every minute of every Dodger game this year, due to the MLB package, and living outside the blackout area. He was a better hitter earlier in the year, when he wasn’t prioritizing hitting the ball over the wall, as opposed to hitting it where it was pitched. He’s trying to lift and pull. Of course he’s not the only one, as practically the whole damn league does it. Which is why I prize watching Freddie Freeman at-bats. He’s an anomaly. Anyway…I’m done bloviating. Enjoy.
Blackpink in the area
He missed a home run by 2 feet. How do you ignore that? He smoked that ball. You clearly watched it.
MWeller77
Ohtani being in the lineup also has positive effects even if he goes 0-4. The other team’s game plan is so much different if Pages is the DH.
Luis_Fazenda
Other than the hitters in the bottom third of the lineup potentially seeing better pitches to hit, I can’t see him going 0-4 at the top of the lineup having a positive effect.
Again, having watched every game this year, this team didn’t start to gel until the bottom half of the lineup started to produce offensively….which they did. The media loves to have their stars and superstars. But this team would have gone nowhere if it had stayed a top-heavy lineup.
MWeller77
Sure, if Pages suddenly became Reggie Jackson, but I don’t see that happening. You can’t tell me that a pitcher would rather face an Ohtani-led lineup than a lineup where everyone moves up in the order and Pages hits 8th or 9th.
fox471 Dave
Freeman would be DH, Muncy at first and kike/ Taylor at third.
Stan Not the Man
He ain’t comin’ back in this series.
MLB-1971
Trevor Story had the same injury and missed 4 1/2 months.
TAKERDBACKS
Hate both teams but dodgers don’t deserve Ohtani out and it would be awful to see. Such a great player. This is the dodgers chance.
Salad Daze 22-27
I suppose the dbacks DO deserve Ohtani? LOL
kam3hameha
Are you dumb? He said the Dodgers don’t deserve Ohtani being out, not that they don’t deserve Ohtani in general. I disagree, but that’s beside the point. A little reading comprehension would do you wonders.
Old York
Big loss of viewership from Japan. Thoughts and prayers to MLB.
Rays in the Bay
They still have Yamamoto so only a small hit. I’m sure news will cover the Dodgers every night even if he is just sitting on the bench
Luis_Fazenda
Yes…there will be a special ‘Sho-Cam’ following his every move. I’ve literally muted the first two games of the series, in anticipation of the @$$-kissing. This from an ardent and loyal Dodger fan of 50+ years. Over a 162 game schedule, I simply got tired of it. I understand why….they are milking this guy for all he’s worth. It doesn’t make it more palatable though.
fox471 Dave
Who is/are this amorphous “they?”
norcalblue
Well, I’m a Dodger fan for 60+ years and I respectfully have a different view. Shohei is a gracious, kind and humble player and teammate. He exudes friendliness and exhibits respect for his opponents and the game at all times. He is also enormously talented. That he is popular, both internationally and within our country is good for baseball and your favorite team.
Seems kind of sad and just a little small Luis that you find his popularity a source of annoyance. Just sayin’.
GO1962
I wonder is this injury will delay or prevent Ohtani from being ready to pitch in Spring Training?
MLB Top 100 Commenter
His left hand hit the ground and he pitches right-handed. So, when he is ready to hit, he is also probably ready to pitch.
MLB-1971
It will at least delay his spring training if it is truly a shoulder subluxation. It may keep him at DH longer and delay his pitching debut.
MLB-1971
It was obviously not nearly as bad as they first reported!!!!!!!!!!!
Pads Fans
It was his left arm, so when he can hit he can play.
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
The level of talent is just higher right now in the National League. Compare who the Yankees had to face in the postseason to get here to who the Dodgers had to face. Really no comparison who is more battle tested. Whoever the American League put forward to the World Series was going to get smoked. The American League really was the Junior League this season.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
While your word choice is a little bit inflammatory, I do agree with your conclusion. The Diamondbacks might have run the table in the AL.
ChipperChop
I was thinking the exact same thing while watching tonight. It’s a miss match. I don’t think the Yankees could beat any of the playoff teams from the NL in a 7 game series. Theyve been a 2 man show all year and unfortunately for them their playoff 2 man show is Soto and Stanton.
Rays in the Bay
Yup. The California teams just also collect all the Asian talent and have the money to throw at them. The balance is just awful. I expect a new Superteam will be made next year. Either by the Yankees or Mets or Cubs. Maybe Padres or Giants too. Other mid/small market teams will cut down on roster salaries and the richer teams can pick them up. And now they know they can defer payments to circulate the salary cap, so I expect a few copycats may pop up and put the league out of whack. But in also a depressed Rays fan who will have to see anyone making more than 3 million be cut or traded to the Dodgers
iknoweverythingesq
In your prophetic diatribe, I think you meant circumvent, not circulate.
Rays in the Bay
@iknow
You are correct. Circumvent is the correct word here haha
User 4245925809
RaysinBay- With respect to much of your argument. tampa really has no chance anyway. They (for now) have an awful stadium, difficult for most of it’s home market to get to (bridge) and the team really hasn’t spent anything in a bit over 20y.
Not 1 thing will/would improve the situation until they did 2 things, if they stay in the TB area:
1) move anywhere on the “correct” side of the bridge, regardless of it being Tampa, Orlando and yes.. It would have to be Sternberg forking over the stadium money.
2) Sternberg taking another chance and increasing payroll in general.
While I do realize he’s got sort of a deal in place in St Pete for a stadium, my 2c it isn’t going to matter much once the newness of the place wears off and think know what am speaking about as a lifelong, central Floridian myself who until few yrs back DID make few treks to the dome and really didn’t care for the constant traffic jams over the bridge.
Fever Pitch Guy
John – I’ve driven to The Trop many times from all directions. There is nothing worse than coming from East Tampa/Orlando on I-4 and the highway ending as it filters down to I-275. Always a huge backup.
The nice part of the St Pete location is when leaving the games there’s plenty of options to get onto a highway entrance ramp, I’ve never gotten stuck in traffic leaving a game … even weekday afternoon games.
User 4245925809
Fever- When they 6 laned I4, it was a mistake. Should have been 8 even back then and most knew it. Now traffic for years is worse on the 6 by being backed up than it was at the end than it was at 4. Typical being not prepared/doing enough government garbage.
Made that trek (along I4) for years along 4 lane I4 and saw the traffic go from mild to terrible. it got horrid at rush hour at the end, just before going 6 lanes, Why government never has the ability to see ahead? Might be same (sort of) reason Rays staying in St Pete, knowing that franchise has no chance at drawing continually on that mostly isolated peninsula.
Boggling so many can wear blinders, then throw away millions.
Fever Pitch Guy
John – Florida turnpike is also in bad need of being widened. Crazy how people pay to get stuck in 2-lane traffic.
Rays in the Bay
@ John. Most Rays fans wanted them to move to proper Tampa area. The only problem was Stu wasn’t willing to pay for most of it. That’s why they are still in St. Pete. Always about money (or lack of) with the Rays. Without any TV deal in place we can forget about them being competitive. Even guys like Randy and Margot are making north of 5 mil. They will trade their expensive pitching options under the guise of helping the team’s offense… But at the end of the day, it’s probably gonna be about money.
GO1962
The author, Nick Deeds, points out, that the Dodgers have not won a full-season championship since 1988. I find that amazing, considering the effort the Dodgers franchise has put in over the last 36 years with trying for another championship. From when Ronald Reagan was President to Joe Biden is President, and for no cell phones or internet for everyone to having cell phones and internet for everyone is a LONG TIME.
Citizen1
In the olde days, they’d just pop the shoulder back in by pulling on the arm. Not sure which is more embarrassing- Ohtani attempting a steal when his team is up, and not a very good ove-glove slide either or Soto bobbling the ball in the field.
bucsfan0004
Soto is a terrible, terrible fielder. Hopefully when the Yankees re-sign him they move him to LF and move Judge back to his natural position in RF, a position he dominates.
stymeedone
Yankee Stadium has the smallest RF in baseball. They probably don’t want Soto to have to deal with different curves off the bat. I expect them to leave him in one spot, RF, if they do manage to sign him.
phillies1993
Ahead by 3 runs, you think the game is so out of hand there’s no point in trying to score another run?
rondon
7 or 8 runs maybe. But in a game like that, there’s nothing comfortable about a 3 run lead.
Luis_Fazenda
One thing about Ohtani, for good or bad, he’s just about the most aggressive base runner I’ve ever seen. He will try and steal in any situation…3rd included. He will almost always try and take the extra base, again…no matter the situation. It’s his mindset….at least in non-pitching years. I fully expect this to noticeably subside once he has to start taking the ball again. Of course these ridiculous Manfred Rules have made it much easier to steal bases, so who knows.
BlueSkies_LA
The “ridiculous Manfred rules” were created because analytics had almost completely eliminated the running game. Before analytics and the “ridiculous Manfred rules” base stealing was a much larger part of the game.
Citizen1
He’s today’s Ken Griffey jr and going against saber metrics to steal bases but Griffey got injured on overdoing fielding
Fred McGriff HR
Boone messed up game 1, why you don’t pitch Hill there is very strange to say the least, and I still don’t understand why, especially the fact that Hill has been having a pretty good post season, you want the guy with the ‘unusual’ arm slot as opposed to a guy that has a more orthodox delivery and had not thrown for a month. What else is the guy that hasn’t thrown for a month going to throw, a fat fastball to try and get ahead in the count, and Mr Freeman said thank you very much. Soto not hitting the cut off with his throw into 2nd was also poor sloppy play by the Yankees.
The Dodgers are just a deeper lineup 1-9, and the Dodgers bullpen is slightly better also.
Schmidt has a big job to do if the Yanks are to be competitive in this World Series.
Rays in the Bay
Oh no. How will MLB and their partners ever cope if Ohtani misses time? Are we gonna get pics every 10 minutes on social media updating us of his breakfast… Maybe his chuckle at a good online joke.
Too bad for him but the Ohtani fatigue for me is real.
JayRyder
Sweep.
aragon
Can he still bet on the Dodgers with his injured arm?
PeteRose’s Bookie
Sir this is a Denny’s
Dumpster Divin Theo
No it’s a Wendy’s drive thru
Mickey Solis
All part of the script to make this scumbag team look “heroic” for “overcoming” the “odds” despite buying their entire roster and heaven forbid their $700M ringer who wanted to play for his d*ddies might miss a few games so this desperate pathetic team can win its first legitimate title in 36. It’s LA and so the Dodgers can find the best doctor money can buy who can pump Ohtani full of drugs so he makes the clown fans happy by playing in Game 3 and beyond.
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
Somebody sounds a little jaded.
rondon
jeez.. Someone’s spent too much time on the 405.
MWeller77
“Clown fans” is pretty intentionally funny tho. I’m imagining the camera panning on a long fly to right and there’s row after row of red noses and blue wigs cheering on Mookie Betts as he tracks down the ball
phillies1993
You think he got injured on purpose, really?
rockiesmagicnumber
I don’t think anybody is making or has made the mistake that the Los Angeles Dodgers are scrappy underdogs. Ever. I think you’re the only one who believes in this script.
Salad Daze 22-27
Can always bet on a fool to tell an unfunny and unoriginal and not to mention untrue joke. Congrats, Are you ignorant by choice or just plain dumb?
EHenderson
Dodgers fans are happy because now they can show that they can win the World Series without him (and he was 1 for 9 to go along with a failed SB attempt).
Dumpster Divin Theo
What if Ohtani gets rested, as the Dodgers should do, the Yanks tie it up at 3-3, and then Ohtani comes in as a PH in the bottom of the 9th in Game 7 to hit a walk off a la Kirk Gibson? How cool would that be? With a Vin Scully redux type call by his successor? Make it so
BlueSkies_LA
Okay but Gibson’s homer wasn’t a walk off and it came in the first game. Anyway with Ohtani it’s either a serious injury or it isn’t. If the shoulder is damaged no amount of rest will help.
VinScullysSon
Gibson’s homer was definitely a walk off. Maybe you meant that it wasn’t a grand slam walk off?
BlueSkies_LA
Right, sorry — it was a walk-off. But still in Game 1, not Game 7
Citizen1
It was a limp off, Gibsons only at bat in the series
RSimpson
MLBTR, are you just messing with us- waiting until the last sentence to tell us which shoulder was injured? Kind of a significant “detail”!
Pads Fans
WOW! Who would have bet that Ohtani would get hurt? Ippei?
Pads Fans
Was it his throwing shoulder? If so, he will not pitch next season. A $70 million DH again in 2025.
Pads Fans
MLBTR blew it in not mentioning which shoulder was injured, but then its Nick Deeds, so its just par for the course in his articles.
It was his left shoulder as other publications noted.
norcalblue
Are you still around and butt hurt? Get over it clown
Deleted!
Citizen1
Now both arms injured
The Saber-toothed Superfife
Amazing.
6 healthy paragraphs.
1 little itty bitty injury.
andyger63
Go Yankees! It’s not over. Get well Shohei.
Jdt8312
Hope he makes a full recovery quickly. It’s a good thing it wasn’t his throwing arm. But they are going to have to think about what will happen to it during his swing. That could make it worse.
whyhayzee
Does anyone know who’s starting game 3 for the Dodgers? Anyone?
Rush fan
Buehler
whyhayzee
Oh yeah. Thanks.
Garywally57
I’m surprised that many more players haven’t suffered more shoulder injuries. Slide feet first like players used to do. Problem solved, but they won’t be like everyone else.
AHH-Rox
Ohtani WAS sliding feet first.
Headfirst slides do sometimes cause things like thumb injuries (hence the oven mitts many players now wear on the bases), but can’t be blamed for this one.
30 Parks
Right shoulder? Left shoulder? Did I miss this crucial detail?
Yankee Clipper
It is his left shoulder (or non-throwing arm). So, it shouldn’t affect him pitching in ‘25.
30 Parks
Ok – thanks, Clipper. Your Yanks need the next game. Good luck, my friend.
Yankee Clipper
Thank you! I said before this thing started that they needed game 1 if they wanted to take this series. Almost had it, but I’m not too hopeful while down 0-2.
30 Parks
Yanks bats go off in Game Three and you’re right back in the hunt. Dodgers lineup is tough, though. Two good teams.
stymeedone
The catcher will have to walk the ball out to the mound every pitch, however, as he won’t be able to catch the return throw. This would make for a time clock problem, but Manfred will add another new rule that only applies to Ohtani to get around that.
braves25
I hate to see anyone get hurt. I hope he recovers quickly and returns this WS.
I am not a Yankee or Dodger fan…but I am routing for Freddie Freeman to be WS MVP! So GO DODGERS!!! That is difficult to say lol.
Freddie Freddie Freddie!!! Especially after everything him and his family has been through this year. A WS MVP only seems fitting! MVFREE!!
whyhayzee
I’m routing to Pennsylvania myself.
MWeller77
I routed away from Dodger Stadium, the Coliseum, and the Staples Center on Friday night. Good thing I live and work in the San Gabriel Valley and didn’t have to go anywhere that evening…
MPrck
It was a very strange slide, one would never guess he stolen so many bases seeing that last night. Still, someones loss is someones gain. Gives Soto a chance to make a case for 500 million dollar contract.
It adds to the drama. It would have been nice seeing Ohtani show what he could do to that short right porch. He’d tear it up.
dh4all
Don’t care. He’ll be alright.
mad1
If out for the rest of the series he can get started early on gambling
highflyballintorightfield
Yankees, especially Judge, may be happy to have media attention on something else besides their performance so far.
Clofreesz
At least this becomes a little bit more interesting.
stymeedone
Gives the Dodgers an excuse if they now slump.
User 2770661946
I have an Asian friend and he said he doesn’t feel connected to Ohtani
BlueSkies_LA
I have a cat who eats cantaloupe.
User 2770661946
Makes sense as cats have Egyptian lineage and the Egyptians were known to grow cantaloupe
BlueSkies_LA
Your satire detector is broken.
el_chapo_
Seems yours is as well…
highflyballintorightfield
Looks like he did the ol’ Lethal Weapon slam-your-shoulder-into-the-wall-to-pop-it-back-into-place thing.
377194
That is an overly optimistic timeline.
thickiedon
Still think you hold him out of next game. If LA loses game 3 or any other subsequent games, bring him back, but keep him out as long as LA is winning.
MPrck
Sounds like bad news for the Yankee’s, but good news for some lucky fan in the stands to get that first Ohtani bronx home run ball. Can you imagine what it’ll sell for ? Oh man, what a hoot. Stick em up, you can bet on it !
Mustard Tiger
Per Dave Roberts, Ohtani will be launching bombs into the RF stands at Yankee Stadium for Game 3.
runningwithnailclippers
Please don’t get too angry at me, but which shoulder was it? I read the article but I may have just missed it. Was it his left or right? Thanks.
reflect
Left- non pitching arm.
chemfinancing
Good news for the Yanks. Sounds like they are pretty optimistic for LAD I probably wouldn’t be testing it too hard today though
Br857
Get hom s 1st base glove
EHenderson
Put alot on the Yankees winning it with a bookie based on someone’s advice (doesn’t seem like the type who would be interested in negotiating if the Yankees lose). Please say it was still the right move.
sufferforsnakes
Subluxation means it was already weakened, and all but guarantees that he will eventually dislocate it. And yes, I know what I’m talking about, since I had a few subluxations, around 2 dozen dislocations, and finally 7 surgeries on my right shoulder.
reflect
Kind of insane to write this many paragraphs about an injury but not identify the injury literally anywhere except in the last 3 sentences.
At least put the location in the title.