The primary snort line of this Nationwide League Division Sequence got here on Friday afternoon, when San Diego Padres supervisor Mike Shildt was requested how his membership deliberate to assault Shohei Ohtani.
“He’s a great player, he’s having an historic year,” Shildt added. “But we feel good about our plan.”
The second second of levity, on the eve of the Dodgers-Padres best-of-five collection, got here a number of hours later. And this time, it was prompted by Ohtani himself.
Sitting in the identical swivel chair contained in the Dodger Stadium interview room, Ohtani was requested if he was in any respect nervous about his first MLB postseason, which is able to start with Recreation 1 on Saturday night time.
To his left, Ohtani’s interpreter, Will Ireton, began to translate the query to Japanese. However earlier than he might end, Ohtani answered himself in English.
“Nope,” he mentioned with a fast smirk, and a delicate shake of his head.
Extra laughter from the assembled media ensued.
The stage for a extremely anticipated playoff collection was set.
Of all of the components that might decide the NLDS, Ohtani’s efficiency would possibly loom largest within the equation.
And like many groups he confronted this 12 months, he performed properly towards the Padres within the common season.
The Dodgers are again within the playoffs. However for a way lengthy is the massive query.
Over 12 video games towards San Diego, the probably NL most respected participant batted 15 for 46 (for a .326 common) with six doubles, a house run and a .922 OPS. Throughout the groups’ assembly at Dodger Stadium final week, Ohtani had go-ahead hits back-to-back nights, serving to carry the Dodgers to consecutive wins that clinched their NL West division.
“He’s the most talented hitter on the field,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned. “He can change the game in a lot of different ways.”
Nonetheless, when the NLDS kicks off on Saturday, Ohtani will likely be in uncharted territory — enjoying underneath an October highlight for the primary time in his seven-year MLB profession.
It’s strain the 30-year-old slugger mentioned he was embracing on Friday, calling his first postseason look a “childhood dream” and one he’d been anxiously awaiting since arriving from Japan in 2018.
“I think the excitement of [playing in the playoffs] is greater than anything else that I could possibly feel,” Ohtani mentioned by means of Ireton.
Nerves included, apparently.
“If there’s any person that I feel that’s going to be able to handle this, it’s certainly Shohei,” Roberts echoed. “I think he just brings a next-level megastar to our ballclub.”
Ohtani ought to get possibilities to provide in the NLDS, with Shildt indicating that the Padres haven’t any plans to easily pitch round him.
“Yeah, you want to take Shohei out of the equation,” Shildt mentioned. “But … I’m not a guy that likes to run from competition a whole lot. We clearly tip our hat, and he’s clearly a very exceptional player. But I believe in our guys, too.”
“We feel confident that we have the ability to get Ohtani out,” Shildt added.
San Diego Padres supervisor Mike Shildt speaks to reporters throughout a information convention at Dodger Stadium on Friday.
(Ashley Landis / Related Press)
San Diego’s Recreation 1 starter, spring coaching commerce acquisition Dylan Stop, will get the primary crack at that problem Saturday night time. Whereas Stop has held Ohtani to simply 4 hits in 15 at-bats towards him, two of these knocks have been house runs, and this 12 months Ohtani reached base in three of his six plate appearances towards the hard-throwing right-hander, together with a stroll and a double within the Dodgers’ Sept. 25 win.
“You’ve got to mix it up and do the best you can to not leave it over the heart of the plate, really,” Stop mentioned. “I don’t want to get into too many details on anything, but he’s obviously a great hitter. So I’m going to go in with a high level of focus and just attack.”
The Padres’ actual benefit towards Ohtani figures to return from their left-handed-heavy bullpen.
Commerce deadline addition Tanner Scott has been one of many more durable pitchers on Ohtani in his profession, holding him to only a one-for-nine mark with a stroll in 10 earlier plate appearances. San Diego has three different southpaws to throw on the left-handed slugger, together with Wandy Peralta (towards whom Ohtani is 2 for seven in his profession), Adrian Morejon (three for 4 with a house run) and Yuki Matsui (three for 5).
“A lot of times, we [will] have a lefty on Ohtani, which we prefer,” Shildt mentioned, referencing Ohtani’s .288 batting common and .867 OPS towards left-handers this 12 months, in comparison with his .322 common and 1.128 OPS towards righties. “The numbers bear that out, and we like our lefties.”
The one factor Shildt and Stop mentioned is that the Padres can be cautious of pitching too cautiously to Ohtani. In spite of everything, the Dodgers may have not less than one former MVP following him within the batting order in Mookie Betts, and doubtlessly one other if Freeman recovers from his sprained ankle in time for Recreation 1 (which Roberts mentioned was nonetheless his expectation as of Friday afternoon).
“If you pitch timidly and you walk guys or you fall behind, you’re really just setting yourself up for failure,” Stop mentioned. “At the end of the day, it’s a challenge and it’s difficult, but you’ve got to kind of rise to the occasion and meet it.”
As Ohtani begins his first postseason — seven years, 860 video games and greater than 3,000 at-bats after he arrived within the main leagues — the identical will even apply to him.
“I’m very thankful for the people who supported me over the years,” Ohtani mentioned. “And really I just want to return the favor by making sure that I’m enjoying and focusing on the game.”
