There is no question that Shohei Ohtani is the most impressive talent in baseball. However, there are plenty of questions as to how the Los Angeles Angels are using him.
He is already putting in yeoman’s work on the diamond. Ohtani has been in the lineup virtually every game this season while serving as the Angels’ ace. Despite battling arm fatigue, he only missed one start, getting a partial break from his ridiculous workload.
Time for Los Angeles Angels to shut Shohei Ohtani the pitcher down
That brief respite was not enough. Yes, Ohtani belted a two run homer in the first inning of the first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader, but he was also removed from the game entirely when he left the mound during a plate appearance. The Angels, meanwhile, claim that he left the game due to “arm fatigue,” one of the maladies he had been battling over the past few weeks.
It is understandable as to why the Angels are riding Ohtani so hard. Their playoff hopes are fading fast and he is talented enough to keep them relevant. He is also a free agent at the end of this season, so it may not matter if they ride him like a rented mule. Ohtani wants to win and that may not happen with the Angels.
But there is also a time where Ohtani being a once in a century talent has to win out. A player of this caliber has not been seen since the days of Martin Dihigo. The Angels can try to ride him as much as they want, but it is clear that he is starting to break down. It is also clear that it is time to shut Ohtani the pitcher down.
The Los Angeles Angels need to make a decision about Shohei Ohtani. That decision should be to keep him off the mound.
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