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3 hours ago
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Life isn't fair.
But even knowing that, the MLB change known colloquially as the "Shohei Ohtani rule" has a hint of unfairness to it, at least in how it relates to the Toronto Blue Jays and every other team that isn't the Los Angeles Dodgers.
When Ohtani starts a game on the mound and is pulled from pitching, he gets to remain in the batting lineup as the DH.
The rule was put in place in 2022. Before that, any pitcher pulled from the game would be taken out of it entirely. If he was in the batting lineup before, he couldn't be in it anymore without going to a different position in the field.
MLB set the rule up to relate to two-way players in general.
But at least at the moment, and certainly to this extent this will probably always be true, there is only one Ohtani.
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There's only one player who is enough of a cheat code to make this rule a distinct advantage to the team that has Ohtani.
Mind you, having Ohtani would've been an advantage in the old system, too. Maybe he only gets two or three plate appearances in the games he pitches. But he'd still be a superstar hitter and a superstar pitcher, occasionally both in the same game but otherwise at separate, pivotal moments for his team.
This all feels a tad extra. There's no other team that can take advantage of this rule. As players and rosters presently exist, it only helps the Dodgers.
L.A. doesn't need a whole lot of help. Their pocketbooks have done plenty.
But on Saturday night in Game 7 of the World Series, the Blue Jays will be disadvantaged by a rule MLB made specifically to help the Dodgers.
Life isn't fair. But there's something extra lame about that.
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