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14 hours ago
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The first few innings of World Series Game 7, as long ago as they may seem, spent a lot of time worrying about Shohei Ohtani's warmup clock between innings.
The Los Angeles Dodgers' two-way superstar took a little extra time getting out to the mound in two separate half innings after he had just been taking part in action on the offensive side.
In that scenario, the umpires have discretion to grant Ohtani extra time, but the Fox broadcast couldn't get over the fact that it was happening.
In retrospect, it was a silly thing to focus on.
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Think about what was happening here: The same player who led off the top of the first inning of Game 7 of the World Series with a hit was then taking the mound in the bottom of the first inning as the starting pitcher.
That has obviously never happened before. It may never happen again, at least in the non-Ohtani division.
But here it was, right in front of all of us. Ohtani put together a historic postseason, writing his name on a bunch of lists that pretty much included either Barry Bonds or Babe Ruth, and that was just for what he did at the plate.
He hit eight playoff home runs, tied for second-most ever.
In the World Series, he reached base 19 times, which is also tied for second-most ever.
Ohtani had that historic Game 3 performance when the Dodgers won in 18 innings. He blasted two homers, doubled twice, and walked five times (four intentional).
And then he pitched Game 4 the next day.
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Ohtani's magnificence is so brilliant to the point that it can be blinding. What he does each and every day of the season gets taken for granted.
But in the World Series, the leadoff hitter in Game 7 was also the starting pitcher. Even if it didn't go exactly according to plan for Ohtani on this night, the fact that it happened at all is mind boggling.
A season ago, Ohtani won the World Series, too, but he couldn't pitch then while still recovering from arm surgery. So this was different, special, a chance to show that his two-way majesty belonged on the highest baseball mountaintop again.
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If anyone deserves to stretch the limits of a clock a little bit, it's Ohtani. Shoot, it's the night we gain an hour on our clocks. We had the time.
So let Ohtani do his thing. There'll never be another like him.
English (US)