Shohei Ohtani didn’t win the Nationwide League batting title, or declare the NL’s first triple crown since 1937, throughout the Dodgers season-finale 2-1 win over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday.
The actual fact it was even a chance, nevertheless, was a testomony to the dominant tear with which Ohtani completed his first Dodgers season.
Regardless of going one for 4 in Sport 162 at Coors Discipline, Ohtani concluded the common season with a staggering stat line:
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.310 batting common, his new career-high
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54 residence runs and 130 RBIs, topping the NL in each classes
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59 stolen bases, together with one Sunday, essentially the most by a Japanese-born participant
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411 complete bases, second most in Dodgers historical past and essentially the most by any main league participant since 2001
“Clearly, you have seen a celebrity,” supervisor Dave Roberts stated. “Like I’ve stated, I believe the factor that I marvel at is the expectations which are placed on him, that he places on himself, and to nonetheless go on the market daily and placed on a present — I am unable to think about the stress with all these expectations. However his preparedness, his work could be very, very centered.”
“At the start, I believe a very powerful a part of all that is that I used to be capable of play constantly all through the entire 12 months,” Ohtani added by means of interpreter Will Ireton. “I am very grateful and grateful for all of the employees who supported me all through this 12 months.”
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The ultimate couple of weeks have been Ohtani’s most spectacular. Beginning together with his historic six-hit sport in Miami through which he created the 50-50 membership, Ohtani entered Sunday with 26 hits in his final 39 at-bats with six residence runs, six doubles, 20 RBIs and 9 stolen bases.
In that point, he additionally closed the batting common hole between himself and NL chief Luis Arráez from 33 factors (Ohtani was batting .287 to Arráez’s .320 mark on Sept. 18) to 4 factors on the finish of play Saturday (Ohtani .310, Arráez .314).
Ohtani claimed he “did not take into consideration the triple crown,” he stated by means of Ireton, “nor was I conscious of how far or shut I used to be to it right now.”
Roberts, nevertheless, seen a shift in strategy from the slugger as soon as he crossed the 50-home run threshold — with a late-season increase to his batting common seemingly turning into Ohtani’s ultimate goal in a banner debut Dodgers season.
“I do know as soon as he began getting hits and getting nearer to .300, I believed his objective was to common .300 [for the season],” Roberts stated this weekend. “I noticed extra intent to hit the ball flat, to get base hits versus simply the uppercut to raise the baseball.”
It wasn’t sufficient to get Ohtani the batting title.
Whereas he didn’t single till the eighth Sunday, Arráez was one for 3 within the San Diego Padres’ loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, ending the 12 months batting .314 — the infielder’s third consecutive batting title, every with a special staff.
Ohtani’s balanced end has amplified the Dodgers’ already lofty confidence within the MVP favourite, particularly as he prepares for his first postseason.
“There are going to be instances once you simply want a baserunner and he simply wants to have the ability to get on base versus making an attempt to hit a homer or one thing like that,” Roberts stated. “To have the ability to do various things is completely helpful … He simply must preserve doing what he’s doing.”
Freeman, Rojas replace
Roberts reiterated on Sunday his confidence that injured first baseman Freddie Freeman (sprained ankle) and shortstop Miguel Rojas (adductor) will likely be accessible for Sport 1 of the Nationwide League Division Sequence subsequent Saturday.
“I don’t see any cause each these guys don’t get in lineup,” Roberts stated.
That doesn’t imply, nevertheless, the Dodgers have thought-about attainable backup plans.
Whereas Tommy Edman would seemingly deal with shortstop within the occasion Rojas isn’t prepared, the Dodgers may tinker a bit extra at first. In Freeman’s absence this weekend, Kiké Hernández began all three video games. But when wanted within the playoffs, Roberts stated he would think about shifting Max Muncy to first and flipping Hernández (who’s the higher defensive participant) to 3rd.
In that situation, “Max would then work out throughout this bye week at first base,” Roberts stated. “However once more, I anticipate it is a extra short-term factor.”
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This story initially appeared in Los Angeles Occasions.
