The Los Angeles Angels, masters of disappointment, are and look hopeless.
It will probably be another year without postseason baseball for the franchise: they haven’t played in October since 2014.
That doesn’t mean they won’t protect their stars, especially Shohei Ohtani, if they have to: they will have the same precautions that contending teams have with their best players.
Last night, Ohtani dominated the Oakland Athletics for six innings in an Angels victory.
The two-way star walked three and allowed just four hits in six scoreless frames, striking out five hitters and lowering his ERA to an incredible 2.68.
He couldn’t go out to start the seventh and reported an injury.
Angels insider Jeff Fletcher, however, brought some peace of mind to fans: Ohtani is fine.
“Ohtani got x-rays on his foot as a precaution. They were negative. He’s playing tomorrow. Nevin said that’s why he came out when he did,” Fletcher tweeted.
Ohtani got x-rays on his foot as a precaution. They were negative. He’s playing tomorrow.
Nevin said that’s why he came out when he did.
— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) August 10, 2022
Another MVP Award In His Future?
The reporter also said that “Ohtani knew he was done pitching when he was trying to go out for the seventh. He was just going to go out to stall so Jimmy Herget had more time to warm up, but Nevin told him that wasn’t necessary.”
His amazing season continues, and even though the Angels probably won’t make the playoffs, Ohtani is the frontrunner for his second consecutive MVP award in the American League.
As a pitcher, he has a 2.68 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP in 111 frames, with 157 strikeouts.
As a hitter, his slash line is at .256/.348/.501 with 25 home runs, 62 runs, 66 RBI, and even 11 stolen bases.
New York Yankees star Aaron Judge will be a tough foe in this year’s voting process, but Ohtani deserves thorough consideration.
NEXT: Shohei Ohtani Is Rewriting The Record Books