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Ohtani's Injury Woes: Roberts Faces Fan Backlash
16 Oct
Summary
- Shohei Ohtani is playing through left knee and right biceps discomfort.
- Fans criticize manager Dave Roberts for keeping Ohtani in the lineup.
- Ohtani has not hit a home run since August, raising performance concerns.
Shohei Ohtani's current fitness has become a significant concern for Los Angeles Dodgers fans, sparking criticism of manager Dave Roberts. Roberts is facing backlash for continuing to include Ohtani in the lineup despite his ongoing left knee and right biceps discomfort. The situation has intensified as the Dodgers compete in the National League Championship Series.
Ohtani has been managing these injuries since at least June. While his pitching was halted in July and he experienced time on the injured list, he has continued as a designated hitter. However, his recent performance, including a home run drought since August, has amplified worries about his physical state, leading to fan debates on social media platforms like X.
Fans have questioned Roberts' decisions, with some arguing that the manager should make the difficult choices regarding player rest. Others express frustration with the team's overall lineup management. Roberts, however, maintains that Ohtani believes he can contribute, stating the player was adamant about helping the team win. He also cited liking Ohtani's recent at-bats and aiming for a lineup shake-up for Game 4.
