For much of the postseason, Shohei Ohtani has done what he does best—look like a character right off a Marvel movie, doing superhuman things. But then came Game 4 of the World Series, and his superhero story came crashing down. The Dodgers superstar looked human for once—his stuff was not sharp, his command was shaky, and the Jays had the answers for him.
By the end of the night, Ohtani’s debut at the WS as a pitcher had turned bitter. He gave up four earned runs, including a booming home run to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., as the Jays stormed to a 6-2 win to tie the series.
This was the first time in weeks that LA looked super vulnerable and the first time Ohtani didn’t look untouchable. And according to former MLB executive David Samson, this game was a wake-up call for the team. But not for what you think.
Samson mentioned this was not about Ohtani’s talent but his limits that the team should focus on. “But Shohei Ohtani, the night before he started, led off and had one of those games that makes you realize what he’s doing is not normal….No, I’m talking abnormal because he is a top-of-the-rotation starter—and he manifested it in Game Four in a way that shocked my system. There is no way Ohtani is going to be effective. And when I say effective, I mean get into the seventh inning. It can’t happen.” Samson said, simply in awe of how Ohtani played an 18-inning game right before the night he started.
That fatigue did show right when Ohtani gave up four earned runs across six innings. He did strike out six, but he didn’t have his usual command, and the Dodgers’ bullpen couldn’t bail him out either. Plus, suddenly, the Toronto Blue Jays’ offense that has been dominant for so long looked alive again. Samson, though, was not ready to criticize Ohtani—he was far from it.
“Shohei Ohtani today, if he doesn’t play another game, is a Hall of Famer. Number one. Number two, he goes down in history as one of the all-time greats today.” Even then, for the Dodgers, this is a wake-up call. Their lineup has looked lifeless without Ohtani’s bat carrying them. Plus, Mookie Betts has struggled and not been able to give his best. Game 4 was not simply a Blue Jays win; it was proof that even the brightest players have a threshold. For now, maybe LA can rev up thanks to their lineup shakeup!
Ohtani didn’t just lose Game 4—he lost something else, too
Now, Shohei Ohtani didn’t just lose Game 4 of the World Series—he lost something else too. After a season that had “award sweep” written all over it, the two-way phenom came up empty-handed at the 2025 Players’ Choice Awards.
Ohtani was a finalist for two major honors. First was the Player of the Year award, and next was the National League’s Outstanding Player award. But the results are in, and his name is not on either of the trophies. Yes, you heard that right. Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh took home the Player of the Year Award, and the NL honor went to Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber.
So yes, even Ohtani, baseball’s closest thing to a cheat code, maybe, is not immune to these. But it is indeed surprising because this is the man who led MLB in runs (146), total bases (380), slugging (.622), OPS (1.104), and OPS+ (179). And he also made 14 starts on the mound, posting a 2.87 ERA with 62 strikeouts to just nine walks. This performance ends debates, not starts them.
Meanwhile, Schwarber is one player who also had a monstrous season of 56 homers and 132 RBIs. But it might be his rep as a locker room leader that might have gotten him the award. So for now, call it voter fatigue or maybe a “career-year” moment for Schwarber.
Either way, it reminds us that even Ohtani can’t win everything—not every night and not every award.
Ohtani may have focused on the MVP votes, coming up next.
The post Dodgers Shown Grim Reality as Shohei Ohtani’s Greatness Fades After Blue Jays World Series Revival, Per Insider appeared first on EssentiallySports.
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