With the MLB postseason just around the corner, an off-field issue has sparked controversy among teams. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ rivals are expressing their frustration over a special rule that they say gives the team an unfair advantage in the playoffs.
The Dodgers’ ‘advantage’
The reason for the discord is the exemption enjoyed by Shohei Ohtani as a two-way player, which in practice allows the Dodgers to have an extra pitcher on their roster.
According to USA Today journalist Bob Nightengale, “teams are upset that the Dodgers will have one more pitcher than everyone else on their roster, as there is a special exemption for Shohei Ohtani as a two-way player”.
The controversy lies in the fact that if Ohtani starts a game as a pitcher, he can stay in the game as a designated hitter once he is replaced on the mound, giving his team a unique flexibility that no other club has.
A rule with limits
Nightengale also clarified that this benefit has its limits. If Ohtani were to enter the game as a relief pitcher instead of a starter, the Dodgers would lose their designated hitter. For this reason, the journalist believes that “Ohtani is unlikely to have any other role in the postseason other than designated hitter and starting pitcher.”
Despite the controversy, the Dodgers are heading to the playoffs with their sights set on a second consecutive World Series title and third in the last six years. With Ohtani set to make a big impact, the question for his rivals is whether this special waiver is a fair advantage or a rule that needs to be reviewed.
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