Should Shohei Ohtani Pitch & Hit In The 2021 MLB All-Star Game?

Should Shohei Ohtani Pitch & Hit In The 2021 MLB All-Star Game? | Sports Takes & News | TooAthletic.com

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As MLB prepares for the 2021 All-Star game, a debate has begun over Shohei Ohtani and what role he should play in the Game. The Los Angeles Angels slugger is leading all American League DHs in All-Star votes. However, there is a movement to allow the Japanese import to both hit AND pitch in this year’s game, a feat that would force MLB to change the rules governing the All-Star Game. Should Shohei Ohtani be able to both pitch and hit in this year’s game, or should he pick one job and stick with it?

Unlike pitchers, Major League position players have their All-Star status voted on by the fans. As a result, Shohei Ohtani (the hitter) has twice as many votes as any other American League designated hitter heading into Phase II of the voting process. That also means that Shohei Ohtani (the pitcher) has the same number of votes that you and I have, zero, because only his prowess with the bat can be voted on, not what he does on the mound. This means that unless rules are changed, Ohtani can be a DH in the All-Star game, but not a pitcher for the American League.

Mike Axisa of CBS Sports is proposing that almost every rule in the MLB book be broken to allow Ohtani to take the mound and step into the batter’s box when the American League faces the National League in Denver. He wants to do away with the three-batter minimum rule since Ohtani might be tired after performing in the Home Run Derby the night before the All-Star Game, and allow him to face one hitter just so fans can see him toe the rubber. Axisa also proposes MLB waives the rule about a team losing their DH if a player takes the field or if a position player takes to the mound, the only two ways that Ohtani can both hit and pitch in the same game.

This is often the time of year that Major League Baseball media members forget that fans have this thing called television. Anyone who is planning to watch the All-Star game has probably seen at least one highlight of Ohtani swinging a bat and striking someone out . Yet, to listen to Axisa and others tell it, if fans don’t see him face one hitter and bat against one pitcher, this magical season he is having will be lost because MLB wouldn’t throw away the rulebook.

And I say … REALLY???

Would I concede that camera phones will be flashing if Ohtani takes the mound and faces a hitter, yes, I would … but do you think anyone from the Angels organization would be holding their breath hoping that their new star doesn’t get hurt trying to strike someone out in a meaningless game? Are there really media members that want Shohei Ohtani to participate in the Home Run Derby on a Monday, and then warm up, pitch, and then hit the next day? That sounds really selfish coming from people who want to be entertained, and don’t give a damn about the health of any athlete competing on the field.

If Shohei Ohtani is worthy of being an All-Star pitcher, then let the game’s manager or MLB put him on the team; but considering he has half as many innings pitched as the league leader, his status as an elite hurler may be a little overstated. Perhaps this should open the door for MLB fans to be allowed to vote on who hits and pitches in the All-Star Game, giving the theory of if people want to see the same player perform both as a batter and pitcher in the game. Until then, however, let’s just enjoy what Shohei Ohtani is doing in the regular season and not ask him to empty his tank over a 24-hour period as if he is doing a fundraising telethon. 

Let’s keep in mind that Shohei Ohtani, like everyone else on the field is not a video game avatar, but a real person who might actually get hurt that night or on another night, because he tried too hard to entertain baseball fans in a game he wasn’t be paid for nor mattered in the standings for his team. 

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Should Shohei Ohtani Pitch & Hit In The 2021 MLB All-Star Game? | TooAthletic.com

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By: Rafael Thomas
Title: Should Shohei Ohtani Pitch & Hit In The 2021 MLB All-Star Game?
Sourced From: tooathletic.com/should-shohei-ohtani-pitch-hit-in-the-2021-mlb-all-star-game/
Published Date: Fri, 02 Jul 2021 03:59:20 +0000

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