Ohtani, who is about to win, won't he finish without hitting his first home run of the World Series? 'Shoulder surgery' leaving only the curiosity
Oct 30, 2024
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The Dodgers announced the starting lineup for Game 4 of the World Series against the New York Yankees at 9:08 a.m. on the 30th (Korea time). Ohtani will play as the designated hitter for the leadoff.
Ohtani, who got on base with a walk in the bottom of the seventh inning in Game 2 at Dodger Stadium on the 27th and was replaced immediately after being tagged out while trying to steal second base at the Teoscar Hernandez's at-bat, complained of left shoulder pain, and played normally as the first designated hitter in Game 3 on the 29th as the pain disappeared quickly and there was no abnormality in the MRI examination.
However, he wore a protector on his shoulder before the game, and when he went out as a runner, he held the collar on the uniform with his left hand and minimized his movement. It is true that he is still cautious, and he also expressed his position to decide whether to operate through tests after the World Series.
However, it doesn't seem to be enough to be unable to play. Ahead of Game 3, manager Dave Roberts said there is no reason not to play if it is a tolerable pain. Roberts had a 'plan B' in case Ohtani was absent, but he may not be able to put it into practice anymore.
If the Dodgers win Game 4, they will win the World Series. In the best-of-seven postseason series in history, 39 out of 40 times have won the series, with a 97.5% probability. The only example is that the Boston Red Sox advanced to the World Series in 2004 with four consecutive wins after losing three games against the Yankees in the ALCS.
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Attention is focusing on whether Ohtani can hit a home run. Ohtani, who got on base with a walk and a pitch in Game 3 the previous day and homered once, was silent with no hits in three at-bats. He went 1 for 11 with no home run and no RBI in three World Series games. Ohtani's home run was the latest in Game 4 of the NLCS against the New York Mets on the 18th. In the top of the first inning, he pulled on left-hander Jose Kintana's 90.8-mile sinker and hit a 422-foot long-range solo shot over the right fence.
Since then, he has failed to add home runs in five consecutive games and 29 at-bats until Game 3 of the World Series. Ohtani's longest home run in the regular season this year was nine games.
Meanwhile, Ohtani described the condition of his shoulder the day before, saying, `I had tape on my shoulder today, and it felt different compared to when I didn't"There is no deeper discussion yet about future plans. Whether to perform surgery after the World Series is over must be decided through additional tests. But as it stands, I don't think that's necessary.' In other words, they will consider the possibility of surgery.
jhno@sportschosun.com
