By Rockin’ Reese
There are no ifs, and, or buts about it…Shohei Ohtani is one of the most captivating players in all of
baseball, not just Major League Baseball. Though the Los Angeles Angels are barely around the .500
mark, when Ohtani is on the television, people are tuning in, whether he’s pitching or hitting.
When he’s visiting their park, people are buying tickets, because they want to see this sports phenom, in person.
However, as great as he is, his team is not. Despite setting records for the past 2 1/2 seasons, there is
one thing Ohtani has yet to do…play a MLB post-season game.
Though he has stated in the past that he wants to remain an Angel, one has to wonder how much longer that feeling will last.
In the time between their World Series win in 2002 & Ohtani’s MLB debut in 2018, the Angels have had
very little playoff success. They have had 6 trips to the playoffs, but have only won 2 series (the 2005
American Leage Division Series against the New York Yankees & the 2009 ALDS against the Boston
Red Sox).
The last time they went to the playoffs was in 2014, when they were swept by the Kansas City
Royals in the ALDS. When Ohtani arrived, he seemed like the beginning of a turnaround for the Angels.
While their records would fluctuate, Ohtani was a bright spot for the team. In 2018, he was named the AL
Rookie of the Year.
In 2021, Shohei set the world on fire, en route being named the AL Most Valuable
Player. Just this past March, he led Japan to their 3rd World Baseball Classic championship. Not only did
he clinch the championship by striking out his fellow Angel, (center fielder) Mike Trout, but Ohtani was
named MVP of the tournament. He currently leads MLB in home runs & OBSP (on base & slugging
percentage).
With all of this regular season success, fans are dying to see him in October, soon.
There is one big question on everybody’s mind. Where will Ohtani go, if he doesn’t stay with the Angels?
Let’s face it…any team would chomp at the bit to have Sho-time in their city. Not only do you get a player
who can pitch as a starter (as well as a reliever), but you have a great designated hitter. If a team was
heading to the playoffs, but they needed pitching & a DH, getting Ohtani would cover 2 needs by getting
1 player.
If some players on that team knew that there was a chance that Ohtani might join them, they
might offer to take a pay cut, because they know the attention Shohei brings will also allow them to earn
that money back plus interest. If Ohtani himself wanted to take less money to join that team, they could
use some of that leftover money to maybe get a 2nd player. Ohtani is in the peak of his playing ability, so
any teams making a play for him would be in win now mode.
However, let’s look at the other side of the coin. If the Angels keep Ohtani, they know that they will have
to make moves to build a great team around him, just to ensure that he will stay. If that happens, maybe
they could end their playoff drought by just being the playoffs. Even better, they can finally win a playoff
series. The possibility of Ohtani in October will attract attention throughout the Los Angeles area. The
NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers had “Showtime”. The Angels want to keep their version of “Sho-time” in the
City of Angels.