What follows shouldn’t be hyperbole. It’s the fact. Shohei Ohtani simply had the very best particular person playoff sport within the historical past of Main League Baseball.
Hopefully you bought to witness it — the Dodgers’ pennant-clinching NLCS Recreation 4 win that accomplished their sweep of the Brewers — whether or not stay in particular person or someplace on a monitor. If not, simply let the stat line soak in.
Ohtani got here to the plate 4 occasions. He made zero outs. He walked as soon as. He hit three mesmerizing residence runs.
Ohtani additionally pitched. He threw six scoreless innings and solely allowed two hits. He struck out 10.
Regardless of having a really quiet first three video games of the collection, Ohtani was named NLCS MVP after Recreation 4. Once more, let that each one soak in.
We have recognized for years that we have by no means seen something like Ohtani. I bear in mind in 2023 speaking to CC Sabathia and listening to him clarify why Ohtani was the best participant of all-time. I’ve gone via the previous stats earlier than to level out that Babe Ruth’s pitching and stellar hitting seasons did not overlap a lot. That was three years in the past. Ohtani has gained two MVPs since then and goes so as to add one other this yr. He is gained a World Collection in 2025 and may very properly win one other within the subsequent two weeks.
That is merely ridiculous.
Invoice James as soon as wrote that Rickey Henderson was so good that you can lower him in half and have two Corridor of Famers. You do not even must divide Ohtani up. He is clearly a Corridor of Fame stage offensive participant. When he is been in a position to keep wholesome sufficient to pitch, he pitches at a Corridor of Fame stage, too.
It was all on show in Recreation 4 of the NLCS.
Simply stroll via it chronologically.
- Ohtani issued a leadoff stroll, however then struck out the subsequent three Brewers batters he confronted within the high of the primary.
- He led off the underside of the primary with a house run.
- Within the high of the second, he induced two groundouts and a popout from the Brewers’ offense.
- Within the backside of the second, he drew a stroll.
- Within the high of the third, he walked a batter, bought a strikeout after which a double play.
- Within the high of the fourth, he gave up a leadoff double, however then bought a groundout and two strikeouts to strand the runner.
- Within the backside of the fourth, he homered. It went 469 toes.
- Within the high of the fifth, he bought a flyout and two strikeouts on the mound.
- Within the high of the sixth, he bought a flyout and two strikeouts. Once more.
- Within the backside of the seventh, he hit one other residence run.
You’ll be able to’t discover anybody in postseason historical past who can examine with that. It is unattainable.
The next gamers have three-HR video games of their postseason careers: Babe Ruth (twice), Bob Robertson, Reggie Jackson, George Brett, Adam Kennedy, Adrian Beltré, Albert Pujols, Pablo Sandoval, Jose Altuve, Kiké Hernández and Chris Taylor. None of them pitched. No, not even Babe Ruth. None of them.
Not solely did Ohtani pitch, he dominated the staff that had probably the most wins within the common season for six scoreless innings within the pennant-clinching victory.
And if you happen to’re curious, one pitcher in historical past has ever had a three-homer sport within the common season. It was Jim Tobin of the 1942 Braves. He went 3 for 4 with three homers and 4 RBI. He threw an entire sport, too. He additionally allowed 5 runs (three earned), although.
The bar is raised within the playoffs, too, ? Groups are dealing with the very best groups within the league with greater stakes than the common season.
You see the place I am going, proper?
Shohei Ohtani simply performed arguably the best baseball sport anybody has ever performed.
