The Los Angeles Dodgers are relying on the historical resilience of Shohei Ohtani as the star slugger enters the NLCS in a deep hitting slump. Despite a prolonged stretch without a home run, manager Dave Roberts beelieves Ohtani's natural talent will eventually trigger a postseason breakout.
The Ghost of Last Year's Game 4 MVP Performance
The current optimism surrounding Shohei Ohtani is not based on recent data, but on a specific precedent from the previous postseason. According to the report, Ohtani previously navigated a similar struggle during the playoffs, starting with a dismal 1-for-18 run in the NLDS and a poor 2-for-11 start in the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers.
That slump ended abruptly in a historic Game 4 performance where Shohei Ohtani launched three home runs and recorded 10 strikeouts to secure the pennant. This specific memory serves as the blueprint for the Los Angeles Dodgers' current strategy : waiting for a sudden, explosive correction that earns MVP honors.
A .157 Average and the Drought Since August 18
The statistical reality facing the Los Angeles Dodgers is stark. As reported, Shohei Ohtani has not hit a home run since August 18, marking a 22-game stretch across the regular season and playoffs where he has managed a batting average of only .157 and a single RBI.
While Dave Roberts maintains that Shohei Ohtani remains a threat every time he steps into the batter's box, the lack of power is a glaring void in the Dodgers' cleanup spot. The team is currently operating on "blind faith," hopiing that the opposing pitchers' long memories of Ohtani's brilliance will work in the hitter's favor by forcing them to pitch carefully.
Preparing for Jacob Misiorowski's 105 mph Fastball
To combat the slump, the Los Angeles Dodgers are employing specialized training to prepare for the Milwaukee Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski.. Because Misiorowski possesses an MLB-best 105 mph fastball, hitting coach Aaron Bates has implemented a specific "Albert Pujols drill" at American Family Field.
This drill involves the hitters taking pitches from a velocity machine while standing several steps in front of the home plate. By simulating the unprecedented speed of Jacob Misiorowski's heater from a closer vantage point, the Los Angeles Dodgers hope to quicken Shohei Ohtani's transition and overall tempo at the plate.
Flipping the Barrel and the Mystery of Ohtani's Injuries
Beyond the velocity of the pitch, the Los Angeles Dodgers are fighting a mechanical battle. Hitting coach Aaron Bates noted that Shohei Ohtani has been "flipping the barrel" too early in his swing, a tendency Bates theorizes is a result of the player overexerting himself to compensate for injuries.
This raises critical questions that the source leaves unanswered: specifically, what is the exact nature and severity of the injuries hindering Shohei Ohtani? Furthermore, it remains unclear if the "reverse engineering" of his mechanics can be achieved in time for the NLCS, or if the physical limitations mentioned by Aaron Bates are more permanent than the team is admitting publicly.
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