The power of one of the greatest offensive seasons in major league history is evident in the fact that even as personnel issues continue to mount, optimism persists.
Shohei Ohtani has proven that he can accomplish feats never before seen. Keeping those around him safe from injury remains a work in progress.
So even as the Dodgers clinched their 11 h National League West title in 12 seasons Thursday, and did it with the help of an Ohtani go-ahead RBI single in the seventh inning, they remain unable to stay out of harm’s way.
The latest worrisome injury came two batters after Ohtani dribbled run-scoring single into right field during the Dodgers’ five-run seventh inning that upended the San Diego Padres 7-2 on Friday.
Freddie Freeman rolled his ankle at first base while trying to beat out a ground ball and left the game immediately. When the Dodgers’ celebrated their NL West title on the field after the game, Freeman was nowhere to be found.
Freeman did make an appearance at the clubhouse champagne celebration, wearing a walking boot with crutches at his disposal. There were laughs and shouts all around, although a Freeman injury this close to the playoffs should create a prayer circle of concern.
Yet even before the final diagnosis of the injury has been delivered, there was confidence that Freeman should be fine with just three regular season games remaining, all at Colorado this weekend.
“I’m not too worried about it,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said postgame about Freeman. “We’re gonna be cautious. We have no reason to play him (at Colorado). We could have, potentially, if we needed it. We don’t need it. So we’ll make sure that he’s rested up and ready to go next Saturday.”
This, then, is truly the most amazing gift Ohtani possesses. His mere presence makes others forget about recent history like it never happened. Like 10 previous division titles and 11 consecutive playoff appearances that ended with just one World Series title. Like Max Muncy’s elbow injury on the final day of the 2021 regular season that knocked him out of that year's playoffs.
Like Muncy’s injury, the Freeman play happened in the area of first base at Dodger Stadium.
And Freeman is just one in a long line of injury concerns. Defensive anchor Miguel Rojas departed Wednesday’s game with a groin injury and arrived in the clubhouse Thursday saying an MRI showed a muscle tear. He received an injection for the injury, will be off until at least Sunday and intends to take the field in the playoffs.
Not taking the field will be a myriad of pitching talent like Tyler Glasnow (elbow), Gavin Stone (shoulder), Dustin May (elbow), River Ryan (elbow) and Emmit Sheehan (elbow). Clayton Kershaw (toe) refuses to give up hope on participating at some point in October, but on Thursday he said he is unable to throw with 100 percent effort or get into his normal pitching mechanics.
“I feel like it’s progressing, it’s just been obviously not as fast as I had hoped or wanted,” Kershaw said. “There have been slight improvements like waking up in the morning and the pressure I put on it ... ‘Maybe?’ But it’s just not there yet.”
Right-hander Brusdar Graterol (shoulder) looks doubtful to return this season, and right-hander Brent Honeywell Jr. (cracked fingernail) just went on the IL. Catcher Austin Barnes only returned Thursday from a broken big toe. Even third baseman Max Muncy was held out of a recent game because a sore side after missing a large chunk of time this season with an oblique injury.
And yet the party -- not to mention the undaunted show of optimism -- continues.
The Dodgers need Ohtani's playoff at-bats to keep coming over and over again, far sooner than expected, like the birthday of that relative who is hard to shop for.
“Man it feels so good,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said about Ohtani’s late-season hot streak while in the clubhouse late Thursday as players celebrated all around him.
Ohtani, the reigning National League Player of the Week, now has multiple hits in five of his last seven games as he takes an overall nine-game hitting streak and 1.211 September OPS to the Rocky Mountains this weekend before hauling that heavy payload into the playoffs, which start Oct. 5 at Dodger Stadium.
“I'm just really excited for Shohei, excited for everybody,” Roberts said. “Your first time going to the postseason is something people dream of. So the way he's playing right now, the way he's swinging the bat, seeing it, the focus that he has, I think, speaking for me, everyone in that dugout, this clubhouse, we're just going to ride his coattails."
If only his tails were on a medical lab coat.
While taking a break from champagne and beer revelry Thursday, even Ohtani admitted that he is not immune from occasional discomfort. He was asked about not wearing goggles like his teammates when the champagne spray started to fly.
“It stung a little bit in my eyes but hopefully it won’t cause too much damage,” he said through interpreter Will Ireton.
That would actually be the cruelest injury of all. Even as the Dodgers limp to the postseason, they walk tall, as long as their north star burns bright.
“This series was something special,” Ohtani said as the Dodgers took two of three this week from the Padres, who have MLB’s best second-half record at 41-19. “It was something that stood out for me over the year. Obviously to be able to clinch it is the reason I am here (with the Dodgers).
“It was an awesome feeling and I am hoping to be able to continue popping champagne.”
