Regardless of what was said out loud, the expectations that the Dodgers would go through once up 3-0 in the NLCS were much greater than your run-of-the-mill team leading three-zip in a best-of-seven. Beyond the simple but essential final punch of making good on that promise as early as possible, the Dodgers had one primary goal: to get Shohei Ohtani going ahead of what can only be considered a potentially harder match-up in the World Series. Based on that, Game 4 could not have gone any better for
the reigning champs vying to be the first team to repeat in the 21st century.
Much was said about the perceived overcautiousness of opposing managers when facing Ohtani this postseason, twice being intentionally walked to load the bases with a future Hall of Famer coming up behind him. As if taking personal offense that these questions were ever asked, even if never directly to or near him, Ohtani needed all of one game to make a statement to the entire baseball world. Maybe everyone was foolish to harp on that subject for as long as they did, and let’s never question him again.
The reigning NL MVP, on his way to another undisputed trophy, managed what could be seen as the greatest postseason performance this side of the Don Larsen perfect game. Ohtani added not one, not two, but three majestic home runs to his six innings of scoreless work with 10 punchouts as the starter, being the leading man on both sides of this 5-1 win.
What’s disturbing about the whole thing is that he didn’t just hit regular home runs, if there is such a thing. Each of his three long balls left the entire ballpark flabbergasted, stunned, in awe; the adjectives are endless, nearly as much as the talent level of Ohtani.
Fulfilling the tradition of Dodgers NLCS homers against José Quintana, Ohtani was gifted a slurve on the sweet spot of the inner half and promptly demolished it to give Los Angeles an early lead they’d never relinquish. And that was honestly the least impressive long ball.
Following Quintana, the Brewers went to Chad Patrick, who had a terrific performance, allowing only one hit in four innings of work; it just so happens that one hit was an Ohtani homer that left the stadium on what was a great cutter in off the plate, but Ohtani was ready for all the same.
Earlier in the playoffs, everyone was amazed at the home run Aaron Judge hit off Louis Varland in the ALDS. It’s no wonder that pound-for-pound, these are the two masters of the game at the moment, operating at classes by themselves in each league.
Unsatisfied, Ohtani came back up one more time against Trevor Megill, one of the nastiest relievers in the sport, and this time went opposite field on a 98.9 MPH fastball.
Moving forward to the final round, the echoes of this single performance are immeasurable. Hopefully, it won’t happen, but Ohtani could go hitless from now on, and what he did in Game 4 of the NLCS will still be etched in the mind of the opposing team’s manager in the Fall Classic. On an even more positive note, imagine what this team could do with Ohtani at the peak of his powers over a whole series.
This team has proven time and time again that it can still win games consistently even without Ohtani performing at a high level, but his presence by itself is a game-changer. Now, when he reaches these levels, we know he can hit; it’s the human embodiment of an unstoppable force.
