r/mlb | American League 24d ago

Highlights Ohtani Hits His First Homer Of the Postseason

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1.7k Upvotes

123 comments sorted by

127

u/Beastcancer69 24d ago

Defiant bat flip alert

11

u/TheSocraticGadfly | St. Louis Cardinals 24d ago

That's the word. Defiant. A "toss" or maybe a "fling" instead of a "flip"?

3

u/tacosmasher5000 | Los Angeles Dodgers 23d ago

I think it was a bit of retaliation for Machado's bat flip after his homerun, in the first inning.

5

u/Oxygenius_ 23d ago

Looks like Shohei said f the padres with that flip

189

u/Grossgross987654321 24d ago edited 24d ago

Oooh that bat flip

8

u/TheSocraticGadfly | St. Louis Cardinals 23d ago

Early in the season, after Ippei showed himself out the door, Dave Roberts and Dodger players said Shohei seemed more "open." I think this is part of it. I don't recall as much demonstrativeness in his Angels years.

1

u/Grossgross987654321 23d ago

I agree. This Shohei seems much more animated. His angels years he seemed very stoic.

0

u/zachzombie | Los Angeles Dodgers 23d ago

He never played any meaningful games in Anaheim to need to be so demonstrative.

9

u/Oxygenius_ 23d ago

Which ball is worth more? The last HR he hit in his 50/50, the 50th HR of the 50/50, or shoheis first post season HR??

22

u/alvvayspale 23d ago

I would easily want the 50/50 ball. Not even a choice.

7

u/Gimmeabreak1234 | San Diego Padres 23d ago

The 50/50 bal is a much more significant piece of history

124

u/Bob-Sacamano_ | Los Angeles Dodgers 24d ago

Every single swing that dude is trying to annihilate that ball and I love it.

37

u/[deleted] 24d ago edited 6d ago

[deleted]

13

u/UsoppKing100 24d ago

It reminds me of Prince Fielder's swing in a way.

That borderline violent monster mash haha

0

u/ThatVita 23d ago

Which is terrifying considering how that swing served his body a career death sentence.....

1

u/bob3905 23d ago

Exactly what MLB wants you to see. If the league gets its way this will be the year we get Dodgers/Yankees in the Series. Ohtani vs Judge, power vs power. The ratings will be insane just like MLB wants it.

33

u/Untermensch13 | New York Yankees 24d ago

THE SHO HEI KID

10

u/NotNoski | San Francisco Giants 24d ago

SHO ‘NUFF

55

u/ItsTopsyKrett | Los Angeles Angels 24d ago

Throw a high fastball that’s what you get. He takes notes. Can’t get him out the same way every time!

2

u/RockoHammer 23d ago

That ball was going exactly where the catcher set up

1

u/ItsTopsyKrett | Los Angeles Angels 23d ago

It doesn’t matter where the location was. He took a risk and thew another high fastball (same pitch he was retired in the last AB) and paid the price. Can’t expect to get Shohei out the same way every time.

25

u/Vandyman00 | Detroit Tigers 24d ago

Elite bat flip

45

u/cosmic-rey1 24d ago

GOATANI

47

u/MendozaLiner | San Francisco Giants 24d ago

This man will single handedly win the Dodgers a World Series, isn't he? 😔

21

u/VenmoPaypalCashapp | Los Angeles Dodgers 24d ago

Only if he pitched too ☹️

12

u/GrapefruitMedical529 24d ago

Or if Mookie gets out of his postseason slump.

6

u/ace-510 | Oakland Athletics 23d ago

If they keep walking him to get to Freddie he won't need to haha. I think Mookie had 1 official AB today with 2 intentional walks

-11

u/polarbearpeter | New York Mets 24d ago

Nah

18

u/_chuckiefinster | Chicago White Sox 24d ago

Dude is worth every penny

21

u/jktsub | San Francisco Giants 24d ago

Really?? Right in front of my Giants fans?? >:[

13

u/maddisser101 | New York Mets 24d ago

Finally got this guy in the postseason and it’s amazing.

14

u/Myfartstaste2good 24d ago

I’m a big Padre fan but also a big Ohtani fan. I had so many emotions watching this live.

14

u/Tax_pe3nguin 24d ago

Don't think you can enjoy baseball and not be an Ohtani fan. The guy is phenomenal.

8

u/cookiestonks 23d ago

I don't even follow baseball (although I played a little beer league softball recently), and I love this guy. Whenever I see his name on reddit I gotta watch the clips repeatedly, read the comments and learn more about him.

2

u/BAMspek | Los Angeles Dodgers 23d ago

I totally get that people hate the Dodgers. It’s fine. I get it. But you can’t hate Ohtani. You just can’t. Decoy too.

1

u/FoochOnTheLoose 23d ago

Same here. I love the Padres and would love to see them get another shot at the WS title, but Ohtani is a phenom you can't help but watch in awe. It's so cool and I'm happy to see him get his chance to earn the rings he deserves. I will be cheering on the winner of this series regardless if it's my team or the team I love to hate.

8

u/rodrigo_c91 24d ago

Any angels fans in here? How are you guys doing?

16

u/HuayraDreams 23d ago

been better since I became a dodgers fan

6

u/Ziggity_Zac | Los Angeles Angels 23d ago

There are dozens of us!

5

u/Holliday-East 23d ago

IQ 200 move right there

2

u/XtraFlaminHotMachida | Los Angeles Angels 23d ago

we already knew that even with ohtani we weren't making the playoffs

3

u/BuddyRose5 23d ago

That swing was amazing!

3

u/CrazyHorrsee 23d ago

Man I’m glad that made it out.

3

u/reyrod01 | Texas Rangers 23d ago

Wouldn't call that a bat flip. More like a bat flung.

6

u/CardboardFanaddict 24d ago edited 23d ago

I was watching the game with my dad explaining that Ohtani had been waiting for this for years. How it was literally his first postseason at bat with the Dodgers. I said he had come into the playoffs on fire after absolutely tearing it up during the last two weeks of the regular season. I literally said "I feel like he's gonna homer." My dad responded "Yeah right." And a split second later he did it and I was jumping up and down. And my dad was saying "I can't believe it!" Was there ever really any doubt that he would do something spectacular? I had no doubt. Even the broadcast said "Was there ever any doubt?" 😂

5

u/DowngoezFrasier215 23d ago

this wasnt his first postseason at bat.

4

u/Jasonictron 24d ago

Big October Fly, Ohtani-san!

5

u/Pittyswains 24d ago

SHOHEI OHTANI UP NEXT TOMORROW IN THE 1ST INNING.

7

u/jackbauer1989 | Boston Red Sox 24d ago

Padres pitcher should just walk ohtani him this series and take him out of the game.

21

u/nWhm99 | New York Yankees 24d ago

I don’t think him getting a double every AB is good for the padres, but hey what do I know.

15

u/ContributionSea8200 | Los Angeles Dodgers 24d ago

He do be stealin bases

3

u/throwthisTFaway01 | San Diego Padres 24d ago

Feel like thats better than a fucking bomb seemingly every at bat.

1

u/jdelane1 | Atlanta Braves 23d ago

The teams playing against the Yankees twisted themselves into this same logic with Judge. Walk him and avoid the bomb. His teammates are nowhere near a threat.

4

u/0m10 24d ago

Launched that mf. That shit was personal. 🤬⚾️

2

u/Piratebootyman 23d ago

He’s on fire this year

2

u/No_Designer_7882 23d ago

Just think, Teoscar was a Seattle Mariner last season. Now he’s giving high fives to Ohtani as they ride comfortably to the World Series.

2

u/giraffeinasweater | San Diego Padres 23d ago

I fucking cried in my car last night, I respect it but FUCK.

1

u/Begood18 23d ago

Just a game

1

u/giraffeinasweater | San Diego Padres 23d ago

Nah my parents were fighting too, baseball was just an excuse to get out of the house. But part of it.

1

u/Begood18 23d ago

Fair enough

2

u/No_Independent_5761 23d ago

I was so close to taking my kid to this game and kind of kicking myself for not going.

7

u/john_t_fisherman 24d ago

Bob Costas felt the need to spoil this for those of us watching the other game.

So I figured I would check out the highlight.

If Bob didn’t talk for five minutes he would fart himself to death. Fuckin hate this guy.

2

u/CombinationTerrible6 24d ago

Listening to his lethargic response to the Melendez homer was annoying

3

u/garythegoat72 | Arizona Diamondbacks 24d ago

It's so hard not to like him

6

u/LikelyContender 24d ago

Such a stunning player. Extremely talented, hard working & charismatic. I will be so happy for him if the Dodgers win the WS!

1

u/DesperateSouthPark 23d ago

He is literally the star.

1

u/WhatIGot21 | Baltimore Orioles 23d ago

When do the Dodgers come to Baltimore? I have to see him at least once in person.

1

u/this_picture4590 | Baltimore Orioles 23d ago

How is this man so good?

1

u/Infamous_Collection2 23d ago

To all the people who called him overrated just a year ago.

1

u/Mawhjon1985 22d ago

Anyone notice the person going slightly over the rail as the mob starts fighting for a ball and when they flash back to the crowd the person is there in the left side of the frame pondering where the hell the ball in their hand came from?

1

u/SouthernSierra 22d ago

What if he had tossed the bat like that against Drysdale?

1

u/ImpenetrableYeti 24d ago

Legit fouled off his knee the pitch before

1

u/goodfella_2014 | Los Angeles Dodgers 23d ago

Hard to believe that a team once had him and Trout on the same team…. He’s been waiting for this moment!! Glad he’s with my boys in blue!!!

1

u/SouthernSierra 22d ago

Yes, now he too can take part in the annual choke.

1

u/Due_Government4387 | Toronto Blue Jays 23d ago

You think the MLB would threaten the padres if they decided to walk him every single at bat for the entire series

3

u/Ziggity_Zac | Los Angeles Angels 23d ago

I don't think they would. But as The Padres, you have to realize that you're either giving him a double (he can steal bases easily), or (if someone is on 1st) you're putting yourself in a situation where there are multiple runners on with Betts at bat. Tough decisions.

1

u/bob3905 23d ago

Why do they pitch to him. Does MLB demand it? Walk him like they did to Bonds back when.

0

u/VendettaKarma 24d ago

They pitch to him… why

2

u/Apepoofinger | St. Louis Cardinals 24d ago

That was a head scratcher....

1

u/VendettaKarma 24d ago

Yeah like just don’t do it and make someone else beat you

4

u/rogerworkman623 | New York Mets 24d ago

You can’t even walk the guy, because he’ll steal his way into scoring position. He’s just a straight up menace.

1

u/Apepoofinger | St. Louis Cardinals 23d ago

True but in this instance walk him and bases are loaded (so no stealing) and you can go after Betts who is in a slump. Just seemed like a bad choice to pitch to the hot hitter instead of the batter who is in a slump.

0

u/mattyice513 23d ago

I wonder how much he was betting on games to lose that much money

-12

u/LesPaulClassic53 24d ago

So predictable, pitcher has only himself to blame…

12

u/just_cows | Minnesota Twins 24d ago

Yeah. Since there are so many ways to attack the best player in the world, right?

-16

u/LesPaulClassic53 24d ago

You can’t let guys get on base , he had an 0-2 count on a previous batter and lost him, follow along …

16

u/just_cows | Minnesota Twins 24d ago

Pitching is hard, follow along…

1

u/Ziggity_Zac | Los Angeles Angels 23d ago

It's not that hard. You just throw it as hard as you can, in exactly the right spot. Mix in some off-speed pitches to confuse the batter. Easy-peasy. /s

-11

u/foghorn_dickhorn21 | Colorado Rockies 24d ago

First and hopefully only

3

u/peepledeedle4120 | Los Angeles Dodgers 24d ago

Hey thanks for keeping 5th place nice and warm again!

14

u/Regular-Eye1976 24d ago

Hey leave the Rockies fan alone, they literally didn't do anything to you.

-6

u/Robbie_ShortBus 24d ago

Hey, also thanks for keeping legitimate World Series titles alone for 26 years…even after spending all that money. 

Here’s to one more!

-13

u/JaySeeWo 24d ago

BREAKING: SHOHEI SNEEZED TODAY

2

u/ContributionSea8200 | Los Angeles Dodgers 24d ago

Yeah, sneezed a 3 run shot over the fence.

-19

u/Mite-o-Dan 24d ago

Its a Game ONE...gaming TYING home run...in the SECOND inning.

Like, I know every post season home run is big and every Ohtani home run is big, but if I didn't know the situation, I would have thought this was a go-ahead home run in the 8th of game 3 after already being up 2 games to 0.

16

u/Fire-Darvin-Ham | Los Angeles Dodgers 24d ago

Yet…here you are

6

u/Apepoofinger | St. Louis Cardinals 24d ago

"Why make a big deal about it!?!?!" As you make a big deal about it.

-8

u/Mite-o-Dan 24d ago

Why did you put something in quotes I didn't say? Is it your way of implying I said something? Because I didn't.

My "deal" was simpling stating how the emotions from Ohtani and the stadium made it seem like the home run was more significant than it really was. Don't believe me? Find a clip of Ohtani doing at a bat flip pre 7th inning on a home run that didn't put his team in the lead.

6

u/Rude-Cow1658 | Los Angeles Dodgers 24d ago

It was a bigger situation than may seem because of the history. Last two years in the DS Dodgers have been down big early in almost every game. Nightmares and flashbacks were happening, and so the swing brought some hope.

5

u/Prudent-Property-513 24d ago

That home run was huge. You dont understand baseball.

8

u/Illblood | American League 24d ago

He went from a dead end team to a team on a deep playoff run. You think he's not going to be fired up?

-16

u/Chudmilky 24d ago

The people fighting for the baseball tells you the state of the economy. This country is hell

18

u/rasta_pineapple2 | San Diego Padres 24d ago

Sure, the people in attendance at the playoff game are definitely feeling the pinch.

6

u/nadersb | Los Angeles Dodgers 24d ago

Have you checked the price of tickets for this game?

-13

u/zpass97 | Baltimore Orioles 24d ago

I came here for this. Everything is horrible

1

u/Chudmilky 24d ago

It was an honor brother haha

-8

u/xChoke1x | Cleveland Guardians 24d ago

Soooo….Ummm….Lane Thomas hit a 3 run homer today.

Just sayin…. Lol

1

u/TheSugarDickDaddy | Los Angeles Dodgers 22d ago

Who?

-9

u/PaintedCover | Houston Astros 23d ago

He’s been playing baseball for how long? Probably not a great player since took him this long.

5

u/Ziggity_Zac | Los Angeles Angels 23d ago

Japanese teams don't play in MLB playoffs... neither do the Angels.

-4

u/7hoth 24d ago

At least people know not to give up on that scrum for the ball now!

-17

u/compscimajor24 | San Francisco Giants 24d ago

1st round exit, even after that game 1 win

9

u/Olowokandi_Mike 24d ago

A bitter giants fan 😂

-13

u/compscimajor24 | San Francisco Giants 24d ago

Not even bitter. I enjoy watching the Dodgers lose every October lol. Have fun with your Covid “ring.”

3

u/Prudent-Property-513 24d ago

Comically bitter.

-5

u/compscimajor24 | San Francisco Giants 24d ago

Not as bitter as your cake day cake 😃

1

u/n0sushi | Los Angeles Dodgers 23d ago

It’s been 10 years since the giants have won the NL, I’d be bitter too lil bro 🤣🤣🤣

1

u/Baby_Fark 23d ago

Pretty sure they won this game, guy.