The Los Angeles are playing around with the idea of superstar Shohai Otani pitching from the bullpen during the postseason.
With current rules in place, Andrew Friedman, president of the baseball business, has expressed his frustration surrounding Otani, preventing relief.
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“I think they missed the mark with that,” Friedman said of the rules.
Otani has started 13 times this season, but can still hit even after being pulled out from the mound. This was also true if the three-time MVP was a member of the Los Angeles Angels.
If he starts the game as a batter and then leaves the bullpen later, he will be banned from contiling as a batter when pitching in Relief is over.
“I think this rule was introduced to encourage people to do it and encourage people,” Friedman said. “Yeah, I think they missed it.”
When asked if Friedman likes to see the rules changed to include the relief look, he said, “It’s more offseason, the future.”
“Clearly,” he added. “It’s not reasonable for us to ask for that season.”
It makes sense that there is more urgency, as it is now in the bullpen and how close it is to postseason baseball. It should be noted that Friedman is not reassuring Otani pitching if the situation is permitted, despite the rules in place.
“Walker Buhler was our starting pitcher last year and finished Game 5 of the World Series,” Friedman said. “So I don’t know how things will unfold.”
In situations where Otani bats are no longer needed for the rest of the game, or where Otani takes the mound much later in the hypothesis contest, fans can certainly hope that the concept of co-leaders on National League home runs will become a bullpen option for LA.
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Photo credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Immagn Image
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