Scared, for Shohei.
Scared, for the Series.
Scared, just minutes after it all seemed so safe.
In the seventh inning of the Dodgers’ eventual 4-2 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday night, Shohei Ohtani took off on an attempted steal of second base.
But this time, not only was he out, he was out, landing hard on his left shoulder, finishing the play lying on his back in the dirt while waiting for a trainer to run out and help him up.
The Dodgers stared silently from the dugout. The fans stared silently from the stands. Palms covered mouths. Hands covered eyes. The dusty Ohtani trudged to the dugout as if marching through a nightmare.
“The scene, very concerning,” manager Dave Roberts said.
Read more: Dodgers ‘banking on’ Shohei Ohtani playing in Game 3 of the World Series vs. Yankees
The Dodgers’ seemingly inevitable march to their eighth World Series championship? Very, very concerning.
Roberts was calling Ohtani’s injury “a little left shoulder subluxation,” which translates into a partial dislocation. Roberts said Ohtani would undergo an MRI, but, “I’m expecting him to be there, I’m expecting him to be in the lineup.”
The Dodgers and their fans better hope so. Their fortunes for the next week may depend on it.
This is an obvious statement but, even though Ohtani is just one for eight in the Series with one extra-base hit and no RBIs, he is the tent pole that holds up this team.
He is the constant threat. He is the cornerstone of every opposing pitcher’s game plan. He makes the other guy think. He lets his teammates relax. He controls the narrative that has given the Dodgers a two-games-to-none lead with this Series going back to the Bronx for three weekday games.
“You know how big Shohei is for this team,” Teoscar Hernández said.
It was a reality check on another unreal playoff game, one in which the Dodgers seemed to take full control of the Series and the last few days of their season.
Hernández was thrashing. Tommy Edman was banging. Yoshinobu Yamamoto was dealing. And Freddie Freeman, bless him, still was floating.
Ice Cube won the night before the first pitch. Blue-cloaked fans shook the Ravine until the last pitch. And…