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Game 7 of the World Series between the Dodgers and Blue Jays was already tense, but things took a strange turn in the first inning. Shohei Ohtani appeared to get extra warm-up time before pitching, leaving fans confused and Blue Jays manager John Schneider furious, sparking a live debate over whether MLB was giving the Dodgers’ two-way star special treatment. So, the debate started right after the first inning. When Shohei Ohtani finished his at-bat, he switched to the field. Then, John Smoltz, a Fox announcer, saw that the Dodgers star was getting an extra three minutes to warm up. This quickly reached the Jays’ dugout and the manager. The moment got intense when the Jays manager walked right up to Jordan Baker, the home plate umpire for Game 7, for answers. This incident was captured by cameras. Later, Fox Sports posted a video on social media with a caption, “John Schneider spoke with Jordan Baker in-between innings after Shohei Ohtani got extra warm-up time before the bottom of the 1st”. That post set off a chain of accusations that the league was safeguarding the Dodgers’ star and the team. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad After that, Fox brought in Mark Carlson as their rules analyst to give an explanation of the matter, but he failed to provide a proper explanation. So, what did the analyst say? In his explanation, he said, “Shohei’s obviously a unique player, that he’s a two-way player”. He also added, “And as a pitcher, if he ends the ending at bat on base or on deck, he gets the discretion of the umpires to allow him to have the appropriate time to pitch.” ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad After that remark on Ohtani, another analyst, John Smoltz, reacted, “I think he’s taking advantage of it, though, Mark”. Smoltz also added, “I mean, obviously, this is not the National League rules. I mean, I get it. He wasn’t running the bases. But is there a point where you think that he might be taking advantage of it?” In reply, Carlson said, “You know, I mean, this is the World Series. You don’t want to take the potential of a pitcher being injured and rushing and getting back out there. I understand that there are time limits and stuff, but I think because it is the World Series, you take the proactive approach to let him have the opportunity to get his proper warmups.” So, basically, Carlson’s appearance did not add much value to the broadcast, and fans were left confused. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports With fans demanding answers, another unexpected twist was added to the narrative. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Why Shohei Ohtani missed out on World Series MVP Honors Shohei Ohtani could have played like an elite with his bat and glove in the World Series; however, it was not enough to get an MVP honor. The honor went to Yoshinobu Yamamoto. His performance on the field was historic. Pitching-wise, Shohei Ohtani did not play effectively in Game 4. In that game, he allowed 4 runs and 6 hits in 6 innings, and the team lost the game. Then came Game 7, where Ohtani pitched only 2 1/3 innings and delivered 5 hits and 3 runs. On the contrary, Yamamoto started Game 2 and Game 6 and also appeared in relief in Game 7; he finished the Series with three wins and was the Series MVP, providing a combined 9 hits and 2 runs in 15 innings. Andrew Friedman, President of baseball operations, said of the star’s performance in Game 7, “For him to have the same stuff that he had the night before is really the greatest accomplishment I’ve ever seen on a major league baseball field.” From the disputed warm-up time to the unexpected MVP outcome, the Dodgers’ championship win had everything: drama, confusion, and undeniable brilliance. While Shohei Ohtani’s two-way magic captivated the world, it was Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s composure and short-rest heroics that ultimately sealed Los Angeles’ glory. Yet, amid the celebration, one lingering question remains for fans and analysts alike: did the league’s leniency toward its biggest star blur the line between fair play and showtime baseball?
