Social media is really mad at MLB for showcasing Shohei Ohtani during Dodgers series loss

Shohei Ohtani's slump is national news. The Dodgers lost a series to the Braves, and all of a sudden their top spot in FanSided's MLB Power Rankings is up for grabs. This is the standard truly great franchises are held to, and it should come as no surprise to fans who have watched Ohtani and the Dodgers win back-to-back World Series that rivals were ready to pile on at the first sign of distress.

Ohtani is hitting just .233 this season and hit his first home run since April 26 on Tuesday. Prior to that game, he went 12-for-65 with just four extra-base hits in his last 17 games. It's not great, but it's important to take our expectations for Ohtani in context. This is a man who has four MVPs to his name, including three straight. So when this generation's Babe Ruth-plus struggles, it's notable.

Shohei receiving attention is one thing. Negative attention is another. Much of what makes this Dodgers dynasty so tough to hate is how likable many of its stars are, Ohtani included. That didn't stop Braves fans — and general baseball fans — from trying.

Why fans are mad at MLB's Shohei Ohtani coverage

A dynasty is ever sports league's dream, especially when that team includes generational talents from other countries. Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki are marketing gold. That's not going to change anytime soon, even with Ohtani hitting just .232 in his last 18 games. So, when MLB Network highlighted Ohtani's skillset on the mound in the midst of a series loss to the Braves, some fans took offense.

Ohtani's last start came against Houston on May 5, and before that he shut down the Marlins in late April. Showcasing Ohtani is one thing. Doing so unnecessarily as another NL contender makes their early-season statement is another — or so that was the thinking of angry fans who responded like this:

Most of these fans are Braves fans, who are some of the loudest in all of baseball when their team is actually productive for a change.

It's healthy for MLB to market Shohei Ohtani even when he's bad

Ohtani didn't play well against the Braves. Atlanta walked into Dodger Stadium and shut their best hitter down, as the four-time MVP went just 2-for-12 at home in the biggest series this team has played so far. If Dodgers fans have learned anything about Ohtani since he signed in the winter of 2023-24, it's to not expect that to happen twice.

The Dodgers are also frequently shown on MLBTV for out-of-market viewers, as they should be as back-to-back World Series champions. Ohtani, one of the best players ever and a surefire Hall-of-Fame candidate if he retired today, ought to be at the forefront of MLB's growth plans.

I don't want to insult more Braves (and baseball) fans than I have to, so I'll put this in terms they'll hopefully understand. Ohtani is an appreciating asset playing in the biggest baseball market in the country. MLB would be silly not to make a greater effort to market him. In fact, they've made that mistake in the past. Just look at Mike Trout.

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