Cubs Manager Questions Ohtani Rule

Cubs manager Craig Counsell emphasized on Friday that his earlier remarks regarding the “Shohei Ohtani Rule” weren’t beneficial for either the team or the players. He stated, “Look, this is not a Dodger issue, this is not an Ohtani issue. That’s a bad rule.”

When asked about problematic rules, he replied, “That’s it. You guys get it. It’s a good discussion. It’s an interesting discussion. I think it’s worth having.” However, it seems this discussion may not be suitable right before the Dodgers face off against the Cubs.

In MLB, teams cannot have more than 13 pitchers on their roster, but Ohtani is exempt from this limit as he is designated a two-way player. Legal experts recently described this exception as “bizarre.”

Counsell pointed out, “There’s no other player like that, but different teams have different rules for that player.” This perspective seemed to resonate with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. He hinted that Counsell’s comments might stem from the struggles of the Cubs’ pitching staff, which currently has 11 pitchers on the injured list.

Roberts remarked, “I don’t think he meant it maliciously. They’re dealing with it on the pitcher’s side. This is a rule that applies to Shohei as well. It’s not a Dodger rule, is it? This was implemented when he was with the Angels.”

Roberts defended the existing rules after hearing the initial comments from Counsell earlier this week. “We’re happy for other teams to go find players who can do both,” he said. “He’s an exception because he’s an extraordinary player. That’s what it is.”