Chris Brockman Doubles Down on His “Ohtani Shouldn’t Pitch Anymore” Hot Take

A week ago on Overreaction Monday on a Tuesday, Chris Brockman delivered the take that the rest of the show has spent the days since trying to disprove. The take was simple and audacious. Shohei Ohtani should not be pitching anymore so he can focus on hitting.

The show pulled the original clip.

"Enough with the pitching sideshow," Chris said in the original take. "Ohtani needs to go back to hitting only or the Dodgers aren't going to make the NLCS."

What happened in the following week, by every available metric, said the opposite. Ohtani's first pitching start of the season produced seven shutout innings. He has spent the rest of the week hitting at a .522 clip.

Rich brought the receipts to the desk.

"How did he do at the plate?" Rich asked, with the room ready. The graphic went up. .522.

Chris refused to fold.

"This just proves my point," Chris said. "This is not the onus on me that you think it is. I said stop pitching so you can hit. He's pitched one time and in the other games when he hit, he's hitting. I am right."

The room disagreed.

"Chris, you're adding to the hostile work environment and you're messing with my chakra," Rich said.

The Dodgers play San Diego on the night the show aired. Ohtani is scheduled to do both that night. Chris staked his entire credibility on the outcome.

"He will not do both of them well if he's pitching and hitting tonight," Chris said. "That's my point. So if he doesn't, pick one."

Mike Del Tufo pointed out the structural counter. The Dodgers have already won back-to-back World Series with Ohtani not pitching. The argument that pitching is the problem holds water only if the team is currently underperforming. They are not.

Mike also flagged the deeper math. The Dodgers cannot afford to take a pitcher whose ERA is currently less than one out of the rotation. They have seven legitimate starters. Ohtani could plausibly be the best of them when he is throwing.

"You're trying to make us use our stuff," Chris said.

"What does it care if he does this in May?" Mike pushed back. "Big deal."

Rich, who has a clear vantage point as host, summarized where the rest of the room stood.

"They won back-to-back World Series with him not pitching," he said.

Chris's defense for sticking with the take was unique.

"Anyone who says they're always right and never wrong, guest, I don't know," he said. "I'm basically the Ohtani of the show."

The room declined to comment on whether that meant Chris was being benched.