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FS1 is the industry leader in graphics and will tell you when Shohei Ohtani strikes again

FS1 is the industry leader in graphics and will tell you when Shohei Ohtani strikes again

Shohei Ohtani had another MVP-worthy season in 2024, leading baseball with 54 home runs, 130 RBI, .390 OBP and .646 slugging, among other statistical categories. He also stole 59 bases and founded the 50/50 Club. Plus, it probably produces the coolest sound in all of sports when it hits a home run.

So it's no surprise that people are excited to see him perform in the postseason. Ohtani delivered a performance in his first-ever playoff appearance, hitting a home run and going 2-5 in Game 1 of the NLDS. He was 0-4 in Game 2, but people were still very interested in seeing the best hitter in baseball on the field, which is why FS1 uses a very helpful graphic that pops up from time to time to let viewers know inform I thought you didn't see Shohei Ohtani, he's still in the stadium and will strike again soon, so please don't change the channel.

The graphic first appeared in Game 1, not long after Ohtani hit a home run in the second inning. Early in the fourth quarter, with Fernando Tatis Jr. at bat for the Padres, a life-sized Ohtani appeared on the scorebug and teased that he might bat in the next half-inning if one of his teammates was in the bottom of the order able to reach the base.

Two teammates actually advanced and Ohtani, entering the fourth inning as promised, singled.

Later, when the Dodgers had taken the lead and were threatening, the Ohtani graph again predicted the return of the 2024 hit king. Unfortunately, a double play and a pop fly delayed his plate appearance until the sixth inning and he struck out.

The graphics returned in Game 2 and were used somewhat liberally. When the Dodgers fell behind early on Sunday, Ohtani threatened.

At this point, it's now impossible to tell which graphics are real and which are photoshopped to exaggerate how ridiculous the graphic actually is. Did FS1 really tell people that Ohtani was six batters away at one point?

Was he really involved in the Joker sequel or the vice presidential debate?

All we know for sure is that they wouldn't actually tell us how far away he was when he just fought. Right?

All the information, math, statistics and science in the world and sometimes you just want to know when the top of the order is back up. That whole one-through-nine batting order that baseball has used for over 150 years just doesn't cut it anymore. It's time for baseball's analytical revolution to finally tell us the only thing we really need to know – when will we see the guy who hits things again?

Luckily, FS1 has us covered.

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