Baseball-Ohtani too hot to handle: Blue Jays plan to walk him for rest of World Series

After watching Los Angeles Dodgers two-way standout Shohei Ohtani baffle their pitching staff during Game Three of the World Series, the Toronto Blue Jays have made a bold decision: they are done pitching to baseball's biggest star.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider did not mince words after the Dodgers prevailed 6-5 on Monday in an 18-inning classic during which Ohtani smacked two doubles and two home runs in his first four at-bats before Toronto essentially surrendered.

"He had a great game, he's a great player, but I think after that, you just kind of take the bat out of his hands," Schneider said after the Dodgers took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Fall Classic which resumes on Tuesday in Los Angeles.

When asked if walking Ohtani for the remainder of the World Series would be the plan, Schneider's response was blunt: "Yeah."

'BEST PLAYER'

That strategy played out in real time during Game Three, which tied for the longest postseason game by innings and is also the second-longest postseason game by time after lasting six hours, 39 minutes.

When Ohtani hit a game-tying homer in the seventh, the Blue Jays intentionally walked him four times and unintentionally once more. The message was clear: pitch around the superstar at all costs.

"His performance was really good. He's arguably the best player on the planet," said Schneider.

By the time Game Three ended, Ohtani had become the first player to reach base nine times in a postseason game, surpassing the previous mark by three.

Ohtani also became the first player in postseason history with multiple home runs, multiple doubles and multiple walks in a single game.

'SIGN OF RESPECT'

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised the Blue Jays' tactical decision, calling Ohtani "the best player