Dave Roberts Has A Sharp Reply To Cubs Manager Craig Counsell's Criticism Of 'ohtani Roster Exception'

Dave Roberts took objection to comments from Chicago Cubs head Craig Counsell connected Monday astir a norm that makes Shohei Ohtani an exception.

“He’s an objection because he’s an exceptional player,” nan Dodgers head told reporters aft his team’s 12-3 triumph against nan Colorado Rockies.

Addressing nan rash of injuries to Cubs pitchers and whether teams should person much roster elasticity than nan rules presently allow, Counsell questioned nan fairness of the MLB rule that allows Ohtani to beryllium excluded from nan 13-pitcher roster maximum because he is simply a two-way player.

“There’s not different subordinate for illustration that, but 1 squad gets different rules for that player,” Counsell told reporters.

MLB rosters are capped astatine 26 players, up to 13 of whom tin beryllium designated arsenic pitchers. Players designated arsenic position players are not allowed to transportation unless a crippled is successful other innings aliases location is astatine slightest a six-run differential successful nan people erstwhile they return nan mound.

Teams tin besides designate two-way players — players who are some position players and pitchers — if they meet definite criteria: In nan erstwhile play they must person sounded astatine slightest 20 awesome convention innings and started astatine slightest 20 awesome convention games arsenic a position subordinate aliases designated hitter, pinch astatine slightest 3 sheet appearances successful each of those games.

Ohtani, who won astir valuable subordinate awards successful 4 of nan past 5 seasons, is nan lone two-way player. Counsell termed nan norm “bizarre.”

“There’s 1 squad that’s allowed to transportation fundamentally 1 of both, and that he gets typical consideration,” he said. “Which is astir apt nan astir bizarre rule.”

Roberts offered a pointed rebuttal.

“It surely benefits us, because we person nan player,” he said. “But that’s thing that, immoderate squad that had Ohtani would person that player.

“We’re much than consenting for different teams to spell retired and find a subordinate who tin do both.”

The norm objection helps nan Dodgers successful 1 evident way: They tin utilize a six-man starting rotation while maintaining nan afloat complement of 8 relievers. Any different squad utilizing six starters would beryllium down to 7 relievers.

The taxable apt will beryllium revisited erstwhile nan Cubs sojourn nan Dodgers for a three-game bid this weekend.