After that historic game against the Brewers, Shohei Ohtani has not looked back. He has been doing what everybody expected him to do and changing the game. But some people are aware of the impact he can make in a game and want to restrict it. These changes would restrict players like Shohei Ohtani from making an impact after a certain point. And one of the people who asked for this change was the Blue Jays manager.

In his recent interview, the Toronto Blue Jays manager, John Schneider, said, “If you’re a pitcher and you’re done pitching, you can’t hit.” Shohei Ohtani has already caused enough trouble for the Toronto Blue Jays with the bat during this World Series, and John Schneider is ready to take every step to stop Ohtani from doing more damage.

Shohei Ohtani turned Game 3 of the World Series into something straight out of baseball history. He went 4-for-4 in his first four at-bats, collecting two doubles and two home runs. By the time the game reached the 18th inning, he had reached base nine times, breaking the postseason record by three. His performance forced the Toronto Blue Jays to intentionally walk him four times and pitch around him once more.

That kind of dominance has left the Blue Jays frustrated and searching for answers they can’t seem to find. Manager John Schneider admitted the plan now is to simply “take the bat out of his hands.” The approach might sound cautious, but it reflects a team worn down by Ohtani’s historic production. The Dodgers’ lineup behind him makes the strategy risky, as Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts both loom right after him.

Now, as Game 4 approaches, Ohtani is set to take the mound for his first World Series start. He last pitched in the NLCS against Milwaukee, throwing six scoreless innings with ten strikeouts while also hitting three home runs. That memory lingers for Toronto, who knows Ohtani can beat them with both bat and ball. For Schneider and the Blue Jays, the mission is simple but impossible—contain the player who refuses to be contained.

Shohei Ohtani isn’t just playing baseball; he’s rewriting the boundaries of what’s possible. John Schneider can talk about rule changes all he wants, but Ohtani keeps changing the rules himself. If history repeats, the only thing Toronto might successfully walk away from is Ohtani’s legend.

The Blue Jays wanted no part of Shohei Ohtani, and a Dodgers player approves of the move

At some point, it stopped being baseball and started looking like a game of hide-and-seek, only the Blue Jays were the ones doing the hiding. John Schneider and his crew spent most of Game 3 pretending Shohei Ohtani didn’t exist, and honestly, you can’t blame them. When a hitter turns into a cheat code, even professionals like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette start praying for four wide ones.

The Toronto Blue Jays entered Game 3 of the World Series with one clear plan in mind. They chose to take the bat out of Shohei Ohtani’s hands, walking him five times, four intentionally. Ohtani had gone 4-for-4 before the walks, reaching base nine times in total. John Schneider explained after the game that avoiding Ohtani’s bat was necessary, even if it frustrated fans and extended the innings.

Freddie Freeman supported the Blue Jays’ cautious approach after the Dodgers’ 6-5 win in the 18th inning. “When you’re hitting balls to left-center and right-center like Shohei was, you just knew he was feeling good,” Freeman said. He added that “it’s the right move,” acknowledging Ohtani’s dominance through his first four at-bats. The Dodgers eventually broke through, but Freeman’s words reflected the respect Ohtani had earned on both sides of the field.

In the end, the Blue Jays didn’t just pitch around Ohtani; they pitched around history. Freeman’s home run sealed the win, but Ohtani’s shadow loomed larger than the scoreboard. If this is Toronto’s plan, they’d better start walking everyone in Los Angeles.