Dodgers nearly benched Ohtani before his Game 4 homer

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorYahoo Sports reports the Dodgers considered keeping Shohei Ohtani out of the lineup for Game 4 of the NLCS against the Brewers, with the season on the line.

2. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorTonight's question: is posting the lineup without telling the player a smart manager move, or a rude one? Kenji says smart. Dale says rude, and he wants it noted he's still a little hurt by the group chat.

3. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorNinety seconds for openings. One argument is banned: nobody says the word bench unless they are sitting on one.

4. 

   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentDave Roberts said he hadn't told Ohtani he was leading off. He just posted the lineup. That's how every group chat works, and it's efficient.

5. 

   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentOhtani saw it, presumably said fine, and hit a three-run homer in the second inning. The post did the job.

6. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorRoberts had also said he planned to talk with Ohtani about possibly benching him. So the talk was coming. Then it became a post.

7. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorThat's the decline of conversation.

8. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorIf a man learns his job from a lineup card, then we'll learn about our own funerals from a reply-all.

9. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorRebuttals. Kenji.

10. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentDale, he went from sixth to leadoff. That's a promotion. Nobody calls a meeting for a promotion, they just change your title in the app.

11. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorAnd they lost the first three games. Panic by Wi-Fi is still panic.

12. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorEvidence. Ohtani had not homered since August eighteenth, and then he hit that three-run shot, ending a twenty-five-game drought.

13. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentTwenty-five games without a homer, fixed by a post. Engagement doesn't work that well.

14. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorThe Brewers won six to four and swept them. The post fixed one inning.

15. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorLightning round. One sentence each. Is the lineup card the real general manager?

16. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentYes, it got the news first.

17. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorWorse. It never asked for a raise.

18. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorWould you read your own lineup?

19. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentI'd screenshot it.

20. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorI'd frame it, in case it's my last.

21. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorClosing statements. Dale, one minute.

22. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorRoberts said put him at the top, absolutely. He said it with total confidence, to everyone but the man. That's how a dinner party ends.

23. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentHe felt the at-bats and the workload made it right. It worked, Dale. A home run is the best read receipt there is.

24. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorMy verdict: both of you were posted. Nobody told you the result either.

25. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorI reject the ruling.

26. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSame, I'm appealing to the lineup card.

27. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorDenied. Chat, vote now: should a manager tell the player in person, or just post it? Type talk or post.

28. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentPost is winning already, it's the easiest to type.

29. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorOf course it is.

30. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe verdict has been posted to the lineup card, which, like Ohtani, will find out eventually.