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Michael Wilbon shreds ‘lap dogs’ in baseball media for reporting that Shohei Ohtani could be benched

ESPN’s Michael Wilbon delivered a sharp critique of baseball media coverage after reports suggested the Los Angeles Dodgers might bench two-time NL MVP Shohei Ohtani heading into Game 3 of the NLCS. Ohtani, widely regarded as the greatest player in MLB history, has struggled offensively in the postseason, posting a .150 batting average without any extra-base hits.

Despite his slump, the Dodgers kept him in the lineup for Game 3, where he’ll bat sixth as the team fights to overcome a 0-2 deficit against the Milwaukee Brewers. Wilbon dismissed the idea of benching Ohtani as absurd, comparing the media’s reaction to unquestioning ‘lap dogs’ who uncritically amplify speculative or anonymous claims without skepticism.

His remarks followed reports from *The Athletic* and ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez, which cited an unnamed team source and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts’ vague comment about doing ‘what’s best’ for Ohtani’s health and the team’s chances. Wilbon contrasted today’s media landscape—where breaking news often trumps accuracy—with the standards of his earlier career at *The Washington Post*, where quality and precision were prioritized over volume or speculative scoops.

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