LOS ANGELES — During the last homestand, Spanish-language broadcaster Jose Mota was kind enough to spare a few minutes of his time to talk all things Dodgers. From the fun to the frustrating, from Kiké Hernández pitching to Shohei Ohtani’s two-way magic, Mota offered thoughtful insight on where the game is—and where it’s heading.
On Position Players Pitching: “There’s Got to Be a Better Way”
Mota, who’s been with the Dodgers for three seasons after a long career with the Angels broadcast team, didn’t hesitate when asked about the increasing trend of using position players on the mound in blowout games. “I’m not a fan of it,” he said. “I know with social media right now it’s quite entertaining, but I feel for the guys that have to do that.”
To Mota, this is less about spectacle and more about safety—and respect for the profession. “I admire Mike Scioscia. He didn’t do it for like 18 years when he was managing. He would avoid it out of respect to the game.”
He worries about the long-term consequences: “It would be very unfortunate to see a position player get a comebacker from 60 feet, six inches and have his career impacted. Some of these guys don’t want to do it. But they’re team-first guys and say yes. I would’ve said yes too when I was the 25th or 26th guy on the roster.”
Mota proposed a solution that speaks to his player-first mindset: “Why not a designated taxi squad pitcher for each series? You may only need him four or five times a year, but he’s a real pitcher and could be activated when needed. If we’ve made changes like the runner on second in extra innings and bigger bases, we can do this too—for safety’s sake.”
On Shohei Ohtani: “It’s a Show. It’s an Event.”
Switching gears, Mota lit up when discussing Shohei Ohtani, particularly after the superstar made his first pitching start in Dodger White at Chavez Ravine.
“He’s a presence on the mound,” Mota said. “From the moment he takes the line to warm up, it’s like a playoff atmosphere. He’s matured a lot. He’s bigger physically. He’s methodical. He understands what he needs to do to get ready.”
Mota noted how Ohtani’s desire to contribute is grounded not in ego but in commitment. “This isn’t about ‘the Sho’—this is about being a contributor. He knows how depleted this rotation is, how taxed the bullpen has been. It means a lot to him to eat a couple of innings and help the team.”
On Ohtani’s Dual Role: “He Works, Man.”
Asked how Ohtani is able to juggle both roles—pitcher and slugger—at such a high level, Mota just shook his head in admiration.
“I don’t know how he does it,” he said. “His mental fortitude is incredible. He’s always wanted to be a two-way player. In Japan, he told teams, ‘If you’re not going to let me do both, don’t draft me.’”
Mota spoke of Ohtani’s early years, where he even cleaned toilets as part of his development in Japan’s baseball academies. “He’s built differently,” Mota said. “He wants to excel at everything. And it’s not just doing it—it’s doing it well, and doing it for the team.”
But even a marvel like Ohtani needs care. “I always say, you’ve got to guide Shohei against Shohei,” Mota added. “He’ll push himself, but now he’s with a team that’s planning beyond the regular season. It’s about October. And that’s new for him.”
The Road Ahead: “Let’s Get to October 1st”
As the conversation wound down, Mota kept the focus on the big picture. “Let’s get the Dodgers to October 1st,” he said. “Then we’ll talk about what Shohei can do under the big lights.”
Until then, Mota will be there, behind the mic and in the dugout, bringing his insight and passion to every pitch.
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