The signboard of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) Japanese national team is Shohei Ohtani (LA Angels), and whether he pitches as a pitcher or as a batter, he is bound to feel threatened by the opponent.
Japan national team coach Hideki Kuriyama’s use of Ohtani has not yet been concretely revealed. However, as a pitcher, the Japanese media is leaking the possibility that he will take the mound against China in the first round on March 9, warm up, take six days off, and play in the quarterfinals on March 16. However, it seems that Ohtani is also worried.
On the 30th, the Japanese daily newspaper ‘Nikkan Gendai’ expressed small concerns about Ohtani’s general characteristics as a ‘slow starter’ as a pitcher, including the views and data of local reporters in the United States on the Internet version.
The media said, “Superstars who are superior in both presence and skill in the national team are not without anxiety,” and despite being nominated for the Cy Young Award last season with 15 wins and 9 losses and an average ERA of 2.33, their April record was 2 wins and 2 losses with an average ERA of 4.19. Introduced the contents that fell significantly below the average.
In fact, according to Fangraph.com, an American statistics site, Ohtani has shown a pace that is difficult to fully display his skills in the ‘WBC environment’. 토토사이트
The WBC is held in March, when most leagues hold demonstration games, and sets a limit on the number of pitches per round. While the ‘slow starter’ for each period and game is an inevitable condition, Ohtani generally showed such a tendency until last season.
Ohtani recorded 5 wins and 3 losses in March and April in his 5 years in the major leagues, but his ERA was not good at 4.05. Ohtani has a career ERA of 2.96.
His first inning performance was also well below average. His career earned run average of 4.67 was second only to his 7th (6.11). His 1st career OPS was also far from overwhelming at 0.745.
Ohtani is the name representing the Japanese team in this tournament. However, Ohtani’s pace in March is likely to have a significant impact on the Japanese national team’s pitching. The media said, “Coach Kuriyama is emphasizing the spirit of Japanese baseball. However, since it is not a problem to be solved with mental strength, Ohtani also has anxiety.”