- Shohei Otani (left) and Japanese Samurai Director Hideki Kuriyama (taken on January 6, 2023)
Baseball is a series of decisions. How to judge and play in period, period. That will be the difference between victory and defeat. SAMURAI JAPAN’s decision to regain the world title for the first time in three tournaments will be examined under the title “What to do?”. First of all, how to appoint Angels pitcher Shohei Otani (28), who is attracting attention. “What will Otani do?”
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The comments from all over the sea have also reached the heads of the samurai. On the 15th (16th Japan time), Manager Nevin of the Angels said, “In our team, he’s the starter (and in WBC),” regarding the use of pitcher Otani in WBC. Manager Kuriyama said, “I’m going to borrow this. I understand (what Manager Nevin said). He’s just a starter.” If both coaches’ comments are taken at face value, Ohtani will only be a starting pitcher.
Ohtani has decided to play in the opener on March 2nd Japan time. Afterwards, he joined Samurai Japan. The starting pitcher for the game against China on the 9th of the same day, which is the WBC opener in 6 days, is influential. In addition, he will start the quarterfinals in 6 days, and he will be able to start the finals on the 22nd Japan time in 5 days. However, with the trip between Japan and the US, starting three times can be a heavy burden.
Director Kuriyama also said, “I will not do what my opponent hates.” I don’t think the army will accept the excessive burden before the season. On the other hand, Otani’s strength is indispensable in the quarter-finals where progression to the quarter-finals is at stake and the final where the world’s best are at stake. A potential drop is to use a reliever in a short inning.
To the question, “Is it just for the starting pitcher?” “Because there are different meanings for starting pitchers. I can’t say more than that.” I’ve withheld the details, but what does it mean to be a “beginner in different senses”? Instead of the usual relief that consists of consecutive pitches, isn’t it possible to appoint a reliever with a fixed pitch day as a starting pitcher? If so, the face of the last nine mounds. Ohtani is a strong candidate for a throw-up pitcher.[Maya Furukawa]
