Coach Madden’s choice of Ohtani’s appearance date for the first time in 103 years is…
Is Shohei Otani (27, Los Angeles Angels), who had the opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder with “legendary” Babe Ruth, frustrated as it is?
Ohtani’s move, which is challenging the double-digit multiplier-home run record for the first time in 103 years, is falling into the fog. Otani started as the second batter-pitcher against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park in Houston on the 11th (Korea Standard Time), but lost his second game of the season with nine hits and six runs in three innings. If he wins the game, Otani was able to make his name as a player who recorded double-digit wins and home runs in a season for the first time in 103 years following Ruth (13 wins-11 home runs) in 1918, but his chance to achieve it was inevitably delayed to the next.
Coach Joe Madden said in a non-face-to-face video interview with reporters on the 12th, “There was no scene of striking out a false swing.” Regarding his next appearance schedule, he also took a cautious stance, saying, “Nothing has been decided yet.”
Local media in the U.S. seem to be looking for Otani’s sluggishness throughout the season due to the fatigue of two-shot jobs. Otani’s move, which is playing as a designated hitter and playing a full-time season even on days when there is no pitcher’s mound, is consequently affecting pitching at the end of the season.
In a recent interview with the Orange County Register in California, Angels batting coach Jeremy Reed said, “Otani did not stand at-bat around his first season of his big league debut. However, this season, I am at-bat regardless of my starting date,” he said, expressing his thoughts that accumulated fatigue is affecting at-bat-pitching as a result. At the same time, he said, “We think we should be grateful rather than suspicious of Otani. “This (two-bat combined job) is really great, and it’s something we’ve never seen before,” he praised.
Despite concerns around him, Otani does not seem to have any intention of giving up his two-hitter job. Coach Madden recently said “no” about Otani’s request for a break. Considering the Angels’ schedule, which played 142 games until the 12th, Otani has about four chances to start. Attention is focusing on what choice coach Madden will make and whether Ohtani will succeed in achieving 10 wins.
