Pitcher Shohei Ohtani “can win 15 games and the strikeout crown” without allowing opposing teams to narrow down their target pitches… Reason why he is so sure!

Just before the MLB All-Star Game in Seattle (July 12), Shohei Otani of the Angels (29) appeared on the red carpet for the annual red carpet show. The imposing figure of Ohtani, who had achieved his best ever performance in the first half of the season, gave the impression of superstar composure.

He continued to hit well into the second half of the season, hitting 35 home runs in a three-game hitting streak from July 16 to July 18. However, it is the ‘pitching’ that worries me. In his first start of the second half on July 15, he gave up five runs in six innings.

The effect of the change in the delicate sensation in his fingertips on his pitching is much greater than fans may think. Baseball critic Keiichi Yabu, who has experience playing in the majors, said, “The U.S. is drier than Japan.

In the U.S., it is drier than in Japan, so fingertip problems are more likely to occur. If you have cracked nails or blisters, as in this case, it will affect your control. If you pitch with that in mind, it in turn puts a strain on your elbow and shoulder. Considering the team’s situation, it will be difficult to make the decision to skip his starting pitching, but I hope he will take a break and get his fingertips back to normal.”

As Astros manager Dusty Baker (74), who faced him on July 15, noted, “Ohtani didn’t throw a specific type of pitch (split) today,” it is clear that his pitching range has narrowed. Conversely, if his fingertips are in perfect condition, he will be able to show more pitches than he did last year. This is because his pitching technique is more refined than last season.

Since late June, Ohtani has been increasing the percentage of his splits, and he’s been racking up strikeouts. He has been able to get rid of the two-seamer and the two-seamer as well as the straight ball and the split. Besides, pitcher Ohtani is strong in the second half of the season.

In 2009, his second-half strikeout rate was 2.84, and in 2010, it was 2.28. He is expected to have a similar or better performance this season. Fatigue was a concern due to the WBC in the early spring, but he is getting better at taking rest. In the past, Otani often took just one day off to rest, but this season he has started taking two days together with his travel days. In the second half of the season, it appears that he will increase these two days off from the first half of the season,” said sportswriter Nachi Tomonari.

Pitcher Ohtani currently ranks third in the A-League with 139 strikeouts.

He is always ahead of the hitters,” said Nachi Tomonari, a sports writer. “When the opposing team starts going for their best sweeper, he increases his splits or pushes with straight pitches. With that kind of skill and cleverness, it would not be surprising if he wins the strikeout crown and also wins 15 games, the same number he did last year.

In the second half of the season, he is likely to be a pitcher of the Warriors.

From the August 4, 2023 issue of FRIDAY