Last Updated on 08/08/2022 by てんしょく飯
The trade deadline in the Major League Baseball ended on August 2, and Shohei Ohtani, 28, remained with the Angels. On the other hand, the team released its mainstays one after another, including defender Iglesias, and will aim to make the playoffs from next season onward. Acting manager Phil Nevin, 51, said of Ohtani, “For a while from now on, he will pitch five days in a row. That’s what he wants to do. It seemed as if the plan was not to push him too hard for the next season, but it seems that he will continue to use him at full strength until the end of the season.
The possibility of competing for individual titles and the Cy Young Award is also on the table.
What does that mean? I think the biggest reason is to reach the prescribed number of innings pitched. Pitching and hitting are two different styles of pitching, and Otani’s pitching opportunities are based on a rotation in which he starts six days apart. This season, he made 17 starts from April to July, pitching a total of 99 1/3 innings, averaging about 5.8 innings per game. If the six starters are used from August onward, there will be at most 10 starts remaining, and even if he pitches an average of 6 innings per game, that would be 60 innings. The projected total is only 159 1/3 innings, which is short of the 162 innings required to meet the season’s pitching rule.
However, if he pitches five days in a row from August onward, he can make 11 starts. This would give him a total of 165 1/3 innings pitched to clear the prescribed number of innings.
Otani, as a starting pitcher, must be very particular about the number of innings pitched. It is no exaggeration to say that the ace condition is to have a regulation pitch count. This is because it proves that a pitcher has achieved consistent results throughout the season without injury. Also, if a pitcher reaches the minimum number of innings pitched, he or she is eligible for the defensive batting average ranking, and there is a possibility of competing for an individual title or winning the Cy Young Award. Even if he has a great record, he will not be highly regarded if he does not reach the required number of innings pitched.
On the other hand, the Angels will want to see if their ace Ohtani can pitch five days in a row in order to make the playoffs next season. If Ohtani pitches more often, it will directly lead to more wins for the team.
In fact, the data proves his suitability for 5 days in a row. In the 42 games he has pitched on six or more days since coming to the U.S., he is 16-10 with a 3.72 earned-run average, while he is 6-2 with a 1.91 earned-run average in 11 games pitched on five days. This season alone, he is 7-5 with a 3.44 earned-run average in 13 games pitched on six or more days, while he is 2-2 with a 1.42 earned-run average in five games pitched on five days. The next question is whether he will be able to maintain his stamina in the summer, when he will be more depleted.
Also, by producing results in 5 days, he is likely to have an advantage in contract extension negotiations with the Angels. Even if negotiations are difficult, a track record of five days in the middle of the season will increase his reputation with other teams. Teams aiming to win championships basically use a rotation of five starters, and above all, innings pitched is required. In terms of predicting Otani’s future, the number of innings pitched is likely to be important from a variety of perspectives.
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