Dodgers' Rich Hill loses no-hitter, shutout, and game on one pitch in the 10th inning against the Pirates. :argh:
Had a perfect game thru 8, lost that on an error in the 9th. Meanwhile, the Pirates pitchers gave up 8 hits and 4 walks but the Dodgers couldn't find a way to get a run. :bonk:
gaijinmark wrote:Dodgers' Rich Hill loses no-hitter, shutout, and game on one pitch in the 10th inning against the Pirates. :argh:
Had a perfect game thru 8, lost that on an error in the 9th. Meanwhile, the Pirates pitchers gave up 8 hits and 4 walks but the Dodgers couldn't find a way to get a run. :bonk:
^ And meanwhile, just about everybody's favorite Japanese player, Munenori Kawasaki is calling it quits.
Munenori Kawasaki to retire from baseball
Former major league infielder Munenori Kawasaki is likely to retire after being released by his Japanese club on Monday.
In a statement released by the Softbank Hawks, the 36-year-old infielder said a series of injuries has prevented him from being the player he wanted to be.
Kawasaki spent five seasons in Major League Baseball with the Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago Cubs. His postgame interviews in broken English became an internet sensation during that time.
His best season in the majors was in 2013 when he had 55 hits and drove in 24 runs for the Blue Jays.
A light-hitting infielder, Kawasaki went to the Mariners in 2012 and was briefly teammates with his idol Ichiro Suzuki.
Kawasaki became a fan favorite and YouTube sensation with a postgame interview in Toronto in 2013 that began "Thank you very much. My name is Munenori Kawasaki. I come from Japan. I am Japaneeeeese!!"
Following the Chicago Cubs' 2016 World Series championship, Kawasaki joined Daisuke Matsuzaka and Koji Uehara as the only Japanese players to have won championships in the World Baseball Classic, Japan Series and World Series.
In Japan, Kawasaki scored 653 runs, had 27 home runs and 373 RBIs with a .292 average over 1187 games
I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think he's ready, he could use some time in the minors.
Shohei Ohtani to start for Angels on Sunday
Shohei Ohtani's first week in the major leagues will include his first appearance on the mound.
Ohtani will start for the Angels against the A's in Oakland on Sunday, LA manager Mike Scioscia told reporters (per MLB.com) Tuesday after the Angels' exhibition at Dodger Stadium against the Dodgers.
A Sunday start means Ohtani will be the No. 4 starter in the Angels' six-man rotation to begin the season, behind Garrett Richards, Tyler Skaggs and Matt Shoemaker.
Scioscia's announcement coincided with official word that Ohtani had made the club out of spring training. The Angels added him to their 40-man roster ahead of Thursday's opener. He was in training camp on a minor league contract he signed in December.
His spring struggles on the mound led to speculation he might begin the season in the minors.
As for when the two-way threat Ohtani might see action as a designated hitter, Scioscia was less definitive.
"We haven't determined our lineup yet, but he will start (on the mound) Sunday," he said, per MLB.com.
gaijinmark wrote:I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think he's ready, he could use some time in the minors.
Shohei Ohtani to start for Angels on Sunday
Shows what I know. Ohtani goes 6 innings, strikes out 6, gives up 1 run. Angels beat the A's 7-4. He also went 1-for-5 on opening day as a DH.
And this morning on the local news they were talking about today being the Angels home opener, somebody said, "They're tied for first place!" With only 158 games to go. :omg:
^ And after all that, who else could they give it to?
Shohei Ohtani receives AL Player of the Week award
NEW YORK – Shohei Ohtani was named the American League Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday, MLB announced Monday.
At 23 years and 9 months old, the Los Angeles Angels’ rising star became the youngest Japanese player to receive the award in the majors.
“I’m honored to have been chosen as MLB’s American League Player of the Week,” Ohtani said in a statement. “Thank you to the Angels staff and my teammates for helping me achieve this award.”
Ohtani belted a home run for the third consecutive game on Friday. He also earned two victories on the mound, including an impressive win on Sunday when he took a perfect game into the seventh inning. He allowed one hit and recorded 12 strikeouts in seven innings.
Hideo Nomo was the first Japanese player to receive the award in June 1995, the year he debuted in the majors with the Los Angeles Dodgers and was named the National League Rookie of the Year.
Never mind Ohtani, the Padres have a relief pitcher, Kazuhisa Makita bringing back the art of the submarine pitcher. Not real overpowering, his "fastball" comes in at around 80 mph and his offspeed stuff is WAY offspeed as low as 58 mph: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLUP8rIlOnI