The possibility of a ‘dream matchup’ is growing… Will Ohtani’s Will Defeat the Angels’ Plan?
- user
- 0
- on Mar 20, 2023
Will Shohei Ohtani (LA Angels) of the Japanese baseball team make a mound in the final?
Ohtani was initially expected to pitch only until the quarterfinals of the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC). This is because Angels coach Phil Nevin said in a local interview that Ohtani would only pitch until the quarterfinals of the tournament to start the season opener against the Oakland Athletics on the 31st (Korean time).
Ohtani also threw while thinking of the quarterfinals as the last thing. Ohtani fought well against China on the 9th with 4 innings, 1 hit, 5 strikeouts and no runs, and in the quarterfinal match against Italy on the 16th, he recorded 4 hits, 5 strikeouts and 2 runs in 4⅔innings, paving the way for Japan to advance to the semifinals.
But, did it burn more willpower after stepping on Miami, the U.S.? After arriving in Miami on the 17th, Ohtani completed official training on the 20th and expressed his motivation, saying, “It is too much to pitch in the semi-finals, and it is difficult to start in the finals. But I want to pitch as a bullpen pitcher.”
Ohtani continued, “The Angels club also allowed me to do many things. Since the final is the last game, I will look at my body (condition) and decide.”
Japan will play the semi-final against Mexico on the 21st at Londipo Park in Miami. If they beat Mexico, they will face the finalists, the United States, on the same place the next day, the 22nd. If Ohtani and teammate Mike Trout meet, the ‘dream matchup’ that has been anticipated even before the WBC tournament will be completed. If the pitcher goes to the mound and the first pitching confrontation between the two players takes place, it is the ‘icing on the cake’ for the box office success of the tournament.
First of all, Japan should beat Mexico.온라인카지노 Ohtani, who will hit for the game against Mexico, expressed his confidence in the at-bat, saying, “I have a jet lag problem and my physical condition is not perfect, but everyone is the same and I want to play properly. Any ball is fine as long as I swing properly.”