When expectations are overflowing, the results are generally not as expected, because in the light of reality, there are always shadows that were not contemplated at the beginning.
That situation seems to represent what happened with Roki Sasaki’s MLB debut, which was electrifying and erratic in equal measure in the second game of the so-called Tokyo Series, two games that the Los Angeles Dodgers played in the Japanese capital against the Chicago Cubs and which they won with some ease as part of their season opener.
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander displayed a powerful arm, but also a rampant streak that limited his outing to three innings on Wednesday, March 19 at the Tokyo Dome.
The Japanese phenom, who pitched in an intense debut against his home country, allowed only one run and one hit, striking out three but also walking five, including a free pass that drove in a run. Sasaki threw 56 pitches, including 31 balls and 25 strikes, and left the game with the Dodgers up 5-1, who eventually defeated the Chicago Cubs 6-3 to complete the two-game sweep in Japan.
Two pieces of news: one good and one bad
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said it was an impressive debut considering the difficult circumstances and also a reminder of how much he can improve: “The highs are going to be high, but when he’s not dominant, it gets tough,” Roberts said. “In the end, his talent and competence showed.”
The first six pitches of the 23-year-old’s career were straight to the plate at 99.5, 99.5, 100, 100.5, 99.4 and 98.9 mph, and he retired the first three Chicago Cubs batters in order, including his compatriot Seiya Suzuki with a strikeout.
“Although my control failed several times during the game, I felt good about my mechanics and my pitching. I just want to make sure I can repeat it from now on,” Sasaki said through an interpreter.
The perspective of someone outside the Dodgers
And yes, Roki Sasaki impressed everyone and could even feel good on the mound, but it is not precisely from him, nor from the fans, that a little self-criticism is expected, not at this moment of euphoria.
However, an old Japanese baseball player and former manager named Tatsuro Hirooka was quoted by Japanese media, including Yahoo Sports‘ local bureau, and his opinion was not the most flattering: “Sasaki seems to be made of glass. Pitching like that without a fully developed body will only cause injury; that’s the real concern (…) he should have stayed in Japan and developed a body capable of competing in MLB before crossing the ocean,” he said.
*With information from Lapresse
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