Great evolution of "Pitcher Otani" What is the background of "double-digit win, double-digit home run"? August 11, 16:21

Major League Baseball Angels Shohei Ohtani (28) achieved a double-digit win and a double-digit home run that only the "god of baseball" Babe Ruth could achieve with about two months left until the end of the season.

The key to his accomplishment was his significant evolution as a pitcher.

What is the difference from last season, which was 9 wins?

I searched from the analysis of the coach who was watching the closest, the words of Ohtani himself, and the data.

(* All data for this season is as of the end of July)

(U.S. General Affairs Bureau, Shuta Yamamoto)

What are the points that Y's Coach gives?

Angels pitching coach Matt Wise (46).

He was a bullpen coach two years ago and has been a pitching coach since last year.

When we interviewed Coach Wise, who closely monitors pitcher Otani's daily adjustments and sees the pitching, he gave some points that have evolved this season.

Otani evolution point (1)

"A slider that bends more than the width of the base. We call it 'sweep'."

Until now, Ohtani had a strong image of striking out with a split ball, the legendary treasure sword that falls vertically.

Analyzing the data of the major league video analysis system "Statcast", last season more than 40% of the total was straight and slider was about 20%, but this season the usage rate of slider increased by 12%, and straight increased to approximately the same proportion.

In addition, the rate of missing swings with the slider has increased by nearly 14%.

It has evolved into a elusive ball approaching the split.

In addition, the types of pitches after driving into two strikes were 40% split last season, and about 10% more than straights and sliders, but this season, 3 types of pitches are almost 30% each, and the remaining 10% are curves. It is difficult for the batter to narrow down the target ball.

As a result, his strikeout rate (the number of strikeouts per nine innings) jumped from last season's 10.77 to 13.14.

Coach Weisz

: "His main slider moves 18 inches (45.7 cm) sideways. It's more curved than the width of home plate (17 inches = 43.2 cm), so we're going to 'sweep.' Last year it wasn't a big bend, but I practiced many times and improved my physicality, so the quality has improved.

" I have to pay attention to both the straight and this slider that bends a lot.I can strike with any type of pitch, so I can always win with a superior count, and this year I became a perfect ace.”

Not only the bending width but also the ball speed has evolved.

The average ball speed is up from last season for all types of pitches.

In 2018, before my right elbow surgery, I averaged 155.6km on the straight, so now I'm faster than before.

Last season, Ohtani said that his pitching was in the "rehabilitation stage," but this season, the transplanted ligaments have become familiar with his elbows, allowing him to swing his arms with all his might without discomfort.

Pitching has clearly changed.

Ohtani

: “Of course, the quality of each type of pitch is higher than last year. It's different from last year in that I have the physical ability to

do that.” The state of being able to swing my arms without anxiety is the state of genuinely enjoying baseball for me.”

Otani evolution point (2)

"At the end of the pitch, the best pitch comes out"

Coach Weisz

: “I especially feel the improvement in the final stages of the game. When he feels that his pitching is nearing the end, he throws the best pitch, such as a ball over 160kg, and uses all of his strength. It's the most fun thing to watch because he has such a high level of competitiveness."

"I always tell my two sons to watch Shohei. Talent can be taught. He can't, but his spirit and ability to do whatever it takes to win is the best example for young players around the world.He will do whatever it takes to win.That's Shohei Ohtani."

Ohtani certainly struck out the batter he faced at the end of the game in the final stages of the season.

If you count, he actually pitched in 10 out of 17 games.

Especially from June to July, all the games in which he won 6 straight games were off the mound with a strikeout at the end.

Otani

: "When you can see the end, it's the least likely that you won't let the bat hit you, so you're going to aim for a strikeout. When it's time to hit, I feel like I'm going to put in a lot of effort."

In addition to playing as a batter, Coach Wise highly praises Ohtani's extraordinary mental strength, which allows him to summon his last strength in the final stages of the game, when fatigue peaks when the number of pitches exceeds 100. rice field.

Otani evolution point (3)

"Catch, bullpen. He runs it all."

Coach Weisz

: "He's the most self-controlled player I've ever seen. Now he's in control of when he wants to play catch and when he throws in the bullpen. He has batting as well. I also have to take care of my physical condition to maintain the condition of each pitch, so I'm doing everything on my own.It's amazing how much I can manage myself."

Certainly, when I watch Otani every day, all practice is a different menu.

Recently, pitching practice in the bullpen is often the day before pitching, but sometimes I enter the bullpen two days before.

Sometimes we play strong catch at a distance of about 50 meters.

Coach Wise told me that Otani decides when to do these menus.

Ohtani had decided for himself whether he would pitch in the all-star game, the big leaguer's dream, and when he would pitch in the second half.

Coach Wise

: I thought he got the right to choose whether or not to pitch in the All-Star Game. The same goes for throwing in the first game of the second half. He chose from the options we gave him. I thought he had the right to choose what he wanted.

Ohtani has a feature that other players don't have in his pitching practice in the bullpen.

He doesn't throw hard.

According to Coach Wise, this lightly throwing bullpen is also one of Ohtani's self-control measures.

Coach Wise

: "Shohei only enters the bullpen once between pitches, and it's only about 20 to 25 pitches. He throws lightly, but he can still get a feel for throwing a good ball.

" Before the All-Star Game In the 4th inning of that game, Shohei suddenly threw 8 cut balls, which he hadn't thrown in many games before, against the Astros. Being able to throw with good control is truly a natural talent.”

To further great achievements 2 years in a row MVP

This season, Ohtani has the opportunity to start about nine more games if he goes through the rotation.

20 wins is a tough one, but if he continues to pitch like he's done so far, he can aim for 15 wins.

If both the prescribed number of pitches and the prescribed number of at-bats are met in the same season, it will be the first major league record that even Babe Ruth has not achieved.

In fact, in the United States, "double-digit wins, double-digit home runs" are not much talked about, and expectations are high for this record.

The number of wins depends on the scores of allied batters, so it is not possible to purely measure the ability of an individual pitcher, but reaching the prescribed number of pitches and the prescribed turn at bat at the same time is required as a regular in both pitching and batting. This is because it is impossible unless you have the physical strength of another dimension.

When Ohtani achieves this first big league record, he will be a strong contender for MVP this season.

There is already a debate in the United States about who deserves the MVP award against the Yankees judges who are hitting home runs at a pace of more than 60.

In addition, Wise says Ohtani is eligible for the Cy Young Award, the highest honor for a pitcher this year.

Coach Weisz

: "It would be crazy if Shohei wasn't nominated for the Cy Young Award because he's been one of the best starters in the big leagues. Really, I can't say anything." "He's the perfect player, the most consistent, the most motivated, the most dedicated, and I don't know how much he still has room to improve. He's already the best."

While Ohtani continues to make history this year, it is a pity that the Angels are already in a difficult situation to advance to the playoffs, but that does not stop Ohtani.

For Ohtani, who is eager to win and win the title, the games will be tougher both physically and mentally than ever before, but he is determined to complete the remaining two months with a dual wielding of pitching and hitting.

Ohtani

: Of course, I think it's difficult to get motivated, but there are many things that I personally have to do, and my baseball life is still going on. I want to concentrate on each game and do what I can in any situation. I think