Major League Otani and Fujinami Open game Q&A after first pitching [full text]

Major League Baseball Angels Shohei Otani pitched for the first time in an open game, and kept a clean sheet in the middle of the third inning.

For the opposing Athletics, pitcher Shintaro Fujinami pitched for the first time in an open-air game and kept no runs in the second inning.

Ohtani and Fujinami answered the questions of the Japanese and American media after pitching in the open game.

[Shohei Ohtani]

Q. Manager Nevin said, ``Last year, Shohei overwhelmed his opponents with his eyes from the mound.''

Are you worried that you won't be able to do that on the pitch clock this season?

A. I don't know if I was overwhelmed or not.

I think it's the same for everyone, and I think it's the same for everyone.

I have a little more leeway around here, and I think I'll be able to throw more with a good feeling as I get used to it.

Q. How are you today?

A. Well, one thing is to try throwing a global ball first.

It's not about the batter.

Basically, I think every ball was good, and I think it was reasonably good.

Q. There is no pitch clock in WBC, but do you throw on the assumption that there is?

A. I don't do it strictly to that extent.

I can't even use a pitchcom (device for sign transmission), so even if I'm conscious of it, I can't get that close.

I think it's enough to have a sense of speeding things up, and I think it's a big deal to be able to try it once before going.

I think it's a positive thing to be able to go to Japan without worrying about the season.

Q. How much fun is WBC?

Also, have you decided which game you will throw in?

A. I haven't decided which game I'll throw in.

I don't know how much fun it will be until I go, but it's a tournament I want to participate in, so I'm really looking forward to it because I couldn't participate last time.

Q.The fastest speed was 98 mph. Was it as expected?

A. The first time will be different from the live BP (actual practice), and it's a mound where you can feel yourself, so don't raise it too much.

I thought it would be around 95 (miles), so that was fine.

In the second inning, I thought it would be nice if I could throw one ball for about 100 miles, but I was able to throw about 98 miles, so I don't think there will be a problem.

Q. How was pitchcom?

Did you sign it yourself?

A. Basically, I put it out by myself today.

I don't know what will happen in the future, but I think it's going to be smooth without any problems today.

Q. Where is the device attached?

A.I think not knowing is a good thing (laughs).

Q. You said to Trout, "There are many better players than me in Japan." Which player were you referring to?

A. Well, I think it's faster to see.

Please take a look (laughs).

Q. About the throwing match with pitcher Fujinami, which you have known for a long time.

A. As for today, I didn't do it directly.

I honestly don't know what kind of ball it was, and I'm the type who doesn't see much between innings, so I went to the back again today.

When I actually do it in the game, I think I'll be at bat (at bat), so I'd like to look forward to that time.

Q.In this year's open game, you have had 5 at-bats as a batter and 34 pitches as a pitcher.

As for the finish.

A. What do you think?

If it were a normal year, I think I would have about 50 at-bats before the opening, but I got in a little more than that, including the live BP.

I think it's coming at the same pace as in previous years.

Q. Given last year's lockout experience, can you make some adjustments?

A. What do you think?

For the past few years, the opening has been mixed due to the corona.

The period until then is also different.

I said earlier that I will stand 50 at bats, but there is no such thing as having to stand 50 at bats.

Whether it's 1 at-bat or 50 at-bats, the point is whether the ball looks good or not is important in the at-bat.

As long as I can clear that well, I don't think the number of at-bats will matter much.

Q.Which ball got a double play in the second inning?

A. That's a split.

I guess it's a missing split.

Q.You have to keep down the number of pitches in the WBC, but what is your awareness today?

A. No, don't think too much today.

If anything, I focused on what kind of ball I was throwing.

For example, (ball count) is 3-2, so it's 0-2, so instead of throwing it the same way as during the season, he says that he throws the type of pitch that he wants to confirm at any count to the batter.

The first pitch is always like that, so I threw it like that.

Q. As for throwing, the next pitch is the WBC.

How finished are you?

A. What do you think?

Well, I don't really compare it to during the season, and it's not just because it's the season, it's now.

I'm doing 100% of what I can do now, and I threw today with that intention.

With that in mind for the next pitch, 1 inning, 1 inning.

I don't think I can pitch such a long inning at first, so everyone.

1 inning 1 inning, I would like to take care of each and every one of them.

Q.Can you go to Japan without leaving Arizona?

A.Yes.

First of all, I've been in good physical condition until today, and it looks like I'll be able to reunite at the moment, so I think that's a good report.

I think the fact that I've made it this far has given me the most confidence.

Q. Regarding Seiya Suzuki's withdrawal.

A. I was disappointed, and at the moment I'm trying not to affect the season.

I think it's probably a discussion with the team to make it in time for the season.

I want you to take care of it so that it doesn't affect the season too much.

Q. Do you have feelings other than pleasure, such as anxiety and pressure for WBC?

A. I don't think you'll know until the day before.

I haven't experienced it either.

I don't think I can say much about what I haven't experienced.

Q. There was no open game with simultaneous participation in pitching and batting.

A. I don't really think about it.

I think that focusing on one thing at a time will make the problem clearer.

To put it the other way around, we are going at the same pace as in previous years, so we can just compare it to previous years.

I think it's easy to compare what kind of pace I'm in and what kind of physical condition I'm in, and in that sense, I think it was a good start today.

Q.It's going to be a tough match in the WBC, but is it okay to throw with all your might?

A.Yes.

In a step-by-step story, I said earlier that I wouldn't skip the first time, but the emotional aspect is aside from the first game of the open game, whether it's the first game of the WBC or the final. Even if it's the first game, I'm going to start preparations with the same intention.

That's how I feel about all pitches, and if I don't do that, I don't think the results will follow.

[Pitcher Shintaro Fujinami]

Q.Looking back on the opening game first pitching.

A.Is it okay?

In the second inning, I got a little greedy and got a little rough.

I was able to fix it from the middle somehow, so I thought it would be good to reflect on it and make use of it next time.

I think it was good overall.

Q. You said that you might get overwhelmed.

A. I'm glad that I was able to calm down at the beginning of the game, and in the second inning, I was greedy to say, "Let's do better." I think.

Q.Is the pre-match practice and routine the same as when you were in Japan?

A.It's basically the same.

The difference from Japan is that we are playing plyo balls (balls of various weights and sizes).

Other than that, the routine is the same as in Japan.

Q.In the first inning, the ball hit by the second player hit the ankle of the right foot.

A. No, I wasn't really worried because it didn't hurt that much anymore, and I told my trainer that I could do it at all.

Q. After the last live BP, you said that you were worried about the cut ball, but were you able to fix it?

A.It wasn't bad.

I think it would have been nice to change the way of thinking or how to use it.

Q.Among the other types of pitches, which ones were good and which ones were bad?

A. The split was good.

The large slider was missing a bit, so I wish I could fix it a little more, such as the image, how to use it, and how to throw it.

Q. After a long throwing match with pitcher Ohtani.

A. It's an open game, and it's a spring training game.

If this were a real season game, the story would be different.

But among them, I thought there were a lot of people who were looking forward to it, so I personally thought it would be nice if I could show them something good.

Q. Since the All-Star Game nine years ago, I think there are some things that have changed for each other, but did your impression change when you saw Ohtani pitching?

A. It's an adjustment, so I can't say anything about it.

I thought there were a lot of changing balls, but well, it's an adjustment.

Q.In the second inning when the bases were loaded, did you think you would try various things because it was an open game?

A. It's a little rough, and I have to fix it a little.

It was a bad tendency for my body to open up with force, so I wanted to fix it.

I didn't really care about the referee's strike zone.

Rather, I had the impression that he didn't take high pitches (for strikes), so I thought it would be nice if I could throw while making good use of that side.

Q. You said you wanted to see how the batter reacted.

A. It's not that it's very different from the image, but rather that it swings well overall.

I once again felt that it's not a style to rely on or cut.

Well, it looks just like the image.

Q. What is the first feeling that comes to you after finishing your first major pitching in the open game?

A. The second inning was so busy that I was relieved.

The first thing that came to me was 'relieved'.

I was throwing it while thinking that it would be noisy if I was pushing out there, so I was relieved that it was suppressed for the time being (laughs).