Again, there was a good reason why the maximum restraint was only ‘160km’. ‘Perfect Monster’ Sasaki Loki (Chiba Lotte Marines) breaks away from the front line. Suddenly, the nightmare of last year comes to mind.
Sasaki started in the 2023 Japan Professional Baseball Softbank Hawks home match held at ZOZO Marine Stadium in Chiba, Chiba, Japan on the 24th (hereinafter Korean time), pitched 93 pitches in 6 innings, struck out 4 hits, and struck out 9 pitches in 6 innings. Recorded 1 walk and 1 run (1 earned).
Sasaki’s last appearance in the first half was against the Orix Buffaloes on the 12th. At that time, Sasaki recorded 104 pitches, 3 hits, 14 strikeouts and 1 run (1 earned) in 7 innings. After resting for 6 days, he participated in the All-Star Game on the 19th and scored 18 pitches, 1 hit, 2 strikeouts, and no runs in 1 inning. He pitched on the fourth day of rest, but pitching didn’t seem to be affected as he didn’t throw many balls. But this was a mistake.
Sasaki recorded a quality start (less than 3 earned runs in 6 innings), blocking 6 innings with only 1 run, including 9 strikeouts. It was clear that he was a great pitcher who could have been a winning pitcher if the batting line was a little helpful. However, there was one thing that was strange about Sasaki. It is that his highest speed stayed at 160 km. Even his personal best lap of 165 km seemed to be a problem as Sasaki was the one who sprinkling incessantly.
According to Japan’s ‘Sponichi Annex’, manager Masato Yoshii said in an interview after the game, “I only took 4 days off after the All-Star game, so I thought about 100 pitches. I wasn’t in very good shape, but I threw 6 innings well.” While giving a thumbs up to Sasaki’s pitch, he showed a non-trivial response, saying, “The reason why there was no restraint is that there are various thoughts, so it’s okay.”
However, there was still a problem with Sasaki’s physical condition. According to Japanese media outlets on the 25th, Sasaki was removed from the first team prior to the game. The reason was that his left inner oblique (side) muscle was in trouble. According to Japan’s ‘Daily Sports’, coach Yoshii explained, “Sasaki’s left internal oblique muscle (problem) has been erased.” injured,” he said.
Sasaki seemed to have no major problems until he finished his pitching. Which scene was the problem? Coach Yoshii explained, “I think it was when I threw my 90th pitch yesterday. I think I felt a little pain against the last batter, and after that, I threw 4 more pitches and returned to the bench, and the pain seemed to get worse.” The correct name for Sasaki’s injury is a torn oblique muscle in his left side.
Last year’s ‘Nightmare’ seems to come to mind little by little. While Sasaki was on a winning streak, such as achieving a perfect game early last year, he left the line at the end of the first half due to finger blisters. And he returned to the mound after a hiatus of over a month, but he failed to show off his performance in the first half. And again this year, Sasaki was once again out of the first team due to a blister, and this time, he was in danger of not winning his first 10 games again, as he also caused problems with his inner oblique muscle. Repeating injuries in the second half for two consecutive years is never a good picture.
Coach Yoshii said, “I can’t fight without treating the injury first. I’m going to take a break for a while. I’ve hurt my side, but I feel a sense of fear even when I think it’s healed.” It really depends on Sasaki’s resilience, so I think it will take two months at the earliest and more if it’s later. If that happens, I think this season will be difficult.”
As of the end of the game on the 25th, Chiba Lotte is ranked second in the Pacific League with a win rate of 0.584 with 45 wins, 4 draws and 32 losses. The gap with the No. 1 Orix Buffaloes is only three games. If the current trend continues, it is expected to win the Pacific League as well as take over the position of the Japanese series ‘Throne’. Manager Yoshii said, “I don’t like the word very much, but there is a saying that a crisis is an opportunity. I will give young players a chance. I will work hard.”온라인카지노
It is an undeniable fact that he is a talent coveted in the major leagues, starting with a perfect game and spraying up to 165 km. However, as she suffered from blisters last year and this year as well as ruptured her oblique muscle, the image of a ‘glass body’ is emerging little by little.