Tokyo – They are only two games to start the major league baseball season: the Dodgers of the World Series champion against Chicago puppies on Tuesday and Wednesday at Tokyo Dome.
For registration, the regular MLB season consists of almost 2,500 games.
But it is much more for the manager of the Dodgers Dave Roberts, who was born in Japan. And for Shohei Ohtani and the other four Japanese players competing at home for dodgers and puppies.
Then there is MLB, which opens its regular season for the second consecutive year in the Asian market. A year ago it was Seoul, South Korea, where the Dodgers and San Diego parents divided two games. It was also where the betting scandal broke out Ohtani’s interpreter.
“It is difficult to know if this is the Golden Age for Japanese players in the United States,” Ohtani said on Friday, speaking through an interpreter, while both teams trained at Tokyo Dome.
“I know there have been many Japanese players who came before me,” Ohtani added. “But having five (Japanese players) is a big problem. It’s really a big problem.”
Asked what I was most waiting for, Ohtani He replied: “Eat good food, overcome the jetlag and just be able to enjoy playing the game.”
It is a return home to Robewho was born on the southern island of Japan of Okinawa from a Japanese mother and an American father. He expects family members to attend Okinawa, where last year he was honored by officials there.
“It is personal because I can represent my mother’s family side,” Roberts said. “I have many relatives and relatives who can see this baseball game: see a game of the Dodgers at night instead of having to see us in the morning.”
The time difference between Japan and the American East Coast is 13 hours, and Japan is 16 hours ahead of Los Angeles.
Japan is Dodgers Country, sweeping by Ohtani, the title of the World Series, and the Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki. The Dodgers headlines against the puppies are expected to be
“I think our mission was done by painting Japan’s condition in Dodgers Blue,” Roberts said.
Yamamoto and Ohtani talked about the joy of being at home, as well as the pitcher of the puppies Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki, the probable DH. Imanaga is expected to begin with Yamamoto in the first game.
“I hope my teammates really enjoy Japan right now,” Ohtani said. “But I also hope that fans can see my teammates enjoy Japan.”
Ohtani was reminded that he has not launched a bullpen session in several weeks, since he hopes to launch again after getting lost last season after elbow surgery.
“I want to prioritize the batting appearance as we enter the season, to give a small breath mentally and physically next to the pitching of the thing,” he said. “This is according to the plan and I am satisfied with how things have gone.”
For Sasaki, it’s different. The 23 -year -old signed with the Dodgers two months ago and needs to prove his worth, although many feel that it is a perspective that cannot be lost.
“I was literally in Japan until a couple of months,” he said through an interpreter. “For me it is more about being able to launch with a different uniform in a different team and make sure it works at my best.”
Sasaki met Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ihiba on Friday in his office and gave him an autographic Dodgers cap. He was accompanied by the owner of the Dodgers, Mark Walter.
“I am really happy that Dodgers open the season in Japan,” he said Japanese Media reported that Istiba.
The Manager of the Cubs, Craig Counsell, spoke about a party released by Imanaga and Suzuki to welcome the other puppies to Japan. For most it is the first visit.
What impressed Counsell was a great tuna that was carved in a ceremony at the party. Sashimi and Sushi for all.
“We had open tuna,” said Counsell. “Some of the players participated in that, which was afraid for a second with players with knives in their hands. But apart from that, it was great.”
Counsell said the trip to Japan was about “Kizuna”, which is the Japanese word for the union. Obviously he has been educated by his Japanese players.
“That started for our team last night with the big party and be able to be together,” said Counsell.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb
