Shohei Ohtani

Fan Teaser: Week 176 Solution

DouglasTHillLeave a comment
Blown away!

While possible, it’s highly unlikely the conclusion of the 2026 World Baseball Classic can rival the finish of 2023’s installment.

Team Japan (the home team) led Team USA, 3-2, with two outs and the bases empty in the top of the ninth inning when American Mike Trout strode to the plate.

On the mound for Japan was none other than Trout’s then-Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim teammate Shohei Ohtani.

What ensued came directly from central casting.

  • Pitch 1 – 88 mph slider for a ball
  • Pitch 2 – 100 mph fastball for a swinging strike
  • Pitch 3 – 100 mph fastball for a ball
  • Pitch 4 – 100 mph fastball for a swinging strike
  • Pitch 5 – 100 mph fastball in the dirt for a ball
  • Pitch 6 – 87 mph slider for a swinging strike

Ball game! Tournament! Teammates again tomorrow!

Team Japan pitcher, Shohei Ohtani, celebrates after fanning Team USA’s Mike Trout to clinch the 2023 World Baseball Classic Championship for the Japanese. Japan’s catcher Yuhei Nakamura also celebrates. (Photo from Getty Images/Samurai Japan)
The FOX Sports telecast feed of Shohei Ohtani’s strikeout of then-Angels’ teammate Mike Trout to clinch the 2023 WBC Championship for Japan.

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Witnessing History

DouglasTHillLeave a comment

Back in May I had the winning bid on a pair of tickets for the Tigers-Angels game at Comerica Park Thursday afternoon.

I’d secretly dared to dream that Shohei Ohtani would pitch. When I saw he pitched last Friday I did some simple math and discovered Thursday would be his turn in the rotation.

Could it be???

You can imagine my disappointment when I saw Sunday night that he was slated to pitch Friday in Toronto instead. But then, storms moved through the Detroit area Wednesday and the Angels switched it up, moving Ohtani into the starting slot for Game 1 of Thursday’s doubleheader, keeping him on his normal rest.

He did not disappoint!

  • Game 1 – His first-ever complete game, allowed one hit, walked three, and fanned eight. He’d no-hit the Tigers through four innings and had faced the minimum of 18 batters through six.
  • Game 2 – He blasted his MLB-leading 37th and 38th home runs.

Alas, sticking for Game 2 was simply not in the cards on this hot and humid day with my septuagenerian father with me. That said, I’m beyond stoked to have witnessed the best player in the game today.

From upper left, Ohtani walking to the bullpen pre-game, the Miguel Cabrera tally board, an Ohtani pitch, a throng of fans crowded the area above the Angels bullpen to watch Ohtani warm up, the overcast gave way to brilliant (and hot!) sun after awhile, the Ty Cobb statue, the Ernie Harwell statue, and the Willie Horton statue.