Could the Angels have Shohei Ohtani pitch more often in 2022?

3 years ago 349

ANAHEIM — Shohei Ohtani has delivered the Angels the prime of an ace, but don’t expect him to present the quantity.

Manager Joe Maddon conceded connected Tuesday that it’s astir apt not realistic to expect Ohtani to summation his workload adjacent twelvemonth truthful helium pitches arsenic often arsenic a emblematic major-league starter.

Rather than pitching connected 4 oregon 5 days of rest, similar astir major-league starters, adjacent play Ohtani volition proceed to transportation connected 5 oregon six days of rest, oregon more, Maddon said.

“That’s the terms you pay, oregon that’s the method you person to employment successful bid to person this feline play both, transportation and hit,” Maddon said. “I person not thought otherwise. I’m beauteous definite it volition stay the same, similar you’ve seen this year.”

Although it’s not a astonishment that Maddon doesn’t judge Ohtani could ramp up from there, it was inactive a valid question due to the fact that this play the Angels person importantly accrued Ohtani’s workload from the mode helium was utilized the past clip helium was a two-way player.

In 2018, the Angels insisted connected giving Ohtani a time disconnected from DH-ing earlier and aft helium pitched, and helium besides didn’t deed the time helium pitched. All those rules person been abandoned this season, and Ohtani has played virtually each day.

Hitting the accelerator adjacent much connected Ohtani adjacent twelvemonth could surely assistance the Angels if helium could bash it. Ohtani is apt to decorativeness this play with 23 starts, which is astir apt 7 to 10 less than a accepted starter who makes it done the play healthy. Obviously, the Angels request each the pitching they tin get, and much Ohtani would help. He has a 3.28 ERA and the Angels are 13-9 successful his starts, a .591 winning percentage.

If the Angels aren’t going to summation Ohtani’s volume, it begs the question of however they would signifier the remainder of the rotation astir Ohtani.

Could they person each their different starters enactment connected 4 oregon 5 days remainder and inactive accommodate Ohtani? If they adhd a premium pitcher who would privation to transportation arsenic often arsenic possible, could the Angels enactment that astir Ohtani?

Maddon said they can.

“If we get immoderate seasoned guys, existent coagulated seasoned guys who similar to spell each 5th day, I deliberation it would beryllium worked through,” Maddon said. “I don’t deliberation it’s going to beryllium that large of a problem, if it happens.”

Maddon besides suggested that immoderate of the returning pitchers too Ohtani – similar Patrick Sandoval oregon José Suarez, for illustration – mightiness inactive payment from the other rest. None has ever thrown 100 innings successful a large league season.

As for the remainder of this season, the Angels are undecided connected erstwhile Ohtani’s adjacent commencement volition be.

If he’s going to person a minimum of six days rest, the soonest it would beryllium is Sunday, the past location crippled of the season. If helium starts Sunday, helium could inactive theoretically commencement again connected the pursuing Sunday successful the play finale, giving him 24 starts.

Maddon said they are inactive waiting to spot however Ohtani’s limb bounces backmost from his erstwhile outing to determine erstwhile – oregon if – he’ll transportation again.

“Him and (interpreter Ippei Mizuhara) haven’t told maine thing much terrible than normal,” Maddon said. “He’s going to beryllium sore today. But that’s benignant of mean stuff.”