Ohtani's Spring Struggles

[OhtaniSan]

Are you worried about Ohtani's pitching performance on the mound this spring?

In Ohtani's first two spring starts this year, he has thrown a combined 4.0 innings and allowed 6 runs and 3 BBs. For those who have watched the games, you'll notice that Ohtani has greatly struggled with his command and his ability to locate pitches. He has been throwing a significant number of pitches to get through each batter and his pitch count shoots up because of this. There have been lots of 3-0 and 3-1 counts which have allowed hitters to lay off his offspeed and capitalize on his fastball, which he has struggled to command and locate, or his hanging offspeed pitches that he seems to be "aiming" for a strike call. 

The good that can be pulled from these starts is that his velocity appears to remain intact after hitting 99 in his first start. Also, the reports of him hitting 100+ in bullpens and simulated games serve as encouragement and a sign he is confident enough in his elbow to reach back and hit triple digits. He also looks very comfortable on the mound which could signify further confidence in both his elbow as well as his skillset in general. His offspeed pitches also still have plenty of movement and have helped result in 9 K's in those 4 innings. His offspeed pitches still seem more than good enough to be considered elite pitches if he can figure out his command. 

The way he looks this spring resembles his 2018 spring training where he seemed to struggle with his command identically to today. His velocity and movement were still prevalent in his 2018 spring training with an imploding pitch count and poor command being his biggest issues then, just as they have been this spring. I remember he also threw tons of simulated games in 2018's spring training where Scioscia said he looked much better, just as Maddon raves about Ohtani's bullpens now.

I recall reading somewhere that Ohtani views Spring Training as a way to work on certain aspects of his game and isn't that concerned about poor spring results. In 2018, he following a poor spring with a phenomenal April.

That being said, do you think Ohtani's struggles are just him working off the rust, or are they signs that he will have a poor year on the mound?

 

[jsnpritchett]

[Vlad27Trout27]

Can we just be happy that he's healthy?

 

side know, his command has always been issue, even 2018.plus its spring.

[failos]

I blame Jo Adell

[Chuck]

Yes he had an inning in his first start and in this game where he lost command of his fastball, but he's shown everything we've needed to see to be confident that he's in 2018 form (maybe even better considering an improved curveball). 

Today's outcome in the 2nd inning could have been completely different if Adell would have caught the ball that he misread (that they counted as a hit) and if that weak bloop hit in RF would have been caught by Walsh. 

[Erstad Grit]

Adell looks so lost. 

[tdawg87]

Look at his spring stats in 2018.

So, to answer your question, no.

[fan_since79]

Not worried about his performance, but always worried about an injury. With Angels' pitching that's a given.

[mmc]

Am I the only one that couldn't possibly give a damn about how any player, good or bad, looks in Spring Training?

[Warfarin]

The key thing is the stuff is there.  His command is off, which for someone who hasn't pitched much at all for the last 2 years, is to be expected.

Give it time.  His stuff is electric again, which is by far the biggest piece of the puzzle.  His command will improve with more reps. 

[Chuck]

5 minutes ago, mmc said:

Am I the only one that couldn't possibly give a damn about how any player, good or bad, looks in Spring Training?

In terms of Trout, Rendon and others who are established guys looking good in ST, no. Same with Pujols. If he hit 10 HR and batted .500 this spring, it wouldn't change my mind on if he should get more starts over Walsh at 1B. 

But when you got someone like say Upton who finished the season strong and has carried that over into ST, that shit matters IMO. 

In the case of Ohtani, we needed to see the velo and secondary pitches that were both absent last season. 

There's also guys like Lagares, Rengifo, Ward, Barreto and other position battles that you like to see good performances from. 

Finally who doesn't like to see our top prospects in ST, especially when we didn't have a minor league season last year. I've loved what I've seen from C-Rod and Detmers thus far. 

[BTH]

The stat line looks bad, but his performance doesn't.

The most important things right now are health and stuff.

That second inning was a train wreck defensively for the Angels and greatly messed up the stat line. Also, going back to his first outing, one of the run's he gave up may not have been given up if Rendon was at 3B over Rengifo.

[WicketMaiden]

No, not in the least bit worried. It's Spring training... the important word there being TRAINING. 

[Angels 1961]

Ohtani has pitched very little last 4 years. I feel he is working on some things and will be fine. The more he pitches the better he will get.

[Second Base]

You don't worry about refinement in ST at all, and what most people don't realize is that success at the big TV league level is all about adjustments and refinement. In ST, you just want to see the stuff is there, you don't want to see them in mid-season form. If anything, a player on mid-season form is more likely to wear down at some point. 

With Ohtani, I want to see three things.

1. Healthy

2. 100 mph fastball

3. Throws good splitter, slider and curve somewhere within 5 feet of the batters box. 

Shohei has done all three. I'm happy.

[Tweeder]

Don't pitchers take the longest to settle in? remember It's always the hitters who come out the gate roaring during season's start whether it's Spring training or early season baseball.  Josh Hamilton had a great Spring. Remember Chris Shelton's meteoric early season? Who? Exactly.

[tdawg87]

Just look at how stupid he made guys look today. 

When this dude is dialed in the AL is fucked.

[Angel Oracle]

2 hours ago, Erstad Grit said:

Adell looks so lost. 

Wondering if it’s going to take more than a minor league season for him to be comfortable defensively?

[m0nkey]

Ha, wasn’t it just the other day “we” were anointing him the savior pitcher the angels needed this season? 
 

I love this site. 

[UndertheHalo]

I know that AW is rounding into mid season form because of amazing threads like this.  Shit rocks. 

[ThisismineScios]

LOL at being worried about a pitcher giving up runs in ST. These guys are literally using these games to work on specific pitches, situations, and spots. Shohei said he wanted to throw his curve a lot more today. Last time he only wanted to throw his splitter as an out pitch. The concerns come when their velocity drops, when they can’t locate their fastball at all, or when they get hurt. Everything else is quite literally on purpose. 

[Tweeder]

44 minutes ago, ThisismineScios said:

LOL at being worried about a pitcher giving up runs in ST. These guys are literally using these games to work on specific pitches, situations, and spots. Shohei said he wanted to throw his curve a lot more today. Last time he only wanted to throw his splitter as an out pitch. The concerns come when their velocity drops, when they can’t locate their fastball at all, or when they get hurt. Everything else is quite literally on purpose. 

Yeah, I'm not worried one bit.  He faced and dominated the A's this Spring and most of those players knew what was coming from prior experience.  Perhaps he was testing some new locations and seeing what pitches the hitters liked, kind of like running an experiment.

[Tank]

spring training is the time you're supposed to work things out ahead of the start of the season. i couldn't be less concerned about what the stats say right now.

[Blarg]

6 hours ago, failos said:

I blame Jo Adell

If Ohtani got a ground ball for a double play Adell isn't a footnote. Instead he served up a meatball that almost got out. I blame Ohtani. 

[oldguy]

6 hours ago, Erstad Grit said:

Adell looks so lost. 

Unfortunately, we don't have a two-year time machine to go back and get something for him in a trade.