Roki Sasaki's Interesting Start to 2024 

Thank you for covering this. I hope he can recover and get back on his feet soon. The online reaction has been unbelievably harsh, especially if he is injured in some ways. People can be so cruel. His only "sin" seems to be expressing his desire to play in the MLB. One would think he committed a crime the way people have been harping on him.

A Starting pitcher that can’t stay healthy? Sounds like a Dodger to me

Seems to me like hes actively tinkering his mechanics and trying to pace himself more

future Mariner

Ive been following roki this season, and seeing how the japanese media has been dealing with him has been super eye opening. The way they create narratives and run with them as fact with minimal evidence is genuinely scary. I wonder if anyones considered talking about this topic as I saw some other teams have also had issues with certain jmedia outlets this year.

Interesting observation about the splitter. I was convinced the first time I watched him last year for the Mets that Kodai Senga was throwing his forkball different to righties and lefties. So it might be the case that Sasaki is doing the same thing...or I'm just seeing things.

Possibly hot take: I think Sasaki needs to stay in Japan for at least 3 more seasons to develop as a pitcher. If he moves to the MLB too soon, they will simply suck him dry. There is a reason Japanese pitchers are comparatively strong (and I know some people are going to question if they *are* comparatively strong. This is a hot take, ok? :-) ). I'd like him to do well, but at least from the games I've seen him play, he's got a very high chance of burning out if too much demand is placed on him. I think his team is doing the right things for him and he would be foolish to abandon them.

Potential npb top pitcher

That last world baseball classic was crazy fun to watch

if he comes to mlb he will struggle for his first few seasons. he will got from starting every 7 days to starting every 5

I think it's sort of understandable that he has some critics as he's not pitched enough for his team

When is his next start date?

good video

If he comes to MLB he’ll deff need to get to atleast 140 innings a year regular season plus maybe 20 30 post season innings wouldn’t be surprised if he has great ACL damage ether tho and maybe that’s actually the reason why he hasn’t been pitching

Part time Ace

I hope he goes to the orioles or braves if he gets posted

He's not worth as much as Yamamoto yet

At 440 what was that shin guard

Don't have high hope on him. He is too thin, he doesn't pitch many innings. I don't think he'll last long in MLB. Will be more disappointment than Yamamoto.

He's MLB Ready

can't wait for him to get to the MLB! I hope he won't go to the Dodgers, they would be so broken by then lol

Future Dodger

I hope he stays away from the Dodgers injury factory.

He's washed