It was very smart for the manager to pull the pitcher out of the game. Japanese pitchers are known to over pitch at a young age risking their career to perform in high school for Koushien. Although, Koushien is a big deal, I would think it’s better to protect the pitcher and have fruitful pro career for long term development.
Pulling the in form starter was the right move. The Mgr probably had little confidence his hitters could get it done regardless of what Sasaki did the next inning or two. Despite the pitcher's recent performances, the team is struggling big-time (just below .500 W/L) and the gaffer might not fancy the sack just yet. Losing his ace after an arm tweak at 120 pitches could deflate morale and spell bad news all round.
The bigger story IMO: If Chiba Lotte becomes a one-way train of sorry, can Sasaki match Lefty's 1972 heroics?
Sometimes the manager/coach is a selfish individual with a huge ego and their in- game moves are more for their own notoriety than the good of the players or the team. Many coaches and mangers make selfish decisions to gain personal notoriety because they're narcissists.
I like baseball. You can call it a game, a sport or anything your little heart desires and I will still like baseball. Words are descriptive not proscriptive.
You raise a good point. But he was the home team. So I would have hid him pitch the ninth and then if his team doens't score, you call it a day.
I think this is exactly what the manager should have done. At least give him a chance to finish 2 perfect games. Pulling him in the 8th doesn't allow for that.
On July 4, 1908, Hooks Wiltse of the New York Giants hit Philadelphia Phillies pitcher George McQuillan on a 2–2 count in a scoreless game—the only time a 0–0 perfect game has been broken up by the 27th batter and the only time a perfect game has been spoiled on the 27th batter by the opposing pitcher. Umpire Cy Rigler later admitted that he should have called the previous pitch strike 3. Wiltse pitched on, winning 1–0; his ten-inning no-hitter set a record for longest complete game no-hitter that has been tied twice but never broken.[57]
Pulling an ageing Clayton Kershaw after 7 when he's not stretched out, doesn't have his best stuff and it's in the 30s, I can understand.
But what happened in Japan today was a travesty.
Japan 20-year old sensation Roki Sasaki threw the first perfect game in Japan since 1994 in his last start so we know he's stretched out. Today, he's absolutely dealing once again. In the 8th inning, he's still got a perfect game going and he strikes out the side with his last pitch being a 101 mph heater.
There has never been back to back perfect games in professional baseball history. Hell, no pitcher in Japan or America has ever thrown two perfect games in a career, let alone in back to back starts.
What happens?
They pull him even as his pitch count was at 102 (he threw 105 in his last perfect game).
I think this is a travesty. Unless the guy said, "I want out" they 100% should have left him in there.
Do you agree or disagree?
A perfect game is like a hole in one, they don’t mean that much in the long run and only count for one win. The only perfect MLB game I ever hear mentioned is Don Larson’s in the 1956 WS. Two perfect games and TJ surgery would be a disastrous outcome for Sasaki and his team.
What’s amazing is that Sasaki might be the most talented pitcher ever. His fastball averages 99.7mph and he has struck out 56 batters compared to only 2 walks.He’s also only 20 years old. It’s a shame that possibly the best pitcher in the world is not playing in MLB.
On the pulling of Clayton after 7 perfect innings. David Wells: “Even if your a spot starter you still give the guy a chance to make history. ... That’s a Dick move ?? Unless kershaw wanted out ... Total BS”
And then there’s Mr. October, Reggie Jackson, who was left shaking his head Wednesday on Twitter: “Clayton Kershaw Perfect game 80 pitches, take him OUT !!!!! WHAT THE! what’s the game coming to?1 of the era’s best, and you take him out with a perfect game in the 7th, 7-0 Dodgers winning. Take him OUT! THIS IS BASEBALL PLEASE PEOPLE THAT HAVE NEVER PLAYED GET OUT OF ITS WAY”
I suspect they would have even more stern condemnation of the pulling of Roki after 8 in his 2nd consecutive perfect outing.
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