In his first official moments with the Chicago Cubs, Japanese left-hander Shōta Imanaga already knew find out how to play the hits.
“Hey, Chicago, what do you say?” Imanaga stated in English. “The Cubs are going to win today. … Go Cubs Go!”
Imanaga had already spent almost three weeks in Chicago by the point the crew launched him Friday afternoon on the Lowes Hotel forward of Cubs Convention festivities. While staying within the metropolis, he researched the Cubs, the franchise’s historical past and transitions. When a four-year deal was reached with the Cubs, he needed to put on No. 18 in honor of 2016 World Series MVP Ben Zobrist.
“I want to be the player that he was too,” Imanaga stated by way of interpreter Shingo Murata. “The 2016 World Series championship left a big impression on me. The images of the parade with millions and millions of people — and obviously Ben Zobrist is an excellent player. He played a lot of roles, did whatever it takes to help the team win.”
Imanaga has recognized new teammate Seiya Suzuki since their taking part in days collectively within the Nippon Professional Baseball league, although he didn’t discuss to the outfielder concerning the Cubs earlier than deciding to signal with the group. Imanaga has since reached out to Suzuki, who was “excited and showed happiness as if it was happening to see himself and that really excites me.” Former Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish was among the many gamers Imanaga used as a useful resource throughout the posting course of. Darvish offered perception into what he emphasised when he signed out of Japan.
Imanaga needed to hitch a company the place he, together with the crew, can proceed to get higher and develop. He felt the Cubs have been a very good match.
“I want to be an adaptable pitcher,” Imanaga stated. “Sometimes the situation might call for me to pound the zone with the fastball. Sometimes the situation might call for a lot of breaking balls, but I don’t want to be one style.”
Known as “The Throwing Philosopher” in Japan, Imanaga isn’t glad together with his success in Japan or the place he’s at as a pitcher. Both sides imagine the lefty nonetheless can attain one other stage as a pitcher, at the same time as he transitions to a brand new nation and league.
“I am by no means a finished product and there’s a lot for me to learn and there’s a lot for me to study day in and day out,” Imanaga stated. “I believe that my approach in that way somehow earned me the nickname.”
Manager Craig Counsell is happy by what Imanaga has achieved in Japan, the place the 30-year-old led the league in strikeouts final 12 months whereas posting a 2.80 ERA. In the WBC, he began Japan’s 3-2 championship sport win over the United States.
“His skill level is going to allow him to make the necessary adjustments because he’s so skilled, right? And that’s what’s going to help him do that,” Counsell stated Friday. “He can pitch like he’s pitching and be fine, but you know he’s going to want to do things and tweak things and learn from the league, and the skill level is going to allow him to do that.”
One of the most important changes Imanaga faces is pitching each fifth day, which comes with one much less day of relaxation in comparison with his schedule in Japan. He describes the change as a novel expertise and desires to maintain an open thoughts whereas searching for recommendation from the teaching employees and teammates throughout spring coaching to determine find out how to greatest method the five-day schedule.
Pitching coach Tommy Hottovy pointed to off days, particularly early within the schedule, and on the lookout for methods to be artistic can assist each Imanaga and the remainder of the rotation with added relaxation.
“We can find pockets and be able to get on a six-day rotation or utilize that and be creative about how we use the roster, it’s only going to benefit our guys down the stretch,” Hottovy advised the Tribune on Friday. “We saw not only the starters run out of gas and the relievers run out of gas (last year). Obviously I don’t want to speak for Craig and the organization, but from my end it’s finding creative ways to give guys extra days when we can and still trust the guys that we have to win games and big moments.”
The Cubs wish to assist Imanaga get snug in his transition and discover a good routine. Hottovy is trying ahead to getting eyes and knowledge on Imanaga in bullpens to grasp how his stuff goes to play when utilizing a major-league ball. Imanaga offered a glimpse of his nasty stuff and effectiveness when throwing throughout the World Baseball Classic final spring.
“Is it moving similar or are there differences compared to what he’s done in the past? Because we want him to err on what he does really well,” Hottovy stated. “We also want to make sure that those pitches are staying consistent to what he’s used in the past. Giving him the foundation of, like, this is what I’m going to do, this is my core and then we can figure out the other pieces we want to work on and continue to grow and get better. It’s always a process and there’s never ever right or wrong way to go about it.”
The Cubs aren’t carried out. President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer acknowledged enhancements to the roster nonetheless stay, saying Friday, “We’re certainly not done with our offseason by any stretch.”
That focus consists of the bullpen, depth and ideally discovering extra offense that produce in opposition to right-handers. Landing Imanaga probably completes the Cubs’ rotation choices heading into spring coaching. If they do purchase one other beginning pitcher, it might be a smaller acquisition that addresses depth.
“Something could fall in our lap, we could end up with something, but that’s not my expectation,” Hoyer stated.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com