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About The Asian reporter. (Portland, Or.) 1991-current | View Entire Issue (April 16, 2018)
SPORTS Page 8 n THE ASIAN REPORTER April 16, 2018 Ohtani eager for more as Angels balance work for two-way star By Stephen Hawkins The Associated Press S hohei Ohtani eagerly bounces into the cage when it’s his turn during batting practice — and then puts on an impressive show knocking balls high and deep into the outfield seats. Whether hitting or pitching for the Los Angeles Angels, the rookie two-way sensation is raring to go and already wants to play more. “He always says he’s ready,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “But right now we’re definitely going to protect him as much as we can.” While the 23-year-old from Japan has definitely lived up to the hype in the first couple weeks of the season, the Angels are trying to do a balancing act in managing the workload for Ohtani. The right-handed pitcher with a fastball averaging about 99 mph, along with a nasty splitter and a biting slider, was 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA (Earned Run Average) and 18 strikeouts over 13 innings while allowing only four hits in his two starts on the mound. After retiring the final eight batters in his first start, he retired the first 19 in the next — that’s 27 consecutive outs, equal to a nine-inning perfect game. “I talk to the medical staff every day and they try to see how I’m doing, my strength level, to see if I can play that day,” Ohtani said through his interpreter at the end of a three-game series in Texas. “It’s the beginning of the season, so I think they are being pretty careful with me right now. “But once the season gets tougher, the schedule gets tougher through the summer, hopefully I can make them want to play me more. I would like to play more,” he said. “But if not, that’s that … I have to follow what they say.” “It’s really trying to balance a little bit of a guy’s ability obviously to swing the bat, and balance that with the need for him to be ready to pitch,” Scioscia said. “The biggest thing is we will be flexible, so it’s Killingsworth Station Food Cart Pod Experience a collection of food carts featuring a variety of international flavors! Beer, wine & mimosas available 1 Siam Kitchen Authentic Thai cuisine Special-roasted Thai coffee and tea Curry dishes, Pad Thai, Drunken Noodles, and more Vegetarian substitutions – tofu or seitan – available on all dishes Hash it Out Specialties: Corned-beef hash & Pulled-pork sandwiches “The Wrap” w “The Vegan” w “The Reuben” w and more Breakfast dishes served until 4:00pm Green City Smoothies Specialties: Healthy, plant-based smoothies, toast & oatmeal. All menu items feature locally sourced seasonal fruits and vegetables and nutritious superfoods. La Puerta Salvadorian cuisine Specialties: Pupusas, Tamales, Carne Asada, Fried Plantains Bark City BBQ Specialties: Banana pudding, milkshakes, Texas brisket Try our “Pitmaster’s Nap” – Beer-link smoked turkey, pulled pork & ribs, choice of 2 sides, and cornbread Rose City Slammin Sandwiches Specialties: Empanadas, Cuban sandwiches, Arroz con gandules (rice & beans) Euro Dish Traditional Polish cuisine Specialties: Pierogi, kielbasa, blintzes, stuffed cabbage rolls, and more Tehuana Mexican Oaxican cuisine Featuring Mole Enchiladas, Tacos, Burritos & more Best new Mexican Burrito/Taco Food Cart in Portland (Willamette Week, 2016) 1331 N. Killingsworth Street, Portland (1 block east of N. Interstate Avenue) not in concrete. We’ll check with him and see when he’s available and we’ll go from there.” Ohtani was the first AL player to homer in three games in a row in the same season he started a game as a pitcher since Babe Ruth did it for the fifth time in 1930. The last player who had been the winning pitcher twice and hit three homers in his team’s first 10 games was Jim Shaw for the 1919 Washington Senators. While the Angels took some infield before a game this month against Texas, Ohtani stood by the cage with a bat in his EAGER ANGEL. Starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani of Japan throws for the Los Angeles Angels against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning of a baseball game on April 8, 2018, in Anaheim, California. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) hand waiting for batting practice near where Scioscia was hitting fungo to some infielders. When the manager glanced back at one point, Ohtani flashed him a smile and a thumbs-up. “His talent level is special. I have nobody to compare to. I’ve never played with a guy that can hit the ball the way he does, and throw 100 at the time,” Angels second baseman Ian Kinsler said. “His regimen is impressive, it’s very thought out. He knows what he’s coming to the ballpark to do that day, whether it’s on the offensive side of the ball or defensive side.” Rangers reliever Chris Martin was teammates with Ohtani the past two seasons in Japan, where they had lockers by each other and shared an interpreter. Martin, who talked with him a couple of times during the series, picked off Ohtani at first base. “Super humble,” Martin said, describing Ohtani as a teammate. “It’s just kind of crazy, all the fame that he gets, even over in Japan, and obviously over here now ... I don’t even know if he was really even paying attention to it. He’s so focused on playing baseball and being the best he can be over here and just not worried about all the other stuff.” Hundreds of foreigners join Pyongyang race as tensions ease PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) — Hundreds of foreigners joined in the annual Pyongyang marathon despite political tensions that have only recently begun to ease and a ban on U.S citizens travelling to the country that is still in effect. Approximately 400 foreign amateurs took part this year, less than half the number that participated last year. They came from approximately 43 countries and territories around the world. Disabled people were allowed to join in for the first time. One wheelchair runner from Singapore and one blind North Korean runner were in the race. This year’s marathon started in Kim Il Sung Stadium and wound past Pyongyang landmarks such as Kim Il Sung Square and Mirae Street, one of the North Korean capital’s recent redevelopment projects. Thirteen foreign professional runners from African countries participated in the elite category of the race. The men’s full marathon was won by North Korean Ri Kang Bom in 2 hours, 12 minutes, and 53 seconds. The winner of the women’s full marathon was North Korean Kim Hye Gyong, who came in at 2 hours, 27 minutes, and 24 seconds, with her twin sister Kim Hye Song narrowly behind her. “I’m glad that I was able to fulfill the expectations of the people,” men’s winner Ri said. Since North Korea started allowing foreign amateurs to take part in the Pyongyang marathon in 2014, the event has become a boost for the tourism industry. But in the past year, tensions on the Korean Peninsula over the North’s missile launches and nuclear tests last year, and a U.S. travel ban on its citizens visiting North Korea, have reduced the number of tourist arrivals. Tensions peaked late last year, but have eased since January, when leader Kim Jong Un announced a series of diplomatic overtures toward South Korea. “It’s the last two months we saw an increase in people, amateurs, wanting to join the marathon, simply because the geopolitics before were so, you know, tense, that people weren’t joining,” said Nick Bonner, head of Koryo Tours, which brought in many of the foreign tourist runners. The competition is officially called the Mangyongdae ROAD RACE. Runners compete on Ryomyong Street during the Pyongyang marathon in Pyongyang, North Korea. Hundreds of overseas runners hit the streets in Pyongyang for North Korea’s annual event. (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin) Prize International Marathon. Mangyongdae is where North Korea says its late founder, President Kim Il Sung, was born. It’s part of a series of events held to commemorate the anniversary of his April 15 birthday. April 15 is called the Day of the Sun and is North Korea’s biggest holiday. The International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) recognized this year’s Pyongyang marathon as a Bronze Label Road Race. It’s also accredited by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races. Have a safe and prosperous Year of the Dog! February 16, 2018 to February 4, 2019