Rocky Sasaki He was literally a hero Dodgers.
“For Rocky!” fielder Miguel Rojas shouted.
Amid cheers and cheers, the players held up paper cups and downed them in one gulp to celebrate Sasaki's three perfect serves in the game. win 2-1 in 11 innings over the Philadelphia Phillies, securing their spot in the standings. National League Championship Series.
Sasaki's emergence as an October hero was as unexpected as his performance in the National League Division Series.
How did this happen?
How could a newcomer who practically disappeared when he fell with shoulder impingement five months before becoming the team's most dominant sub?
How could a pitcher who had been more or less written off by the Dodgers produce what the manager Dave Roberts described as “one of the best bullpen performances of all time”?
Sasaki can point to the moment when his rise to postseason stardom began.
“The hotel scene,” Sasaki said in Japanese.
September 8.
Sasaki was in a hotel room in Oklahoma City preparing to pitch to the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate the next day.
While he was eating, he watched a video of himself performing for Ofunato Institute. His signature high-leg serve was the same then as it is now, but what he did in the next phase of his serve was different.
Sasaki realized he was more explosive before placing his foot on the ground and throwing the ball.
“This is it,” he said to himself.
Right there in his Oklahoma City hotel room, Sasaki began throwing the ball into the air, seeking to regain the feeling in his lower body that he had back when he was considered the most talented pitcher his country had ever had.
The next day, Sasaki rediscovered his fastball.
Of the 90 pitches he threw in his 4⅔ innings as a starter, six exceeded 100 mph. His fastball averaged 158 km/h.
Dodgers pitcher Rocky Sasaki pitches during the eighth inning of Game 4 of the NLDS against the Phillies at Dodger Stadium on Thursday.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
His average fastball velocity in his previous outing: 94.4 mph.
A couple of days later, Sasaki met with the Dodgers' president of baseball operations. Andrew Friedmanand CEO, Brandon Gomez. While they assured him they saw him as a starter for next year and beyond, they floated the idea of a temporary move to the bullpen, which could greatly improve his chances of making the playoff roster.
Sasaki did much more than just make the roster.
MVPs are not chosen for the division series rounds, but if they were, Sasaki would likely take the award.
Saved games 1 and 2.
Roberts called on Sasaki to pitch two innings in the decider. Sasaki ended up pitching three, starting with the eighth inning, in which he retired Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper and Alec Bohm in order.
Sasaki made the Phillies look as dominant at the plate as they did. Shohei Ohtani also pitched perfect ninth and tenth innings in the postseason.
“I felt relieved,” Sasaki said.
Roberts felt a stronger emotion – “Pure euphoria,” he said – and that's why he didn't wait for Sasaki to return to the dugout to hug him. Roberts jumped off the bench and hugged Sasaki on the field.
Sasaki's effort kept the score tied at 1–1, allowing the Dodgers to win the game in the 11th inning on an error by Phillies pitcher Orion Kerkering.
“Rocky was incredible,” the tournament opener said. Tyler Glasnow. “Since he's come back, since he's come out of the bullpen, he's honestly one of the best pitchers I've ever seen. His stuff is incredible.”
Sasaki hasn't looked like this in the eight starts he's made to start the regular season. This was partly due to health issues, as Sasaki said shoulder problems affected his throwing. When Sasaki recovered, he regained more than just his natural throwing motion and the velocity of his previous fastball.
He also regained his confidence.
Sasaki was emitting a completely different energy than the one he had in mind. his presentation, press conferencein which he seemed uncomfortable.
When asked if fans at Citizens Bank Park were laughing at him, he said he didn't know what they were talking about. Conclusion: he didn't care.
When asked about his first season in the major leagues, he said he felt the injury had prevented him from appreciating the level of competition. Bottom line: If he were healthy, he would be as dominant as he is now.
“He's very shy and reserved,” Roberts said. “But I think since he's come back he's become a lot more open. I think he's showing more of who he really is and showing some emotion.”
This change was reflected in the field in the NLDS, where Sasaki attacked the Phillies with a style that conveyed a hit-me-if-you-can attitude. That attitude helped him become a bullpen ace this October and could see him become a rotation ace in the future.
“We're starting to see something really special in him,” Roberts said. “What he has done now on the biggest stages is just the beginning.”
