00:00 (upbeat music)
00:02 - When you were here last Friday,
00:04 we were breaking down and getting ready
00:06 for a start from Shohei Otani.
00:08 His first since he was pulled early on July 4th
00:11 against the Padres with a blister
00:13 on his right throwing hand.
00:15 Last week against the Astros, five innings of work,
00:18 allowed for earned runs,
00:19 came up with a loss against the Strohs.
00:22 He has lost both starts in July that he has made so far.
00:26 Otani faces the Pirates today in Anaheim.
00:29 What is your expectation?
00:30 - My expectation, I've been saying this,
00:33 I want to see a fully healthy Shohei and not,
00:37 you know, I think what happens is his finger
00:38 just wears down towards the end of the game
00:40 and he struggles and it just takes him off his game.
00:43 But he's been trying to work in some more splitters,
00:46 less dependent on his sweeper.
00:48 And I think that that may be causing finger issues.
00:52 I don't know.
00:52 Like he can strike out 12 any given time he's out there.
00:57 So I'm going, I'm still on Shohei.
00:59 I know he's been struggling, but I, you know,
01:02 it's only little finger stuff, right?
01:04 He can get over that.
01:05 - Right.
01:05 Still the fifth most strikeouts
01:07 by any pitcher in Major League Baseball.
01:08 Oh yeah, and he leads the league in home runs with 35.
01:12 When you look at Shohei Otani, Robin,
01:14 you compare the early starts this year
01:16 when he was a Cy Young contender
01:18 until the last couple that he has made
01:20 in the months of June and July.
01:22 What do you think has been the biggest difference?
01:24 - Really the biggest difference is fading late
01:26 with his finger issues.
01:27 Like when you get a blister or a crack nail or something
01:30 and you're trying to throw a splitter, it's tough.
01:32 And then you can eliminate pitches too.
01:34 And it hurts his command.
01:35 So to me, it's that, and it's nothing like other,
01:39 nothing big physical.
01:40 It's just a minor little thing.
01:42 We'll get over it.
01:43 (upbeat music)
01:46 [Music]
