TOKYO — The atmosphere inside the Tokyo Dome for the exhibition games this weekend was electric – chants and cheering, bambam sticks and music, cheerleaders on the field and beer girls in the stands.
Until Shohei Ohtani comes up to bat.
“When he was at-bat, it was complete silence,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of the rapt attention with which Japanese fans are treating Ohtani’s every at-bat. “Every time he did something – take a swing, foul a ball off – there was just a gasp. I think that it was a great welcome, but I think there was just so much anticipation to see anything he did, which was different than any one of our other players.”
The attention focused on Ohtani is indeed different than any other player and might be matched by only a handful of athletes in any sport. But Ohtani – who hit a two-run homer in their first exhibition game this week – seems largely unaffected by it.
“I think it’s the Japanese culture. I really believe that,” Roberts said. “I think that with Shohei, with Yoshinobu (Yamamoto), with Roki (Sasaki), Japanese players I’ve played with, there’s just humility and gratitude, respect. That’s just who these men are. They just have a great way of balancing that while being fierce competitors.”
Ohtani returned to Tokyo this week a more mature version than the one who left Japan for the major leagues seven seasons ago. Just in the past year or so, he got married, is expecting his first child soon and emerged from the gambling scandal involving his former interpreter.
Veteran teammate Miguel Rojas said Ohtani has begun to emerge as a team leader on the Dodgers as well.
“I can’t tell you how much more respect I’ve got for him,” Rojas said this spring. “Not just for the 50/50 (season) and the MVPs and all of that but the way that he’s becoming a leader in this clubhouse, bringing people into this organization (by being a part of the recruiting pitch to Yamamoto and Sasaki), helping others even though he’s got his hands full with trying to come back to pitching, coming back from surgery.
“But he still takes time to hit with (Korean rookie Hyeseong) Kim in the cage. He’s taking time to go to the wings eating contest (during spring training). That’s leadership.”
Ohtani also took “the main role” in arranging a players-only team dinner for Sunday night in Tokyo, according to Yamamoto.
“I can’t give you any details. That’s a secret,” Yamamoto said. “But it’s going to be sushi and yakitori. It should be good.”
BETTER BETTS
Mookie Betts went through a pregame workout Sunday and came out of it feeling better than he has all week. He has been able to eat solid foods and regain some of the weight he lost while fighting a virus over the past week.
But Roberts sounded pessimistic about Betts being ready to play in the regular-season games against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Betts “really showed some fatigue – understandably so,” Roberts said, and could be seen with his hands on his knees at times.
Roberts said Betts will be at the Tokyo Dome for Monday’s optional workout (Sunday PT) and “try to do a little bit more.” But the Dodgers will not push Betts just to be ready for the two games in Tokyo, he said.
“I think that we’re really trying to be mindful of not just Opening Day but not putting him in harm’s way,” Roberts said. “He hasn’t taken live at-bats or played in any games and not to put him in a position where he potentially could get hurt.
“I think No. 1, tomorrow coming in, (we need to see) that he doesn’t feel signs of being overly taxed today, (that he is) feeling strong tomorrow. And then … to be able to go through an entire workout and not feel that same fatigue would give us a chance. But anything outside of that, I just don’t think the training staff would feel good about (him playing against the Cubs).”
RESPECTED ELDER
Before Saturday’s game at the Tokyo Dome, Yamamoto was playing catch with pitcher Clayton Kershaw in the outfield. He was asked about being a teammate with a future Hall of Famer like Kershaw.
“First of all, I respect him – baseball-wise, of course, but also his humanity,” Yamamoto said. “I admire him very much in every way. He’s an example. Just being in the same space as him, I feel as if I’ll become better at baseball.”
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