Lotte pitcher Sasaki sets Japan record by striking out 13 consecutive batters

Wow, good for him!

YABAiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii, LOL

Impressive pitching!!!

The century-spanning annals of baseball are filled with accomplishments that strain credulity and force us to rethink the outer limits of human potential, like Babe Ruth’s called shot at Wrigley Field or Reggie Jackson’s three home runs on three pitches in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series. But few of these latter-day myths compare with the unthinkable feat that played out on a misty night in San Diego five decades ago this month, when a 25-year-old right-handed starter for the Pittsburgh Pirates named Dock Ellis threw a no-hitter while tripping on LSD.

I am not particularly surprised by his accomplishment. Today, Japanese people can watch MLB games everyday on NHK BS1. When I compare physical constitutions of Japanese players with those of MLB players, it does not mean he can do the same thing in MLB.

Reported that the batters are just not good at baseball.

Amazing how proud Japanese are while playing American baseball that originated in the UK.

Incomparable to truly magnificent achievements in USA baseball by American baseball legends.

I doubt the possibilities of the Japanese beating the Americans at thier own game.

Nonetheless a big round of applause for what Japanese like to call pro baseball.

Michael Machinda-

Its possible they can't keep their eye on the ball so to speak.

"You may have heard that a young man named Abner Doubleday invented the game known as baseball in Cooperstown, New York, during the summer of 1839."

Amazing how proud Japanese are while playing American baseball that originated in the UK.

Incomparable to truly magnificent achievements in USA baseball by American baseball legends.

I doubt the possibilities of the Japanese beating the Americans at thier own game.

Wow! You're a lot of fun!

Awesome battery and impressive pitching.

This would have not happened without the whole team working as one.

My gosh, the J-haters are out in full force today. Sasaki is 20 years-old and possesses a 100 mph fastball, which is quite rare even in the States. Just enjoy the moment people, sheesh.

Reported that the batters are just not good at baseball.

The batters included both the previous season's batting champion and home run king.

"You may have heard that a young man named Abner Doubleday invented the game known as baseball in Cooperstown, New York, during the summer of 1839."

The Doubleday/Cooperstown story is a myth, the modern game was developed by amateur teams in New York city in the 1840s.

What an amazing competitor. Too bad he can't hit. Could be the next Ohtani.

Kyo wa heiwa dayo ne

I doubt the possibilities of the Japanese beating the Americans at thier own game.

FYI: At the 2020 (2021) Olympics, Japan beat the Americans at their own game for the gold. .

In 1992, they beat them for the bronze.

Michael Machida Today  08:51 am JST

Reported that the batters are just not good at baseball.

町田様、Baseball in Japan, Puerto Rico, Korea, Australia, etc. is as good as MLB! We should respect the accomplishments of all people regardless of the playing field location.

A significant percentage of MLB players are from other countries and can read, speak and write in other languages. They should be respected.

Kumagaijin

What an amazing competitor. Too bad he can't hit. Could be the next Ohtani.

Orrrrrr...he could just be the next Hideo Nomo.

Not being able to hit well has never been considered a detriment for a great pitcher.

In the rare circumstance when a great pitcher can also hit, that's just gravy on the cake.

@Michael machinda

In actual fact baseball originaly comes from a European game the British call Rounders !

Wow the amount of ego in the comments, a quarter of MLB are foreigners. The world is globalised, stop trying to "own" everything.

Gary

Iam surprised to hear that .

Japanese are free to Bragg and feel superior then.

I couldn't care less as i played rugby in British high school.

Baseball seems lame .

Yeah, but its against Orix. I don't think that counts.

Nonetheless a big round of applause for what Japanese like to call pro baseball.

When I came to Japan during the bubble years, a Japanese workmate told me Japanese do not play baseball, instead they play yakyu, which he claimed was a different game from American baseball. He also said a company like Microsoft could never be profitable, and that software would soon be shown to be of little importance.

The MLB guys on the Yankees - Red Sox telecast gave him a big shout out. Thirteen straight strikeouts is absolutely astounding and I wish I could have seen this game. Congratulations to him and let's see if he can do it again!

PTownsend

When I came to Japan during the bubble years, a Japanese workmate told me Japanese do not play baseball, instead they play yakyu, which he claimed was a different game from American baseball. He also said a company like Microsoft could never be profitable, and that software would soon be shown to be of little importance.

And, years later, he became Japan's longest-serving Prime Minister.

That great for the up and coming 20 years old but I like nothing better than watching a high hitting game. I also enjoy the Japanese beer girls and the mascots. I got selfies with Doala the purple koala for Nagoya dragons, Fat cat from Yokohama, Bat boy from the Ham fighters, and the Big Chook from Sendai.

justasking

Yeah, but its against Orix. I don't think that counts.

You must be thinking of their crosstown counterparts, Hanshin. The Buffaloes are practically the Giants compared to the Tigers this year.

I'm thinking of removing my Tigers banner from my home office wall, if they don't wake up soon. I've never seen anything like it. (And I'm a long-time Mets fan.)

Sasaki was also the pitcher in high school that the skipper decided to rest to protect his future instead of starting him in the summer baseball tournament and wearing him out. People came down hard on the skipper for doing that. Where are those people now? A player's professional success and road to the MLB is much better than bragging rights in a high school tournament.

vanityofvanities

I am not particularly surprised by his accomplishment. Today, Japanese people can watch MLB games everyday on NHK BS1. When I compare physical constitutions of Japanese players with those of MLB players, it does not mean he can do the same thing in MLB.

Hideo Nomo strikes out 17:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUWuc_XIaUw

Hideo Nomo highlights in 1995:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbr1KIE6-Cs

Hideo Nomo pitched No-hitter in Coors Field:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7GSAhAWkSo

Hideo Nomo pitched his second No-hitter:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqW-48gE7og

Good stuff!

I wonder how long it will take for the manager and “suits” to over play him, and wreck his arm in the long run?

Get out now and hit the majors, kid!

"a 25-year-old right-handed starter for the Pittsburgh Pirates named Dock Ellis threw a no-hitter while tripping on LSD."...He also walked 8

Mocheake: "Thirteen straight strikeouts is absolutely astounding and I wish I could have seen this game."

Agree with you on the former, although I wish they had just left it at "record" and not had to say, "Japanese record"; seems to have cheapened it an invited criticism. You can say it didn't cheapen it, but it did, and limited it, too. As for wishing you watched it... well, to each their own. I played baseball as a kid through to the end of high school, and while it was an "easy win" when your pitcher aced everyone (or a tough loss if it was the other team's pitcher), nothing was more boring than standing on the field with no balls being hit, and it's ten times worse watching on TV. I think the news highlights of the third strike for each batter, lasting about one minute, is enough of a recap.

Ok lets just call it Biesbal, baseball or Cricket!!!