It certainly was a dramatic ending to a thrilling World Series. In the decisive seventh game of Major League Baseball's World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in extra innings in Toronto, thereby winning their second consecutive World Series title. MVP honors naturally went to ace pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who triumphed in three of the Dodgers' four wins.
In Game 2, Yamamoto pitched a complete game to earn the victory. He also took the mound in the ninth inning of the decisive seventh game, even though he had been the winning pitcher the night before. He then proceeded to pitch until the 11th inning without giving up a run to the Blue Jays.
His amazing performance was an extremely rare display of courage in the current MLB, where a division of labor has been firmly established. Consequently, Yamamoto, along with Shohei Ohtani, who played a key role as a two-way player in this series, are being lauded throughout North America as "players whose presence is changing the history of baseball."
Stirring Moments of Yamamoto
What particularly stirred the baseball world was Game 3, in which Yamamoto did not take the mound. The fierce contest continued into the 18th inning, double the length of a normal game, with neither team giving in. Yamamoto could be seen in the bullpen. He was warming up his arm to be ready to appear in the 19th inning.
Yamamoto, who had pitched a complete game in Game 2, appealed directly to manager David Roberts from the bench and then headed to the bullpen.
The 2024 World Series MVP, star first baseman Freddie Freeman, looked over at the bullpen and said, "We can't let Yamamoto pitch in this one." He then hit a towering walk-off home run over the center-field fence.
Baseball sometimes produces such wonderful drama. We are proud and happy that a Japanese player was at the center of it all.
Building on the Success of Their Predecessors
Ohtani, who appeared as an MLB postseason two-way player for the first time, had two wins and one loss as a pitcher. He also staged a spectacular batting performance with eight home runs. So who can doubt that he deserves the title of "best player on the planet"? The two managers who faced off in the World Series agreed on that score.
Another Japanese who contributed mightily to the Dodgers' cause was Roki Sasaki. Although he had struggled with injuries during the regular season, he emerged as the team's new "fireman" closer with three saves and a 0.84 ERA in the postseason.
In the 1990s, Hideo Nomo drove LA fans wild with his "Tornado Whirlwind" pitching technique for the Dodgers. And Hideki Matsui won the 2009 World Series MVP award when he was playing for the New York Yankees. Yamamoto has become the second Japanese player to achieve this feat. Of course, during his days in the major leagues, Ichiro Suzuki broke numerous hitting records.
In some ways, the Dodgers' consecutive championships, to which three Japanese players greatly contributed, are a continuation of the successes of their predecessors.
What they all have in common is the courage to challenge themselves to reach a higher level. Seeing the results with our own eyes, we have to feel encouraged and think, "Japanese can make it happen!"
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(Read the editorial in Japanese.)
Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun
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