The Dodgers’ trio of Japanese pitchers met the media Friday and talked about the special meaning of playing against a team with compatriots on the roster in Tokyo.
“When I first found out we would open our season here, I was determined to be ready for this opportunity. It’s Opening Day, but even more special playing against Japanese in Tokyo. Of course, I want to be able to get Seiya (Suzuki) out along with the other great players,” Yamamoto told a press conference he attended along with teammates Shohei Ohtani and Roki Sasaki.
Yamamoto will face Japanese lefty Shota Imanaga in Tuesday’s Game 1 with Sasaki scheduled to pitch Wednesday.
Sasaki, who joined the Dodgers in January as a 23-year-old from the Pacific League’s Lotte Marines, said it was more about making sure he was able to make his pitches.
“I was here last month, so it’s less about a homecoming and more about pitching in a new uniform with my new team and executing my game as well as I can,” Sasaki said.
“I haven’t faced any Major League players, let alone Japanese major leaguers, so there are lots of things I don’t know.”
Manager Dave Roberts said he felt a little extra intensity from the three.
“Coming back here, I think their demeanor is…I don’t know if ‘serious’ is the word, but they are a little bit more serious than they are in the States,” he said.
The Dodgers and Cubs will play exhibitions on Saturday and Sunday against the Central League’s Hanshin Tigers in the afternoon and the Yomiuri Giants in the evening with the Cubs playing Saturday’s early game and the Dodgers playing Sunday’s day game.
