CHICAGO — After swinging and missing on a 93-mph sinker out of the zone in the ninth inning Tuesday, Shohei Ohtani froze at the end of his vicious swinging motion, bat outstretched. He appeared frustrated.
For the Angels slugger, pitcher and once-in-a-generation talent, swings and misses have always been part of the package that also includes epic home runs and a high walk rate. But flails like that one have become more common.
The next pitch was similar to the first one. A sinker with the same speed and same result. Pitch No. 3 was a curveball that Ohtani waved at to strike out. His third of the game against the host Chicago White Sox.
“Obviously he’s coming off the ball and he’s outside the strike zone,” Angels manager Joe Maddon said. “Primarily when guys — not only him, but anybody — (get in a slump), I think it’s always important to reorganize your strike zone, make sure the pitcher comes to you. And really stay focused on the middle of the field.”
Ohtani has hit just .185 since Aug. 16. That includes 31 strikeouts in 102 plate appearances, and an OPS of .714. He’s driven in just eight runs over the last month.
His season numbers are still otherworldly. And of course, unlike every other hitter who plays every day, he is also a regular in the Angels rotation. Not only that, he’s the ace of it. And while he’s been a shell of his first-half self, the pitching has actually improved. He has a 3.09 ERA over 55 1/3 innings since the start of July, compared to a 3.60 ERA in 60 innings before.
