News Discussion

MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto: Another Japanese Stirs Major League Baseball

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.“

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.

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!"

1. 1. consecutive　連続した
   The Mariners have won five consecutive games in the last couple of weeks.
2. 2. courage　勇気、胆力
   The courage and quick action of the firefighters saved the lives of the apartment residents.
3. 3. struggle　苦労する、奮闘する
   The staff struggled to finish the project on time.
4. 4. achieve　達成する、成し遂げる
   Darren achieved his goal of visiting Norway and seeing the aurora.
5. 5. contribute　貢献する、寄与する
   Emily contributed three poems to the textbook.

1. 1. Why did Yoshinobu Yamamoto win the MVP award in the World Series?
2. 2. How did Shohei Ohtani contribute to the Dodgers in the series?
3. 3. What did Roki Sasaki do to help the Dodgers?
4. 4. In your opinion, what is special about the achievements of Yamamoto, Ohtani, and Sasaki?
5. 5. What Japanese baseball players do you respect the most? Why? Consider both players on Japanese teams and in the MLB, past and present.

なんと劇的な幕切れだろう。米大リーグのワールドシリーズ（WS）は最終第7戦で延長の末にドジャースが敵地トロントでブルージェイズを破り、連覇を達成した。MVPはもちろん、4勝のうち3勝を挙げたエース、山本由伸である。

第2戦でポストシーズン（PS）2度目となる完投勝利を挙げた。第6戦も勝利投手となったのが前夜のことで、連日の登板となった最終戦も九回のマウンドに上がり、延長十一回までを無失点で投げ切った。

分業制が確立された現在の大リーグでは極めて異例の敢闘ぶりで、今シリーズでも二刀流で活躍した大谷翔平とともに「野球の歴史を変える存在」として全米が大絶賛している。

なかでも全米を感動させたのは、マウンドに立たなかった第3戦だった。両軍とも譲らぬ熱戦は延長十八回に及び、ブルペンには十九回の登板に備えて肩を作る山本の姿があった。第2戦で完投していた山本はベンチでロバーツ監督に直訴し、ブルペンに向かったのだった。

昨年WSのMVP、フリーマンはブルペンを見て「ここで山本を投げさせるわけにはいかない」と、中越えにサヨナラ本塁打を放った。野球は時に、こんな素敵（すてき）なドラマを用意する。その中心に、日本選手が存在したことが誇らしく、うれしい。

初めて二刀流でPSに臨んだ大谷は投げて2勝1敗、打席でも8本塁打の大暴れで、呼称はどうやら「地球上で最高の選手」に落ち着いた。WSを戦った両指揮官が同じ言葉で大谷を形容した。

シーズン中は故障に苦しんだ佐々木朗希も、PSでは3セーブ、防御率0点台で新たな守護神に躍り出た。

ドジャースではかつて、野茂英雄が「トルネード旋風」でロサンゼルスのファンを熱狂させた。WSではヤンキース時代の松井秀喜がMVPを獲得した。山本は日本選手として2人目の快挙である。イチローは数々の安打記録を塗り替えた。

日本の3選手が大いに貢献したドジャースの連覇は、こうした先輩らの活躍の延長線上にある。共通するのは、より高いレベルのステージを目指して挑戦する勇気であり、その成果を目の当たりにして湧き上がるのは「日本人はできるぞ」という自らへの励ましである。