I think it’s because Imanaga’s release point of the ball is so low (due to shorter height and more forward extension) that the ball is actually rising. Causing players to swing under or pop up more.
@@Jowitzer That's interesting. But makes sense. Usually pitchers are taller and they say it's an advantage since they can come down form a higher point, but maybe there is an advantage to being shorter actually, in being able to cause a rising fastball as you say, which would be harder for a very tall pitcher.
Imanaga was the starting pitcher in the WBC final. In other words, he was the ace pitcher of the world's best team. It is only natural that he should play this well.
He wasn't Japan's ace in the WBC. He was their 5th starter. They used up Roki and Yamamoto (their third and fourth starters) against Mexico in the semis, and since Ohtani and Darvish (their Ace and second starter) were on pitch restrictions due to their MLB contracts, Japan went with Imanaga to start. That being said, what he's doing right now is insane.
He was not the ace pitcher, being the starting pitcher in WBC final doesnt mean he's the best on the team, just that the schedule happened that way. Yamamoto, Sasaki, and Ohtani are all better pitchers than him.
The Japanese Pitchers so far are some of the best I've ever witnessed throw a ball. Absolute masterclass. Really Amazing that we're getting more asian nationalities to dominate the league
It's absolutely fascinating how the latest Japanese pitching exports (especially since Darvish) have demonstrated such exceptional fine tools on the mound - of course not to rule out legends such as the master Tornado or the Daimajin Kazuhiro Sasaki. As a Korean, I've witnessed many encounters with them, and their pitching talent has become almost a national characteristic. Much respect to Imanaga, Yamamoto, and all other outstanding Japanese pitchers from a neighbour.
People shouldnt be completely shocked that this guy is good. Team Japan picked this guy to start for them against Team USA in the WBC final that was watched by their entire country. Mustve seen something in him.
@@darthrevan2957 His fastball has a ton of vertical movement. It's like a verlander 4-seamer with less velocity and coming from a lefty which is rare. People call it a rising fastball but it doesn't actually rise, it just drops way less than your average fastball
He's not only the Cubs #1 pitcher, he's also one of the top pitchers in MLB right now! Other teams are regretting that they underestimated him! Cubs found a gold!
He’s played a huge part in why we’ve been able to have a winning record, even though our cy young candidate Justin Steele went down with an injury to start the year
I think I read that a 5 game record with less than 1 ERA is a record that goes back at least to 1900 or 1910. And how he's at 6 games. He's literally rewriting history right now.
He’s already 30 years of age tho. Pitchers don’t have longevity past age 34-35 usually. I was a pitcher. That’s why they were also afraid of giving Shohei Ohtani a long term contract last year, bc they started to notice his arm slipping and it only gets worse throwing that hard at his age.
Imanaga's mechanics stand out a lot despite not being a 100mph pitcher. He disguises all his throws with the same mechanics and the ball comes out late so even if it's only 94 max the batter has less time to react as if he is throwing faster. He also changes his throwing rhythm at will to throw the batter off. Sometimes he just throws immediately and sometimes he takes a half second pause then throws. The level of skill without disrupting his control and speed is expected of a veteran. It reminds of the trickiness of Nestor but with better control and mechanics.
His arm is also very late behind his torso, which helps a ton with hiding his pitches. From a batter's perspective, once his chest is fully forward his arm is still hidden, and it seems like the ball just explodes out of thin air and it's very hard to react to this. There's a clip of him throwing in a spring training practice from behind the plate that shows this well
In the past 8 seasons, no pitcher had more than Alcantra's 228 innings in 2022 and Verlander's 223 in 2019. Last year the average pitcher lasted 5.1 innings.....
op, do you realize how incredibly rare a 9, 8 or even 7 inning start is? i haven’t been watching baseball for long and very rarely do i see a starter last longer than 6 innings. i remember seeing george kirby of seattle pitch 9 innings against my team (orioles) last year, which i wanna say was a complete shutout or at least close to it. kyle gibson pitched an 8 inning start when he was in baltimore that same season, but outside of that i can’t immediately recall any other examples of a pitcher lasting more than 6 ip
Shota Imanaga is known as "pitcher philosopher" a master of creative crafting pitching styles. He's the number 1 leading pitcher out of all his Japanese peers even though his accolades isn't impressive as Shohei and Yamamoto. Game starting pitcher says a lot about him from last year winning the WBC which is fantastic.
He started the WBC final against the USA. That’s about all the proof you need that he’s one of Japan’s best. The Dodgers went with Yamamoto because his ceiling is higher.
He has that "anime fastball". The one which spins so much and all of s sudden as if in slow mo the ball suddenly accelerates when near the plate and completely missed the bat. Fans of the anime Ace of Diamond will know what I mean.😊
He’s gotta short fast delivery looks like it’s hard to get a good read on any of the pitches he throws! He’s definitely a Great Pitcher!!! And pretty dang good fielder too!!!
Painting and timing...that changeup is nasty, a splitter but not like a Mariano Rivera fastball splitter...a change up that dies on the spot, then 90 to 98 paint on the lines and up the ladder...brilliant pitching
I knew he would be kinda good cause his fastball has all the same characteristics that allow Justin Steele to be good with the same exact velocity. Only difference is Steele gets more ground balls and uses his curve more where Shota uses the splitter more and gets pop ups. But their fastballs both have that abnormally high spin rate that allows the ball to play at tbe top of the zone and naturally rise or cut.
Imanaga was the starting pitcher for the WBC finals. He was probably chosen because he was the most stable pitcher among the Japanese pitchers. Just like Iwakuma was the starting pitcher for the 2009 WBC finals.
Reminds me of a certain pitcher. Rookie Southpaw Non-American pitcher less than 6 feet tall Started the season better than 5-0 (actually 8-0) He won the Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young that year
Only time will tell if Imanaga will prove a great pitcher, despite his tremendous start. MLB is one of the hardest leagues in the world to continually dominate as opposing batters and special team opps will figure Imanaga out, and if he doesn’t properly adjust to that, he will be barely average.
Nomo’s career got off to an incredible start as well not this good but once people catch on to this delivery & timing he’s going to have to make adjustments. He seems incredibly smart I think he will but MLB hitters will adjust.
I think Ishikawa in Yakurt swallows is another Japanese pitcher to paying attention because I found some similarities in Ishikawa which I saw in Imanaga pitching style
Peak speed in this vid 94mph he is the living proof there's no need to throw 100+ mph to be dominant. Show Imanaga to all young pitchers.
Greg Maddux's fastball topped out at about 91 and he was dominant and is a HOFer.
@@krnpowr Dude is in the conversation for pitching GOAT's
Foh Mason Miller is the most electrifying and nastiest pitcher in mlb. He throws 100 effortless consistently. He will say otherwise.
I think it’s because Imanaga’s release point of the ball is so low (due to shorter height and more forward extension) that the ball is actually rising. Causing players to swing under or pop up more.
@@Jowitzer That's interesting. But makes sense. Usually pitchers are taller and they say it's an advantage since they can come down form a higher point, but maybe there is an advantage to being shorter actually, in being able to cause a rising fastball as you say, which would be harder for a very tall pitcher.
カブスのファンは熱いから、試合を見てても楽しい。日本でもカブスの試合をたくさん放送してほしい。
Imanaga was the starting pitcher in the WBC final.
In other words, he was the ace pitcher of the world's best team.
It is only natural that he should play this well.
He wasn't Japan's ace in the WBC. He was their 5th starter.
They used up Roki and Yamamoto (their third and fourth starters) against Mexico in the semis, and since Ohtani and Darvish (their Ace and second starter) were on pitch restrictions due to their MLB contracts, Japan went with Imanaga to start.
That being said, what he's doing right now is insane.
but Yokohama BayStars is..
He was not the ace pitcher, being the starting pitcher in WBC final doesnt mean he's the best on the team, just that the schedule happened that way. Yamamoto, Sasaki, and Ohtani are all better pitchers than him.
@@brunobotr2020 From that elite group and Ohtani is ace ? Wow, amazing. I get hoopla now with Shohei.
@@brunobotr2020👍
The Japanese Pitchers so far are some of the best I've ever witnessed throw a ball. Absolute masterclass. Really Amazing that we're getting more asian nationalities to dominate the league
What non Japanese Asians have dominated?
@@magnumxlpi
Ryu Hyun-Jin「Hey！」
@@荻野簣司 who
Asian have nothing to do with this.
@@荻野簣司 who
It's absolutely fascinating how the latest Japanese pitching exports (especially since Darvish) have demonstrated such exceptional fine tools on the mound - of course not to rule out legends such as the master Tornado or the Daimajin Kazuhiro Sasaki. As a Korean, I've witnessed many encounters with them, and their pitching talent has become almost a national characteristic. Much respect to Imanaga, Yamamoto, and all other outstanding Japanese pitchers from a neighbour.
Chan-ho Park is the pioneer for Asian players (along with Nomo)
I am Japanese and I respect your fair analysis and comments. I know that Korea also has very good pitchers and batters.
People shouldnt be completely shocked that this guy is good. Team Japan picked this guy to start for them against Team USA in the WBC final that was watched by their entire country. Mustve seen something in him.
It's how he somehow almost always gets soft contact on fly balls
@@darthrevan2957 His fastball has a ton of vertical movement. It's like a verlander 4-seamer with less velocity and coming from a lefty which is rare. People call it a rising fastball but it doesn't actually rise, it just drops way less than your average fastball
@@thetruth9952
回転数w 物理学w
He's not only the Cubs #1 pitcher, he's also one of the top pitchers in MLB right now!
Other teams are regretting that they underestimated him! Cubs found a gold!
One of? No one else in the league is even close to a sub 1.00 ERA, he is by far the top pitcher in baseball right now.
He’s played a huge part in why we’ve been able to have a winning record, even though our cy young candidate Justin Steele went down with an injury to start the year
@@r4v4g3r 2 of the top stats I look for in a pitcher - ERA and K/BB ratio - Wow ! He leads the world in both
I think I read that a 5 game record with less than 1 ERA is a record that goes back at least to 1900 or 1910. And how he's at 6 games. He's literally rewriting history right now.
He’s already 30 years of age tho. Pitchers don’t have longevity past age 34-35 usually. I was a pitcher. That’s why they were also afraid of giving Shohei Ohtani a long term contract last year, bc they started to notice his arm slipping and it only gets worse throwing that hard at his age.
正直今永先生がMLBでここまでやれるとは思ってなかったので嬉しい。
何より彼のユーモアなところがカブスファンに受け入れられているようでそれも嬉しい。
シーズンが進んで相手に研究されればうまくいかない試合も増えると思うけど、自分を信じて頑張ってほしいです。
ストレートが↑に向かって伸びるのは今まで見たことはないですね。
山本さんのストレートが浮き上がりながら飛ぶのを見て解説者も思わず、凄い！と言っていました。
日本軍のロケット攻撃ですか？
ありや、大リーガーでも無理ですね、ご終生さまです。
すぐ研究され尽くされて、通用しなくなるような気もするけどね
I think imanaga is the smartest and most disciplined pitcher. He is called "throwing philosopher".
Reminds me of Maddux
He got that nickname in Japan because when he says something normal it sounds complex and sophisticated due to his unique personality lol
Lefty maddux with a better fastball
Shota is INCREDIBLE.
Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award.
😂😂😂
he is everything we thought Yamamoto would be. And he's barely getting paid compared to yama
考えすぎ😂
He 30 yr old!
Too early. Shohei had a great start last season too and then got smoked his 6th game, he had a 0.64 ERA in his 5th game.
He should definitely be one of the pictures for All Star games!!!
Imanaga's mechanics stand out a lot despite not being a 100mph pitcher. He disguises all his throws with the same mechanics and the ball comes out late so even if it's only 94 max the batter has less time to react as if he is throwing faster. He also changes his throwing rhythm at will to throw the batter off. Sometimes he just throws immediately and sometimes he takes a half second pause then throws. The level of skill without disrupting his control and speed is expected of a veteran. It reminds of the trickiness of Nestor but with better control and mechanics.
His arm is also very late behind his torso, which helps a ton with hiding his pitches. From a batter's perspective, once his chest is fully forward his arm is still hidden, and it seems like the ball just explodes out of thin air and it's very hard to react to this. There's a clip of him throwing in a spring training practice from behind the plate that shows this well
He can spin it, he has 99% spin efficiency on his 4 seam from a weird arm slot
高めに伸びのあるストレートと、低めにコントロールされた変化球のコンビネーションが素晴らしい。
Very cerebral pitcher. Not a big guy with overpowering stuff but he mixes his pitches so well.
The Japanese pitchers are really good. Some of these American pitchers need to take note.
He's made history, pitching the extremely rare, unheard of, seven inning start. Experts are astounded!
In the past 8 seasons, no pitcher had more than Alcantra's 228 innings in 2022 and Verlander's 223 in 2019. Last year the average pitcher lasted 5.1 innings.....
op, do you realize how incredibly rare a 9, 8 or even 7 inning start is? i haven’t been watching baseball for long and very rarely do i see a starter last longer than 6 innings.
i remember seeing george kirby of seattle pitch 9 innings against my team (orioles) last year, which i wanna say was a complete shutout or at least close to it. kyle gibson pitched an 8 inning start when he was in baltimore that same season, but outside of that i can’t immediately recall any other examples of a pitcher lasting more than 6 ip
@@kaphizmey6229 I do realize it. Sad what the game has become. Been watching for about 30 years.
All that pitching skill plus a great head of hair
lol
He got the mullet/mop tapered fade
Shota Imanaga is known as "pitcher philosopher" a master of creative crafting pitching styles. He's the number 1 leading pitcher out of all his Japanese peers even though his accolades isn't impressive as Shohei and Yamamoto. Game starting pitcher says a lot about him from last year winning the WBC which is fantastic.
Wow. Beautiful. Forgive me for saying something so corny but “ When pitching becomes poetry”
Such a beautiful smooth pitch.
Shota-ime !
Sho time 2.0
That hop he has on his high fastball mixed with the splitter is really deadly. This guy is SOLID.
ライズボール
he is real samurai
Japanese players dominating the MLB 🔥
高めのストレートが気持ちよすぎる
My favorite baseball player❤❤❤
His pitching is phenomenal🔥
Shotime Imanaga(Shota Imanaga)
今永前5場先發
簡直就是夢幻開局
從他的眼神中的自信
就知道他在開季前做了非常多的準備跟努力
非常期待他接下來整個球季的表現
但是如果他有被打爆場次
我會更期待他下一場調整之後的反彈
厲害的投手(賽揚) 被打爆之後的調整才可貴的
希望今年的MLB新人獎 有他的名字
アッパースイング打者を打ち取るにはこの男が有効だ！
それな🙄
I saw this performance back in 1981 with Fernando Valenzuela, also a Lefty, Valenzuela won the ROY, CY and almost wins MVP.
さすが投球の哲学者!
Even though his fastball is low-mid 90s, the arm angle and the rise make it look way faster
I rise in the morning 🌄 like his fastball ❤
@@ShelonPartridge-ig5zj草
@@ShelonPartridge-ig5zj草
Real deal Shota. He does his magic mostly with 4-seam fastball, that's impressive.
ナイスピッチング！！
今永昇太さん✨いつみても
迷いなく気持ちのイイ
投球に痺れます🤩🤩🔥
この勢いで突っ走って行ってください🏋️♂️🏋️♂️
葦名一心「迷えば敗れる」
頑張れ今永👍🙂
I knew he would do good in the MLB. His performance at the WBC was personally my favorite out of all Team Japan.
This is ART.
alot of fun to watch
He was throwing with utmost accuracy where the catcher was asking.That's art
Even though only 93-94mph, that spin on his 4-seamer makes it devastating, especially mixed in with the all-world Splitter
He started the WBC final against the USA. That’s about all the proof you need that he’s one of Japan’s best. The Dodgers went with Yamamoto because his ceiling is higher.
ここまで大活躍するとは思わなかった。素晴らしいですね。大谷より由伸よりダルビッシュより活躍している。顔の表情も素晴らしいですね。
Amazing 💯
A former Mariner great also played for the Yokohama BayStars - Kazuhiro Sasaki.
Shota Philosopher Imanaga
No wonder he's putting up videos game numbers he's in MLB The Show I can tell by the announcer voice!
Yea as a cubs can I have to mute commentary on the show. I've heard boog too much
I’m a huge fan of both Boog and Pat Hughes. 🤷♂️
Beautiful
He has that "anime fastball". The one which spins so much and all of s sudden as if in slow mo the ball suddenly accelerates when near the plate and completely missed the bat. Fans of the anime Ace of Diamond will know what I mean.😊
確かに今永ってダイヤのAの沢村栄純みたい！
Dang that 4 seamer elevates.
The speed does not mater.
The number of rotations and control pitching ball are most important.
He can still pitch very fast, you act like he's throwing 70mph ball LOL. He's right at the average mark.
He’s gotta short fast delivery looks like it’s hard to get a good read on any of the pitches he throws! He’s definitely a Great Pitcher!!! And pretty dang good fielder too!!!
Painting and timing...that changeup is nasty, a splitter but not like a Mariano Rivera fastball splitter...a change up that dies on the spot, then 90 to 98 paint on the lines and up the ladder...brilliant pitching
Shota, congrats on your astonishing performances so far. But, don't push yourself too much. Still long way to go until post-season games.
what an absolute KING!!!
I knew he would be kinda good cause his fastball has all the same characteristics that allow Justin Steele to be good with the same exact velocity. Only difference is Steele gets more ground balls and uses his curve more where Shota uses the splitter more and gets pop ups. But their fastballs both have that abnormally high spin rate that allows the ball to play at tbe top of the zone and naturally rise or cut.
Imanaga was the starting pitcher for the WBC finals. He was probably chosen because he was the most stable pitcher among the Japanese pitchers. Just like Iwakuma was the starting pitcher for the 2009 WBC finals.
たしかに今永はWBC決勝の先発投手でした。
だがしかし、決してエースではなかった。
日本の投手陣の層が厚いということです。
@@SWIFT_Sportまぁ大谷、ダル、山本、佐々木がいたからね。
今永のストレートは日本では体感１６０キロと言われてます
Imanaga means “now and forever“. He work for Cubs now and forever.
勝手に意味作んな
先祖に失礼
@@ああ-d1k4f
いや今と永遠の永だから合ってるっちゃ合ってるじゃん
そこまで鼻息荒くしてまで突っかかる程の事か？
Japanese OTAKU lol
@@kuma83111 No, they're just discussing kanjis. lol
調べればわかるだろ
【名字の由来解説】 現福岡県の一部と大分県北部である豊前国上毛郡緒方庄今永が起源（ルーツ）である。 近年、大分県、福岡県に多数みられる。 「永」は長くのびている地形、器物、生物などの意味
These batters have no idea what's coming, it's really impressive. That high heater looks so tasty but the bat is way behind.
100mile出さなくても通用するファストボーラーとか怪我の多い現代野球で最も尊い存在。
上原の方が遅かったかも？でもストレートガンガン投げてた…。
@@すな-abcおっそうだな(
いや、今永はケガ多いぞ。ニワカちゃんか？
Reminds me of a certain pitcher.
Rookie
Southpaw
Non-American pitcher
less than 6 feet tall
Started the season better than 5-0 (actually 8-0)
He won the Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young that year
決して早くない直球を振り遅れてるバッターばかり。
キレや球質なんだろうな。
それにしても怖がらずに凄い投げっぷり。
Kind of like a left-handed version of Greg Maddux. Less is more - location and changing speed are what he relies on.
He reminds me of tom glavine. His splitter looks like tom changed up.
防御率0点台も終わりかなと思ったら0.98→0.78になるとか凄すぎやん
4:06 このスーパープレイなかったら点入ってたやろなあ。かっけえ
守り良いのすごく有難いけど援護もして欲しい笑
球速勝負ではなくキレと精度の投球、フィールディングの良さ、カブス内野手陣の堅守と相まって、一つ格上の上質の野球を観ている気分です。
Only time will tell if Imanaga will prove a great pitcher, despite his tremendous start. MLB is one of the hardest leagues in the world to continually dominate as opposing batters and special team opps will figure Imanaga out, and if he doesn’t properly adjust to that, he will be barely average.
20勝いけると思う
がんばれ
It's another SHOTA-ime !
Ohtani is powerful, Darvish is technical, and Imanaga is clever.
What is kikuchi? Lefty power? I haven't watched him much but he looks good this year too
Japanese pitchers also have ninja fielding skills.
Nomo’s career got off to an incredible start as well not this good but once people catch on to this delivery & timing he’s going to have to make adjustments. He seems incredibly smart I think he will but MLB hitters will adjust.
The Cubs are gonna win today😼
He doesn't have crazy velocity, but he is damn precise. His pitching placement is on point wherever the catcher needs it to be.
It was Imanaga who started to COOK the U.S. team in last year's WBC finals, and it is still fresh in our minds that Ohtani finished it off.
今永の居場所はMLBだったのか
合わないNPBでよく頑張ってたな
Shotgun Is Awesome
最速で149くらいなのにキレでメジャリーガーを抑えまくる。球速至上主義時代にこれはカッコイイね
We're witnessing Sho-time in both pitching and batting, and for the first time, it's not one player doing both!
バウアーだってNPBのデビュー当初ボコボコにKOされた試合がある。山本が打たれたり今永が打たれる日もあるだろうけど、大抵の試合で仕事をすると思う。
Insane numbers! 🔥👍🏼
He is the left handed Greg "The Professor" Maddux
LONG LIVE KING AWAKENBEERUS KING OF PREDICTIONS, GOD BLESS HIM 🔥🔥
all his pitches were all on target. insane accuracy and control
Must see TV right now.
I think Ishikawa in Yakurt swallows is another Japanese pitcher to paying attention because I found some similarities in Ishikawa which I saw in Imanaga pitching style
SHOTA IMANAGA🇯🇵🗾
He def has them chasing that high out of the zone fastball.
I just love how America lets every nationally come play ball with us! Gives other countries a chance to display their skills as well
まあ今永国際舞台の経験もあるし、日本のトップ級の先発だと思ってたよ
感情を大胆に出すタイプはアメリカ向きかも
A 30 year old rookie is crazy!
5:55 8:00 what a nice fealding.
高めのストレートは実質、変化球やな。
No freaking way! AwakenBeerus predicted it again. I'm seriously shook right now 🤯🤯
Damn 5 start, crazy stat 🔥
今永は今MLBの新星だ。球は走っているし崩れない。少し自信は持ったようだが調子に乗らない。そして慎重さを忘れない。今年、最高の投手だ。頑張ってほしい。
6games
5wins
4four balls
3earned run
↓
😊IMANAGA
I think the characteristics of the 4seams are unique. I feel like it picks up quite a bit in the second half.
The GOAT
Yankees should have signed Shota . The lad is crazy with his stuff.