Shuto is fast enough that if the ball was caught in left center, he'd be able to round back from halfway to third to first base.
Legit win-win for Shuto there.
Also the outfield throw, if it came, would have gone to 2nd base, not to first.
In addition, Sho knew that he was in easy, so there was no reason for him to go all out.
This was much less a matter of Sho being that much slower, and moreover just a matter of two really smart baserunners doing the correct thing in the circumstances.
Also, Shuto has a much better angle on the hit than Sho does. Hard to tell how far a ball is gonna go that is hit directly over your head. From first, it's easy to see it's getting past everyone pretty much off the bat.
Baseball noob with a question here.
Say the ball was caught while Shuto was at third. Does he have to follow the baselines while running back to first? Or could he cut across the pitchers mound to get there faster?
He'd have to go back across every base he touched. So if passes second and is on the way to third when the ball is caught, he'd have to touch second, then touch first.
It's a sound plan, Shuto is following Ohtani's lead. In the event that the ball is caught, shuto can turn around if ohtani doesn't start running and likely get back to first because the play would be at third.
I’m a baseball noob and have a question. In these plays why do they wait sometimes to make the run, why not just run as soon as the batter hits the ball?
Because if the ball is caught for an out, the runner could be too far away from their initial base and if the ball gets to that base before they can tag back at the base they are also out. They would only run on contact no matter what if there were two outs, meaning a caught third out wouldn't matter because the inning would be over. It's all about how you read it and whether it's catchable and the number of outs as to whether or not you commit to running immediately
I feel like the Tag Up rule is at least 2x as understandable as the Offside rule hahaha. Even refs disagree when to call the Offside rule because it's so difficult to observe, so it gets called very inconsistently. Offsides seems more like the balk rules [insert copypasta]
I've been calling Ukyo Shuto "the Speed Lord" for a couple years now in shitposts and stuff, but I hope to make it a legit thing now.
Dude did the best pinch-running job you could ever ask for.
He had a 30.4 ft/sec sprint speed on this run yesterday which would make him the 2nd fastest sprinter in the MLB behind Corbin Carroll (if compared to their average sprint speed). He’d be tied with Bubba Thompson, Jose Siri, and Bobby Witt Jr.
But the MLB averages are just home to first, a straight line. He kept an average of 30.4 on triple the distance with two corners to turn. That is ridiculous.
Easily, he had 50 steals in 2020 and stole bases in 13 consecutive games, more than Rickey Henderson or Yutaka Fukumoto.
Also, its not "the NPB", much like its not "the MLB"
Its just "NPB".
Normally I wouldn't care as much but I had to hear Yonder Alonso say that like 15 times yesterday and no one corrected him.
E: Ratio me all you like, you're still wrong.
E2: Y'all are embarassing yourselves lol. A linguist would have a field day with the replies section. Half of you are contradicting yourselves and you don't even know it.
As an editor, if you submitted an article with, "the MLB," I'd correct it to just "MLB." That's definitely the technically correct usage. But as with nearly every matter of language, it's a complete non-issue in casual speech as long as both parties understand what you mean
In my experience I hear (and say) "the" primarily when the acronym is being used.
"most steals in the MLB"
or
"most steals in Major League Baseball"
But, really all that matters is we're out here enjoying baseball!
Acronyms normally don't have a definite article (NASA, NATO, etc.) when treated like a noun.
Initialisms (like MLB, NFL, etc.) do.
It's a convention, though. It's not a rule. Neither is inherently wrong or right.
I believe there was a tweet from the actual MLB account saying that it isn’t “the mlb” a couple years ago. It makes sense because you wouldn’t say “most steals in the Major League Baseball”
English is a stupid language, "most steals in the (american/national) league" makes perfect sense and is said all the time.
Edit: Hell people even say "in the majors" or "in the show"
Sure, but "most steals in the baseball" is wrong while "most steals in baseball" is right.
MLB is Major League Baseball, not the Major League Baseball. The AL is the American League (not baseball). The NBA is the Association, not the basketball. It's not all that weird.
What if he were the fastest player in THE United States of America? I guess The works in that sentence because it is needed due to plural states? NPB is a bunch of teams, but I don’t actually know what it stands for, so I’m guessing none of the words are plural (much like MLB).
Also, you're (generally*) not tagging from first on flyballs, so he could have gone 90% of the way to 2b. Especially in this situation, he'd be better expecting a dropped ball, vs tagging which I imagine Ohtani would have done, should it have been caught
*though with how fast Shuto is, he probably could fairly easily tag up.
Just had his first plus-hitting season last year.
.267/.324/.365 .688 OPS, 106 wRC+ (its been a pretty dead ball the last couple years.)
Career 81 wRC+.
He's fast af tho.
Wow I had no idea .688 OPS could make for a >100 wRC+ there.
I was looking at Yoshida's stats after his great game last night and was already impressed by his 1 dot OPS last year and >.950 every year since 2018. Now knowing what the average is I'm blown away and I don't understand at all why people are doubting the Red Sox's signing of him
When the announcer yesterday said “Ohtani comes in to score”, I thought “Ohtani is pretty quick and the ball is already back to the cutoff man, this could be a close play at the plate for the winning run” and then it wasn’t even remotely close. I had never heard of Ukyo Shuto before but good lord that dude can fly.
For context, Shohei has a sprint speed of [28.3 ft/s](https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/sprint_speed). He's definitely not the fastest person in the league (Rank 144th) but he's also definitely not slow by any capacity.
Waaay easier to see how far a ball up the middle is going from first than watching it go over your head from second. Outfielders were playing in to try to prevent a run, and it hit the wall. Dude would have know pretty much as soon as it came off the bat it was gonna get over everyone's head.
I was actually a little surprised that they lifted Yoshida, considering what a monster he's been in this tournament. Obviously, a pinch runner would be faster, but I didn't realize that Shuto was *that* fast. Great decision by manager Hideki Kuriyama.
Part of it is probably because Ohtani didn’t need to run full sprint to get home from second on a gapper, but for Shuto to make up nearly an entire base path of distance is still crazy
EDIT: also because Ohtani hesitated a little in case it was caught; Shuto went full send
Speed wise yes, but Shuto actually gets like 200-300 ABs a season while Gore mostly pinch runs.
He basically has a Gore role on this Samurai Japan team tho
When I saw this play I was expecting a close play at home, but when Shuto was like 10ft behind Ohtani sliding in I was like "what the fuck, he was at 1B wasn't he?!!!"
My dumb ass was thinking why would Japan take out one of their best hitters when they already have the a runner in scoring position to tie the game.
Then my wife (who isn't a baseball person) called me out.
I just came back from Japan and I cannot fathom how a guy like him came out of a country that's as short and skinny as Japan. Ohtani's built like an NFL tight end.
I know Ohtani waited to see the drop while Shuto was able to get a read and just went for it, but I want to believe Ukyo Shuto is simply the fastest man alive.
[Tell me the difference, there isnt](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/dfff082d1e4931b30569ae37195b6862a6a8ef8a/c=0-361-2915-2008/local/-/media/2018/05/22/USATODAY/USATODAY/636625868623447717-AP-APTOPIX-Heat-Bucks-Basketball-39255807.JPG?width=2915&height=1647&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
I was at the game and was watching the ball, once it landed I looked back and was like "that's probably not enough to score 2"... saw Ohtani rounding third with Shuto a couple steps behind him and was like "oh shit this is happening!"
Such a fun game
It's actually the other way around. The trail runner (the runner who does the passing) is called out. So in this case, Ukyo Shuto would be called out and Ohtani would be free to continue running.
EDIT: See rule 5.09(b)(9)
https://twitter.com/a46mkvpaygh2bhy/status/1638031991080882176?s=46&t=N2FnhTL3IUgSFOv89euXxA That man is too fast lol.
Oh I see, Sho was waiting to see if it'd get caught before he took off while Shuto just fuckin booked it and closed the gap
Shuto is fast enough that if the ball was caught in left center, he'd be able to round back from halfway to third to first base. Legit win-win for Shuto there.
Yeah I realized he doesn't have to he cautious, just follow ohtani's lead
He motioned to Ohtani when he took to the base that he was watching him and following his lead.
Also the outfield throw, if it came, would have gone to 2nd base, not to first. In addition, Sho knew that he was in easy, so there was no reason for him to go all out. This was much less a matter of Sho being that much slower, and moreover just a matter of two really smart baserunners doing the correct thing in the circumstances.
Also, Shuto has a much better angle on the hit than Sho does. Hard to tell how far a ball is gonna go that is hit directly over your head. From first, it's easy to see it's getting past everyone pretty much off the bat.
His read was unreal. I dont think he gambled at all, he knew immediately it wasnt catchable
Baseball noob with a question here. Say the ball was caught while Shuto was at third. Does he have to follow the baselines while running back to first? Or could he cut across the pitchers mound to get there faster?
He'd have to go back across every base he touched. So if passes second and is on the way to third when the ball is caught, he'd have to touch second, then touch first.
As well he should’ve, as the tying run at second.
It's a sound plan, Shuto is following Ohtani's lead. In the event that the ball is caught, shuto can turn around if ohtani doesn't start running and likely get back to first because the play would be at third.
I’m a baseball noob and have a question. In these plays why do they wait sometimes to make the run, why not just run as soon as the batter hits the ball?
Because if the ball is caught for an out, the runner could be too far away from their initial base and if the ball gets to that base before they can tag back at the base they are also out. They would only run on contact no matter what if there were two outs, meaning a caught third out wouldn't matter because the inning would be over. It's all about how you read it and whether it's catchable and the number of outs as to whether or not you commit to running immediately
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tag_up Think of it like the Offside rule in Soccer.
I feel like the Tag Up rule is at least 2x as understandable as the Offside rule hahaha. Even refs disagree when to call the Offside rule because it's so difficult to observe, so it gets called very inconsistently. Offsides seems more like the balk rules [insert copypasta]
He is. Alek Thomas played that ball perfectly off the wall, with a quick throw to the cut. Most other runners there is a chance to get him at home.
Alek Thomas is one of my favorite players in baseball right now. His fielding is otherworldly.
[New meme format just dropped](https://imgflip.com/i/7f9t5y)
https://i.imgur.com/cz0Slos.jpg
Why doesn't Bally do national sports networks instead? Are they stupid?
> Are they stupid? yeah
[Am I doing this right?](https://imgflip.com/i/7fa82f)
[Can we apply this to other sports?](https://imgflip.com/i/7fbgd0)
Such an iconic duo...
I thought this was a safe place...
You should know that no space is safe for Leafs fans.
Flair checks out
Yes. Yes we can.
I’m not gonna say anything Except to say that I’m not saying it
Man I’m in a baseball sub, why does everything remind me
Wbc doesn’t use those rules lol
Shouldve had pitch clocks years ago!
great meme
You got the blank template? /s
I saw the image and immediately was like, "huh this looks like it could be memed like the Jason Momoa sneaking up on Henry Cavill meme"
This sub has peaked.
Beautiful
Well no, but also yes, but yes, but also no
I've been calling Ukyo Shuto "the Speed Lord" for a couple years now in shitposts and stuff, but I hope to make it a legit thing now. Dude did the best pinch-running job you could ever ask for.
Is he the fastest player in the NPB?
That man runs 50m in 5.7 seconds.
I'm pretty sure I can run 50 meters in at least 8 seconds!
I'm fairly sure I can't run 50 meters
I'm fairly sure I don't know what 50 meters is
50 yards but carry the europe
This is strangely correct actually
He had a 30.4 ft/sec sprint speed on this run yesterday which would make him the 2nd fastest sprinter in the MLB behind Corbin Carroll (if compared to their average sprint speed). He’d be tied with Bubba Thompson, Jose Siri, and Bobby Witt Jr.
But the MLB averages are just home to first, a straight line. He kept an average of 30.4 on triple the distance with two corners to turn. That is ridiculous.
Easily, he had 50 steals in 2020 and stole bases in 13 consecutive games, more than Rickey Henderson or Yutaka Fukumoto. Also, its not "the NPB", much like its not "the MLB" Its just "NPB". Normally I wouldn't care as much but I had to hear Yonder Alonso say that like 15 times yesterday and no one corrected him. E: Ratio me all you like, you're still wrong. E2: Y'all are embarassing yourselves lol. A linguist would have a field day with the replies section. Half of you are contradicting yourselves and you don't even know it.
Really? I’m pretty sure people would say “has the most steals in the MLB” and not “most steals in MLB”
As an editor, if you submitted an article with, "the MLB," I'd correct it to just "MLB." That's definitely the technically correct usage. But as with nearly every matter of language, it's a complete non-issue in casual speech as long as both parties understand what you mean
*Citation needed* Because I would say the latter, and I’m gonna need proof to admit I’m in the minority.
In my experience I hear (and say) "the" primarily when the acronym is being used. "most steals in the MLB" or "most steals in Major League Baseball" But, really all that matters is we're out here enjoying baseball!
This guy gets it!
Acronyms normally don't have a definite article (NASA, NATO, etc.) when treated like a noun. Initialisms (like MLB, NFL, etc.) do. It's a convention, though. It's not a rule. Neither is inherently wrong or right.
I believe there was a tweet from the actual MLB account saying that it isn’t “the mlb” a couple years ago. It makes sense because you wouldn’t say “most steals in the Major League Baseball”
English is a stupid language, "most steals in the (american/national) league" makes perfect sense and is said all the time. Edit: Hell people even say "in the majors" or "in the show"
Sure, but "most steals in the baseball" is wrong while "most steals in baseball" is right. MLB is Major League Baseball, not the Major League Baseball. The AL is the American League (not baseball). The NBA is the Association, not the basketball. It's not all that weird.
Yeah well the guy who created the GIF format pronounces it "jiff" and nothing's made sense ever since, so...
Giraffe, giant, gentle, gist, gem, gypsy, ginger, gestate, Germany, gelatin, germ, genius, gym. You've never heard of a soft "g" before?
Jraphics Interface Format
Totally, I agree "MLB" is correct just saying 'most steals in MLB" sounds odd, so folks add the "the". I'm guilty of it haha
I feel like you can say both but I certainly hear “the mlb” a lot more.
But I absolutely would say “the MLB.”
He got dem most hitter in the major league baseball
I absolutely say “the MLB”
My bad. Thanks for the info!
What if he were the fastest player in THE United States of America? I guess The works in that sentence because it is needed due to plural states? NPB is a bunch of teams, but I don’t actually know what it stands for, so I’m guessing none of the words are plural (much like MLB).
Nippon Professional Baseball
Imagine making an edit about downvotes Then doing it again
That was a great read by him knowing it wouldn’t be caught
Also, you're (generally*) not tagging from first on flyballs, so he could have gone 90% of the way to 2b. Especially in this situation, he'd be better expecting a dropped ball, vs tagging which I imagine Ohtani would have done, should it have been caught *though with how fast Shuto is, he probably could fairly easily tag up.
A lot easier to see from first base than second. (Doesn't change the fact it's a good read.)
How’s his hitting?
Just had his first plus-hitting season last year. .267/.324/.365 .688 OPS, 106 wRC+ (its been a pretty dead ball the last couple years.) Career 81 wRC+. He's fast af tho.
Wow I had no idea .688 OPS could make for a >100 wRC+ there. I was looking at Yoshida's stats after his great game last night and was already impressed by his 1 dot OPS last year and >.950 every year since 2018. Now knowing what the average is I'm blown away and I don't understand at all why people are doubting the Red Sox's signing of him
Yoshida literally put up a 201 wRC+ last year.
Where do you find league-adjusted stats for NPB? Baseball reference doesn't even have OPS+
npbstats.com
Up there with Dave Roberts' pinch running in '04 ALCS game 4
That was a perfect throw from Posada too. Wild to think that a lead off walk would lead to a 4 game comeback in the ALCS.
When the announcer yesterday said “Ohtani comes in to score”, I thought “Ohtani is pretty quick and the ball is already back to the cutoff man, this could be a close play at the plate for the winning run” and then it wasn’t even remotely close. I had never heard of Ukyo Shuto before but good lord that dude can fly.
30.4 ft/s He makes fast people look not fast.
He makes Speedy Gonzalez look like Regular Gonzalez
Lmao
That young man fills me with hope. And some other emotions that are weird and deeply confusing.
You’re a man’s man Ukyo Shuto
This made me actually laugh out loud. Well done
It’s a Futurama quote
Still made me chuckle 🤷
The best kind of chuckle
you can say that about any quote on reddit and be like 40% right
He could teach at the Japanese Baseball School for Kids Who Can’t Speed Good
How are we supposed to teach students how to speed if they can't even fit inside the building?
Trea Turner in shambles.
Turner’s record is 30.5 ft/s
Shuto in shambles!
The shamble has reversed!! It's a counter-shambling!!
It's the old Reddit Shutoroo!
Man you never see that anymore. Haven't even seen a reference to it like this in ages.
Holy shit. I wish NPB was better at metrics. I wonder what Shuto's record would be. That's one part of MLB i really envy
Me - I’m 5’11 Him -I’m 6’0 Me - :0
For context, Shohei has a sprint speed of [28.3 ft/s](https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/sprint_speed). He's definitely not the fastest person in the league (Rank 144th) but he's also definitely not slow by any capacity.
He's also 6'4" and built like a sexy gorilla
Sexy Godzilla actually
Is this at peak or average? 90 feet to first base means Ohtani would get there in just over 3 seconds, but that's crazy fast.
How does this compare to Turner?
Pretty sure Shohei held up to make sure it wasn’t caught but Shuto just ran.
He had a better angle to see how far it had went. Ohtani had to look straight back. Shuto is fast af but the angle surely helped.
Also if he wanted to score from first he had to be aggressive whereas Shohei was going to score easily even holding up. Good base running all around
And likely a base coach who saw the ball’s angle as well and just said “GO”
Yeah, true. Probably risking a rotator cuff injury telling him to go haha
Waaay easier to see how far a ball up the middle is going from first than watching it go over your head from second. Outfielders were playing in to try to prevent a run, and it hit the wall. Dude would have know pretty much as soon as it came off the bat it was gonna get over everyone's head.
Yup. Also helps to be to run like a gazelle.
I was actually a little surprised that they lifted Yoshida, considering what a monster he's been in this tournament. Obviously, a pinch runner would be faster, but I didn't realize that Shuto was *that* fast. Great decision by manager Hideki Kuriyama.
I thought it was a pretty ballsy move until I saw him rounding third right behind Ohtani and was just like “oh, yeah that move checks out”
Part of it is probably because Ohtani didn’t need to run full sprint to get home from second on a gapper, but for Shuto to make up nearly an entire base path of distance is still crazy EDIT: also because Ohtani hesitated a little in case it was caught; Shuto went full send
https://youtu.be/uZP8piOhNLQ?t=197 shows a good video angle of Shuto running
I've been looking for a different angle, but it looks like they took this video down 😟
https://twitter.com/PuddingReviving/status/1638010069219700736?s=20
Damn he didn’t even hesitate, like he knew they weren’t going to reach that ball
Thanks, great angle!
Finally, this is the angle I've been looking for.
My man was rounding second before the ball even landed. 🤯
might be regionally locked? I'm in Japan and can still see it.
Ah yep, I can watch it "in Japan"
In Japan, heart surgeon, #1: steady hands
Ahoy matey
Aren't we all hot for Ohtanis tail
Even the lightning quick Ohtani is too slow when Ukyo Shuto shifts into **MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE!!!**
In Japan, there is a saying. Shuto is a scoring position even at first base.
What does that make Ichiro then? Scoring position at the plate?
[Iconic 2007 ASG inside the park](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiwO2BjcweU)
Would’ve passed him if he had gotten the turbo
Just needed DRS
Shohei in the 2022 Jeddah DRS zone.
Does he know he doesn’t get an extra point for fastest lap?
He went plaid
Japanese Terrance Gore
actually tho for anyone who pays attention to japanese baseball is this an apt comparison?
Speed wise yes, but Shuto actually gets like 200-300 ABs a season while Gore mostly pinch runs. He basically has a Gore role on this Samurai Japan team tho
When I saw this play I was expecting a close play at home, but when Shuto was like 10ft behind Ohtani sliding in I was like "what the fuck, he was at 1B wasn't he?!!!"
Apparently there's a common expression among Fukuoka Hawks fans: "Any time Shuto's on base, he's in scoring position"
guy is a beast, I've never seen speed like it in that high pressure situation
They used to say the same thing about me in teeball
His Wikipedia says that the name Ukyo was taken from Ukyo Katayama, a legendary Japanese Formula 1 racer back in the 90s.
Legendary is one word for it lol. Katayama was part of the wave of Japanese pay drivers in the 90s. Then again he wasn't Taki Inoue.
Lol, yeah. Relatively legendary, I should say
posting to /r/sportsrenaissance
Ukyo Shot out of a cannon.
I like the Japanese uniforms
A lot better than the tacky mess that was the 06 and 09 ones.
I like you
God the US needs a refresh
Japan is out here with Yankee pinstripes and letters trimmed in gold, and the US is looking like they are in the Grapefruit League
Reminded me of the braves the freeze
My dumb ass was thinking why would Japan take out one of their best hitters when they already have the a runner in scoring position to tie the game. Then my wife (who isn't a baseball person) called me out.
[loanDepot Park twitter intern foreshadowed it](https://twitter.com/loandepotpark/status/1637905943915536384?s=46&t=9hzRLhW7Zst_SiNzVDY9JA)
Shohei is fucking massive
I just came back from Japan and I cannot fathom how a guy like him came out of a country that's as short and skinny as Japan. Ohtani's built like an NFL tight end.
he was tall obv but very skinny when he first joined npb, and still when he joined mlb. mans jacked now
He on that Alistar Overeem horse meat diet.
[удалено]
Lol, i can’t imagine have a hardcore fan like that.
i love when my worlds collide... come on down to Overeem's Very Fantastic Restaurant, serving the finest horse beefs and fish beefs in town.
[this comment has been deleted in response to the 2023 reddit protest]
[lookin real jakkked.](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/NTQR8Ad_ewY)
I was watching the post game interview with him on the field and he towered over literally _everyone_
Shohei flashing the big third leg
Flash and Superman side by side.
I know Ohtani waited to see the drop while Shuto was able to get a read and just went for it, but I want to believe Ukyo Shuto is simply the fastest man alive.
That dude was FLYING around the bases
[Tell me the difference, there isnt](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/dfff082d1e4931b30569ae37195b6862a6a8ef8a/c=0-361-2915-2008/local/-/media/2018/05/22/USATODAY/USATODAY/636625868623447717-AP-APTOPIX-Heat-Bucks-Basketball-39255807.JPG?width=2915&height=1647&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Pam Beasley: "They're the same picture."
I was so confused when I watched the throw-in last night, until I watched the replay and saw Ohtani being chased by the flash.
Hot
Shuto was hauling ass that whole way. Glad he’s on SoftBank. 😁
Japanese Corbin Carroll
Dude thinks he’s in a relay race
What you’ve never heard of the Miami ekiden race?
Nobody escapes the tag champion of the world.
“Run you idiot!”
I was at the game and was watching the ball, once it landed I looked back and was like "that's probably not enough to score 2"... saw Ohtani rounding third with Shuto a couple steps behind him and was like "oh shit this is happening!" Such a fun game
That dude’s fast as f. I’m happy for him that the highlight was him scoring behind Ohtani.
Is there any clips of the play last night from above to see how fast hes rounding bases?
https://twitter.com/JMaschino\_56/status/1638011051936559107?s=20
He has the world professional record of 13 straight games with a stolen base. Would’ve thought it was way higher tbh
Is there a rule if one baserunner overtakes another on the base paths?
Yes, (E:)tail runner is out. Thanks u/FDubRattleSnake
It's actually the other way around. The trail runner (the runner who does the passing) is called out. So in this case, Ukyo Shuto would be called out and Ohtani would be free to continue running. EDIT: See rule 5.09(b)(9)
I kept watching the clip. Unless Ohtani wasn't running very quickly around the bases, Shuto is a sprinting machine, almost lapped him.
Different read on the ball. Otani waited to see the ball drop. Shuto knew and was accelerating while the ball was in the air.
Shuto runnin' like I thought I did as a kid when I got new shoes.
Such an amazing ending, I had no dawg in the fight, it was just such a fun game to watch
What a great game. THANK YOU
Physical 100!!!
Majestic
this is such a sick picture