![]() ![]() – The Arizona Diamondbacks are the first team to miss a payment by Bally Sports with the Diamond Sports Group preparing to file for bankruptcy on Friday after missing a $140 million interest payment on Feb. The consolation for the WBC is that Ohtani still is expected to DH in every game of the WBC. “He’ll pitch the quarterfinal game, then he’d be available for us that Friday (March 24) when they come back, regardless of what happens.’’ “That’s what I’ve understood,” Angels manager Phil Nevin told reporters. The plan sets up Ohtani to pitch on his normal five days’ rest before the Angels’ season-opener March 30 against the Oakland A’s, but certainly is a huge blow for WBC drama. Ohtani could pitch in the quarterfinals on March 16 for Japan, but his next start will be March 24 in a meaningless Cactus League game against the San Diego Padres. – Plans can certainly change, but the Angels say that Shohei Ohtani will not pitch in the semifinals or finals of the World Baseball Classic, so the potential of an Ohtani-Mike Trout matchup is over. “Just getting that experience, and handling that pressure playing for Japan, is going to be so great for him.’’ Around the basepaths “This is just going to take him to another level,’’ Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas says. The way the Cardinals see it, the experience Nootbaar is getting in the WBC –particularly performing the way he has in Japan’s first three games – should carry over in the regular season. ![]() He's representing himself and their country of Japan really well.’’ "We're just putting baseball on the map in a lot of different countries, and Lars is doing that in Japan right now. He's always the guy trying to pump the crowd up and pump our fanbase up and pump the team up. Says Cardinals veteran pitcher Adam Wainwright: “We're having so much fun watching Lars. “I saw a video of him screaming at the fans and they screamed back at him so you know he's feeling it right now and you've got to give him credit.’’ I think there’s going to be some times he’ll feel a little rushed, but knowing him, he’ll adjust.’’ They told him they’d treat him like a catcher and use their best judgement, so we’ll see how they treat it, if you will. “Now, if Shoehi ends up on second base and he comes in and has to pitch, he has a little routine before he goes out. We’ll have to live it, and see how it goes. “The counter to that is pitchers will have to work quicker, especially those starters who go deep into the game. Says Angels manager Phil Nevin: “I am anxious to see how this plays out, how guys feel come June, July, especially when it’s hot out there on the field. “I think it’s created a more aggressive approach at the plate, a more aggressive approach on the mound, and I think all of those things are good for our game.’’ “That really helps the players, and it will definitely benefit the bodies of these players,’’ Cubs manager David Ross says. Still, MLB is hoping for regular-season games to average 2 hours, 40 minutes this year compared to 3:06 last season. ![]()
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