Ohtani Comes To America

More bullpen pitching sessions this week, a major dinger, helping out as a pinch hitter, fun with teammates (handshakes, learning languages, LLWS, Dele Alli challenge), and the series games against the San Diego Padres and Texas Rangers.

We talk about Ohtani's drill of throwing towels (for pitching), his important bullpen session over the weekend, hitting a HR for Trout's birthday, and the Angels series matchups against the Detroit Tigers and Oakland A's.

First on-the-road home runs for Ohtani in a career-best game against his favorite team, the latest stats comparing to Babe Ruth, losing Ian Kinsler but keeping Scioscia, the $100K Ohtani rookie card, and the Angels games against the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Indians.

Maldonado traded to the Astros (Ohtani's bestie & catcher), Arcia comes to the majors and becomes a quick dangerous friend, new info on how Simmons and Ohtani bonded while injured, the back and forth on the DH spot with Pujols, Ohtani being moved up in the lineup, and Vladimir Guerrero enters the Hall of Fame. Plus this week's games against the Chicago White Sox and Seattle Mariners (yes, the Mariners again).

Cleared to start throwing again! :-) We talk the positive new updates on Ohtani's pitching arm, when to expect him to pitch in actual games, and what it all means going forward. Plus Ohtani's All-Star Week away from D.C's festivities, his level of fashion game according to Mike Trout, and the weekend series against the Houston Astros.

Second week hitting again (after coming off DL), games with Mariners and Dodgers, the unusual double Ohtani bobblehead, and our initial thoughts on the upcoming All Star week.

Ohtani finally comes back from the DL to hit again (no pitching yet), right in time for the July 4th holiday and Ohtani's 24th birthday on July 5th. Also he has a "Japanese Kirk Gibson" moment against the Dodgers.

First we give an injury update (Ohtani cleared to hit!) and then we talk about his relationship with The Press, in particular the massive amount of Japanese reporters covering him this season.

The ways that Japan's NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball) is both similar and different to America's MLB (Major League Baseball) in rules and styles of play. Additionally, an update on the status of Ohtani's injury evaluation.

Best friends duo of Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, as well as why The Sandlot has to be Ohtani's favorite movie. (Currently Ohtani is still on the DL through the end of June)

Ohtani gets placed on the DL for 3 weeks with a Grade 2 UCL sprain injury. We talk about what that means for Ohtani, for the Angels, and for baseball. Including the Tommy John surgery possibility, All Star voting, Rookie Of The Year battle, and the Angels race for the second AL wild card spot with the Mariners.

News from the Angels team of Ohtani's knowledge of the Spanish language moving quicker than English, our theory of his possible new obsession coming up with 'Friends' re-runs, the discussion of Ohtani officially being listed as a DH on the 2018 All Star ballot, and how the week of games went vs the Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers. (Week of Monday 5/28/18 to Sunday 6/3/18)

We discuss this week's big matchup vs. the Yankees and what Ohtani has in common with two Yankees players - fellow Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (who he was originally going to pitch against, but instead hit against) and fellow Rookie of the Year candidate Gleyber Torres. Also, we discuss the potentially-true story of Ohtani going to Drake's studio while the Angels were playing the Toronto Blue Jays.

Ohtani's week against the Astros and Rays, whether he should play in the Home Run Derby or not (if given the chance), and our ideal scenario for when he pitches against the Yankees this upcoming week.

Ohtani plays in his first NL stadium and gets his first pinch hit against the Rockies in Coors Field, has a great start with 11 strikeouts at home against the Twins, and gets a big compliment from one of the league's big trash talkers.

We talk about the Ichiro matchup vs Ohtani that the world was so close to seeing, their similarities as Japanese superstar players coming to the U.S, the connection with Ohtani's teammate Albert Pujols, and more of Ohtani's week returning after his mild ankle injury from the week prior.

We give the compact rundown on how Ohtani did in Spring Training and his first month playing Major League Baseball in the U.S.

All the history you need to know about Ohtani's baseball career in Japan before he made the recent switch to Major League Baseball in America.

Jack and Kev talk about what the podcast will be about, the basics of Shohei Ohtani for those who don't know, and a general brief introduction.