<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/cubs-news-shota-imanaga-thankful-message-to-craig-counsell-after-achieving-rookie-season-goal');   ga('set', 'title', 'Shota Imanaga’s ‘thankful’ message to Craig Counsell after achieving rookie season goal');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Cubs-Shota-Imanaga-Craig-Counsell.jpg"></figure><h1>Shota Imanaga’s ‘thankful’ message to Craig Counsell after achieving rookie season goal</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-09-17T07:57:19-07:00">September 17th, 7:57am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-09-17T07:57:19-07:00">September 17th, 7:57am</time><address><a>Sam DiGiovanni</a>Sam DiGiovanni started at ClutchPoints as an associate editor in 2021 and became the site's Philadelphia 76ers beat reporter ahead of the 2022-23 season. He graduated from Marist College in May of 2022 and has written for TheKnicksWall.com and CenterFieldMarist.com in the past.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Shota Imanaga’s rookie MLB season with the Chicago Cubs <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/dodgers-news-shohei-ohtani-cubs-shota-imanaga">has been a success</a>.</p><p>The 31-year-old Imanaga made the All-Star team and has a 3.03 ERA across 166.1 innings. He has remained effective down the home stretch of the season, pitching seven innings in four of his nine starts since the calendar flipped to August. Although he probably won’t get to take the mound in the postseason, his first MLB journey went very well.</p><p>Imanaga was very thankful for Cubs manager Craig Counsell, who helped him <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/shota-imanaga-strikes-out-season-high-11-vs-a-s" rel="noopener">reach the innings total</a> he aimed for before the season, according to Casey Drottar of MLB.com.</p><p>“Starting the year, I had the goal to throw 162 innings,” Imanaga said through interpreter Edwin Stanberry, via MLB.com. “Back in April, and before in Spring Training, I talked with Craig about the importance of being able to pitch throughout the season and into September. With him, he’s been very helpful in how he manages with me staying healthy being able to throw the innings that I can, so I’m very thankful for him.”</p><p>Imanaga missed some time in May and July but is still going to blow past his goal easily.</p><h2><b>Shota Imanaga pitched great rookie season for Cubs</b></h2><p>Counsell has widely been seen as one of the very best managers in MLB. The Cubs made a massive effort to get him. The immediate effects have not been anything insane but Imanaga’s insight <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cubs-news-craig-counsell-opens-about-shota-imanaga-decision-no-hit-bid">shows his value to the team</a>. It certainly isn’t the fault of Counsell that Chicago is so close to slipping out of the playoff race.</p><p>The Cubs want to be a playoff contender and will lean on the pitching duo of Imanaga and 2023 All-Star Justin Steele, who battled injury in 2024. There is <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-cubs-front-office-dealing-with-internal-friction">a lot of pressure</a> for the Cubs to put a winning team out there in the friendly confines but the team is not without stars.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Shota Imanaga’s ‘thankful’ message to Craig Counsell after achieving rookie season goal

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/dodgers-news-shohei-ohtani-cubs-shota-imanaga');   ga('set', 'title', 'Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, Cubs’ Shota Imanaga share heartfelt moment');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/09-10-24-ohtani-imanaga-featured.jpg"></figure><h1>Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, Cubs’ Shota Imanaga share heartfelt moment</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-09-10T20:25:45-07:00">September 10th, 8:25pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-09-10T20:25:45-07:00">September 10th, 8:25pm</time><address><a>David Korn</a>David Korn is an MLB associate editor at ClutchPoints. He is also a producer at MLB Network Radio and covers college basketball for A10Talk. David graduated from George Washington in 2023, where he was the radio play-by-play broadcaster for their Men's and Women's Basketball teams.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs faced off <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/dodgers-news-teoscar-hernandez-hints-return-date-amid-cubs-series">in a crucial matchup</a> on Tuesday. Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani and Cubs rookie sensation Shota Imanaga shared a touching moment as they went head-to-head against each other.</p><p>Ohtani and Imanaga, two of the best Japanese players in baseball history, <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1833695009406677069" rel="noopener">faced each other</a> to lead off the bottom of the first inning. Ohtani smiled, and tipped his batting helmet at his fellow countryman. Imanaga reciprocated the gesture, tipping his cap and smiling back.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Shohei Ohtani and Shota Imanaga tipped their caps before facing off 🙌<br> <a href="https://t.co/gpXb3msWFU">pic.twitter.com/gpXb3msWFU</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1833695009406677069?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>After their exchange, Imanaga was able to get Ohtani to harmlessly pop out to shortstop Dansby Swanson.</p><p>This is the second time the two Japanese stars have faced each other in the Majors Leagues. On April 8 in just Imanaga’s second Major League appearance, he was able to hold Ohtani hitless in two at bats, even getting the slugger to strike out during one of them. Imanaga went four scoreless innings that day as the Cubs beat the Dodgers 8-1.</p><h2><b>Historic game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs for Japanese baseball</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/09-10-24-ohtani-imanaga-image.jpg"><figcaption>© Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Ohtani and Imanaga were not the only Japanese players to feature in Tuesday’s game. Dodgers star pitcher <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/dodgers-news-la-activates-yoshinobu-yamamoto">Yoshinobu Yamamoto started the game</a> and made his long-awaited return from injury after missing nearly the last three months with a right triceps injury. Outfielder Seiya Suzuki was also the designated hitter for the Cubs.</p><p>This was just <a href="https://x.com/MLB/status/1833658238601986286?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet" rel="noopener">the second time</a> in Major League Baseball history that four Japanese players started in a game.</p><p>The other instance came on May 4, 2007, when the New York Yankees started outfielder Hideki Matsui and pitcher Kei Igawa and the Seattle Mariners started outfielder Ichiro Suzuki and catcher Kenji Johjima. The Mariners won that game 15-11, and Suzuki and Johjima combined four runs and five hits. Matsui went 1-3 with two walks and a home run in the losing effort for the Yankees.</p><p>Instances like this are so great for baseball and go a long way in growing the game internationally. Major League Baseball knows this and understands that matchups between the Dodgers and Cubs are must-watch in Japan.</p><p>That is why these two teams will be <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/dodgers-news-2025-season-begins-cubs-tokyo-shohei-ohtani">opening the 2025 in Tokyo</a> in what will be one of the most highly-anticipated events of the season. Players like Ohtani, Yamamoto, Imanaga and Suzuki, who in addition to being some of the best players in the Major Leagues, are also international superstars and heroes in their home country of Japan.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, Cubs’ Shota Imanaga share heartfelt moment

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/cubs-news-shota-imanaga-reveals-wild-moment-he-realized-he-was-throwing-no-hitter');   ga('set', 'title', 'Cubs’ Shota Imanaga reveals wild moment he realized he was throwing no-hitter');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/0Shota-Imanaga-reveals-wild-moment-he-realized-he-was-throwing-no-hitter0.jpg"></figure><h1>Cubs’ Shota Imanaga reveals wild moment he realized he was throwing no-hitter</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-09-05T07:26:46-07:00">September 5th, 7:26am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-09-05T07:26:46-07:00">September 5th, 7:26am</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>On Wednesday night, the Chicago Cubs laid waste to the Pittsburgh Pirates, perhaps in retaliation over their heartbreaking 5-3 defeat on Monday and their hapless performance in a 5-0 loss on Tuesday. The Cubs got their offense going rather quickly en route to a 12-0 win over the Pirates. But it was the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cubs-news-pirates-combined-no-hitter">Cubs’ pitching performance</a> as a team that took center stage. Led by Shota Imanaga, the Cubs’ pitchers combined to blank the Pirates, registering a team no-hitter in the process.</p><p>In the end, Cubs manager Craig Counsell decided to protect Imanaga instead of throwing him out on the mound for an eighth and, potentially, a ninth inning of work. Imanaga was at 95 pitches, and the Pirates couldn’t muster much hard contact against him, so it would not have been the worst idea in the world to give him a shot at history. But the 31-year-old starter didn’t seem to put up much of a fight when Counsell decided to pull him from the game; in fact, he expected it, given how carefully the team has managed his workload this season.</p><p>It turns out that Shota Imanaga <a href="https://www.marqueesportsnetwork.com/the-funny-anecdotes-behind-shota-imanaga-cubs-players-realizing-they-were-part-of-no-hitter/" rel="noopener">wasn’t very aware</a> that he hasn’t allowed a hit yet on the night, as he simply realized the history that awaited him and the Cubs thanks to Counsell’s behavior in the clubhouse during the eighth inning.</p><p>“Usually he looks happy about [the outing], telling me good job. But he looked a little worried and so I was figuring out what’s going on and that’s when I learned,” Imanaga said in his native tongue, via Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network.</p><p>Even Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya didn’t realize in the moment that Imanaga was throwing a no-hitter. He simply realized it when he heard the crowd’s reaction when they didn’t see Imanaga come back to the mound in the eighth.</p><p>“I had no idea, either. I figured it out when Nate [Pearson] was coming in and fans started booing,” Amaya said.</p><p>This collective lack of awareness may have helped out the Cubs in the end; even reliever Nate Pearson did not notice the no-hitter in effect, so perhaps that helped him get out of his head.</p><p>“I honestly didn’t know we had a no-hitter going and I ran out there, started getting booed and I realized we probably got something on the line here. So I just kinda locked it in and did my part,” Pearson said.</p><h2>Cubs get back to winning ways in an epic manner</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Shota-Imanaga.jpg"></figure><p>Shota Imanaga is clearly capable of throwing a no-hitter by himself, considering how well he has transitioned from Japan to the MLB. However, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cubs-news-craig-counsell-opens-about-shota-imanaga-decision-no-hit-bid">finishing off the no-hitter</a> would have meant that he’d blow past his career-high in pitches thrown (103), as he was at 95 with two innings remaining.</p><p>Regardless, Nate Pearson and Porter Hodge got the job done; in fact, they did not allow a single baserunner in the final two innings, thereby finishing the job Imanaga started. During Imanaga’s seven innings of work, there were a few nervy moments courtesy of some shaky fielding.</p><p>The Cubs allowed five baserunners on the night, with two of those being walks from Imanaga and three Pirates hitters reaching base thanks to three errors from trade deadline acquisition Isaac Paredes.</p><p>Their 12-0 win over the Pirates means that they remain 4.5 games back of the Atlanta Braves for the third and final NL Wild Card spot.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Cubs’ Shota Imanaga reveals wild moment he realized he was throwing no-hitter

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/cubs-news-craig-counsell-opens-about-shota-imanaga-decision-no-hit-bid');   ga('set', 'title', 'Cubs’ Craig Counsell opens up about Shota Imanaga decision amid no-hit bid');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Craig-Counsell-opens-up-about-Shota-Imanaga-decision-amid-no-hit-bid.jpg"></figure><h1>Cubs’ Craig Counsell opens up about Shota Imanaga decision amid no-hit bid</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-09-04T21:37:00-07:00">September 4th, 9:37pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-09-04T21:46:05-07:00">September 4th, 9:46pm</time><address><a>Mike Gianakos</a>Mike Gianakos is the former editor-in-chief of High Times magazine, where he also spearheaded the video department and event production. He is a longtime podcaster and even longer suffering NY Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Chicago Cubs have played their way into the postseason picture as the team has heated up over the second half of the season. On Wednesday the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cubs-news-pirates-combined-no-hitter">Cubs spun a combined no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates</a>. Rookie sensation Shota Imanaga tossed seven scoreless frames before Chicago manager Craig Counsell made the difficult decision to pull the first-year lefty.</p><p>“It’s always <a href="https://x.com/WatchMarquee/status/1831522397041696945" rel="noopener">hard to do</a> in that situation… it’s 100% about taking care of Shota and making sure we’re doing the right thing for him,” Counsell said after the game via Marquee Sports Network. Counsell acknowledged that “it’s not fun” but the team was “prioritizing the player’s health” by removing the pitcher from the game in the midst of a no-hit bid in the seventh inning.</p><p>Imanaga was brilliant Wednesday night, allowing no hits and no runs with two walks and seven strikeouts in seven innings. He was relieved by Nate Pearson in the eighth and Porter Hodge came on in the ninth. The Cubs bullpen tossed two perfect innings to complete the combined no-hitter.</p><p>The Cubs beat the Pirates 12-0 and recorded the franchise’s <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/401570565" rel="noopener">18th no-hitter</a>. It’s their first no-no since another combined effort in 2021 and the first at Wrigley Field since 1972. It’s the fourth no-hitter this season, per ESPN’s game recap. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/giants-news-blake-snells-postgame-interview-after-no-hitter-is-hilariously-epic">San Francisco Giants ace Blake Snell most recently accomplished the feat</a> on August 2 against the Cincinnati Reds.</p><p>“We want [Imanaga] to <a href="https://x.com/WatchMarquee/status/1831522397041696945" rel="noopener">stay healthy</a>, he’s had a career high in innings… He actually didn’t know he had a no-hitter going at all, which is funny,” Counsell explained via Marquee Sports Network. “[Pitching coach] Tommy [Hottovy] and I talked about [removing Imanaga], we considered it frankly after the sixth inning. But that was for us the right thing to do.”</p><h2><b>Shota Imanaga has been a revelation for the Cubs</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Shota-Imanaga.jpg"><figcaption>Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Imanaga is having an excellent debut season in MLB. He signed a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cubs-news-shota-imanaga-contract-details">four-year, $53 million contract with the Cubs</a> in the offseason. With Wednesday’s remarkable performance, he’s improved to 12-3 on the year with a 2.99 ERA, 155 strikeouts in 153.1 innings and 2.4 bWAR in 26 starts for Chicago. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cubs-news-shota-imanaga-exclusive-list-rookie-all-star-nod">Imanaga made the All-Star Game as a rookie</a>.</p><p>The Cubs have gone 25-17 since returning from the All-Star break, which is the sixth-best record in baseball during that stretch. The team is now four games above .500. Still, Chicago remains nine games behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central.</p><p>However, the Cubs are 4.5 games back in the NL Wild Card standings with only the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves ahead of them for the final postseason berth. Chicago’s hot play over the second half of the season has the team up to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-power-rankings-cubs-surge-back-into-playoff-race">number 14 in the most recent MLB Power Rankings</a>.</p><p>Cubs fans certainly <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cubs-news-fans-dreaming-playoffs-phillies-nick-castellanos-walk-off-braves">believe there’s a chance the team makes the playoffs</a> this year. Perhaps saving Imanaga’s arm at the expense of a no-hitter will pay dividends down the stretch as the team pushes for the postseason.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Cubs’ Craig Counsell opens up about Shota Imanaga decision amid no-hit bid

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/cubs-news-shota-imanaga-exclusive-list-rookie-all-star-nod');   ga('set', 'title', 'Cubs’ Shota Imanaga joins exclusive list with rookie All-Star nod');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Cubs-news-Shota-Imanaga-joins-exclusive-list-with-rookie-All-Star-nod.jpg"></figure><h1>Cubs’ Shota Imanaga joins exclusive list with rookie All-Star nod</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-07-08T13:48:28-07:00">July 8th, 1:48pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-07-08T13:48:28-07:00">July 8th, 1:48pm</time><address><a>Dan Fappiano</a>Dan Fappiano is a Connecticut based sports journalist and a graduate of both Tunxis Community College and Central Connecticut State University. Dan has spent time covering high school and professional sports in both the print and online medium. He hopes to see his beloved Chicago Bears win a Super Bowl someday.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>While the Chicago Cubs are struggling to stay in the playoff race, they have undoubtedly found a star in starting pitcher Shota Imanaga. His efforts have now put him on an exclusive list <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-what-cubs-would-realistic-get-cody-bellinger-trade">in Cubs franchise history</a>.</p><p>By being voted to the All-Star Game, Imanaga joined Sam Jones (1955) as the only Chicago rookie pitchers to <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/shota-imanaga-earns-roster-spot-in-2024-all-star-game" rel="noopener">earn the distinction</a>, via Elias Sports Bureau. Furthermore, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cubs-news-shota-imanaga-admission-after-humbling-cardinals-fans-cracking-up">Imanaga became the first</a> Cubs rookie pitcher to be elected to the All-Star Game since rookie rules were first established in 1958.</p><p>The left-hander earned his All-Star nomination by pitching to a 7-2 record with a 3.16 ERA and a 92/15 K/BB ratio over his first 16 major league starts. He has the most innings pitched on the team and the fourth-lowest ERA. Furthermore, Imanaga leads the Cubs in strikeouts.</p><p>He has been a godsend for Chicago’s rotation after signing a four-year, $53 million contract with the team. Imanaga’s addition has catapulted the Cubs to having the 12th-best ERA in the league at 3.91. While various options will make things trickier, the club is hoping he can continue being a beacon of light in the rotation through 2029.</p><p>However, Imanaga’s success has not rubbed off on the rest of the team. At 42-49, Chicago is 11 games behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central and 5.5 games out of a Wild Card spot. They’ll need more than just strong pitching once every five days to make some true noise.</p><p>But that is a problem for the team. For now, Chicago is celebrating Shota Imanaga’s latest achievement. His acclimation to the Cubs has made him a fan favorite and has always inscribed his name into the team’s record books.</p><h2><b>State of Cubs’ pitching rotation </b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Shota-Imanaga.jpg"><figcaption>Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>While Imanaga is leading the way, one of the Cubs’ biggest strengths has been their pitching rotation. Justin Steele leads the team with a 2.95 ERA over his 13 starts. His 77/18 K/BB ratio is sure to open eyes as well.</p><p>Jameson Tailon is right behind him with a 2.99 ERA and a 65/17 K/BB ratio. Although, his name has come up in trade rumors as the Cubs consider entering the deadline as sellers. If he remains in Chicago though, he will continue being a valued member of the rotation.</p><p>Javier Assad is on the 15-day injured list with a forearm strain. But before going down he held a 3.04 ERA and a 79/33 K/BB ratio. Ben Brown has joined him on the injured list, but holds a 3.58 ERA and a 64/19 K/BB ratio over his 15 appearances.</p><p>Point is, the Cubs have much more to offer pitching wise than Shota Imanaga. But with Chicago’s roster up for potential changes, it’s good to have options. Whatever ends up happening at the trade deadline, Imanaga will still be the ace of the team’s rotation. And he’ll be representing the Cubs proudly at this year’s All-Star Game.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2024 SEASON STATS
IP	ERA	K	WHIP	WINS
520	2.91	174	1.02	15

2024 SEASON STATS
IP	ERA	K	WHIP	WINS
520	2.91	174	1.02	15

Shota Imanaga

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Cubs’ Shota Imanaga joins exclusive list with rookie All-Star nod

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