The Monster of the Reiwa Era, speed, was once the MLB’s talk of the town. But now, the fastball that was expected to cross 100mph is nowhere close to it. Dodgers, who are known for picking and nurturing potential talents, are hanging by a thread in the case of Roki Sasaki. Why? Even the LA Dodgers fans and analysts are finding it difficult to get an answer.

After acquiring him, the whispers about his speed spread like wildfire. But over time, the facade started to show flaws. The pitcher’s performances were uneven, and loud murmurs of worry began to spread. Every performance was examined, and fans wished for indications of the expected supremacy. Instead, they saw a series of disappointing performances falling short of the lofty expectations established during the winter. Roki Sasaksi was playing his 7th game of this season, and fans had hope to see 100mph or 99mph coming from him.

The situation peaked on May 9, when Roki Sasaki was playing against the Arizona Diamondbacks. His performance? In four innings pitched, five hits allowed, and five earned runs. Most troubling was the lack of any swings and misses on his fastball—a pitch that had once been his most potent weapon. This performance drew attention to a worrisome trend: his fastball speed had dropped to an average of 96.7 mph, a clear drop from his Japan best. His lack of whiffs on his signature pitch points to less efficacy and raises concerns about how well he adjusts to MLB batters. And the ripple effect? The scoreboard says Arizona won over the Dodgers by 5-3.

Thomas Nestico showed how bad his problems really are in a tweet that talked about how few hits and misses his fastball was getting. Given his reputation, this is a point of concern, though. And fans are furious!

A performance that is the opposite of what we all witnessed in NPB. Playing with the Chiba Lotte Marines, Roki Sasaki was a phenomenon in Japan’s NPB before joining the Dodgers. Over 394⅓ innings, he recorded an incredible 2.10 ERA and 505 strikeouts. His most significant accomplishment was a perfect game with 19 strikeouts in April 2022, retiring 52 straight batters to create an NPB record. Renowned for his powerful fastball, which topped 100 mph, and a lethal splitter, Sasaki was regarded as one of the most promising pitchers in Japanese baseball history. His move to MLB was eagerly awaited since it was expected that he would bring the same power to the rotation of the Dodgers. But looking at the picture now, it has changed drastically.

Moreover, the rotation changes required by a stretch of 10 games in 10 days add another layer to it. This means Sasaki, who had been on a once-a-week pitching schedule since the Japan Series in March, was making his first start on five days’ rest. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts admitted the difficulty and talked about Sasaki’s modified rest plan, “There might be other days with six days of rest, given the off days.”

Sasaki’s diminishing fastball velocity and ineffectiveness have worried Dodgers fans. Once praised as the “Monster of the Reiwa Era,” his subsequent performances have generated a flurry of criticism and discussion.

Fan reactions: The spectrum of disappointment

The stats from Friday night’s game of Roki Sasaki served as a report card, and the moment it came out, the fans didn’t think for a second to pass on the verdict. A harsh one though, “Most overhyped pitcher in a long time, anyone with a brain knew he was going to suck.” It was his past performance that got him into the majors, and that got him into the champions’ squad.

It’s simple: if any pitcher of that reputation keeps on having problems, and the numbers start to show a less-than-stellar picture, the criticism will be drawn. MLB fans do not waste a second doing that.

A blunt assessment of his skills: “This is what a bad pitcher looks like, folks.” Be it fans or analysts, everyone was hoping to see brilliant moments, even if it took a while to get consistent. Instead, they are witnessing events that lack the power and control that were typical of his old job. This type of performance will definitely raise doubts about Roki Sasaki’s potential.

Is the Dodgers not the right team for him? This is what fans have started thinking now. If not the Boys in Blue, then which clubhouse? “Dodger pitching lab ruining this guy. It’s a shame, would have been an ace for the Mets.” There’s no denying, in fact, that the Mets are in a good position now, and their approach is also a good one. So, does Roki Sasaki really need a new clubhouse that can actually focus on him?

A question that echoed with everyone, “How did one of the best pitchers on the planet turn to complete crap.” Looking back at his numbers and comparing them with what he has. It is actually the first thought that has struck everyone’s mind. Once locked at 100mph, now 96.8mph is concerning. If not velocity, then he must show control. But seems like it is also missing.

If you think rivalries can be seen on the field, it’s everywhere, “Things you love to see.” The Dodgers are the top team, and one of the most talked-about pitchers is underperforming. Do you feel the fans of other clubs will sit quietly?

Only time will tell whether Roki Sasaki can overcome these early challenges and show his ability to succeed in MLB. Or whether the initial excitement will finally eclipse his on-field accomplishments. What do you think?