Losing gives Ohtani 'negative impression' of '22

TOKYO -- Japanese two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani arrived location Tuesday and was captious of his Los Angeles Angels squad missing the Major League Baseball playoffs again.

In an interrogation astatine Tokyo's Haneda Airport, helium said it was "a bully play for maine personally." Not truthful bully for the Angels, though.

Without coagulated enactment for erstwhile AL MVPs Ohtani and Mike Trout, the Angels suffered a seventh consecutive losing play and missed the playoffs for an eighth consecutive year.

"I person to accidental that August and September successful peculiar felt longer to maine than past year," Ohtani said, speaking successful Japanese. "We were not capable to play arsenic galore bully games arsenic we would similar -- including 14 consecutive losses. So I person a alternatively antagonistic content of this season."

The Angels finished 73-89 and were 33 games down the Houston Astros successful the American League West.

The Angels past made the playoffs successful 2014. Ohtani joined successful 2018, leaving 1 of baseball's biggest stars connected the sidelines for the game's biggest stage.

Ohtani was 15-9 with a 2.33 ERA arsenic a pitcher. As a batter helium deed 34 location runs, had 95 RBIs and deed .273.

He was asked astir the anticipation of being the American League MVP again.

"I'm conscionable blessed to beryllium considered arsenic a candidate," helium said.

Ohtani has already picked up an armful of awards. He was the AL MVP past year. Last season, helium was besides presented a peculiar grant -- the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award -- by commissioner Rob Manfred to admit his two-way play.

Ohtani has already agreed to a $30 cardinal woody with the Angels for the 2023 season, his last twelvemonth earlier escaped agency. The Angels person said they privation to support him.

He was unfastened to playing for Japan successful adjacent year's World Baseball Classic, which takes spot earlier the MLB season.

"Many top-class large league players from the United States and Latin America person announced their participation," Ohtani said. "Participating successful this tourney is precise appealing to me. I person that benignant of feeling."