WATCH: Postgame interviews with Craig Counsell, Shota Imanaga, Carson Kelly |
Tony Crumpton
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- 6 hours ago
Hear from Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell, starting pitcher Shota Imanaga and catcher Carson Kelly as the offense pummels the Pittsburgh Pirates in the series opener at PNC Park.
Watch the postgame interviews below: Video summary/cliff notes: (00:08) Craig Counsell emphasized the importance of the Cubs' zero strikeouts offensively, pointing to disciplined at-bats and strong contact throughout the game. (00:57) He praised Shota Imanaga's command, especially his ability to throw off-speed pitches in hitter’s counts, which helped reset counts and keep hitters off-balance. (01:52) Counsell highlighted Imanaga’s unique fastball and deceptive splitter, making it difficult for hitters to catch up or square up. (02:58) Shota Imanaga shared that he began to feel leg cramps in the 5th inning, which fully hit in the 6th; he had communicated with the pitching coach beforehand and self-reported to avoid injury. (04:18) He noted past experiences with cramping and explained that he opted for a cautious approach—requesting a change before the issue spread or worsened. (06:27) Imanaga discussed how tight upcoming team schedules influenced his decision to exit early to avoid missing future starts and impacting the rotation. (07:41) He mentioned not being able to maintain his pitching form by the 6th, which could have led to further injury. (08:44) Imanaga credited the coaching staff for helping him focus on throwing high fastballs over the past week, which paid off during this outing. (09:50) He talked about staying mentally composed when borderline pitches weren’t called strikes, choosing not to chase perfection and risk overexertion. (11:05) Imanaga reflected on meeting Paul Skenes, calling it an honor to play in the same era and expressing a desire to continue learning from elite peers despite limited advice. (13:08) Carson Kelly praised Imanaga’s mound presence, pitch execution, and ability to reset mentally after tough moments, contributing to a strong team pitching dynamic.
