Can a pitcher with "disastrous" preseason performance still secure a starting rotation spot? U.S. media harshly criticizes Roki Sasaki.

Los Angeles Dodgers' "Heisei Monster" Roki Sasaki, who skipped the World Baseball Classic to concentrate on preseason preparation, has still delivered notably poor performances in exhibition games, with his ERA reaching 13.50. Nevertheless, manager Dave Roberts has explicitly indicated that Sasaki is among the opening day starting rotation options. U.S. media not only questioned the team's decision but also sharply criticized Sasaki's "calm" response to his poor performance, stating it lacks accountability and awareness of the crisis.

Roki Sasaki appeared as a starter in this year's spring training, but his performance in three preseason games has been unsatisfactory. Over 6.2 innings pitched, he allowed 9 hits including 2 home runs, gave up 10 runs, issued 9 walks, and recorded an ERA of 13.50. Even so, Roberts still listed him as a candidate for the opening day starting rotation.

Regarding Sasaki's poor performance, U.S. media bluntly stated he "should start from Triple-A." Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman emphasized that top young pitchers like Sasaki must continue to develop through experience in the major leagues. However, the media outlet Dodgers Way pointed out that while the player development approach is understandable, Sasaki has shown no significant improvement.

What further displeased U.S. media was Sasaki's attitude toward his poor performance. Instead of reflecting on it, he calmly stated that achieving his pitching velocity was a positive sign, and even remarked, "If I can pitch consistently during the season, no one will remember the spring training results, so there's no need to worry too much." These comments led the media to angrily criticize Sasaki, saying he not only showed no progress but also displayed a complete lack of accountability and crisis awareness in his remarks.