June 28th, 2008. Chad Billingsly faced off against Jered Weaver of the Angels on a Saturday afternoon. What followed has happened only 5 times in Major League history. The Dodgers would eke out a 1-0 win while being no-hit.
The 2008 team would go on to win the division with an 84-78 record. They would beat the Cubs 3-0 in the NLDS, but then lose to the Phillies in the NLCS. At the point in time when the game was played, the Dodgers were two games back of the D-Backs.
The Angel lineup that Billingsly faced was Izturis 3B, Aybar SS, Anderson LF, Guererro RF, Hunter CF, Kotchman 1B, Kendrick 2B, Mathis C, and Weaver. The Dodgers lineup was Pierre LF, Ethier RF, Martin C, Kent 2B, Loney 1B, Kemp CF, DeWitt 3B, Berroa SS, Billingsly P.
Weaver through the six innings he pitched only allowed a walk to Martin and one to Ethier. Ethier in the first and Martin in the fourth. Billingsly would give up three hits and three walks in his seven innings. But what transpired in the bottom of the fifth inning ended up winning the game.
Matt Kemp hit a slow roller between the mound and first, Weaver attempted to field the ball but booted it. Kemp was safe on the error. He then took off for second on the next pitch, but Mathis’s throw went into center field and Kemp wound up at third. De Witt then sent a fly ball to center field and Kemp scored.
Billingsly was also aided in keeping the Angels off of the board by a couple of stellar plays by Ethier. Aybar got a hit that he tried to stretch to a double, but Ethier’s throw nailed him. Then later in the game, Kendrick got a hold of one, but Ethier made the catch down the line.
Weaver was relieved by Jose Arredondo in the seventh. He would pitch two perfect innings. Broxton had a clean inning in the 8th and Saito came in to close the game. He walked a batter but ended the game with a strikeout of PH Reggie Willits.
It was the second game in a row that the Angels were shut out. They finally beat the Dodgers the next day. And the series was even for the year. Unusual game. And still only the 5th time in major league history that it has happened.
Discussion (27)
Disagree, not disagreeable
The Dodgers hit five more home runs last night. Ten in two games. They now have 149 homers in 89 games. The most ever by any Dodger team at this point in the season in their entire history. They are 19 behind the Braves for the most in the majors and 14 ahead of the two teams tied for third, the Angels and the Rays. The team with the least homers? Cleveland has only 60. Mookie, JD and Muncy have more than that combined.
Talk about rolling out the red carpet…
On Japanese Heritage Night at Dodger Stadium, Ohtani homers, triples and singles–but the Dodgers still beat the Angels for the 10th straight time.
Pretty smooth marketing move.
Really don’t think Arte Moreno will deal Ohtani, even though the Angels are now under .500 at the all-star break and Trout is out for at least another six weeks. But it could happen. Just for fun, let’s pretend they accept an offer of JDM and five decent prospects. (Just assume it would be JDM plus and an upgrade of what AF gave the Orioles to rent Machado.)
Hmm…
Mookie 2b
Freddie 1b
Shohei DH
Will C
Muncy 3B
Heyward/Taylor RF
Peralta LF
Outman CF
Rojas
Bench of Barnes, Vargas, Yonny…… Six-man rotation of Kershaw, Ohtani, Urias, Miller, Gonsolin, Sheehan….
Man, I was really hoping that Grove could shut down that inning after the double play wasn’t turned. The young man would’ve left the game feeling much better about himself.
But alas, I wasn’t surprised and that’s a shame.
On a lighter note, kudos to our offense. The way they’re hitting I betcha they wish the break wasn’t coming up tomorrow
That throw from Rengifo to home might be the worst throw home I’ve ever seen! And after a nifty misplay on Freddie. Thank you Arte for nixing that deal the other year.
Well Mark, Mookie has certainly responded to you calling him out, now do the same with Mr Vargas! Hit like an MVP!
Thomas looks good but Soto if they could get him and he be free agent wow Betts in RF and sotos in LF and Freeman here and Smith that’s four potential All-stars in one lineup. We be like the Rangers are in the all-star game with five starters. And people would be mad if we got Soto. Add Soto between Freeman and Smith he would get better pitches to hit then being in that padres lineup. And plus then the dodgers have an everyday LF. All they need is for Outman to be able to hit Lefties and righties and the outfield is set.
Lane Thomas of the Nationals is really looking like a possible target at the trade deadline. Right handed right fielder batting 305, 14 homers, 48 rbi, 853 OPS. What say you guys?
Never meant to insinuate Soto isn’t a wonderful talent, he is. But has he put 2 excellent years back to back? Maybe but not enough to mortgage the farm. Hell I would sign JD again next year and try like crazy to get the halos to trade trout!
9:10 PM ET
Angels (45-45)
Dodgers (50-38)
SPReid Detmers L
2-5 3.72 ERA
SP Michael Grove R
0-2 7.02 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
RF Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
DH J. Martinez R
3B Max Muncy L
SS Miguel Rojas R
2B M. Vargas R
CF James Outman L
LF Jonny DeLuca R
Clear-day
75° Wind 10 mph Out
It seems we fans are pretty spoiled and looking at the trade deadline as summertime Xmass. I don’t expect any sort of blockbusting trades and think a reset is still the main menu next season. Likely the trades with teams falling out of playoff chances looking to rebuild. Perhaps some pitching and outfield for backup but not the stars. We’re getting through the growing pains and while not the most graceful we find Dodgers in good shape to once again win the division. The 2nd half will be smoother. It’s good to see passion now overtaking lackadaisical play and our rookies knowing they are a fit. If you had expected more from our rookie pitcher and position players the first half isn’t fair to them or yourselves. As proven Dodgers are nobody’s little brother that will not lose the division. I’m thankful for where we’re at.
There was a blurb on Google news that said the Padres might be targeting a couple of Red Sox if the Sox go into sell mode. JT and Adam Duvall. Makes some sense since they cut Cruz loose.
Plaschke opines today that the Angels should suck it up and trade Ohtani.
It does make a lot of sense, because with Trout injured the chance of make the postseason have gotten a lot, lot dimmer.
I don’t think it will happen, but I think Plaschke is correct that the Angels could get two starting players plus four or five prospects that would instantly become among the Angels’ top prospects in their shallow farm system.
Who would the Dodgers deal?
I’d start with JDM, simply because Ohtani would take over at DH. Add Busch, because he’s blocked on the Dodgers and provides a quality bat with several years of control. Add 2-3 pitchers, including Grove or Pepiot and one with ace potential, perhaps Bruns…. A lot of possibilities. If I was the Angels, I might insist on Rushing and Josue de Paula
For the record, I would not do that trade for Soto.
I would, however, try and sign him when he is a FA.
Our Bi-Polar offense is in a super-manic phase, and boy it’s fun. The top on the order is just killing it the last few games against Pirate and Angel pitching. Mookie’s crazy good and the top of the order has had 7 home runs and 4 doubles in 2 games. The bullpen in the last 8.2 innings, in 3 games, has given up zero, nada, zilch earned runs and 1, 1 and 4 hits.
On the down side, the bottom of the order is 3 for 33 the last 2 games, letting the top guys carry the mail.
Nice to see Gonsolin more effective and efficient. I would have liked to see him get in another inning and was done at only 77 pitches. That was likely judicious as he showed some fatigue. No reason to push it with this bullpen and the break coming up.
Stephen Nelson made a very astute comment about JDM being the every day DH, which was unusual for the Dodgers who frequently used the spot as a rest day for starters. I never liked that. I see the most value for a DH like it was used in the AL by many teams. Edgar, Big Papi were weapons and not a rest day for somebody. I suspect National League teams initially didn’t have the personal to have an exclusive DH but may be going that way. I’m very happy the Dodgers use the DH that way now and JDM has been a tremendous asset in that role.
If we could get him for a 1.5 years that would be great. Just Like Trea. I would rather have him than JDM, even though he has fewer homers so far this year
I don’t want and I don’t think we need Soto…..I want PITCHING!
Of course, Soto can’t hurt us, but why spend so much on a guy we don’t really need?
For everyone who is bent out of shape over what I said about Mookie Betts, here is the complete text of what I wrote December 22, 2022:
“At the time the Dodgers traded for Mookie Betts, there was a lot of conversation as to who was the best player in baseball – Mike Trout or Mookie Betts? Sadly for both players, we do not hear that much anymore as both have slipped… and it does not appear that either player will continue to get better as Trout is 31 and Mookie is 30. Both ended the 2022 season with a .340 OB% – that’s pretty good but not superstar-esque. Mike Trout hit .283 with a .999 OPS, which is very much a superstar, and his OPS+ was 178, while Mookie OPS’ed .873 with an OPS+ of just 136. In straight-up comparisons between the two players, Mike Trout is light-years ahead of Mookie Betts. Trout hit 40 HR while Mookie hit 35.
Don’t get me wrong, Mookie is a great player, but realize that the Dodgers have to pay him this way for this long:
2023 – $25.4 Million
2024 – $30.4 Million
2025 – $30.4 Million
2026 – $30.4 Million
2027 – $30.4 Million
2028 – $35.4 Million
2029 – $36.4 Million
2030 – $35.4 Million
2031 – $32.9 Million
3032 – $32.9 Million
For the mathematically challenged, that is just about $320 Million Dollars that the Dodgers owe Mookie Betts over the next ten years. YIKES! As I said when the trade was made, “This is not going to end well.” Again, I am not trying to “dis” Mookie, but what I just said are facts. Mookie plays a high level of defense, and that helps his WAR, but insofar as being a “superstar,” Freddie Freeman is the Dodger closest to Mike Trout in hitting as his OPS+ was 152 and his OB% was .918. Them’s superstar stats!
For his career, Mookie has hit .292 against RHP and .295 against LHP. In 2022, Mookie hit .308 against LHP (only 156 ABs), but he hit only .255 against RHP, and therein lies the problem. Mookie was also very “streaky” in his play. Let’s look at his splits:
March/April – .230
May – .342
June – .193
July .248
August – . 330
September – .222
Playoffs – .143
If you have any questions as to who did not hit in the playoffs, start with Mookie Betts. Cody Bellinger was benched for not hitting in the playoffs, but the truth is, Mookie Betts had twice as many ABs and hit .143… the same as Cody! When Mookie is hot, he can carry the team, but more often than not, he is not hot.. at least lately.
2023 is a new season. The shift is gone (Mookie does pull the ball a lot), so that should help him. The bases are bigger (that should help the fast guys). The pitchers have to throw the ball quicker (that should help everyone). 2023 is the year Mookie has to go back to being a Superstar. Mookie also needs to voluntarily go to the #2 spot in the batting order so as to let Gavin Lux take over that spot (if he can handle it – I think he can).
Mookie, you need to step up and show the Boys in Blue how to do it! Maybe even get more vocal. The Dodger will go as far this year as Mookie and the Youngsters take them. Take the challenge, Mookie! This has to be YOUR team! Seize it! Be the Superstar that you are and the leader you were meant to be. That’s all! Just do it!
I want to see Mookie play with the emotion he had in this Blog’s Opening Photo! I want to see that Superstar again!”
If you doubt any of it, here is the link:
https://ladodgertalk.com/2022/12/12/mookie-betts-has-to-step-up-his-game/
Mookie has done EXACTLY what I said he needed to do! I think thou doest protest too much!
Would you trade Busch, Pages (on IL), Cartaya, Stone, and Nastrini for Juan Soto at the Deadline… pending the Dodgers reaching a contract agreement with him?
Would the Dodgers?
Would the Padres?
1. Betts 2B
2. Freeman 1B
3. Smith C
4. Soto RF
5. Martinez DH
6. Muncy 3B
7. Peralta/Taylor LF
8. Outman/Heyward CF (Awkward)
9. Rojas SS
More sage wisdom from the Book of Moron!
Reducing a player’s value to a mathematical formula is silly in so many ways. For starters, this completely ignores defense, tossing Mookie’s many gold gloves and now his remarkable versatility out of the equation. Would you ignore the defense of Brooks Robinson and Ozzie Smith?
To be fair, the Book of Moron has walked back its ROY prophecy for Miguel Vargas. Ane yet the other day, the Book proclaimed that Vargas is “the key” to the Dodgers offense.
Did you leave the word “not” out of that sentence?
In other news, the Dodgers could know the Angels below .500 today. Entering the all-star break with a losing record… ouch. It almost has me rooting for the Trout-less Halos today.
Almost.
It is unbelievable how many runs we are scoring. The top 5 batters on our team all have 50 or more RBIs except Will Smith has 48.
This leads me to believe, upper management is probably feeling more determined to not waste these batters and to go out and get a few healthy arms to help them win in the playoffs. So now, I’m expecting LA to acquire a minimum of 2 arms before the deadline. I don’t really think they need more bats knowing Gavin Lux will be back next year and can play 2B, SS, or even LF if we need him to.
By the way, I Love Rojas. He is a better stick than I thought and I completely trust him in the field. I would not say that about Lux or CT3.
2008 Kershaw wasn’t old enough to drink the champaign celebratory division title. This story got me thinking about Vin………sure do miss him.
Excellent points by Watford Dodger yesterday on Ohtani and the Dodgers failed pursuit of him in Dec 2017. He also linked LA Times article from Andy McCullough. Seems that the lack of the DH in the NL was the big issue for Ohtani back then. And both Kershaw and Turner felt they wasted their time trying to recruit him.
Dodgers should be in play this time, but I don’t see them offering a competitive long term deal for Shohei. He has been unreal the last 3 years, but he will be 30 next season and already had one TJ surgery. The Dodgers have a quality DH this year for a 1 yr $10 million contract. Ohtani would provide a moderate upgrade at DH with a career OPS of 906 compared to 871 for JDM. And at his best, Ohtani is a #1 starter with a career ERA of 3.04, but every pitcher is subject to injury, especially those with high velocity.
Ohtani has not been driven by just the largest salary, as he was very underpaid with Angels, so it is possible he will take a shorter term deal with Dodgers with high AAV. I would think the marketing value and the overseas ratings of Ohtani may override the on field value also. Should be interesting the next 30 days and in the off-season.
4.- I think it would be better to sign Soto than Ohtani, who is younger and cheaper. Ok, maybe not much cheaper, but definitely much younger.
I’m not sure, but I think Soto will be a free agent in season and a half.
Last Night’s Game
1. Gonsolin looked better. He had several pitches 93 to 94 MPH and had good command. 6.2 IP – that’s more like it!
2. Nice confidence builder for Vesia.
3. The Bazooka now has a 1.86 ERA – Where are the Bazooka Bashers?
4. Having Ohtani does not automatically make you a winning team.
5. The Dodgers are a half-game back of the D-Bags.
6. The bullpen ERA continues to go down. It’s 4.40 – the Dodgers moved to #23 in Bullpen ERA (they were #29 10 days ago). The march to the TOP 10 continues. Bet on it!
7. Mookie for MVP!
8. Just when you think Kody Hoese needs a fork stuck in him, he goes 3-4 with a HR (.252 BA/.654 OPS).
Who’s pitching tonight?
Good article, Bear. Just a minor quibble. It’s Billingsley, not Billingsly.
He was a talented pitcher. He was pretty much done careerwise by 28.
Made me curious about that team. Derek Lowe had a good season for the Dodgers that year, too.
I guess my question is , would you take Mookie, Soto or say tatis? Give me Mookie every time! Character matters!