In the early days of September, Shohei Ohtani is on the verge of making history with every plate appearance and base theft. Following the conclusion of the four-game series against the Diamondbacks, Ohtani boasts 44 home runs and 46 stolen bases this season, placing him uniquely in the 44-44 Club and setting his sights on achieving 45-45 or even 50-50, with more than 20 games remaining in the season.
Against the Diamondbacks, Ohtani found his rhythm, contributing a remarkable five-hit performance, including two home runs and four stolen bases, after struggling to a .235 batting average in August, one of his least productive months in the majors. According to FanGraphs, he is projected to end the season with 50 home runs and 51 stolen bases.
As he approaches his 45th home run, Ohtani and the Dodgers will return to Anaheim, his former home, for the first time during the regular season (he previously visited for a spring training Freeway Series in March) following his free agency departure. The Angels are currently struggling in the AL West, with a record worse than even the lowly Athletics, making them the perfect opponent for Ohtani to reach 45-45.
Ahead of his return, Jack Harris of the LA Times inquired about Ohtani’s free agency. Ohtani responded diplomatically, stating, “Other teams, including the Dodgers, evaluated me highly… I wasn’t made an offer [by the Angels], so I can’t say [if I’d still be an Angel].”
In his remarks, Ohtani indicated that he was surprised the Angels did not match the $700 million deal he signed with the Dodgers, leaving many Angels fans feeling disheartened. During his six seasons with the Angels, the team failed to reach the postseason or place higher than third in the AL West, and they did not adequately support him or Mike Trout.
While it is known that Arte Moreno declined the opportunity to match the Dodgers’ offer to Ohtani, there are also reports that the Angels have made no plans to honor Ohtani during his return to Angel Stadium.
The ideal scenario for Ohtani would be to secure his 45th home run in front of a crowd of Angels fans, many of whom may harbor resentment for his decision to join the Dodgers. With a decisive series win against a stronger team, Ohtani and the Dodgers are well-positioned to assert their dominance over the Angels.