PHOENIX — Like a graduate revisiting his old high school, Shohei Ohtani is going back to Anaheim this week, having moved on to bigger things.
“For me it’s a special place,” Ohtani said through his interpreter after Monday’s game. “Obviously, I spent pretty much the most time there compared to other stadiums, and being able to spend the time playing in front of (Angels) fans.
“I spent a lot of time at Angel Stadium and obviously this year we already played against the team, so I’m just really looking forward to being able to spend some time at a ballpark that I spent most of my career at.”
Ohtani faced his old team during spring training in Tempe this year then again during the preseason Freeway Series in Los Angeles and Anaheim. Ohtani was treated to a warm reception from Angels fans and a video tribute on the scoreboard before his first at-bat in Anaheim.
“I think he was really excited when we first played there in spring training,” said first baseman Freddie Freeman, who knows something about the emotions of facing your former team. “So we’ll see how it goes tomorrow. I’m sure they’ll do a little video tribute again, because he’s one of a kind.”
When he faced the Angels for the first time in regular-season play during a two-game series at Dodger Stadium in June, he went 3 for 6 with two home runs as the teams split the series.
All of that should mitigate any emotions he might feel going back for two games this week.
“I don’t know. I was thinking about giving him an off day tomorrow. Would that go over okay?” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts joked Monday.
“I’m sure it’s going to be somewhat emotional. But emotions are relative to the person. I’m sure he’s going to be just fine going back there and helping us win a ballgame. There hasn’t been anything that he’s had to deal with that he hasn’t passed with flying colors.”
Ohtani’s trip 35 miles or so up the freeway to Dodger Stadium has certainly changed his world in many ways – not the least of which is playing for a contender for the first time. He never came close to making the playoffs in six seasons with the Angels. Now he heads back to Anaheim with a Dodgers team boasting the best record in baseball while the Angels have one of the worst.
“Personally, it’s my first time being able to experience being at this spot in the standings and being able to play against other division rivals who are trying to take the spot as well,” Ohtani said. “So personally yes, it’s very exciting.”
The Angels’ lack of success during Ohtani’s six seasons there “had nothing to do with his performance,” Roberts said. But the two-time American League MVP still took some of the responsibility.
“There were seasons where we played well as a team, but there were also seasons where I really didn’t play at all,” he said, referring to the injuries that took him out of the lineup. “If I did, in those situations maybe the results would’ve been different.”
His flight to Los Angeles via free agency seemed an inevitability at times before it became a reality last winter. Ohtani would not answer a hypothetical question about whether he might still be an Angel if they had matched the $700 million contract he eventually signed with the Dodgers – an opportunity he and his agent are believed to have extended to them.
“I’m just thankful and grateful for the teams that ended up offering a contract. That’s the reflection of what they think about me,” Ohtani said.
“It’s hard to tell (what might have happened). Obviously the offer didn’t come to fruition. It’s really a situation where it’s more of ‘if they did,’ so I can’t really speak on that.”
In past seasons, Roberts has rested some of his front-line players down the stretch after the team has clinched the division. If he gets the opportunity to do the same this year, Shohei Ohtani will present a dilemma – would Roberts sit Ohtani during the final days of the season if Ohtani is chasing the first ever 50-50 season?
“I don’t know. Probably not,” Roberts said. “It’s all dependent on how he’s feeling. We’ve given him, I think, two days off this year when I felt he needed it. I would only do that if I felt it was needed.”
Ohtani was out of the lineup three times during the month of May (in part due to lower back stiffness) but has not missed a game since then.
A day after giving up 10 runs in 5⅓ innings, left-hander Justin Wrobleski was sent back to Triple-A Oklahoma City and right-hander Michael Petersen was promoted.
The Dodgers are expected to recall right-hander Landon Knack this week to take Clayton Kershaw’s spot in the rotation when it comes up on Thursday.
Dodgers (RHP Walker Buehler, 1-4, 5.88 ERA) at Angels (LHP Reid Detmers, 3-6, 6.14 ERA), Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., SportsNet LA, MLB Network, 570 AM
