Mookie Betts Compares the Dodgers to the Chicago Bulls, with Shohei Ohtani as Michael Jordan
In a historic night at Dodger Stadium, Mookie Betts, with a radiant smile and a commemorative World Series cap, made a comparison that resonated with reality: “It’s like we’re the Chicago Bulls, and he’s Michael Jordan.” The reference, of course, was to Shohei Ohtani, who starred in a performance that many of his colleagues described as the greatest in baseball history. Ohtani, in an unprecedented display, pitched six scoreless innings, striking out 10 batters. At the plate, he hit three home runs, one of them possibly destined for outside the stadium. The performance culminated in a 5-1 victory over the Brewers in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series, securing the Dodgers’ place in the next phase.Ohtani’s performance was even more remarkable considering his recent slump, with only three hits and 14 strikeouts in his previous seven games. This situation led to unusual outdoor batting practice sessions. The focus on pitching, according to Dodgers hitting coach Aaron Bates, “took some pressure off the batting.” Ohtani became the first player in Major League history to hit two home runs as a pitcher in a postseason game, and not only that, but three. In addition, he surpassed the hits allowed in home runs, another unprecedented record. Before him, no pitcher had hit an opening home run, and no player had achieved three home runs as a batter and 10 strikeouts as a pitcher. Ohtani is also the first player in Dodgers history to hit a home run as a pitcher in the postseason and the second to achieve a three-home run performance in a game that secures the League championship, joining Hernández’s performance in 2017. The Dodgers, after winning the 2024 championship, their first in a full season in 36 years, reinforced their stellar roster for the following season. They began with the expectation of breaking the Major League Baseball regular season wins record. A 23-10 start strengthened that belief. However, the Dodgers won only two more games than they lost in the following 110. Their rotation suffered injuries, the bullpen was unstable, and their lineup inconsistent. A team meeting led by manager Dave Roberts in Baltimore, during the first weekend of September, injected confidence into the players. They responded by winning 15 of their last 20 regular season games, showing the strength that was expected of them. In the playoffs, the Dodgers defeated the Cincinnati Reds in the wild card round, the Philadelphia Phillies in four games of the National League Division Series, and the Brewers, limiting them to four runs on 14 hits in 36 innings. The combination of Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Ohtani had an ERA of 0.63 in the National League Championship Series. In 10 playoff games, their combined record is 9-1 with an ERA of 1.40. Ohtani, with 12 days of rest, allowed an opening walk to Brice Turang, then struck out Jackson Chourio and Christian Yelich with consecutive 100 mph fastballs. He followed with another strikeout of William Contreras. Afterwards, he went to the third base dugout, put on his helmet, adjusted his protectors and, upon reaching the plate, hit a 446-foot home run against Jose Quintana.I can’t wait for my kids to ask me: ‘What’s the best play you’ve ever seen in baseball?’ I can’t wait to show them this game. It’s the best individual performance in the history of baseball. I don’t care what anyone says.
Max Muncy on Shohei Ohtani
The Brewers didn’t record their first hit until Chourio hit a ground-rule double in the fourth inning. Ohtani struck out Contreras and Jake Bauers. In his next at-bat, he hit a 469-foot home run. Ohtani continued with four consecutive strikeouts in the fifth and sixth innings. He left in the seventh inning, allowing the first two batters to reach base, and received a standing ovation. In his next at-bat, he responded with a 113.6 mph hit that cleared the fence, solidifying his masterful performance. The 2025 Dodgers are the first team since the 2009 Phillies to return to the World Series a year after winning it, and Los Angeles is only the fifth team to win nine of their first 10 postseason games, joining the 2014 Kansas City Royals, the 2005 Chicago White Sox, the 1999 New York Yankees, and the 1995 Atlanta Braves. The Dodgers are the only team to have witnessed a performance like this. Since 1893, 1,550 players have struck out 10 batters in a Major League game. In that same period, 503 players have had a three-home run performance. Only one has done both things simultaneously.That was probably the best postseason performance of all time. There have been many postseason games. And there’s a reason why he’s the best player on the planet.
Dave Roberts
