May 2, 2021 : Beaty and Pollock Slam the Brewers

Posted By on December 1, 2023

May second, 2021.

The Dodgers were playing the last game of a four-game set in Milwaukee. The Dodgers had lost the previous three games to the Brewers. The day before, they lost in 11 innings, 6-5. They were 1-6 in their last seven games. 

They were a half-game out of first place, but they desperately needed a win. Julio Urias got the start against Alec Bettinger. A rookie. The Dodgers needed a fast start, and boy, did they get it. 

They would score five runs off of the rookie, capped by an AJ Pollock grand slam to deep center field. The fun was just beginning. 

In the second inning, they scored four more runs, all of them coming on Matt Beaty’s first homer of the year, a grand slam to RF. Both he and Pollock had hit their bombs with two outs. 

The Dodgers were held scoreless by Bettinger in the third, and Milwaukee got a run back on a home run by Jacob Nottingham. 

 In the top of the fourth, the Dodgers went to work on Bettinger again, tagging him for two more runs. Bettinger was done after four, and Jordan Zimmerman came in to replace him. 

Zim threw a scoreless fifth, and Urias did the same. In the sixth, the Dodgers tagged Zimmerman for three more, all of them scoring on Pollock’s second homer of the game, a three-run shot. It gave Pollock 8 RBIs for the game. 

Urias cruised through the seventh inning, and Mike Kickham took over in the 8th. The Dodgers tacked on 2 more in the 8th, making the score 16-1. Beaty drove in his 7th run of the game. 

 Kickham went out for the 9th inning and gave up three runs for the final score of 16-4. Jacob Nottingham hit his second home run of the game in the 9th. 

Overall, the Dodgers had 18 hits. Beaty had 4, Pollock and Taylor had 3, Turner, Smith and Lux had 2, and Seager and Neuse had the other 2. 

Betts was the only starter without a hit. Barnes was hit by a pitch, and Taylor was hit twice. Taylor scored five runs, Beaty 3, Seager, Pollock, Smith, and Turner scored two each. 

The 15 RBIs by teammates Pollock and Beaty were the most in LA Dodger history by teammates. Pollock’s 8 placed him one back of Gil Hodges and James Loney for the single-game mark.     The Dodgers improved to 17-12 and stayed a half-game out of first. They would lose four more before starting to turn the season around.

This article has 78 Comments

  1. Beaty for River River was one of AF’s best trades, up there with Mitch White for Frasso [other pieces involved].

    I’m a prospect hugger but I understand we need to a cash a couple in at the window for a proven commodity. Last two years’ results were unacceptable.

          1. That was a smart trade, but I’m glad that Beatty has been able to stay in the majors for a few years. He’s a free agent now after stints with the Padres, Giants and Royals.
            When Beatty got promoted by the Dodgers, I remember being surprised. He was ranked something like 29th among Dodgers prospects. But he could do one thing well: make contact. And he didn’t totally suck in the field.
            I hope he finds another employer in the majors. …
            By the way, I’m getting pessimistic about Cease coming to the Dodgers. The Orioles need an ace, and their farm system is now ranked as the best–even after graduating several guys to the majors. Orioles could also target Burnes, who would be my first choice without a Japanese surname.
            Just hope the Braves don’t get one.

  4. Here’s another Idea I had:

    Sign Mitch Garver to be the backup catcher and alternate Will Smith and Max Muncy at DH.

    Vargas or Kike or CT3 play 3B when Muncy is DH’ing and Smith stays strong all year.

    Sign Hoskins to play LF

    Sign Yamamoto and Imanaga.

    Keep all the prospects and don’t give up any draft picks.

    If you want to keep Mookie at 2B, then sign a RFer who is RH. Teoscar?

    1. Need more bats! Better than Hoskins and Hernandez. If Ohtani isn’t signed then I’d want Martinez back at DH.

        1. Old Bear, pregunta; usted tiene conocimiento de las costunbres o conductas de Gurriel, y como caería (sería) en el Club House de los Dodgers? No será un cancer como los es Machado en Padres?

    2. They still have to make a trade or DFA players because they are at 40. No open spots to sign anyone yet. That is why many believe trades are in the works.

  5. So, what was your second response, Mark.

    Creative artists is a highly respected agency. Agents are agents, they will push envelopes in order to represent a client, especially one who is a major celebrity like Shohei Ohtani.

    Name the two biggest celebrities right now. Taylor Swift and … Shohei Ohtani. Make no mistake, Swift is the biggest celebrity in the world. She also comes off very humble. The best way to approach all this nonsense is be willing to lose. You don’t have to play the game. I’ve dealt with Creative Artists in the past, pretty straight forward. Because of Ohtani’s celebrity it no doubt complicates the process. This is a big fish, a very big fish. The Agency and the agent have a lot on the line.

    The Dodgers should just say this is what we can do and this is what we won’t do. According to some reports Ohtani already knows where he wants to go. Time for a decision.

    Winning or losing the Ohtani sweepstakes does’t really matter, does it? Many paths forward. You just need an answer. A report that the Yankees want a decision sooner than later from Yamamoto. If true, that’s a good approach.

    Patience may be a virtue, but it can also leave you holding an empty bag. Same holds true for Cease. Dominos can fall quickly.

    Is Ohtani a primma donna? No idea. But the media has made him into a massive celebrity. What I really want to know … what’s he like in the clubhouse and is he coachable.

    I really liked AJ Pollock. Beaty had a nice backstory. Love Bear’s history stories.

      1. Well Buff, I’d say Ohtani has made himself into a massive star.
        He is not a creation of the media. He is a self-made baseball unicorn, the Babe Ruth of the 21st century.
        And I think we’d know by now if he’s a prima donna. Never heard any teammates bad mouth him. Never any evidence of a tantrum… like, say, throwing the ball over the centerfield fence when a manager takes him out of the game.
        But maybe he’ll marry a Kardashian.

  6. I wonder how the Ohtani TJ surgery changes the Dodgers plans. I would have to imagine from all we’ve heard that acquiring Ohtani was priority #1 before the injury. Now this would require signing another pitcher for at least 1 season while they wait for his arm to heal. If they go this route are they then thinking ’24 is another shot to look at the young guys and any success is just icing on the cake with the ’25 being their big focus. Or scrapping the whole Ohtani plan and going big on starting pitching now. I’m not so sure the 2nd plan isn’t the best route. Anyone with ideas on this??

  8. The Marlins have reached an agreement to hire former Phillies and Giants manager Gabe Kapler as an assistant general manager under new president of baseball operation Peter Bendix, reports Craig Mish of SportsGrid and the Miami Herald. San Francisco dismissed Kapler following the 2023 season, hiring future Hall of Famer Bob Melvin in his place. Mish adds that Kapler has been looking for a new challenge in baseball operations since being let go by the Giants and was also in the running to become the Red Sox’ head of baseball operations before they ultimately hired another former big leaguer, Craig Breslow.

  9. Ohtani and Giolito will both be Dodgers soon with a trade coming to clear roster space with the current roster at 40.

      1. That all sounds very plausible.
        Giolito seems like a guy the Dodgers’ staff thinks it can fix. He’s always had talent and performed at an all-star level for a few years. He’s not the ace the Dodgers need, but he might really want to come home to LA. (He has talked about how it would be fun to play with Ohtani again.)
        Imanaga would provide the rotation with the proverbial crafty southpaw. (Speaking of crafty southpaws, my 14-year-old lefty threw 5 no-hit innings today–but it was ugly, with six walks, one HBP and an error on pickoff. Oh well.)
        OK, here’s the plan: Deal for Burnes, sign Giolito and Imanagna. And that Ohtani guy too.
        Burnes
        Buhler
        Miller
        Imanaga
        Giolito
        Pepiot/Sheehan/??

  10. I remember that game for two reasons. The crazy RBIs put up by Pollock and Beaty and the two home runs by Jacob Nottingham. My son is the varsity catcher for Redlands High School, about 70 miles east of LA. Jacob is the most prominent alumni from the RHS baseball program. His number is retired on the back of the dugout. He grew up a Dodger fan and that day was, by far, his best among his various stints in the Show. He’s a free agent now and I’m not sure at 28 that he will get another shot. I know Jacob’s family and his brother sent me a text moments after he hit the second home run. If Jacob was going to have the best game of his career against the Dodgers, at least it was in a game the Dodgers won.

  11. I would tend to think Ohtani’s behavior is far more from being shy and not being a publicity hound than it is from being a prima donna.

    When I was in business I had occasion to work with many Japanese people and, although one shouldn’t generalize, I found them to be quite reserved for the most part.

    I’m not going to speak for the agent, who may have the exact opposite personality, but nothing I’ve seen of Ohtani’s personality would make me steer away from signing him. He seems like he’d be a very good teammate.

  12. On a quirky side note. Jacob Nottingham is best known for having a MLB rule named after him. And it was triggered by events days before and after this exact game.

    “Nottingham’s transaction history between April 22 and May 21 went viral on Friday.

    Nottingham was activated from the Milwaukee Brewers’ 10-day injured list on April 22 and was immediately designated for assignment. The Seattle Mariners would claim him off waivers on April 28 and activate him on April 30, presumably as a backup for catcher Tom Murphy.

    One day later, the Mariners designated Nottingham for assignment. Oddly enough, the Brewers reacquired Nottingham in a trade with the Mariners on May 2. The Brewers sent cash considerations to Seattle in the deal.

    Nottingham was in the line-up the night of the trade to finally make his 2021 debut for the Brewers. He made the most of it going 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI. But it was not enough to stop the Los Angeles Dodgers as the Brewers fell 16-4. He would play in four more games for the Brewers but as luck would have it he wouldn’t last too long.

    On May 13, the Brewers designated Nottingham for assignment again. It was just four days after he appeared as a pinch hitter against the Marlins. He struck out in his last plate appearance for Milwaukee.

    On Friday, the Mariners claimed Nottingham off waivers again.”

    That’s some frequent flyer miles.

    The Rule

    The new clause, in which a player can’t be claimed off waivers for a second time by the same ballclub within a season until each of the other teams have passed on him, is colloquially known as the Jacob Nottingham Rule.

  13. Guardians have made their closer, Emmanuel Clase available in trade. I think the Dodgers should be all over this. Get Clase and see if they want to throw Ramirez in there too to play 3rd.

  15. According to MLBTR the Mets, Rangers and Red Sox have shifted their focus away from Ohtani. Supposedly so have both New York teams. Dodgers, Cubs, Jays and Angels still in play per Jeff Passan.

    1. Passan usually knows what he’s talking about.

      And we can assume the Angels aren’t really an option even though they’re still bidding.

  16. I’m not much of a GM but Seattle is wasting their good young pitching and not resigning some decent and popular position players. Yet another semi-rebuild by Dipoto. One guy I like is Tom Murphy, a decent and affordable back up catcher. He hit .290 and at 32 is a free agent. I think he made 1.6 million last season. Should the Dodgers feel that Felucca and the youngsters aren’t ready yet to back up Will, Murphy would be an affordable backup and an improvement from Barnes as a hitter. One or 2 years until someone is ready. Just a thought. I told you, I’m no GM. 🙂

  17. At The Athletic, Ken Rosenthal looked at the potential financial impact of Ohtani on the team that signs him, through sponsorships, radio and television advertising, and the like:

    “This guy’s economic impact is amazing,” said one league source, who was granted anonymity in exchange for his candor. “Sophisticated billionaires who run these teams understand that they’re going to get a great ROI (return on investment) regardless.”

    Remember it’s not my money or your money if they break the bank and sign Ohtoni. Ownership is smarter and has more business savvy than all of us on this site in this matter.

  18. I love the seeming fact that people on this blog are setting themselves up to be disappointed when the Dodgers sign the unanimous AL MVP as a free agent and top 3 hitter in all of MLB as a free agent (not having to deal prospects.)

    3. I won’t be disappointed. I am a realist. I prefer what is. Not what it could have been.

  19. A lot of minor moves happening. Get ready to rumble. Big stuff will begin happening sooner than you think. Marlins hired John Mabry as their hitting coach, they also hired Bill Mueller as an assistant.

  20. Interesting if Ohtani signs w Toronto – he would be biggest thing in Canada by far and would always be in spotlight. He seems to be trying to be an ‘out of spotlight’ kinda guy. I get the ‘primma donna’ stuff but think it’s being comfortable to him. He started to lighten up with Angels at the end but if goes Toronto that’s a ‘heavy’ burdden.

    1. Wouldn’t be bigger than Connor McDavid or Austin Matthew’s.

      I may have misspelled a name or two

  21. Lol Bluto – you have a point.

    However, and I’d like to give Johnny an answer too, The bottom line I’m afraid is I just don’t see the need for Ohtani, I feel the money could be better invested elsewhere, his astronomical fiscal commitments could hamstring our flexibility going forward, and his presence could well turn into a bit of a circus, and ultimately a distraction that could splinter the Clubhouse.

    Lots of “ifs” I know, but of course there’s lots of “ifs” should we sign him as well, but it’s just my opinion we’d be better off out of it.

    I know I’m probably in the minority but I’m not sure what “extra” he’s gonna give to the Dodgers.on the field which is the only thing I’m interested in.

    Now I’m not gonna go away and look at all the Statistics, but I’m sure JDM got around 110 RbIs in 23. at a very reasonable cost. How many more are we realistically hoping Shohei will knock in at a much higher cost?
    How many Wins will he get for us next season with his pitching? I know the answer to this one. None.
    Where is the Dodger’s need? I would say pitching over hitting, so he’s not helping there. He doesn’t field a position, so no help there either.
    So, as I see it, unless than he hits more than 110’RBIs what’s he adding on the field? My guess is that post TJ surgery he won’t hit as well in 24 while he recovers his power (using Corey as a template).

    Of course he will be more useful to us in 25 (when he’s 32) as his power should return , and hopefully he’ll be able to pitch to a “Starter” level. Fingers crossed.

    And what of the Clubhouse? Mark posted some interesting stuff which many dismissed. The Dodgers seem to pride themselves on a harmonious Clubhouse with good chemistry and the prerequisite being playing for the team. Ohtani is going to bring a lot of attention and undoubtedly a good sized entourage, plus the Japanese press corps.
    Do his teammates need all that around them, and for what gain?

    It seems that many here have become caught up in the whole “value he brings to the franchise” rhetoric. When did we ever talk about that, or anything like that in the past?

    Forget signing the AL MVP I’d rather have the NL MVP because he will give us a better chance to win in 24, and fills a real need. JDM will do better than Ohtani next year at a fraction of the cost.
    My question is simple – do we really need Shohei and all the extra baggage he will bring with him?
    It’s a huge gamble on someone who’s just had a second serious operation on his pitching elbow, and certainly has lots of questions going forward that we cannot know the answer to this point.

    1. I love how your post went from wondering if Ohtani brings “baggage” to concluding he does in two paragraphs.

      Here’s my response:
      Get superstars wherever and whenever you can.

      1. Also, if you expand your horizons beyond, er, um, cough, RBIs I think Ohtani should outperform most if not all of MLB.

        This is like the guy who doesn’t want Arozarena because of batting average!

      2. I made such a a compelling argument that I convinced myself.

        I hear what your saying Bluto but I would counter that by saying did signing the available “Superstar” lead to that team winning a World Series because at this point, that is what the Dodgers are missing – someone to put them over the top.

        In the last 10 years who were the big names that signed mega FA deals, , and did any help to win rings?
        Mookie certainly helped in 20, but would signing Ohtani significantly improve our chances of winning it all even if he returns to full health versus his financial liabilities for the next decade?

        Since when did we all start to wonder and worry about shirt sales and international draw?

        1. Betts was MVP in 2018 and the Red Sox won the WS. Since then no team has won the WS if they had a player who was voted MVP. Interestingly, the Braves won in ‘21 without Acura but they did have Eddie Rosario.

          So will Ohtani put us over the top? I’d rather spend the money on pitching.

        2. Hmmmm.

          Are we shifting from superstars to MVPs only when appropriate for bad arguments?

          To the question asked.

          Verlander seems to have helped.
          Seager seems to have helped.
          Harper didn’t hurt.
          Scherzer?
          Betts?

          2. False.

            Verlander was with Houston for 5ish years.
            Harper is still with the Phils.
            Seager signed a long term deal.
            Betts did as well.

    2. First, Ohtani is now 29, and will turn 30 on July 5. 2024. So he will be 30, not 32, when gets back to pitching.

      Second, the Dodgers can’t sign the NL MVP, because the Braves smartly locked up Acuna on a long-term deal early in his career. The only MVP on the market is Ohtani, and he’s actually won two.

      Third, while JDM had a fine and productive season, Ohtani outperformed him by a wide margin in every offensive metric. And let’s remember that JDM had the benefit of batting behind Mookie and Freddie, who had monster years. Sadly, Trout missed half the Angels’ season. Instead of superstars like Mookie and Freddie, Ohtani’s supporting cast usually included Mickey Moniak (nice breakout!) and Brandon Drury.

      Fourth, Ohtani was never considered a problem in the Angels clubhouse. There is no reason to think he’d be a problem with the Dodgers. The only baggage he carries is stuffed with baseball gear.

      1. Sorry Duke – I was referring to Snell who I think was the NL Cy Young winner. My bad.

        I do get why everyone wants him, he is the best player in Baseball, but I can’t help but feel that we are putting an awful lot of eggs in one basket – not withstanding the fact that he is currently injured and the return to previous form is guaranteed.

        I also got his age wrong.

        I’m not very good at this lol

  22. I agree with Bear’s post higher in this thread. Emmanuel Clase has team control through the 2028 season and apparently is available for trade.

    I’d do it if the price is right, that being position player prospects. Vargas or Pages the centerpiece of the trade. But only if the starting pitching and offense holes have been addressed.

  23. While I do not believe BA alone is a sound means of evaluating a player’s offensive capabilities, I don’t understand the total disregard that some have for BA. When you consider that hits have as much value as BB when establishing a players OBP, as well as the impact that hits have to the relative value of a player’s hit ability when determining SLG%, I find it illogical to completely undermine the importance that hitting has in the overall value of OPS.

    I took a quick glance at some of the all time OPS+ leaders. While there are a few outliers; i.e. Mark McGwire, a common trait among the baseball greats is not just an ability to walk, but their ability to hit for relatively high averages. Leading to higher OBP, outstanding SLG and great OPS percentages.

    Offensively speaking, what is one of the major differences between Freeman’s and Muncy’s offensive games? They both walk a lot, but Freeman strike outs less and hits more. While BA is not an optimal stat, it does offer some relative value.

    1. You’re right. BA is the beginning of a slashline. Without a decent BA you have to walk a lot to have a decent OBP and after all those outs that you make and all those walks you draw, you have to hit a bunch of home runs with the at bats you have left to have an above .800 OPS. Muncy is a great example. Nothing wrong with having 1 Muncy and MAYBE 2 in the starting lineup though. More than 2, NO. And a Muncy is better than having a NO HIT and No Power guy like Rojas.

  24. No way is Ohtani a Dodger. A $30-40M/yr left-handed DH is not a good fit. And, it will be 2026 before Ohtani is at full-strength pitching, and there’s still a question about how he comes back from his 2nd surgery. The Dodgers value flexibility and signing Shohei doesn’t deliver on that.

  25. There’s an article on MLB.com that is interesting.

    “Ohtani is expected to make his decision soon, perhaps as early as the Winter Meetings, and once he does, his contract will surely be massive. The bidding is likely to go beyond $500 million for the two-way superstar, and Passan even heard from one source who said it could reach $600 million.”

    Considering it’s his 30 year old season, how many years can he get? The less years the higher amount each year.

    1. Another thing, DH is the easiest position to fill. Anyone, including Busch and Vargas can DH, and if one flops try the other one, which means you have more money to plug holes.

      1. Yep, DH is easy to fill!
        Hell, any of us could step in there with a bat and strike out. Easy-peasy.
        What isn’t easy to do is to fill the position with a guy who, in the last three years, won two MVPs and was a runnerup to Judge.
        Ohtani just won his third straight Edgar Martinez Award as the game’s best DH.

  26. I am certain that the Dodgers could sign JDM as the DH for $20 Million a year.

    Ohtani will cost $500 Million and how much more than 30 HR and 110 RBI will he deliver?

    If you think the Dodgers will sign Ohtani for that, you are clinically insane!

    2. I’d rather give Busch DH and use that 20 million to help plug both corner outfields with good hitters that don’t need to be platooned (Hoskins and Lee), 2 top shelf starting pitchers (Yamamoto and Imanaga) and bring back Braiser and Shelby.

      1. Busch deserves a shot, but the Dodgers gave the unproven Vargas a shot at 2B last season and it didn’t really work out.
        Busch slaughtered AAA pitching, but he really has done much at all on the major league level. He is as unproven now as Vargas was at the start of last season.
        I’m all-in for Ohtani for many reasons I’ve stated ad nauseum.
        Let me add another: He should add enough firepower that it would make it easier to for the Dodgers to ease in young players like Busch and Vargas at other positions.
        You want a DH who can hit in middle of your lineup. You expect rookies to bat near the bottom, and earn their up. Outman had a chance to prove himself in part because Mookie, Freddie and JDM were crushing the ball. (Outman was driven in often by Mookie and Freddie.)
        I’m optimistic about both Busch and Vargas, but I don’t see room for both on the Dodgers. One, possibly both, should be traded for PROVEN talent–and ace-level SP is the greatest need.
        Last season, I was a bit surprised when the Dodgers signed Peralta. The OF already had Mookie, Heyward, Taylor, Trayce Thompson, with a chance that Outman could break through. Peralta, I think, was signed as insurance in case any of the others flopped–and seriously, only Mookie was a sure thing. Peralta was another proven major leaguer.
        Fortunately, Outman and Heyward exceeded expectations. Peralta proved to be a valuable part of the team.

  27. Having a collection of superstars/MVP winners doesn’t guarantee you anything. If the Dodgers sign Ohtani for 500 million are there risks? Yes. Are those risks worth it?

    One can define risk as the probability of failure times the consequence of that failure. As has been mentioned on this blog signing Ohtani has the following risks:

    1. Limits the Dodgers ability to address 2024 pitching shortfall.
    2. Questions about his ability to hit at same level due to surgery.
    3. Questions about his ability to pitch as well as at a high level.
    4. Questions about his ability to play at a high level for 10 years.

    Given the money being quoted, any of these risks would impact the Dodgers ability to address team needs for the better part of a decade. That suggests the risk of an Ohtani signing is too high. The same level of funds could address team shortfalls with no limitations.

    1. So? What number did you come up with for probability of failure times the consequence of that failure

        1. Nice interview. AF in his usual not admitting what’s really going on behind the scenes, leads you on with all non answers. I have to admit that Kirsten has really improved since her first day with the Dodgers.

  28. MLBTR reporting that the Dodgers are really interested in free agent pitcher, Lucas Giolito. USC poaches UCLA’s defensive coordinator. D’Anton Lynn coming to USC.

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