‘I Kind Of Blacked Out’: MLBbro Mookie Betts Is No Walk in The Park, LA Angels Learned The Hard Way

I want you to imagine this…

 

You’re a two-time World Series champion, an American League MVP, an eight-time All-Star, a six-time Silver Slugger award winner, a member of the 30-30 club, part of three All-MLB first teams and these aren’t even half of your accolades.

 

You’re smack dab in the middle of your prime and still one of the most dangerous hitters In Major League Baseball today with a batting average of .303, 15 bro bombs, 62 RBI and 65 runs scored for the World Series favorites. You’re also known for being clutch.

 

It’s the tenth inning, you’re up 3-2 with a runner on base. You’re standing on the on-deck circle when something happens. They don’t pitch to the person in front of you; they walk him intentionally… to get to you.

 

Sure, that person is Shohei Ohtani, but something isn’t adding up. When it comes to the LA Dodgers lineup. You pick your poison.

 

The “Respect” Won’t Be Tolerated from Betts

 

That feeling you just felt is a little something called disrespect. That had to be the feeling MLBbro Mookie Betts felt on Tuesday night, when Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington decided to walk Shohei Ohtani to try his luck at getting Betts out instead.

 

“You’re picking your poison when you deal with the first three hitters (Ohtani, Betts, Freeman). I wasn’t going to let Ohtani swing there, and I have all the respect in the world for Mookie Betts.” Washington said via Bally Sports West.

 

As Rapper Jadakiss would say that sounds good… but it’s not enough. The Angels would pay for this showing of “respect”.  On the first pitch Mookie would hit a 3-run homer to blow the game wide open for the Dodgers.

 

Be Careful What You Wish For

 

“Yeah, that doesn’t happen often so I kind of black out.” Mookie would say about the strategy of fellow MLBbro Washington. “They walked Sho to get to me, and I was just like alright I mean, if that’s what you want.” 

 

 

In fairness I understand the strategy of walking Shohei Ohtani (who’s having a monster season on pace to become the first member of the 50/50 club). Here’s the thing. I understand it, if it’s to anybody EXCEPT Mookie Betts.

 

“I was hoping Contreras could make a pitch, get a ground ball, and get us a double play and keep the game at (2). First pitch, he left in the middle of the plate and up, and Mookie didn’t miss it. That’s what he gets paid for” Washington would say about the homerun. 

 

Indeed, this is a scenario where MLBbro Mookie Betts gets paid to show up in. Unfortunately for the Angels, it was their turn to pay the tab.