The controversy over whether or not Mookie Betts can play shortstop was settled way back.
The controversy now’s whether or not Mookie Betts can play shortstop higher than anybody in baseball. That dialogue might quickly be drawing to a detailed, too.
As a result of a day after being named a finalist for a Gold Glove, Betts put an enormous exclamation level on Thursday’s 3-1 playoff win over the Milwaukee Brewers with a spectacular play to begin the ninth inning.
The victory leaves the Dodgers a win away from advancing to their second straight World Sequence, a journey they might full Friday in Sport 4 of the Nationwide League Championship Sequence. And a giant motive they’re there’s the regular protection of Betts, a six-time Gold Glove winner within the outfield who has made the troublesome transfer to the center of the infield appear simple.
“I believe the one individual on this planet that believed that Mookie Betts could be on this dialog was Mookie Betts,” Dodger supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned. “It’s simply one thing that has by no means been carried out. I can’t even — it’s unbelievable. Clearly I’m perplexed.”
Betts tried the place final yr however Roberts mentioned the arrogance wasn’t there, so he moved Betts again to the outfield. There was no likelihood that might occur this fall.
Few perceive the issue of what Betts has carried out greater than those that have performed the place. But Miguel Rojas, the person Betts changed at shortstop — and a Gold Glove finalist himself this season as a utility participant — mentioned he’s not stunned as a result of he has seen how laborious Betts works.
“He doesn’t take days off,” Rojas mentioned of Betts, who’s continuously among the many first gamers on the sector for pregame drills and among the many final to go away. “Even when we now have an off day, he’ll nonetheless go on the market and is asking methods to get higher. I believe it’s a product of being a relentless employee each single day. He’s by no means happy. He’s at all times attempting to get higher.
“For me to be there each single day to look at him carry out and watch his work ethic, it’s been spectacular.”
A part of that work, Betts mentioned, entails watching video of each fielding play he makes. That features the sensible ones, just like the ninth-inning play Thursday by which he ranged within the gap to backhand Andrew Vaughn’s grounder, then rose up and delivered a powerful one-hop bounce throw throughout his physique to first baseman Freddie Freeman to get Vaughn simply.
“I’m going again and watch all my performs, even the routine ones, simply to study what I can do higher,” he mentioned.
Requested if he’s ever stunned by what he sees, Betts, who has but to make an error within the playoffs, shrugged.
Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts makes a leaping, cross-body throw to retire Andrew Vaughn at first base through the ninth inning of Sport 3 of the NLCS on Thursday at Dodger Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Instances)
“I’m simply doing my job. I’m simply doing my job going on the market and taking part in quick, that’s all.
“As soon as I get to the ball, I imagine and belief in my athletic means to make a play.”
Rojas, who has performed six positions within the majors, mentioned shortstop is such a tough place to play due to the psychological focus it calls for. An outfielder would possibly have the ability to consider his hitting for a number of pitches, however the shortstop, who quarterbacks the infield, doesn’t have that luxurious.
“In the midst of the yr he was in a droop offensively. However he by no means let the protection down. And that’s actually spectacular,” Rojas mentioned. “He at all times mentioned it to me, ‘Regardless that I’m sucking proper now at hitting, I’m by no means going to be unhealthy at protection. And I’m going to catch each single ball.’
“That’s the mentality that you must need to be a very good shortstop.”
Within the postseason, he’s develop into a very good offensive shortstop as properly. After slumping to a career-low .258 common within the common season, Betts is slashing .297/.381/.459 and shares the workforce lead with 11 hits and 5 extra-base hits within the postseason.
Nonetheless, the numbers and the awards imply little to him, he mentioned; Betts cares much more about successful. And as for proving himself at shortstop? Others, together with his supervisor, could also be stunned, however he isn’t.
“I do know I may do it. I believed in myself. I at all times have perception in myself,” he mentioned. “It was a objective to be the most effective I may very well be. If it got here with a Gold Glove, cool. If it didn’t include a Gold Glove, cool.
“I can go to mattress at night time figuring out that I did every thing I may. That’s all I care about.”
Only a season in the past there have been mornings when he’d get out of that mattress wishing he may return to proper area. That doesn’t occur anymore.
“I might say the most effective athletes are the fellows within the filth,” he mentioned. “It was enjoyable whereas it lasted. I get pleasure from being within the filth now.”
