Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts needed to set the report straight: Mookie Betts is his shortstop.
“Mookie,” Roberts mentioned, “won’t go to proper subject.”
Roberts repeated the phrase a few instances, as if he was decided to quash any hypothesis about one other late-season place change for Betts.
“Mookie,” Roberts mentioned once more, “won’t go to proper subject.”
There it’s, instantly from the person who palms the lineup card to the umpire each evening.
So ignore the noise and cease the chatter.
Mookie Betts is the Dodgers’ shortstop.
Betts is the Dodgers’ shortstop now, Betts would be the Dodgers’ shortstop subsequent week, and Betts would be the Dodgers’ shortstop within the postseason.
The one instances Roberts mentioned he envisioned Betts returning to proper subject was late in video games through which the Dodgers ran out of bench gamers. A scenario like that got here up just a few weeks in the past in a sport towards the Angels. Miguel Rojas, an infielder, was deployed as a pinch hitter within the high of the eighth inning and remained within the sport at shortstop. Betts defended proper subject for an inning.
Roberts isn’t sticking with Betts at shortstop due to their shut relationship. He’s sticking with Betts at shortstop due to how Betts has performed the place.
Betts entered his group’s weekend collection towards the Arizona Diamondbacks main all main league shortstops in defensive runs saved (15).
He was ninth in outs above common (4).
He was additionally fifth in fielding share (.985).
“Whenever you’re speaking about shortstop play, you’re in search of consistency, and I’ve simply beloved the consistency,” Roberts mentioned. “He’s made each play he’s alleged to make, after which the final couple weeks, he’s made spectacular performs. He’s been an enormous a part of stopping runs. “
Roberts is equally, if no more, inspired by how Betts has regarded.
“Proper now, it’s all intuition as an alternative of the technical a part of it, how to do that or that,” Roberts mentioned. “I believe he’s free to only be a significant league shortstop. I really, to today, have by no means seen a place change like Mookie has.”
Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts throws to first base after forcing out Padres baserunner Freddy Fermin at second on Aug. 15.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Instances)
A six-time Gold Glove Award winner with no consideration fielder, Betts moved to shortstop late in spring coaching final yr when it grew to become evident the group didn’t have an on a regular basis participant on the place. The final time he spent vital time at shortstop was in highschool.
By mid-June, Betts was a couple of league-average shortstop however additional progress was derailed by a damaged hand that landed him on the injured checklist. When Betts was activated a few months later, he returned with no consideration fielder. He remained there all through the Dodgers’ World Sequence run.
Nevertheless, Betts was decided to take one other shot at taking part in shortstop. In contrast to the earlier yr, he was capable of practice at this place over the offseason, working with Dodgers coaches and former All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. The preparation has made a noticeable distinction.
Betts has improved to the place he now feels snug shelling out recommendation on the right way to play the place, frequently providing tips to rookie infielder Alex Freeland.
“It’s the smallest particulars,” Freeland mentioned. “I give him a lot credit score as a result of he makes the small issues matter essentially the most as a result of a number of these smaller particulars go missed by a number of gamers the place they’re like, ‘Oh, we don’t must concentrate on that, one thing so minute, it’s not going to matter.’ However Mookie takes all of the small particulars and makes them essential.”
Roberts anticipated this of Betts, whom he considers one of many group’s leaders alongside Freddie Freeman and Clayton Kershaw. He pointed to how Betts has carried himself within the worst offensive season of his profession, his relentless work leading to him batting .329 over the past three weeks.
“I really like how Mookie is at all times accountable,” Roberts mentioned. “There’s been instances the place he’s been actually good and instances he hasn’t however he’s by no means run from having the dialog or proudly owning the truth that he’s underperforming. His work has by no means wavered. So for me, that’s one thing that whenever you’re speaking about one of many leaders in your clubhouse, it actually resonates with everybody, coaches included. I’m at all times going to guess on him.”
A lot in order that Roberts has wagered the season on him.
Mookie Betts is his shortstop — now, subsequent week and within the postseason.
