The talk over whether or not Mookie Betts can play shortstop was settled way back.
The talk 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 start out the ninth inning.
The victory leaves the Dodgers a win away from advancing to their second straight World Sequence, a journey they may full Friday in Sport 4 of the Nationwide League Championship Sequence. And a giant purpose they’re there may be the regular protection of Betts, a six-time Gold Glove winner within the outfield who has made the tough transfer to the center of the infield appear simple.
“I think the only person on this planet that believed that Mookie Betts would be in this conversation was Mookie Betts,” Dodger supervisor Dave Roberts stated. “It’s just something that has never been done. I can’t even — it’s incredible. Obviously I’m at a loss for words.”
Betts tried the place final 12 months however Roberts stated the arrogance wasn’t there, so he moved Betts again to the outfield. There was no likelihood that may occur this fall.
Few perceive the problem of what Betts has accomplished 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 — stated he’s not stunned as a result of he has seen how exhausting Betts works.
“He doesn’t take days off,” Rojas stated of Betts, who’s continuously among the many first gamers on the sphere for pregame drills and among the many final to depart. “Even when we have an off day, he’ll still go out there and is asking ways to get better. I think it’s a product of being a relentless worker every single day. He’s never satisfied. He’s always trying to get better.
“For me to be there every single day to watch him perform and watch his work ethic, it’s been impressive.”
A part of that work, Betts stated, entails watching video of each fielding play he makes. That features the good ones, just like the ninth-inning play Thursday wherein 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 go back and watch all my plays, even the routine ones, just to learn what I can do better,” he stated.
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 Occasions)
“I’m just doing my job. I’m just doing my job going out there and playing short, that’s all.
“Once I get to the ball, I believe and trust in my athletic ability to make a play.”
Rojas, who has performed six positions within the majors, stated shortstop is such a tough place to play due to the psychological focus it calls for. An outfielder would possibly give you the option to consider his hitting for a number of pitches, however the shortstop, who quarterbacks the infield, doesn’t have that luxurious.
“In the middle of the year he was in a slump offensively. But he never let the defense down. And that’s really impressive,” Rojas stated. “He always said it to me, ‘Even though I’m sucking right now at hitting, I’m never going to be bad at defense. And I’m going to catch every single ball.’
“That’s the mentality that you have to have to be a really good shortstop.”
Within the postseason, he’s grow to be 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 group lead with 11 hits and 5 extra-base hits within the postseason.
Nevertheless, the numbers and the awards imply little to him, he stated; Betts cares much more about profitable. And as for proving himself at shortstop? Others, together with his supervisor, could also be stunned, however he isn’t.
“I know I could do it. I believed in myself. I always have belief in myself,” he stated. “It was a goal to be the best I could be. If it came with a Gold Glove, cool. If it didn’t come with a Gold Glove, cool.
“I can go to bed at night knowing that I did everything I could. 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 discipline. That doesn’t occur anymore.
“I would say the best athletes are the guys in the dirt,” he stated. “It was fun while it lasted. I enjoy being in the dirt now.”
