Although there have been some recent signs of improvement and reasons for optimism, Mookie Betts is having the worst offensive season of his career.
The Los Angeles Dodgers tried out a 10-game experiment with Betts hitting in the leadoff spot, but he has since been moved back to batting after Shohei Ohtani.
Betts hit .205/.289/.256 with two doubles, two RBI, five walks and six strikeouts in 45 plate appearances over those 10 games.
Manager Dave Roberts contemplated moving Betts down in the Dodgers lineup, but ultimately decided against it. Roberts believes his commitment to Betts sends a message that he believes will be beneficial.
“I wouldn’t say frustrating for me. Certainly frustrating for the player,” Roberts answered when asked if it was there was frustration to see things not clicking for Betts. “I think for me, it’s more trying to instill confidence in Mookie. He’s doing everything he can to prepare, to perform. Knows his value to the club.
“I do think his value as a baseball player has been additive, speaking to the defense. And I think for me, it’s really not giving him any out, appreciating he’s the best option we have near the top.
“If that’s not confidence from a manager to a player, I don’t know what is. That when you’re scuffling and going through it, I’m not going to waver. My only ask for him, and I told him this, is, ‘I want you to have as much confidence in yourself as I do, and it’ll turn.'”
If there is any reason to be hopeful about the chances Betts turns his season around before it ends, it could be the playoffs.
Betts for the most part has been a productive player with the Dodgers in the postseason. He was one of their main drivers on separate World Series runs in 2020 and 2024, plus a strong showing in 2021.
Conversely, Betts has also gone silent in 2022 and 2023, which lead to early postseason exits for the Dodgers. Although, it’s worth pointing out that he wasn’t alone in struggling those years.
“I think that’s important. We’ve talked about that,” Roberts said about the importance of Betts’ playoff performance last season. “The season is not going to be the season that any of us expected, and we have to be OK with that.
“But there’s still a lot of season left, and the most important part of the season. He understands that.
“All he cares about is winning a championship, so he’s going to be right in the middle of that. We have two-plus months to kind of make that happen.”
Mookie Betts appreciates Dodgers fans
While Betts was mired in another hitless stretch, fans at Dodger Stadium gave him a standing ovation and chanted his name on Monday and Tuesday.
“It’s been a beautiful thing. Thank you to all the Dodger fans,” Betts said of the support he has received. “Just getting that, I wouldn’t call it an ovation, but whatever it is, it’s super special.
“It’s the first time I’ve ever gotten anything like that. Obviously I would prefer not to, but if I’m in this situation, I know Dodger Stadium is behind me. It’s a good thing to know you’re supported.”
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