The Los Angeles Dodgers picked up a 3-2 win against the San Francisco Giants in the first of a two-game series on June 28, but that didn’t stop Mookie Betts from holding himself accountable for a mistake made during the game.
In the fifth inning with a 2-2 count, Betts hit a slicing ball to right-center field that Giants’ center fielder Steven Duggar dove for but was not able to catch as the ball rolled toward the wall until being cut off by Mike Yastrzemski.
Despite that, Betts, who also homered in the first inning of the game, was only standing on first base once the Giants got to the ball. When to the naked eye, he likely should have had a double.
Recognizing his lack of hustle, Betts apologized to his teammates for his baserunning mistake, according to David Vassegh of AM 570 L.A. Sports:
I asked Mookie Betts about the play in 5th inning last night where he was standing at first base instead of second base. He told me he took it for granted Duggar was going to catch it and he apologized to his teammates. #Dodgers
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) June 30, 2021
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who has previously benched Joc Pederson and Cody Bellinger for a lack of hustle, did not do the same with Betts. Nor did Roberts make any public issue out of the play.
An ability to hold himself accountable is one of the reasons Betts is a leader in the clubhouse. When the Dodgers acquired Betts, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman talked a lot about his personality and impact off the field that helps make him a special player.
“I told him in all the digging that we do on players that we’re looking to acquire, the feedback we got from teammates, clubhouse guys and different guys he’s come across in his career, he would blush if he heard all the nice things that were said about him,” Friedman said during the first press conference after the trade was completed.
“The impact he’s made on the field and also off, was another big factor as well.”
Taylor humbled by All-Star Game votes
Chris Taylor, who was one of the five Dodgers who moved on to the second round of All-Star Game voting, said he was very humbled to be included on a list with players such as Ronald Acuña Jr., Nick Castellanos, Jesse Winker and Betts.
“It means a lot,” Taylor said. “Just to be in the same conversation with some of the other players, some of those superstar guys I’m in contention with in the outfield, it means a lot to me.”
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