Dodger BlueDodger BlueDodger Blue
  • Dodgers News
    • MLB News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
    • 2025 Spring Training
    • 2025 Dodger Stadium giveaways
    • 2025 regular season
  • Team
    • Active roster
    • Salaries
  • Video
  • Odds
    • MLB Odds
    • NHL Odds
    • NFL Odds
    • NBA Odds
    • NCAAF Odds
    • NCAAB Odds
    • CFL Odds
    • UFC Odds
    • Boxing Odds
    • MLS Odds
    • PGA Odds
  • About
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
Font ResizerAa
Dodger BlueDodger Blue
Font ResizerAa
  • Dodgers News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
  • Team
  • Video
  • Odds
  • About
Search
  • Dodgers News
    • MLB News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
    • 2025 Spring Training
    • 2025 Dodger Stadium giveaways
    • 2025 regular season
  • Team
    • Active roster
    • Salaries
  • Video
  • Odds
    • MLB Odds
    • NHL Odds
    • NFL Odds
    • NBA Odds
    • NCAAF Odds
    • NCAAB Odds
    • CFL Odds
    • UFC Odds
    • Boxing Odds
    • MLS Odds
    • PGA Odds
  • About
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
Follow US
© 2024 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Dodger Blue > Dodgers News > Dodgers News: Errors At Shortstop ‘Really Bothers’ Mookie Betts
Dodgers NewsFeatured

Dodgers News: Errors At Shortstop ‘Really Bothers’ Mookie Betts

Scott Geirman
May 24, 2024
4 Min Read
May 13, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (50) fields a ground ball against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
SHARE

The Los Angeles Dodgers made the decision to shift Mookie Betts to the shortstop position at the backend of Spring Training, following a quick decision by the front office to remedy the throwing woes of fellow infielder Gavin Lux.

Betts has taken the move in stride, even putting in extra hours before games on the field, taking ground balls and working on his throwing from a new spot. The work on the dirt coincided with his blistering start offensively, to which he’s kept his name in the early conversation for National League MVP.

But the grind of the season can expose even the hardest working players, and hiccups will happen. Betts, frankly, believes he’s only made slight improvements.

“Yeah, I think I’ve definitely made some strides, but they’re some pretty short strides,” Betts said.

“I can’t speed it up, there’s no way to really speed it up. As bad as I want to, as bad as I want to be good at it, it’s hard. It’s hard for everyone, and I just started doing it, so experience is going to be the only thing that’s really going to teach me.”

Entering play on May 24, Betts has committed six throwing errors from shortstop, second most in Major League Baseball. He’s worked through those mistakes, but doesn’t give himself much credit for working through those bumps.

“None, that’s what I’m supposed to do,” Betts added. “Making errors really bothers me. It really, really bothers me. You just have to be better than that, man. That’s really all it is… I got to keep working.”

Expressing a level of frustration with his own play is what elite players do when expecting greatness. The defensive metrics have been unkind to Betts thus far, but he has a level of belief that it can only improve from here.

“I think it’s been not very good, but it is what it is,” Betts said. “It’s a work in progress, my first time doing it in a long time, but you’ve got to start somewhere. At least with me feeling like I’m on the lower end, there’s nowhere to go but up from here.”

How should the Dodgers address Mookie Betts and the shortstop position?

The overview of Betts’ experience at shortstop is difficult to assess, but easy at the same time. Betts should be given leeway as 31-year-old, learning a new position, which also happens to be the toughest one, making it difficult to assign him a fair grade.

However, his pitfalls have been the same that many true shortstops face. The downside is all the metrics and 357.1 innings of data, is that it’s stacked against him.

It’s not a knock that he isn’t playing stellar defense, or even baseline, for that matter. The misplays, lack of range, and natural feel for the position is what’s plagued him thus far.

His drive to get better defensively will keep him on his toes this season, but to his own admission, the struggles are getting to him. Lux shouldn’t be a reason the Dodgers refrain from using Miguel Rojas at a higher clip, or exploring a high-end trade for the position.

Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
TAGGED:Los Angeles DodgersMookie Betts
ByScott Geirman
Follow:
Scott Geirman is a journalist from Simi Valley, California, currently working as a staff writer for Dodger Blue and Angels Nation. After working as the Sports Editor for the Moorpark College newspaper, he graduated from Cal State University, Northridge with a Bachelor's Degree in broadcast journalism with an emphasis in political science. Scott has a passion for reading, writing, baseball, family, Mookie Betts, and being a father to his beautiful daughter. He is currently pursuing his career in the sports media industry.
Ad imageAd image
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
Get breaking Dodgers News direct to your inbox.

You Might Also Like

Clayton Kershaw, 2023 NLDS
Dodgers NewsFeatured

Dodgers News: Clayton Kershaw Shares Rough Timeline For Return From Shoulder Surgery

February 8, 2024
February 9, 2024
Andy Burns
Dodgers NewsFeatured

Andy Burns Embraced Opportunity To ‘Make History’ In Dodgers Debut

June 13, 2021
November 7, 2021
Bob Uecker
Dodgers News

Dodgers Mourn The Passing Of Hall Of Famer Bob Uecker

January 17, 2025
January 18, 2025
Matt Beaty, Cody Bellinger, Russell Martin and Alex Verdugo after a Los Angeles Dodgers walk-off win against the Arizona Diamondbacks
Video

Dodgers Highlights: Cody Bellinger Caps Off Five-Straight Walks To Earn Fourth Consecutive Walk-Off Victory

July 3, 2019
July 3, 2019

Categories

  • News
  • Rumors
  • Games
  • History

Information

  • Advertise
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Get breaking Dodgers News direct to your inbox.

© 2025 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?

  • 日本語
  • 한국어