The Los Angeles Dodgers scored a combined six runs en route to being swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League Division Series, and Mookie Betts was at the forefront of the team’s offensive struggles.
The 2018 American League MVP, who was a constant spark plug during the regular season, went 0-for-12 with a walk in three games. “It’s obviously super frustrating. I have no real words for it. They played better,” Betts said after the Dodgers were swept by the Diamondbacks.
“We didn’t do much. I can’t speak for all of us, but I did absolutely nothing to help us win. There’s no words for it.”
Betts felt the timing of his swing was off during the NLDS and credited the Diamondbacks pitchers for having a good game plan against the Dodgers. “Probably a combination of everything,” Betts answered when asked what the source of his struggles was.
“I feel like I prepared the right way, (but) I just did not execute anything. Got to tip your cap to them. They pitched the ball really great. We didn’t score very many runs and I didn’t do anything to help the team.”
Betts was hardly the only Dodgers player who failed to produce at the plate in the NLDS, but his offensive woes were a continuation of a disappointing end to the regular season. He went just 3-for-15 with no extra-base hits over his last five games.
“I know I didn’t do very much towards the end of the season, but it doesn’t matter if it’s frustrating or not. You’ve got to get the job done,” Betts explained.
“Doesn’t matter how you were playing or what was going on, at the end of the day when the postseason starts, you’ve got to get the job done.”
Mookie Betts defends Dodgers postseason approach
In the wake of being swept by the Diamondbacks, the Dodgers have now lost six consecutive postseason games since last season, when they were eliminated by the San Diego Padres in the NLDS.
“No. Those guys get paid a lot of money to play baseball too. They’re not just rolling over and saying you guys can win. It doesn’t matter,” Betts said when asked if the Dodgers have a flaw in their playoff approach.
“When you get in the postseason, man, you’ve got to play well. We have not. You can point to a million different things, but at the end of the day you’ve got to play well.”
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