A big reason for the Los Angeles Dodgers finally breaking through to win the World Series last year was their trade for Mookie Betts and what he contributed both on the field and in the clubhouse.
On Betts’ first day at Camelback Ranch for Spring Training last year, he famously stood in front of the team and gave a speech about accountability. With that he implemented a rule for players to place $20 in a jar for every error they committed during workouts.
That takes a lot of confidence for a player to do on his first day with a new team, but Betts’ pedigree garnered immediate respect from his teammates, and the result was a World Series win in his first season in L.A.
Now that Betts is back at Camelback Ranch for another year with the Dodgers, he explained another team address will not be necessary, via David Vassegh of AM 570 L.A. Sports:
Mookie Betts told us he didn't feel the need to address the team as he did last spring "I don't think it needs to be said…We created a culture, and that culture is here to stay."#Dodgers
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) February 26, 2021
Betts signed a 12-year extension with the Dodgers last summer, so he will essentially be sticking around for the remainder of his career, meaning he will be a clubhouse leader for years to come.
In his first year with the Dodgers, Betts lived up to expectations both on and off the field, helping create the championship culture that he referred to.
Even though he didn’t give a speech this time around, the expectations will remain the same if the Dodgers want to be the first team to repeat as champions in two decades.
Verdugo discusses ‘bittersweet’ feeling of Dodgers winning World Series
The player that Betts was traded for, Alex Verdugo, recently discussed his former team winning the World Series and referred to it as ‘bittersweet.’
That is a reasonable feeling for someone who got traded and watched his former team win it all, and Verdugo is now hoping that his Boston Red Sox will be the team to dethrone the Dodgers in 2021.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events and more!
