The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the 2020 season as overwhelming favorites to win the World Series, largely due to the acquisition of Mookie Betts just prior to Spring Training beginning.
The 2018 American League MVP was added to a roster that already included a multitude of All-Stars such as Clayton Kershaw, Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager and Justin Turner, just to name a few.
With so much star power and depth, the club cruised through their regular-season schedule en route to a Major League-best 43-17 record. Their dominance continued in the postseason, where they completed sweeps of the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres over the first two rounds.
While the Dodgers faced some adversity in the National League Championship Series, they ultimately prevailed to eliminate the Atlanta Braves in seven games. L.A. then realized their dream by defeating the Tampa Bay Rays in six games in the World Series.
Betts joined the “This Is Our Year” special and highlighted consistency as the biggest factor in the Dodgers ending their 31-year championship drought, via SportsNet LA:
“We were able to take the same things we were doing in the regular season, just keep doing it in the postseason. I think that’s why we were so good, we didn’t have to make any changes. It was the same meetings, the same thing over and over again. Once you do something over and over again, you get really good. As a unit we were just consistent. It’s hard to beat somebody who is super, super consistent. I think that’s why we won.”
Betts was the epitome of consistency for the Dodgers, as he batted a stellar .292/.366/.562 with nine doubles, one triple, 16 home runs, 39 RBI, 47 runs scored and 10 stolen bases in 55 regular-season games.
He went on to hit .296 with eight doubles, two home runs, eight RBI, 15 runs scored and six stolen bases in 18 postseason games. The 28-year-old had his fingerprints all over the Dodgers’ World Series-clinching win, scoring the go-ahead run before belting a solo homer.
Betts used World Series expectations as ‘fuel’
Betts, who previously won a World Series title with the Boston Red Sox in 2018, wanted to help his new Dodgers teammates experience the feeling.
“It just means everything. I was traded for to help get us over the hump,” Betts said of winning a title in his first season with the Dodgers. “I used that as my fuel. Since Day 1 that’s obviously been the goal, so I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
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