Los Angeles Dodgers star shortstop Mookie Betts is coming off the worst offensive season of his 12-year career, hitting .258/.326/.406 with 20 home runs, posting career lows in all slash line stats. Now, in the postseason, the 2018 MVP is costing the Dodgers their chance at back-to-back World Series titles.
After a hot start, Betts is 15-for-64 in the play-offs. In the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, he went only 3-for-23 without an extra base hit. So far, Betts is one of two Dodgers players with more than eleven plate appearances and no home runs, the other being Andy Pages.
When reporters asked him about his struggles following the Dodgers’ Game 5 loss, Betts had this to say, as reported by Fabian Ardaya of The athletic:
“I don’t want to talk about anyone else. But for myself, I’ve just been terrible…” I wish it was from lack of effort. But it isn’t. I mean, that’s all I can say.”
Mookie Betts leads the Dodgers to their demise
Their loss on Wednesday leaves the Dodgers on the ropes, trailing 3-2, and facing elimination on Friday in Toronto. Overall, the Los Angeles offense has gone through damaging lulls at inopportune times, scoring three times in the last two games. If we include parts of Monday’s 18-inning game, that’s four runs in 29 innings. These pauses have greatly hurt the team’s chances of winning the World Series this season.
And while the Dodgers have more than their fair share of backs, Betts plays a crucial role for the team. His spot at the top of the batting order is among his fellow MVPs and top producers. But unlike the other top players around him, Betts has recorded just one run and no RBI in this World Series. Every time the Blue Jays walked Ohtani, they did so without any consequence and encountered no problems with Betts hitting behind him.
Needless to say, if the Dodgers want to jump back into the driver’s seat, their offense needs to wake up. Los Angeles has found success despite Betts’ slump; but with no room for error, this is an all-hands-on-deck situation, and they will most likely need something from their shortstop besides his stellar defense.
#Dodgers #Mookie #Betts #talks #struggles #World #Series