Dave Roberts Announces Tough Reality For Mookie Betts As Dodgers Clear RF Decision

“I know what I’m capable of, what I can do,” Mookie Betts told The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, and lately, it seems like he meant every word.

Well, it’s been a quieter season than usual for the Dodgers’ All-Star, but Betts has been making the most of the final stretch. Notably, at the plate, signs of the old Betts are showing, too!

He’s hitting .348 with 2 HRS and an .874 OPS over his last 17 games. And what makes Betts’ recent play even more impressive is everything he’s had to deal with off the field. If you remember, back in spring training, a stomach illness knocked him down and forced him to miss the start of the season. And not long after, he dealt with a broken toe and then the heartbreak of losing his stepfather.

But that said, the question remains: will he shift back to his natural position in right field?

Notably, the Dodgers’ defense has taken some heat, especially in the outfield. Teoscar Hernandez is near the bottom of the league in OAA, and Michael Conforto has had a hard time finding consistency at the plate. So, with Betts being a 6x Gold Glove outfielder, speculation about a return to right field is only natural.

But for now, manager Dave Roberts has shut that idea down. “Mookie,” Roberts said, “will not go to right field.”

Well, when you look at the numbers, Betts has actually been pretty solid at shortstop. Baseball Savant has him in the 88th percentile for Range and the 74th percentile for Fielding Run Value! And Roberts has praised him for exactly that, saying he loves the “consistency” Betts has given the Dodgers at the position.

Moreover, entering the series against the Diamondbacks, Betts was topping all major league shortstops with 15 defensive runs saved. He also ranked ninth in OAA (4) and sat fifth in fielding percentage at .985!

Still, Betts has kept grinding. Over the last three weeks, he’s hitting .329, showing the kind of resilience the Dodgers have come to count on. So, as the team fights to hold its spot atop the NL West, Roberts sees more than just a reliable shortstop in Betts. “I love how Mookie is always accountable,” Roberts said. “I’m always going to bet on him.“

Hence, love it or hate it, the takeaway for the Dodgers is pretty simple. Shortstop belongs to Betts, and that’s where he’s staying.

Betts looks at the silver lining for the Dodgers

So, Mookie Betts’ renewed confidence seems to be rubbing off on the Dodgers, too. He believes that just like his own turnaround, the team has one coming as well.

Currently, however, Los Angeles is in a tough stretch. Reportedly, they’ve faced a sweep by the Angels, lost to the Padres, and fallen in the opener against the Diamondbacks. And that skid has tightened the NL West race, with the Padres now just two games back. If you remember, not long ago, the Dodgers held a nine-game cushion with 74 left to play, so watching that lead shrink so quickly has been tough.

Even so, Betts is keeping things in perspective. “It’s encouraging to know we’re giving ourselves a chance to win every night. It’s not like we’re going out there just laying eggs. We’re going out there and doing what we can. Just falling short right now,” he said.

And Betts is right!

The Dodgers aren’t being overmatched; they just haven’t been cashing in during clutch moments. And with the Padres still looming over the Dodgers, Mookie Betts’ confidence might be the right answer for them to secure the division and a playoff berth.