What’s Wrong with Mookie Betts? Dodgers NLDS Reactions
Mookie Betts was the offensive catalyst for the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 2023 regular season. He hasn’t shown up for the NLDS. Why?
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts spoke about his postseason struggles.
"Mookie, it’s just one of those, I think he’s expanding a little bit," Roberts said. "He’s really good at controlling the strike zone and hitting his pitches. But I think the first couple of games it seems more that he’s being aggressive on pitcher’s pitches. I wouldn’t say chasing, but not really hitting - swinging at the pitches that he can slug. Obviously everything’s more magnified. It’s two games, but our backs are against the wall. We’ve got the make some type of adjustments, and we have no more margin."
Since Betts fouled a ball off his foot while the Dodgers were in Miami in the first full week of September, he hasn’t been right. The bone bruise hasn’t healed though he can play. He is clearly playing in pain.
Entering September, Betts needed only two more home runs to have 40, and he wasn't able to get there. He had a rough September and has now struggled in October.
Knowing the Dodgers are relying on him to produce, Betts is trying too hard to be a superstar. The Diamondbacks, of course, are giving him nothing good to hit.
During the regular season, the Diamondbacks’ pitchers were barely ordinary, and in both in the Wild Card series against the Milwaukee Brewers and NLDS, they have looked like Cy Young Award winners.
Wednesday, the Dodgers are facing somebody other than either Merrill Kelly or Zac Gallen, the Diamondbacks’ best. Hopefully, Betts will have some success and act as the catalyst for this quiet LA offense.
