The debate over whether Mookie Betts can play shortstop has long been settled.
The debate now is whether Mookie Betts can play shortstop better than anyone else in baseball. This discussion may soon be coming to an end as well.
Because one day after being named a Gold Glove finalist, Betts put a big exclamation point on Thursday 3-1 win in a playoff game Over the Milwaukee Brewers with a stunning play to start the ninth inning.
The win leaves the Dodgers one win away from advancing to their second straight World Series, a journey they could complete Friday in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series. The main reason they were there was the consistent defense of Betts, a six-time Gold Glove winner in the outfield who made the difficult move to center field look easy.
“I think the only person on the planet who thought Mookie Betts would be in this conversation is Mookie Betts,” Dodger manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s just something that’s never been done before. I can’t even – it’s unbelievable. I’m obviously at a loss for words.”
Betts tried the position last year but Roberts said the confidence wasn’t there, so he put Betts back on the field. There was no chance of that happening this fall.
Few understand the difficulty of what Betts did more than those who played the position. However, Miguel Rojas, the man who replaced Betts at shortstop — and who was a Gold Glove finalist this season as a utility infielder — said he wasn’t surprised because he saw how hard Betts worked.
“He doesn’t take days off,” Rojas said of Betts, who is often among the first players on the field for pregame drills and among the last to leave the field. “Even when we have an off day, he’ll still go out there and ask for ways to get better. I think that’s a product of him being a relentless worker every day. He’s never satisfied. He’s always trying to get better.”
“For me to be there every day to watch him perform and observe his work ethic was impressive.”
Part of that work includes watching video of every play he makes, Bates said. That includes great players, like the ninth-inning play on Thursday where he ranged in the hole to hit a backhander to Andrew Vaughn, then got up and delivered a powerful one-hop jump shot across his body to first baseman Freddie Freeman for an easy pick off of Vaughn.
“I go back and watch all my plays, even the routine ones, just to learn what I can do better,” he said.
When asked if he was surprised by what he saw, Betts, who had done nothing wrong in the playoffs, shrugged.
Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts makes a jumper across the body to retire Andrew Vaughn at first base during the ninth inning of Game 3 of the NLCS on Thursday at Dodger Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
“I’m just doing my job. I’m just doing my job by going out there and playing a little while, that’s all.
“Once I get to the ball, I believe and trust in my athletic ability to make a play.”
Rojas, who has played six positions in the majors, said shortstop is a difficult place to play because of the mental focus it requires. An outfielder may be able to think about hitting the ball for a few pitches, but a center fielder, who plays center field, does not have that luxury.
“Midway through the year he was in a slump offensively. But he never let the defense down. That’s really impressive,” Rojas said. “He always told me, ‘Even though I’m bad at hitting now, I’ll never be bad at defense. “I’m going to catch every ball.”
“That’s the mentality you have to have to be a really good player.”
In the postseason, he became a good offensive player as well. After hitting a career-low .258 in the regular season, Betts has slashed .297/.381/.459 and shares the team lead with 11 hits and five extra-base hits in the postseason.
But he said the numbers and awards don’t mean much to him. Betts cares much more about winning. As for proving himself at shortstop? Others, including his manager, might be surprised, but he’s not.
“I know I can do it. I believe in myself. I always have faith in myself,” he said. “The goal was to be the best I could be. If it comes with a Gold Glove, great. If it doesn’t come with a Gold Glove, great.”
“I can go to bed at night knowing I did everything I could. That’s all that matters to me.”
Just a season ago, there were mornings when he would roll out of bed wishing he could get back to right field. This doesn’t happen anymore.
“I would say the best athletes are the ones who live in the dirt,” he said. “It’s been fun while it lasts. I’m enjoying being in the dirt now.”