Dodgers: Mookie Betts Talks Heating Up at the Plate
Even with as bad as things are and have been, this could potentially be a sign that fortunes will soon begin to change for the Dodgers. Don’t look now, but Mookie Betts is heating up. Despite an 0-for-3 effort on Sunday, the right fielder is batting .290 with a .969 OPS so far in May, becoming the table-setter once again for LA.
Mookie talked about what’s been going right for him at the plate of late.
I’ve just been putting in a lot of work. It’s kind of tough to say. You go through a season and you have your ups and downs. I’m just trying to jump on a wave and ride it. Things come and go. But I think I’m in a decent spot to go out and compete. I’ve been working hard, trying to get back to a normal, good feeling. It comes and goes.
For these Dodgers, it absolutely has been coming and going with the team struggling to consistently put together complete games since opening the season 13-2. When Mookie heats up, Corey Seager remains cold. When Seager gets on base and maybe scores a run, he boots a ball on defense and two opposing runners might score. And even when Mookie and Corey happen to get on base at the same time, Justin Turner — who has been LA’s most consistent batter all season long — will strike out swinging.
Related: A Deep Dive into Corey Seager’s Defensive Struggles
The Dodgers have been struggling to capitalize and do damage. And, much like Trevor Bauer, they should be pissed. Fans should be pissed. However, getting Mookie going at the top of the lineup is critical to getting everything back on track for the defending world champs.
After a long and painful road trip, the boys return home for a 9 game homestand where hopefully they can right the ship against the Mariners, Marlins, and Diamondbacks.
NEXT: Dave Roberts Has No Doubt Los Angeles Will Take the NL West
“When Mookie heats up, Corey Seager remains cold. When Seager gets on base and maybe scores a run, he boots a ball on defense and two opposing runners might score. And even when Mookie and Corey happen to get on base at the same time, Justin Turner — who has been LA’s most consistent batter all season long — will strike out swinging.”
That’s pretty close, although about a third of the time Mookie gets on, Seager ks, Turner gets a hit and then whomever is number 4 grounds sharply into a double play. It’s like clockwork, inning after inning, after inning.
If they can’t get it going this homestand against the sailors, fish and creepy crawlers I don’t know who they can beat. Now is the time to get a 9 game winning streak that is needed after blowing half of the 17 losses. I watch many MLB ballgames 7 days/wk (5 yrs in retirement) and many Dodger (since Lasorda yrs.) games, but I have never seen so many inept games in the offense, defense, pitching, and coaching.
The problem is that they have not slipped a lot in the standings and therefore no real urgency in the clubhouse! This streak will come to bite them
Mookie has been pulling every pitch to third. Seager to 2B. Muncy and Lux too. they have to start hitting inside the ball to the opposite field, and beat the shift. else, they continue the insanity of losing over and over (and rolling over the ball).
Beaty since his return has started hitting to left, not trying to homer each swing. he should be playing every game and not rotting on the bench (that is on Roberts).