Dodgers News: Andrew Friedman Doesn’t Know Why Mookie Betts Struggled Last 2 Postseasons

During this year’s NLDS against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Mookie Betts disappointed himself, his teammates, Dodger management, and Dodger fans when he couldn’t even record a hit. Betts had an incrdible regular season and should be competing with Ronald Acuña, Jr. of the Atlanta Braves for the National League MVP.

However, when the lights were brightest, Betts wasn’t able to come through for LA.

During Tuesday’s exit interview, Andrew Friedman didn’t have a great answer for why Betts — and Freddie Freeman — struggled in the postseason this year. And for Betts, why he’s struggled in the last two postseasons.

“Going into any postseason, Mookie and Freddie would be among the highest drafted if you got to just draft going into October who you have. Obviously, Mookie did not perform this DS or last DS. Last DS he hit a lot of hard balls that were caught, this one a lot of our guys were stuck in between. I know it’s not from a lack of effort and caring. So, then it’s about doing everything we can if we’re fortunate enough to win the division and have those five days off, what’s the right balance for everybody, and each guy’s probably a little bit different in terms of what we do to put them in the best position. I don’t know the answer to it, but I know it’s not for a lack of effort or caring. And so, going into what I hope is a postseason run in 2024, I would be on Mookie performing really well because he’s that talented of a player and he’s also had that success in October.”

Via Dodgers Nation YouTube

Neither Betts nor Freeman performed well during September or the NLDS. In the first weekend of September, Freeman fouled a ball off his knee, and during the last game against the Miami Marlins, Betts fouled a ball off his foot. These nagging injuries didn’t prevent them from playing but clearly affected their offensive performances. 

Hopefully both of them can have much better postseasons moving forward for LA, as they’re key to the Dodgers making deep runs in October.

Photo Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

Have you subscribed to our YouTube Channel yet? Subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay up to date on all the latest Dodgers news, rumors, interviews, live streams, and more!