Dodgers Team News

Dodgers: Orel Hershiser Sees Career Parallels with Mookie Betts   

While Dodgers analyst Orel Hershiser already gave a fine review of David Price coming over in the deal with Boston, he also took a look at Mookie Betts’ career and drew from his own experiences.

Of course, Betts is a born and raised Red Sox star. However, the writing was on the wall as his time ticked down in Boston. As much as he wanted to stay in Bean Town — a place he considers his home — he was also eager to test the free agent market after not getting a contract extension offer he felt was worthy of his talents.

Hershiser spoke on the feelings that come with leaving a team you want to be with but knowing it was coming.

I think he’s already been playing through this for a while because he turned down Boston in a long term deal. So mentally, he’s already thought about putting on another uniform, getting to know another travelling secretary, having a new trainer, having new teammates. So he’s mentally gone through that.

When I went from the Dodgers to the Cleveland Indians, I still wanted to be a Dodger but there was no job available for me so I had to seek other employment. I think this is not going to be as big a shock to him. It took half a season to look down at my chest and see ‘Indians’ and not see ‘Dodgers’ and think ‘oh my gosh, this is my team.

[adace-ad id=”119376″]

One of the million-dollar (or $420M over 12 years) questions has been whether or not Los Angeles can make a run as re-signing or extending Betts to a long-term deal.

Earlier this week on Dodgers Nation’s Blue Heaven Podcast, I opined that Betts being with the Dodgers at the start of spring training instead of coming over at a later time would be key in him building chemistry with his new teammates, and with that, a love for the organization.

Bulldog agreed with that idea.

The difference between getting ready for a game in July, and getting ready for spring training games on a daily basis is huge. To have that 20-minute meeting before you workout every day — to get to know your teammates, your manager, the whole organization, the introductions — everything that you learn about an organization really comes in spring training.

So to be able to acquire a player and go into a Dave Roberts spring training and Andrew Friedman meetings, the prep that they go through, the chemistry things they do during spring training together … it is a huge transition boost.

Mookie Betts is an MLB superstar for a reason. He’s a big personality guy and he’s bringing it, along with his talents to LA for that #HollywoodLifestyle. Thankfully he’ll have time to introduce that personality in the more relaxed setting that comes at Camelback Ranch.

NEXT: Dave Vassegh Thinks Betts is Coming To LA at the Perfect Time

Clint Pasillas

Clint Pasillas has been writing, blogging, and podcasting about the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2008. Under Clint's leadership as the Lead Editor, Dodgers Nation has grown into one of the most read baseball sites in the world with millions of unique visitors per month. Find him online on Twitter/X or his YouTube channel!

One Comment

  1. A somewhat unspoken facet of this situation is that it also allows the Dodgers to get to know a player that the team has interest in chasing in free agency. There is no question that the Dodgers learned a lot from Machado’s and Darvish’s interludes in Blue. The main thing they learned was that neither was a good long-term, high price option, at least for the Dodgers. What they will see with Betts is “is he worth the money or not.” Better to find that out now, before a 10-year contract is signed.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button