In recent seasons, the Los Angeles Dodgers have been defined by early playoff exits. The Dodgers have won the National League West in 11 of the last 12 seasons but only have one title to show for it from the pandemic-shortened slate.
LA's best players tended to disappear when the calendar flipped to October and it seemed like Mookie Betts was headed for the same fate this year. After the Dodgers' first two NLDS games against the Padres, Betts dropped to 0-for-22 in the postseason since their 2023 run.
But some advice from a Boston Red Sox legend may have affected Betts. Playoff hero David "Big Papi" Ortiz counseled the former Red Sox in a way only he could, and his tips seem to have helped get Betts back on the right track.
"Mook-dawg, listen to your boy right here. If I'm your hitting coach right now, I would not worry about anything mechanically. I would worry about putting the smile that you put on your face, the smile that piss people off, the opposition. The smile that you use to beat people up because that smile means you are having fun," Ortiz said.
Red Sox legend David Ortiz's advice may have helped Mookie Betts find his way in the postseason
"Mook-dawg, listen to your boy right here."@davidortiz has some advice for Mookie to get him out of his slump 😂 pic.twitter.com/DgnE1FzWUg
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 8, 2024
Betts has been smiling since Ortiz offered his advice on Oct. 8. Later that night, he hit his first home run of the postseason against the Padres as part of a two-hit night. Betts homered again the next day and posted another two-hit, two-RBI performance.
The veteran really showed up against the Mets in the NLCS, though. Betts posted nine hits, two of them homers, seven runs and nine RBI, good for a .295/.404/.659 slash line in the first two playoff rounds.
The Dodgers and Yankees' World Series battle will begin Oct. 25. MLB's most popular and most expensive — and therefore the most hated — teams will renew the most common Fall Classic rivalry for the first time since 1981. It'll be hard for many baseball fans to find a rooting interest in this matchup.
Hopefully, Betts carries his smile and offensive success into the World Series. A former Red Sox may be able to best the Yankees with Big Papi's advice as a motivator.