Dodgers’ Dave Roberts Thinks Mookie Betts Takes it Personally When Teams Walk Shohei Ohtani

Mookie Betts doesn’t need any more motivation.

He wants to win as many World Series as possible. He wants to be a Hall of Famer. He wants to finish his career as one of the greatest ever.

However, this year, Betts has seemed to get a little extra motivation by maybe not even being the best player on his own team.

When the Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani to a 10-year, $700 million deal this offseason, Betts officially became the second-best player on his team. Ohtani is probably the only player in the world who could push Betts to that status.

But when you can hit and pitch at a high level — and this year, hit at one of the highest levels — that’s what happens.

Betts was more than happy to welcome Ohtani to the team as the Dodgers chased World Series championships. If anything, it made his job easier.

For the first three months of the season, Betts continued to leadoff for the Dodgers, hitting ahead of Ohtani. However, when Betts fractured his hand in June, Ohtani took over the leadoff spot. He hasn’t given it back since.

Since Betts returned in mid-August, he’s been hitting in the two-hole behind Ohtani. Sometimes, that has led to teams pitching around Ohtani — the expected National League Most Valuable Player this year — to face Betts. According to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, Betts has taken offense to that.

“I think that Mookie takes it personal like all competitors should,” Roberts said after the team’s 10-2 win in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series. “And that’s okay. That’s okay. And I think that he understands that whether it’s a manager putting four fingers up or you’re throwing intentional balls two feet outside, you’re going to go after the next guy. …

“I do think that stuff like that lights a little fire under him.”

The Athletic’s Jayson Stark did some research on that very point, and the results were staggering.

Ohtani has been walked 26 times ahead of Betts this season, including the postseason. After those walks, Betts is 10-for-23 (.435) with three home runs, four doubles, 18 runs batted in, and a 1.500 OPS.

After Ohtani’s first inning home run in Game 4 of the NLCS, he was walked in three consecutive plate appearances — Betts took notice.

“I just know there was a stretch there for, like, two or three at-bats I don’t think he even saw a pitch remotely close, which I understand. But it’s going to be tough to just walk him all the time,” Betts said.

“If they want to continue to do it, that’s okay. I just need to make sure I take care of my job and the guys behind us. We can only control what we can control.”

Betts did just that.

After the first walk in the third inning, Betts hit a single, which sparked a two-run rally for the Dodgers.

After the second walk in the fourth inning, Betts hit a two-run double to extend the Dodgers’ lead to 5-2.

After the third walk in the sixth inning, Betts hit a two-run home run to pretty much put the game away.

Betts understands that Ohtani is arguably the scariest opposing hitter to face in the batter’s box. He also knows he, himself, is an eight-time All-Star, one-time MVP, and two-time World Series champion.

Betts is on pace to be one of the greatest players of this generation, but has the unique ability to play behind one of the greatest players of all time.

He’s taking advantage of every opportunity he gets. The added motivation doesn’t hurt, either.

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

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