MLB
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Mookie Betts retains upping the ante. He talked final season about wanting to become a Hall of Famer. His newest aim: To turn into, in his phrases, “a legend within the recreation.”
Betts, 31, made that declaration in an interview I performed with him Tuesday for Fox Sports activities. I requested him, after profitable two World Collection and an MVP award, what retains him going at this stage of his profession. What motivates him. What fuels him.
“My household, clearly,” stated Betts, who’s married with two youngsters. “However then only a drive inside myself simply to be nice. I wish to be nice. After I’m carried out, I need you to recollect not essentially simply the baseball participant, however Mookie. I wish to be a legend within the recreation.
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“How I create that, I do not know. I’m simply sort of going about it and bringing smiles to individuals’s faces after I can, attempting to signal some autographs after I can, be the perfect participant I may be after I’m enjoying, be the perfect teammate I may be.
“No matter comes my approach, I’m simply going to attempt to be the perfect at it it doesn’t matter what. If it’s sitting on the bench, I wish to be the perfect cheerleader. No matter it’s. I believe if I can try this, I really feel like that can create some kind of legacy that I can depart. You gained’t bear in mind all of the on-field stuff, however I need individuals to recollect who Mookie was off the sphere for positive.”
Main leaguers not often converse this manner. Till lately, the game’s tradition discouraged individualism of any form. Freedom of expression is turning into extra accepted, as evidenced by the league’s “Let the Children Play” promotional marketing campaign in 2019. However even now, few gamers brazenly focus on particular person objectives, preferring to focus solely on the staff.
Betts, to make sure, is intent on his Los Angeles Dodgers profitable the World Collection, one thing they did within the shortened 2020 season, however haven’t completed in a full season since 1988. Coming off the staff’s $1 billion offseason, which included the additions of Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, he spoke of a “sense of urgency” this spring.
“We’ve been to the playoffs so many occasions and haven’t come via,” Betts stated, referring to the staff’s 11 straight playoff appearances. “We’ve gotten one, however one for 9 or ten will not be superb in our sport, actually usually.”
To turn into a “legend within the recreation,” at the least from the angle of Dodgers followers, Betts is aware of he should carry out higher in October. He was good within the 2020 postseason, however went a mixed 2-for-25 because the Dodgers had been knocked out previously two Division Collection, first by the San Diego Padres, then by the Arizona Diamondbacks, each occasions after profitable 100 or extra regular-season video games.
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But, when Betts talked about his aim of turning into a legend, he was not essentially speaking about on-field efficiency. I requested him when he realized it was potential for him to attain such standing, and that it was one thing he even wished. His reply was telling.
“My mates actually keep on me,” Betts stated. “They inform me to embrace who you might be. Embrace once you stroll into someplace and somebody needs to come back take an image or somebody will get nervous. I used to sort of shrink back from it. Now after I see anyone that’s sort of shy, I’m going and speak to them. I’m going and humanize myself.
“I’m a traditional particular person identical to everybody else, however there are some issues that I do some in a different way, and there are some lives that I have an effect on a bit in a different way, and I believe I ought to embrace that. I’m attempting. I’m doing my greatest. It’s bizarre for me, and it’s bizarre even saying one thing like that. Nevertheless it actually stems from my mates. They’ve been with me since I used to be within the fifth grade, in order that they’ve seen the place I used to be then. We had no concept any of this was going to occur.”
“This” contains his outstanding 2018 season with the Boston Red Sox, when he gained the American League batting title with a .346 batting common, helped the Crimson Sox win the World Collection and was voted AL MVP. It additionally contains seven All-Star appearances and 6 Gold Gloves, to not point out a $365 million contract, the third largest assure in major-league historical past.
Betts’ recognition, nonetheless, stems not solely from his immense all-around abilities, but additionally from followers regarding a participant who’s listed at solely 5-foot-9, 180 kilos. Betts is much from a behemoth. He additionally shows, at occasions, an endearing, virtually childlike pleasure for the sport.
The Dodgers plan to make use of Betts largely at second base this season — he joked to reporters lately that he left his right-field glove and cleats in Los Angeles. Final season, he moved deftly between proper, second and shortstop, demonstrating uncommon versatility, significantly for a famous person.
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“It simply felt like I used to be in a position to be a child once more,” stated Betts, a local of Nashville, Tenn. “Rising up, I by no means performed one place. I used to be virtually just like the utility man. I had 4 uniforms, and whoever referred to as and wanted a proper fielder or a shortstop or a second baseman or a 3rd baseman or a primary baseman, that’s sort of the place we went. It’s virtually bizarre enjoying only one place, particularly within the outfield.”
Wait, Betts performed for 4 totally different youth groups without delay?
“Wherever they wanted,” he continued, smiling. “Generally I might go simply pitch, and generally I might go play left. It didn’t matter. My dad, I recognize that from him as a result of I believe that basically taught me be a baseball participant as an alternative of simply enjoying one place the entire time.”
For Betts, it was the beginning of one thing massive, a major-league profession that’s about to enter its eleventh season. The Corridor of Fame appears effectively inside his attain, and nonetheless he needs extra. To win one other World Collection. To be admired on and off the sphere. To turn into — sure, he stated it — a legend within the recreation.
(High picture of Mookie Betts: Masterpress / Getty Pictures)
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Ken Rosenthal is the senior baseball author for The Athletic who has spent practically 35 years overlaying the foremost leagues. As well as, Ken is a broadcaster and common contributor to Fox Sports activities’ MLB telecasts. He is additionally gained Emmy Awards in 2015 and 2016 for his TV reporting. Comply with Ken on Twitter @Ken_Rosenthal
