TODAY: Betts told reporters (including The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya) that he is planning to return either tomorrow or on Monday. After today’s workout, Betts is feeling good enough to also play in the field, rather than work as a DH.
JULY 1: The Dodgers have been without Mookie Betts for the past two weeks, as the former AL MVP mends a fracture in his rib cage. The team, however, is optimistic that Betts could return as soon as next week, manager Dave Roberts told reporters last night (Twitter link via Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times). Betts took batting practice, played catch and fielded grounders yesterday. Interestingly, Roberts suggested that Betts could play second base, at least initially, due the shorter throws he’d be required to make.
Betts is no stranger to second base, having played the position extensively in the minors. He’s been primarily an outfielder throughout his big league tenure, of course, though he does have 182 innings at second base — 46 of which came as recently as the 2021 season. Deploying Betts at second base would seemingly push Gavin Lux into a utility role, at least initially — or he could simply take at-bats in the outfield on a regular basis, presumably at the expense of Eddy Alvarez and perhaps Trayce Thompson.
The Dodgers acquired Thompson from the Tigers with the idea of platooning him and Alvarez in right field, and Thompson has responded with a stout .292/.320/.458 showing in 25 trips to the plate (albeit with a whopping 11 punchouts in that short sample). Alvarez, meanwhile, has gone just 4-for-25 (all singles) and fanned in a third of his plate appearances. Barring a surge at the plate over the next week, it’s easy enough to see Lux taking on the left-handed share of an outfield platoon with Thompson.
Regardless of specific defensive alignment, the bigger takeaway for the Dodgers is that Betts, who’s posted yet another outstanding batting line in 2022 (.273/.349/.535), could be back in the lineup within the next ten days. The Dodgers have gone 7-5 in his absence and overtaken the now-second-place Padres by a margin of 2.5 games, but a swift return for Betts is still an obvious boon. If he’s able to return during next week’s homestand, it’d come either in a three-game series against Rockies or a four-game set against the Cubs.
Single-start fantasy leagues endorse this.
Ha, yes. Lot of five-start minimum formats out there, too.
and w Trea tearing it up in the leadoff spot count on davey to immediately put Mookie back at the top of the order instead of using him third or seventh or wherever he could fit in. i know it wouldn’t be a problem for Betts and best for the team but the offense could fall apart and Betts will be leadoff and Muncy batting cleanup..brilliant
He already said he would put Betts back at one *eye roll*
To be fair, the only spot in the lineup Mookie can actually hit in for some reason is the leadoff spot
That’s the issue, he would be a GREAT 3 hitter and Smithy down to four
Betts has basically asked to only hit leadoff and Freeman wants to hit second, so what is he supposed to do but not rock the boat. Betts hits best leadoff. (So does Turner, but they do the best they can.) Tons of injuries yet best record % in the NL and still Dave Roberts is just “a dumb-dumb who can’t do anything right.” Sigh.
Turner is more consistently on base while Betts has been a more streaky player
I hate to say it (not really), so it does appear that Roberts is “a dumb-dumb who can’t do anything right.” and the players are running the team. Roberts needs to grow a pair and tell his players where HE wants them to bat. He’s the manager and needs to run his team, otherwise get a cheaper person to babysit this team. Start things off by leading off with Turner. The numbers speak for themselves.
Doesn’t really matter as long as the Dodgers have their best three in the first three slots to maximize at bats on a game by game basis. Betts/Trea at lead off or third slot and Freeman in-between at the 2 hole. Maybe Trea at leadoff is slightly better as he has more speed and Betts at third since he has a little more pop. But really not that important.
The real issue is getting the remainder of the team more consistent, with Smith heating up, but Muncy/J Turner/Bellinger need to regain their form for the offense to really get the output up.
Things we all forgot: Mookie Betts is an elite infielder, too.
The situation still doesn’t make total sense. You can end up with more high intensity plays at 2B vs the OF in a game.
If throwing is the only thing affected, maybe it doesn’t bother him using a lower arm slot on the infield?
Lux has been playing a bunch of LF and Taylor RF. This is the likely alignment if Mookie plays some 2B. The other chatter is Mookie might DH for awhile.
Roberts biting off more than he can chew, definitely over thinking this, just leave him in the damn outfield already!
What a stinking load. He’s still having pain when he throws.
I hope they’re not bringing him back too early
Fractured rib so lets take him out of the OF for shorter throws but put him at 2B where he will have to dive for balls, and make pivots turning double plays with runners barreling down on him. Same Dodger logic of moving Cody Bellinger off of 1B to the OF after a shoulder injury and Bellinger has been trash since
Bellinger is by FAR the Dodgers best centerfielder by every defensive metric. Someone (like Outman?) may supplant him there at some point, but there’s actually a reason he plays centerfield.
Bellinger won MVP in RF, it was CF that screwed him up
I’m sure Betts will be under orders not to dive.
Then why put him at 2B to begin with? What 2B does not dive at balls? Keep him at DH.
Because he’s having pain when he throws. The shorter infield throws are less strenuous.
If he’s having pain when he throws he shouldn’t be on the field. You still need to dive. You still need to make deeper throws going to your right or occasional throw to third base. If this is the case Betts will be at DH.
Diving is not an issue, throwing is, so playing him on the infield is a matter of pain management. If Betts says he’s ready to return, the trainers and the medical say so also, then he’s ready to return. All this need for second-guessing without information is something I will never understand.
Ok, common sense says that if he’s having pain throwing the trainers won’t allow him on the field. Period. If you want to play that game. Doesn’t matter if it’s second base or right field. So, if he’s out there I doubt he’s having pain throwing from second base.
In my experience, sense is about the least common thing on earth. I am repeating exactly what was said in this morning’s LA Times by Dave Roberts. Based on his conferring with Mookie and team trainers, playing won’t have any impact on his healing process from the rib fracture. Playing the infield is about keeping his discomfort during this time to a minimum. They say the shorter throws are less stressful, so that means it’s so.
Agreed. I don’t understand the Dodgers and their obsession with creating “defensive flexibility” with their players. Getting too cute again. Sometimes it does more harm than good. Betts should only play the field when he’s ready. Easiest to DH him and send him to RF when he’s ready.
I see an injury in Betts near future. And, I’m not advocating for it. Its just that moving a guy around after an injury, who hasn’t played the position (regularly) since 2013 minor leagues, bodes trouble. And with that big of a contract, is it really worth it?
I hope I’m wrong, just saying I don’t think its a good idea.
*Jus saying
I guess it’s good news for the Dodgers, except rib injuries often can hamper hitting, so Betts may still have some discomfort when he swings.
Wow, the only player I’ve ever seen return from a broken bone in 3 weeks or less is Albert Pujols, and he has a healing factor nearly rivaling Wolverine’s.
@Lanidrac: this potential return time window does seem rushed for a rib injury. What’s mind blowing is that it’s being considered by a team with a $300 million plus payroll. Really?! Who’s in charge there?
Couldn’t they just DH him? Lux in LF, Taylor in RF or……Taylor in CF and Cody in RF?