Dodgers Interview: Betts Focused on Progress, Not Perfection After Series-Clinching Win
"It’s been a work in progress."
LOS ANGELES — Mookie Betts isn’t one for excuses. After a strong showing in Wednesday’s 6–5 comeback win over the Mets at Dodger Stadium—one that included a key walk, an RBI double, and a pair of sharp at-bats—Betts reflected on his performance and the team’s grit in a tone both self-critical and optimistic.
“It’s been all right. It’s been a work in progress,” Betts said of his swing. “But the main thing is just we won today. It may not have looked pretty, but we got a W.”
Betts has been navigating his way back into rhythm at the plate after a recent toe injury sidelined him briefly. That time off, he acknowledged, gave him a chance to reset—physically and mentally.
“That little break definitely gave me some time to kind of dive in and try some things out in the cage,” he explained. “I got a couple days to stack some positives instead of going out there and having to suffer through the mental negatives of getting out.”
Betts’ bat helped spark the Dodgers’ rally in the third inning, where his RBI double got L.A. on the board after falling behind 4–0. The swing itself was a product of the extra work, and while Betts stopped short of calling his resurgence “consistent” just yet, he sees progress.
No Excuses—Including Shortstop
Much has been made about Betts’ transition to playing shortstop every day—whether the added defensive responsibility has impacted his offense. But Betts was quick to shut down that line of thinking.
“Last year, I was about to win MVP,” he said plainly. “I was doing way more work last year than now. So no, that’s not the case.”
He added, “You can try and point out and blame whatever you want to, but there’s no excuses. It’s just a matter of me getting it done.”
Team-First Mentality Runs Deep
As much as Betts has focused on improving his own game, he lit up when talking about Michael Conforto’s game-winning single in the eighth inning—a breakthrough moment for a teammate who’s endured a tough stretch at the plate.
“Oh, it’s huge,” Betts said. “It doesn’t matter who it is or what you’re going through. You have a Dodger uniform on, you’re a teammate, you’re a brother of ours. So whatever you’re going through, we’re all going through it.”
He continued, “I think he felt the love in that situation. We were all there cheering for him, and when he came through with that hit—it definitely lifted up Dodger Nation.”
Respect for the Mets, Eyes on the Road
The win gave the Dodgers a series split against a surging Mets team, and Betts didn’t downplay the challenge.
“They were in the playoffs last year, and they added talent,” he said. “It’s not like they got worse—they’re arguably better, and they still have guys out. So yeah, we’ll probably see them again later down the road.”
For Betts and the Dodgers, Wednesday’s win was more than a comeback—it was a character win. The bats came alive late. The bullpen held firm. And in the eyes of one of the team’s leaders, the resolve was as important as the result.
“It may not have been perfect,” Betts said. “But we got the job done.”
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