Dave Roberts declared Mookie Betts will remain the Dodgers' shortstop and will not move back to right field. Roberts repeated that stance several times and said Betts will hold the position now, next week, and during the postseason. Betts briefly played right field only once when the bench was depleted after Miguel Rojas pinch-hit and stayed in the game at shortstop. Roberts bases the decision on Betts' defensive performance: Betts led major-league shortstops with 15 defensive runs saved, was ninth in outs above average (4), and ranked fifth in fielding percentage (.985). Betts has shown consistency and impressive plays.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts wanted to set the record straight: Mookie Betts is his shortstop. "Mookie," Roberts said, "will not go to right field." Roberts repeated the phrase a couple of times, as if he was determined to quash any speculation about another late-season position change for Betts. "Mookie," Roberts said again, "will not go to right field." There it is, directly from the man who hands the lineup card to the umpire every night.
The only times Roberts said he envisioned Betts returning to right field was late in games in which the Dodgers ran out of bench players. A situation like that came up a few weeks ago in a game against the Angels. Miguel Rojas, an infielder, was deployed as a pinch hitter in the top of the eighth inning and remained in the game at shortstop. Betts defended right field for an inning.
Roberts isn't sticking with Betts at shortstop because of their close relationship. He's sticking with Betts at shortstop because of how Betts has played the position. Betts entered his team's weekend series against the Arizona Diamondbacks leading all major league shortstops in defensive runs saved (15). He was ninth in outs above average (four). He was also fifth in fielding percentage (.985).
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