Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts continues to search for answers to his season-long slump as he puts up the worst offensive numbers of his career.
"I've never done this," Betts said Friday of his down year at the plate, according to The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya. "It's all new. I've never been this bad for this long."
The eight-time All-Star's numbers have gotten worse with each month.
Betts' monthly splits
| MONTH | GS | HR | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| March/April | 28 | 4 | .746 |
| May | 25 | 4 | .738 |
| June | 25 | 1 | .633 |
| July | 12 | 2 | .566 |
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he didn't put Betts in Saturday's lineup against the Milwaukee Brewers because he wanted the player to get a different perspective of the game.
"No, this wasn't scheduled," Roberts said, according to Mike DiGiovanna of The Associated Press. "In talking to him, seeing where his head's at and seeing where he's at mechanically, I just felt tonight was a night that he needed to be down. He wanted to be out there, but I wanted to take it out of his hands, give him a day to just watch a baseball game.
"I understand that we just had four days off for the (All-Star) break, but showing up to the ballpark and not participating, watching, that's a different mindset, a different psyche, than being at home. I think for the mind, it will be beneficial."
Roberts added there's no guarantee Betts will be starting Sunday.
"I don't know how long it's going to be," the 53-year-old said, according to Sonja Chen of MLB.com. "It could be one night. It could be two. My expectation is he's going to be back in there tomorrow. But I think for me, it's going to be a day-to-day thing. It's going to be my decision on how I feel he is mentally to take on that night's starter."
Betts lost 20 pounds due to a stomach virus he contracted before Opening Day and was asked to shift to shortstop full time after spending most of his career as one of the game's best defensive outfielders. He also fractured a toe, costing him four games in May and June.
The 32-year-old hasn't used any of those obstacles to excuse his poor offensive performance as he tries to get back on track.
"I haven't figured it out. So, obviously, it's super difficult," Betts said, per Ardaya.
"But I'll tell you one thing: I definitely love the process of it. I definitely love the process of trying to figure out who I am, where I'm at, the work. I haven't found it, and it sucks. Going out there every night, going 0-for-4, that part of the day truly sucks. But you see it. All day, I'm out here working and hitting, and I love it. I love that. It's the best part."
