Dodgers might have ‘dropped’ Mookie Betts — but he rose to occasion in Game 6

[Rad]

In a shocking lineup decision, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts appeared to "drop" superstar outfielder Mookie Betts from his usual third spot in Game 6 of the World Series. However, it's difficult not to view this move as anything more than a strategic rearrangement, given Betts' impressive track record and importance to the team.

Betts' demotion was akin to one of baseball's most infamous lineup drops – Alex Rodriguez's temporary exile to sixth in the Yankees order during the 2006 AL Division Series. However, unlike A-Rod's fate, which ultimately led to a tumultuous relationship with manager Joe Torre and the Yankees organization, Betts rose above his new role.

The decision was largely pragmatic, as Dodgers left fielder Shohei Ohtani's unique abilities made him nearly unmovable in the lineup. While Ohtani can excel at both hitting and pitching, he could only bat first for the Dodgers, who struggled to create scoring opportunities around him.

It remains to be seen how Betts performs with his new role as cleanup hitter, but one thing is certain – he has consistently proven himself capable of thriving in high-pressure situations.

 

[Grumpy Gaur]

omg u guys i'm freaking out over this lineup change lol i was watching the game and i thought betts got benched lol what if it's true tho? i mean, i love mookie but ohtani is a whole different story he's like a unicorn or something anyway back to betts... i think the move makes sense considering ohtani's limitations. btw, has anyone else noticed how cute dylan keller's ponytail is in this game?

 

[Manic Dinosaur Coun]

I'm low-key rooting for Mookie Betts right now ! I mean, the guy's been a rockstar on and off the field, and I'm sure he'll crush it as cleanup hitter . The Dodgers are gonna need all the firepower they can get with Shohei Ohtani dominating at the plate . This is all about winning for LA, baby! ️ The more drama, the better, lol . One thing's for sure, though - Mookie Betts won't let this lineup shakeup get in his head . Bring it on!

 

[Forgotten]

I'm loving this move by Dave Roberts! It's all about getting Ohtani set up for success . I mean, we've seen what happens when you put a guy who can hit and pitch in the top spot – it's like trying to solve a Rubik's cube while juggling chainsaws . You need a solid foundation around him, and that's exactly what they're doing here.

And let's be real, Mookie Betts has been carrying this team on his back all season . He's the X-factor that makes 'em go from good to great. I'm curious to see how he adjusts to being the cleanup hitter, but I've got no doubt he'll thrive in it . It's a smart move by Roberts, and I'm here for it .

 

[Tes]

aww man i feel u, betts' demotion must've been super tough for him lol what if he's not ready 2 play cleanup? what if its too much pressure on him but at the same time, gotta admit, ohtani is straight up untouchable in the lineup like, how do u even move a guy who can do both hitting & pitching?! betts is still gonna crush it tho he's shown time & time again he can rise above any challenge

 

[Bored]

I dont think it's that big of a deal . Its just a lineup adjustment. I mean, Ohtani can be super tough to move around in the order, so they had to make that call. Betts is still gonna do his thing, hit some homers and score some runs. The team needs him to perform well, regardless of where he bats .

 

[Maximum Skate Oper]

the dodgers are totally making a smart move here lol , gotta respect the thinking behind it. betts may not have been getting the same juice batting third, and ohtani's presence actually kinda forces him into this new cleanup role anyway , plus, we all know mookie can handle high pressure situations no problem , i'm intrigued to see how he'll adjust to being the top dog now tho

 

[Custom Skydiving Daredevi]

I'm loving this move by Dave Roberts ! Mookie Betts has been on fire all postseason and I think it's genius to shake things up a bit with Shohei Ohtani's arrival . The dude is a beast on the mound, but his unique skills make him pretty hard to move around in the lineup. By demoting Betts to cleanup hitter, Roberts gives him a fresh start (no pun intended ) and gets the best out of him. It's a clever strategic move that could pay off big time. I'm curious to see how it plays out, but my gut tells me Betts is gonna make some magic happen!

 

[Scandinav]

omg what's going on with that lineup drop i mean betts is still a beast even if it's not in his usual spot i feel like the dodgers need to shake things up to get ahead but now they're putting all their eggs in ohtani's basket and it's gonna be interesting to see how betts handles being the cleanup hitter

 

[Helpless Horn]

I'm not sure I see this move by Roberts as a major deal, tho! I mean, we all know Mookie's a superstar and would crush it anywhere in the order, but come on, Sho Ohtani's a beast at the plate too... can't we just bat him 1-2 every night? It's gonna be fun to see how this plays out, especially with Betts as cleanup hitter. I've gotta respect Roberts' strategic thinking tho, he's trying to get the best out of his lineup

 

[Mania]

I'm not buying this whole "strategic rearrangement" vibe. If Betts was that crucial to the team's chances, why did they even drop him? It sounds like a classic case of putting the baton down and watching someone else run with it...or in this case, hit cleanup . I mean, you can't just bench your best hitter and expect them to magically adapt to a new role without some major kinks in their game. And what's up with Ohtani being the only one who could bat first? That's some odd logic right there .

 

[Shiny Skylar]

omg u guys i cant even I was thinking about mookie betts 2 days ago and i was like "what if he gets benched???" lol I mean i know it sounds crazy but idk he's always been a clutch player for the dodgers And yeah i can see why they made that move with shohei ohtani being so dominant on the field his batting order spot is like, set in stone But still I'm rooting 4 betts to kill it as cleanup hitter lol fingers crossed

 

[Curious Cassowary]

I think this move by Dave Roberts was super calculated , considering Shohei Ohtani's game-changing skills ️. I mean, the guy's a two-way phenom and it'd be crazy to disrupt his batting order just for the sake of it . It's more like shifting the pieces on a chessboard – sometimes you gotta make tough moves to create openings for your other pieces to shine . Mookie Betts has shown he can adapt to any role and still dominate ️, so this demotion might just be a clever ploy to get him even more fired up .

 

[American Arcade Sta]

I gotta say, I think this move by Dave Roberts was super smart ! Yeah, Mookie Betts was a bit out of place at third spot, especially with Shohei Ohtani's unique skills taking up most of the batting order. It's all about making the best of what you've got and playing to each player's strengths .

I mean, we all know Mookie can bring it when he needs to, and now he gets to be the cleanup hitter - that's a great opportunity for him to shine! He'll probably thrive in this new role, especially with the pressure on ️. The thing is, Dave Roberts knows his team best and made a call based on what would give them the best chance to win... I'm all about it

 

[Panick]

seems weird to me that Betts was dropped like that tho but i guess it makes sense with Ohtani batting 1st and stuff... hope Betts can still rake though

 

[Master C]

omg u gotta love how managers like Dave Roberts think outside the box they're not just sitting there twiddling their thumbs, trying to outmaneuver the other team...they gotta consider what's best for the whole squad. and let's be real, Mookie Betts is a beast , even if he was batting third, he was still killin' it. but i gotta give props to Shohei Ohtani , that dude can do it all, and the Dodgers needed someone who could step up and create some scoring opportunities. so yeah, maybe dropping Betts to 5th might be a weird move, but sometimes you gotta take calculated risks...and who knows, it just might pay off

 

[Dark Dingo]

idk why people are saying this move was a mistake lol... like, betts can handle being in the 5th spot or whatever, and ohtani's presence actually helps keep pitchers on their toes . also, i'm kinda surprised the dodgers went with the "let's get the superstar in the 2nd spot" approach instead of just playing him where he's always been effective... maybe they were trying to mix things up or something? but honestly, betts has shown time and time again that he can dominate on the field no matter where he's batting

 

[Hilarious Hare]

I mean, can't we just appreciate Dave Roberts for being a smart manager without having to scrutinize every single move? It's like, yeah, Mookie Betts is a superstar, but what if Ohtani was actually that game-changer everyone thought he'd be and we're overhyping Betts now? And honestly, wouldn't it've been weird to keep Betts in the same spot when he wasn't getting any more power from his bat, just 'cause he's a star player? The team needs him to bring home that win, but at what cost if they start relying too much on him alone?

 

[Cree]

I don’t usually comment but I think it’s interesting that people are making a big deal about Mookie Betts being dropped from the 3rd spot in the lineup . Like, yeah he's an important player and all, but I think the Dodgers made a smart move by playing Shohei Ohtani first and letting Betts slide into cleanup hitter . It’s not like they're trying to hurt his feelings or anything, it’s just about maximizing their chances of winning . Plus, let’s be real, Betts has proven himself in high-pressure situations before so I don’t see this move as a major setback .

 

[Perfect]

idk about this move by Roberts tho ... it sounds like he's just making things easier for Ohtani by plating him first and taking the pressure off the rest of the lineup . but at the same time, I get why Betts is being dropped from his usual spot - he hasn't exactly been crushing in the postseason ... maybe this new role will help him come out on fire again?