NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: BRAVES VS DODGERS

October 21, 2021

Mookie Betts

Dodger Stadium

Los Angeles Dodgers

Pregame 5 Press Conference

Q. Just first, there's obviously a lot of talk about how this, being down 3-1 looks very similar to last year. Would you say that it feels similar for you guys?

MOOKIE BETTS: I don't think it feels similar, but we're in the same situation, maybe a little different way. Right now we just have to figure out a way to win today and we'll worry about tomorrow tomorrow.

Q. And has there been a conversation or a message? I know Dave Roberts last night said that he wasn't really going to address the team, but has any players, has anyone addressed the team for today?

MOOKIE BETTS: We have our group chat that we talk amongst each other, but I think it's more of just getting guys to refocus and really pay attention to every detail and pretty much, like I said, just find a way to win today and we'll worry about tomorrow tomorrow.

Q. We know this is going to be another challenge for you guys. What do you say to Dodgers fans who are disappointed right now?

MOOKIE BETTS: I mean, I'm not really worried about Dodgers fans that are disappointed. You can't do anything about that. The only thing we can do is focus on what we can control and that's going out and playing today. We can't worry about uncontrollables.

Q. Does the approach at the plate for this team as a collective need to change to put together strings of hits to score runs against Max Fried?

MOOKIE BETTS: I mean, yeah, yes and no. Obviously we have to have a good approach, but it's also really hard to get a hit. There's analytics and shifts and whatnot, so you start hitting balls right at people. Chili Davis told me a long time ago that we're producers, not directors, and so we can produce a good swing, but we can't direct where it's going to go.

So, again, those are uncontrollables. We can't do anything about that. We have to focus on the things we can control and that's going out, giving all we got, swinging at good pitches, and playing a clean game. I mean, those are things that we can control.

Q. You say it doesn't feel similar to last year. Why does it feel different?

MOOKIE BETTS: Well, we got a couple injuries. I mean, I think that's the main thing is having, being down a starter. Obviously going into this series we had to throw Scherzer and whatnot, so we were kind of behind the eight ball at the start, but that's not an excuse. We still have to go out and we have to do our side, which is hit, which we haven't been doing. So I think that's kind of been the difference.

Q. Just how maybe demoralizing was it seeing Justin limp off the field last night?

MOOKIE BETTS: I mean, obviously it sucked. He's such a huge part of our lineup, a huge part of our, well, everything, the culture, everything. When you think of L.A. Dodgers you think of Justin Turner. So not having him in the lineup makes it a lot harder.

But we also can't sit here and cry about it. We still have a game to play. We have to let the next guy step up and he has to do his job.

Q. Along those same lines, how much has this offense missed Max Muncy and how much of a factor is his absence in the inconsistent production offensively?

MOOKIE BETTS: A ton. Muncy brought everything, getting on base, power, everything. Not having him, it hurts big-time, but there's nothing we can do about it, another uncontrollable thing. Next guy has to step up and play. And nobody's going to feel sorry for us, so we can't feel sorry for ourselves by not having people step up or whatnot. So we have to just go out and play and do what we can do.

Q. Is there anything you take from facing Max Fried just a few days ago into this start, the adjustments you guys can make?

MOOKIE BETTS: I'm sure, off the top of my head, I don't necessarily know. I'm sure he'll make some adjustments, but then again he may not. He's pitched really good against us every single time. So it's just something, I don't really know what we need to do. We have to just come together and figure it out at some point before the game starts.

Q. So you're not giving away any secrets.

MOOKIE BETTS: I don't even have anything right now. I just got here so I haven't even went over any game plans or anything yet.

Q. Obviously pitching gets tougher in the postseason. You guys are missing some guys. But is there anything you've been able to pinpoint that you guys haven't been able to seem to find offensively that clicks for multiple games in a row?

MOOKIE BETTS: I mean, just sometimes it's just teams get hot. I think we could search for answers and this, that, and the other, but sometimes you just don't get hot and I feel like we haven't gotten hot as a unit. That make it's really hard to win like that. So then you just are solely relying on your pitching not letting them score at all, and that's not a team thing. So we have to find a way to get hot and there's only one way to do it and that's just going out and playing.