David Ortiz's advice may have led Mookie Betts to crush the Yankees in the World Series

In recent seasons, the Los Angeles Dodgers have been notable for being eliminated early in the playoffs. The Dodgers have won the National League West in 11 of the last 12 seasons but have just one title from the pandemic-shortened slate.

LA's best players tended to disappear when the calendar turned to October, and it seemed like Mookie Betts would suffer the same fate this year. After the Dodgers' first two NLDS games against the Padres, Betts fell to 0-for-22 in the postseason since their 2023 run.

But some advice from a Boston Red Sox legend may have had an impact on Betts. Playoff hero David “Big Papi” Ortiz advised the former Red Sox in a way only he could, and his tips appear to have helped get Betts back on track.

“Mook-dawg, listen carefully to your boy. If I were your hitting coach right now, I wouldn't be worried about anything mechanically. I would worry about putting the smile on your face, the smile that pisses people off.” “The smile that you beat people up with, because that smile means you're having fun,” Ortiz said.

Advice from Red Sox legend David Ortiz may have helped Mookie Betts navigate the postseason

Betts has been smiling since Ortiz gave his advice on Oct. 8. Later that evening, he hit his first home run of the postseason against the Padres as part of a two-hit night. Betts hit a home run again the next day and posted another two-hit, two-RBI performance.

However, the veteran really impressed against the Mets in the NLCS. Betts had nine hits, two of them home runs, seven runs and nine RBI, for a slash line of .295/.404/.659 in the first two rounds of the playoffs.

The World Series battle between the Dodgers and Yankees begins on October 25th. The MLB's most popular and expensive – and therefore most hated – teams will renew the most common Fall Classic rivalry for the first time since 1981. It will be hard for many baseball fans to find much interest in this match.

Hopefully Betts carries his smile and offensive success into the World Series. A former Red Sox might be able to beat the Yankees with Big Papi's advice as a motivator.

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