On the eve of World Series Game 1, I held a conversation with Rays GM Erik Neander about how to interpret sample size in a pandemic season. The subject: Mookie Betts vs. left-handed pitchers. I never thought the World Series would swing on that conversation.
The Braves during the NLCS had made me aware of Betts’ weakness against left-handed pitchers.
“The Dodgers are interesting because they have a lot of right-handed hitters who are better against right-handed pitching,” Atlanta bench coach Walt Weiss said. “Have you looked at Betts’s numbers? He’s one of the worst hitters in the league against left-handed pitching.