LOS ANGELES — Mookie Betts was returning from paternity leave, his car was stuck in Chicago freeway gridlock for what seemed like an eternity and he arrived at Wrigley Field late for that night’s game.
The Los Angeles Dodgers knew in advance that Betts would miss the first pitch against the Cubs. And Manager Dave Roberts had put Betts on notice that once he arrived he was going to be playing shortstop for the first time in his major league career — and for the first time at any level in 10 years.
So which was more harrowing for Betts, an All-Star outfielder and Most Valuable Player Award winner: the anxiety of being caught in traffic while the game was starting, or playing shortstop in the majors for the first time?