Betts' glove muffles talk about a position change

Stellar defense from Dodgers shortstop should keep him in the infield — now and throughout postseason

- DYLAN HERNÁNDEZ

MOOKIE BETTS leads all MLB shortstops in defensive runs saved.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts wanted to set the record straight: Mookie Betts is his shortstop.

"Mookie," Roberts said, "will not go to right field."

Roberts repeated the phrase a couple of times, as if he was determined to quash any speculation about another late-season position change for Betts.

"Mookie," Roberts said again, "will not go to right field."

There it is, directly from the man who hands the lineup card to the umpire every night.

So ignore the noise and stop the chatter.

Mookie Betts is the Dodgers' shortstop.

Betts is the Dodgers' shortstop now, Betts will be the Dodgers' shortstop next week, and Betts will be the Dodgers' shortstop in the postseason.

The only times Roberts said he envisioned Betts returning to right field was late in games in which the Dodgers ran out of bench players. A situation like that came up a few weeks ago in a game against the Angels.

Miguel Rojas, an infielder, was deployed as a pinch hitter in the top of the eighth inning and remained in the game at shortstop.

Betts defended right field for an inning.

Roberts isn't sticking with Betts at shortstop because of their close relationship. He's sticking with Betts at shortstop because of how Betts has played the position.