If you had trouble getting to sleep after the epic World Series Game 3 between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays, you're not alone.
Just imagine how the players felt.
In the immediate aftermath of the Dodgers' 6-5 18-inning win, Los Angeles shortstop Mookie Betts was asked about what he will think about when he puts his head on his pillow.
A reporter asked him if he would be thinking about Shohei Ohtani, who reached base nine times and hit two home runs in Game 3 (and will be the starting pitcher in Game 4) or Freddie Freeman, who hit an extra-inning World Series walk-off home run for the second straight year.
“I'm probably not gonna think about another man while I'm in bed,” Betts replied.
Fair enough. Who are we to question what Betts plans to do after an 18-inning game and before a Game 4 set to begin 18 hours later?
And Betts had as long a day as anybody on Monday. His responsibilities began long before first pitch when he accepted the 2025 Roberto Clemente Award, given annually to the MLB player who best embodies the values, on and off the field, of the late, great Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Famer.
“It means a lot,” Betts said of the award, via MLB.com. “Life is about more than what you do, I think, as far as work. It's about how you affect people. People always remember how you make them feel. So I know we live by that.”
“It's really cool just to be able to hold up this award,” he added, “and to know that this had nothing to do with baseball.”
Later that night, Betts went 1-8 with a walk in Game 3 as the Dodgers took a 2-1 World Series lead over the Blue Jays. Game 4 is set for Tuesday night at 8 p.m. ET.
