Joe Kelly Drops Hilarious Take on Mookie Betts' Intense First Speech to the Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers figured to be a World Series contender in 2020 even before their seismic offseason moves, but landing Mookie Betts and David Price for pennies on the dollar has vaulted them to the top of the NL picture. Betts has wasted no time whipping these guys into shape, as he already subjected the Dodgers to a passionate speech that took aim at what he thought was a lack of effort.

Relief pitcher Joe Kelly, who played with Mookie Betts for almost five full seasons in Boston before he departed for the Dodgers in 2019, wasn't exactly won over by Betts' theatrics.

"It was cringy," Kelly said. "He speaks well, but then when he has to plan something and speak in front of people he wasn’t too comfortable with, I think he was getting ahead of himself. The meaning behind what he was saying was very, I think, spot on."

Kelly questioned why Mookie was using such sharp, pointed language with a team he had just joined, and one that has been among the very best teams in baseball over the last half-decade. But at least he knows the former AL MVP's heart was in the right place.

Betts was a leader in the locker room and on the field in Boston over the last few years, and he wants to make sure that he earns the same respect from his new teammates as he did from the faithful in New England.