Jack Flaherty & Mookie Betts on Ohtani’s Historic Year, Play Guess the Hitter

Welcome back to On Base, live in your Bleacher Report app! I’m your host, Mookie Betts, and today we have my boy, Jack Flaherty - the fashion icon himself! Just look at you, dude, you look incredible sitting there. I think everyone here would agree that you look great!

Alright, let’s kick things off with a little game - it’s called “On Base or Off Base.” We’ll see if we’re in or out on some hot topics, but remember to hold that mic up close, alright? Lookin’ good is key, but we have to hear you too!

On Base or Off Base Game

Eating pumpkin seeds is better than sunflower seeds: In! Absolutely, right? What is it about pumpkin seeds? You just can't explain it. It’s just better!
Jayson Tatum should have gotten more playing time in the Olympics: In! He’s been a top player and MVP contender, yet he hardly saw the court. It doesn’t quite make sense, even though they won.
There’s only one correct side in the Kendrick and Drake beef: Off Base! I mean, I'm on Kendrick's side, but it’s hard to say there’s only one way to look at it.
Fantasy football is a joke: Off Base! It’s serious! And yes, we have a team, but do either of us know who’s on it? Nope!

The Shohei Ohtani Effect

Moving on! Let’s talk about Shohei Ohtani. You reckon he’ll have the first 50/50 season? Absolutely! Every day he’s doing something incredible, and watching him play every day is a whole different experience than just reading highlights.

Jack’s Style and Transition to LA

Now let’s talk about fashion. Jack, your style has really evolved, especially since moving home to LA. Who dresses you? Do you have a stylist?

Yeah, my mom dressed me when I was younger, but now I have a stylist, Jordan. She helps put everything together. It all began when professional sports started taking off and players began to really embrace their image.

The Journey: From Injuries to Comeback

Now, let’s rewind to 2019. You had a standout year and then faced some tough injuries. Can you walk us through that?

2019 was a rollercoaster. I had an up-and-down first half and then pitched incredibly well in the second half, which felt amazing. But then, COVID happened, and I just couldn't keep that momentum going. I ended up dealing with injuries that just dragged on. It was a challenge getting back on my feet and adapting my mechanics.

Lessons from Cardinal Veterans

During that time with the Cardinals, you learned a lot from veterans like Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina. What stands out for you?

Yadi especially was phenomenal behind the plate. He has this gift of giving pitchers confidence, and we developed a great relationship. I learned that sometimes as pitchers, we focus too much on hitters' weaknesses instead of our strengths.

Coming Home to LA

After your time in St. Louis and Detroit, how does it feel coming back to LA and playing at home?

It's surreal, really! The first game at home was electric. All my friends come to watch me pitch, and it just feels special to be home and reconnect with family and friends. It feels normal.

Gameday Routine

Speaking of pitching, tell us about your gameday routine. I hear you stay pretty focused before the games?

Yeah, I like to keep to myself. Usually, I arrive about 3 to 3.5 hours early, hydrate, make a PB&J, and go over the lineup in the video room. I cap my study at about 45 minutes, then lay down for half an hour before stretching and throwing.

Guess the Hitter Game

Now onto a little fun - let’s play “Guess the Hitter.” We’ve got a silhouette of a hitter and we have to guess who it is!

Round 1:

“Is it a powerful guy?”, Mookie asks. “Bangs home runs?” I recognize that swing!
Next Hitter: We guess and throw around some names, talking through who we feel are underrated players that deserve more respect.

Fan Questions

Before we wrap up, let’s tackle a couple of fan questions! What’s your favorite thing to do when you're back in LA?

Honestly? Just hanging out with friends and keeping it chill. Sometimes we just sit around and talk about random topics for hours!

Thanks for being on, Jack! It’s been great to hear your thoughts. We’ll see how we both kick off our postseason runs this year and may the best teams win!

Stay tuned for more fun episodes and insights from your favorite players right here on On Base!