August 19th, 2020 at 10:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes got off to a horrible start to the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season. Things had gotten so bad for the 30-year-old Fullerton, CA native and ninth-round draft pick by the Florida Marlins in 2011 draft out of Arizona State University that on August 8, he was hitting a team-low .091.
…and then Dodgers super-star outfielder and future Hall of Famer Mookie Betts stepped in, literally.
“He’s helped me tremendously. I don’t know if he wants it out there, wants it under the radar, but he’s helped me swinging-wise,” Barnes told reporters following the Dodgers thrilling 2-1 win over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night. “He helps me talking about hitting. He’s helped me in the cage, been in there with me in the cage and hit with me and watched me swing. And that shows you what kind of teammate he is, to take time from his day to help someone else.”
Did Barnes seek out help from the four-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glover, three-time Silver Slugger, 2018 AL MVP, 2018 MLB Player of the Year, 2018 Wilson Overall Defensive Player of the Year and 2018 World Series champion?
“No, he reached out to me, which was pretty cool,” Barnes answered. “He just thought he could help, and he really has. I feel good mentally now, I feel free mentally, and I was a little cloudy before — and it’s hard to hit like that. But when your mechanics are in the right spot, you feel like you can put a swing on the ball, and it makes it a lot easier. Little bit clearer in the headspace.”
It worked.
Since then, Barnes has gone 12-for-24 (.500) to raise his average to .305, second-best on the team behind only Corey Seager‘s .312. He is also one of the fastest runners on the team, which played a huge role in Tuesday night’s win.
With the game tied 1-1 in the bottom of the eighth, Barnes drew a one-out walk. Betts then popped out to Mariners second baseman Shed Long for the second out and it appeared that Barnes was going to be stranded at first base … except for two very important things:
- The aforementioned Corey Seager was at the plate.
- Barnes stole second base when the Mariners employed a defensive shift against Seager, with Mariners first baseman Evan White playing behind Barnes and Long in short right field well behind him.
“The heart of the order was up, so you don’t want to make an out on the bases, but I thought I could get him (Mariners right-hander Dan Altavilla),” Barnes said. “And when they played behind me, I was a little confused. I can run a little bit. I’m not super slow. Just took a shot.”
It worked.
Barnes stole second base without a throw.
(Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)
Two pitches later, on a full count, Seager banged a single to right, allowing the “not super slow” Barnes to score what would prove to be the winning run from second base.
(Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)
With Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen unavailable after three appearances (and saves) in four days, Dodgers right-hander Blake Treinen came in for yet another Dodgers bullpen win; Treinen’s second.
Well done, Barnsie!
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Posted in 
About 2 weeks many on the site wanted Barnes run out of town on the first plane out. I defended him and so cal second it. Now he’s playing like an all star, go figure, the fical nature of baseball.
I was among those willing to drive him to the airport.
Although I am impressed with what Barnes has done over his last seven games (that 12-for-24 thing), I need to see him continue that trend before I turn the car around.
That being said, there isn’t a better tutor on the planet for him than Mookie Betts, so I am definitely (cautiously) optimistic.
If Barnes hits 260 it would be a huge plus. His receiving skills, pitch framing, base running, make him a keeper for now.
So what is Van Scoyoc doing?
What he should be doing is picking Mookie Betts’ brain … daily.