Dodgers Players React to Shocking NLDS Sweep By D-backs, Muncy, Freeman, Betts, Hernandez and More

A team-wide collapse.

Many in the Dodgers organization are to blame for their embarrassing sweep at the hands of another divisional playoff opponent in 2023. 

Mookie Betts was first to take the blame after he couldn't get a single hit throughout the three-game series and offered his thoughts in the aftermath of the loss. 

“You can point to a million different things, but at the end of the day, you gotta play well.”

“You can point to a million different things, but at the end of the day, you gotta play well.” @mookiebetts speaks on his struggles and the relationships created this season. pic.twitter.com/L8A1QBiJpJ

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) October 12, 2023

Betts' production noticeably tapered off by September after an MVP-caliber season through August and the superstar picked the worst possible time to play poorly with the season on the line. 

Freddie Freeman also failed to get much traction on the bases and his postseason shortcomings after a dominant regular season made him reflect on Arizona's victory. 

"It's hard to find words right now," Freeman said. "Just frustrating. Me and a lot of us didn't play the way we wanted to and they just came out swinging all three games and they beat us."

"It's hard to find words right now... me and a lot of us didn’t play the way we wanted to.” -@FreddieFreeman5 pic.twitter.com/ouvmmq5h4X

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) October 12, 2023

The Dodgers first baseman got just one hit in the series on an infield knock and overall went just 1-10 at the plate in his own worst showing of the season. 

Veteran Chris Taylor has seen it all since joining LA in 2017, but even he remained puzzled as to why the team faltered in the biggest games of the year. 

“We just didn’t play well. It’s as simple as that,” Taylor said. “I don’t think there’s a magic answer. It’s not like, ‘Oh, if we did this, we would’ve (won).’ At the end of the day, they played better than we did. When you get to this late in the season, usually the hot team wins. They’re feeling good right now. They’re playing their best baseball they’ve played all year, I think. And we were probably playing our worst baseball we’ve played all year.”

via SNLA

Taylor wasn't the only one as Kiké Hernandez joined his outfield teammate in equal frustration for the organizational failure. 

"There’s not a lot of words other than hurt, disappointed, frustrated and a little bit embarrassed,” Hernández said. "They just played better. There’s no other way of putting it. We fell short and we didn’t capitalize on the few opportunities that we had. We’re here now.”

via SNLA

Max Muncy equally struggled to find both his offense alongside his teammates in this series or words to describe the bitter loss. 

"They got the big hits and we didn't. It's bizarre to say it's as simple as that, but that's really what it comes down to." 

Via SNLA

Though accountability is admirable at the moment, such words won't take the sting out of another playoff exit earlier than many Dodgers fans anticipated.