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MOokie Betts on Dealing with Pressure with Self Talk

2 Feb 2026 · 1 min

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In this interview excerpt, Mookie Betts recounts the intense anxiety he felt during the ninth inning of Game 7 of the World Series, describing it as the most nervous moment of his baseball career. He explains that he coped by engaging in self‑talk, repeatedly urging himself, "be nasty, Mook," which served as a form of positive reinforcement that helped him stay focused and execute the play. The segment highlights the contrast between his outward calm and inner tension, offering a glimpse into the mental strategies elite athletes use under extreme pressure.

Chapters

For the ball to come to you. Oh, man. In the game, you look so cool, calm and collected on the outside. How did you feel on the inside? Nah, man, I was. That ninth inning, that was probably. That's probably the most nervous I've ever been on the baseball field, man. I mean, I was. I didn't. I just. I've never done it. I've never been in game seven in the World Series. And I. I mean, literally, I was talking to myself that whole. As Yoshi was throwing the ball, I was talking to myself like, be nasty, Mook. Be nasty right now. Be nasty. It just. Ball feel like it was super slow coming in. Oh, yeah, Yeah. I mean, as soon as I. I guess that little positive reinforcements I gave myself just give myself a little pat on the back and I get. Maybe it was the baseball guy saying, good job. Here's the ball. Go make a play. I don't know.