Diamondbacks’ Torey Lovullo Breaks Mold in “Macho” Big League Dugouts, Reveals Unique Coaching Approach of ‘Love’ and ‘Vulnerability’ Inspired by Mookie Betts

True respect and appreciation go a long way. Visibly, Los Angeles Dodgers star, Mookie Betts holds his former coach and current Arizona Diamondbacks’ skipper in extremely high regard. While he has been vocal about how the latter has contributed to his success, this time, the roles have reversed. 

Right ahead of Game 4 of the underway World Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Texas Rangers, friend and therapist to Mookie, Torey Lovullo sat down with him for a chat. Lovullo is a man who drew inspiration from the 32-year-old while making a career transition back in the day. This newly adopted approach brought him to where he is today. Thanks to Betts! 

How The Most Basic Human Quality Brought Torey Lovullo To Heights

Sitting opposite to each other, two of MLB’s most favorite figures were all smiles. Recalling the time when Torey Lovullo, the then-bench coach for Boston Red Sox, was making a move to the D-Backs, he said that he was trying to be all “Macho”. But it was Betts who taught him to be “vulnerable”. And as he revealed the palpable human nature of ‘love’ and ‘vulnerability’, Torey could apply it in his management style. The rest is history. 

“I love you Mookie, I love you bro“, expressed Torey as he began talking about Mookie’s impact on his life as a manager. He revealed that at the core, the 2014 debutant and Sal are the same. Hence, it made it really easy for both to communicate. As they bonded over their vulnerabilities, Lovullo’s move to Arizona smoothened, though (then) his heart was still in Boston.

As Torey onboarded with the Snakes, he realized early on that they were looking for someone who could “align with them and empathize with them“. With that, Lovullo credited the Dodgers star for teaching him to have the initial conversation with his new team. And that resonated with them. That said, the conversation went deeper into the skipper’s criteria as a manager.

Torey Lovullo’s Technicalities As A Manager

As the cut -throat competition soars in the world of MLB, only a few managers succeed using a soft approach. This 58-year-old skipper’s technique is astounding. His words were, “I use a lot of words that you probably wouldn’t use inside of uh inside of a sport culture here. You know I talk about love, right? And I said it to you already. I love you and I say that to players and I mean it. It comes from a good place”. It is no secret that the Arizona Diamondbacks have made a striking comeback after decades of quiet. Well, one can’t help but notice Torey Lovullo’s magical touch.

Read More: Who Is the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Manager Torey Lovullo? Contract, Salary, And Baseball Career

While the team made it to the World Series after 22 years, the credit goes to what brews in the Diamondbacks clubhouse. Clearly, it has manifested in 2023 and their performance on the world stage is proof. Though Tuesday’s game was a 7-11 loss for them against the Texas Rangers, one truly hopes that the D-Backs turn the tables on 1st November, Game 5.

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