Mookie Betts Has to Step Up His Game
At the time the Dodgers traded for Mookie Betts, there was a lot of conversation as to who was the best player in baseball – Mike Trout or Mookie Betts? Sadly for both players, we do not hear that much anymore as both have slipped… and it does not appear that either player will…
At the time the Dodgers traded for Mookie Betts, there was a lot of conversation as to who was the best player in baseball – Mike Trout or Mookie Betts? Sadly for both players, we do not hear that much anymore as both have slipped… and it does not appear that either player will continue to get better as Trout is 31 and Mookie is 30. Both ended the 2022 season with a .340 OB% – that’s pretty good but not superstar-esque. Mike Trout hit .283 with a .999 OPS, which is very much a superstar, and his OPS+ was 178, while Mookie OPS’ed .873 with an OPS+ of just 136. In straight-up comparisons between the two players, Mike Trout is light-years ahead of Mookie Betts. Trout hit 40 HR while Mookie hit 35.
Don’t get me wrong, Mookie is a great player, but realize that the Dodgers have to pay him this way for this long:
- 2023 – $25.4 Million
- 2024 – $30.4 Million
- 2025 – $30.4 Million
- 2026 – $30.4 Million
- 2027 – $30.4 Million
- 2028 – $35.4 Million
- 2029 – $36.4 Million
- 2030 – $35.4 Million
- 2031 – $32.9 Million
- 3032 – $32.9 Million
For the mathematically challenged, that is just about $320 Million Dollars that the Dodgers owe Mookie Betts over the next ten years. YIKES! As I said when the trade was made, “This is not going to end well.” Again, I am not trying to “dis” Mookie, but what I just said are facts. Mookie plays a high level of defense, and that helps his WAR, but insofar as being a “superstar,” Freddie Freeman is the Dodger closest to Mike Trout in hitting as his OPS+ was 152 and his OB% was .918. Them’s superstar stats!
For his career, Mookie has hit .292 against RHP and .295 against LHP. In 2022, Mookie hit .308 against LHP (only 156 ABs), but he hit only .255 against RHP, and therein lies the problem. Mookie was also very “streaky” in his play. Let’s look at his splits:
- March/April – .230
- May – .342
- June – .193
- July .248
- August – . 330
- September – .222
- Playoffs – .143
If you have any questions as to who did not hit in the playoffs, start with Mookie Betts. Cody Bellinger was benched for not hitting in the playoffs, but the truth is, Mookie Betts had twice as many ABs and hit .143… the same as Cody! When Mookie is hot, he can carry the team, but more often than not, he is not hot.. at least lately.
2023 is a new season. The shift is gone (Mookie does pull the ball a lot), so that should help him. The bases are bigger (that should help the fast guys). The pitchers have to throw the ball quicker (that should help everyone). 2023 is the year Mookie has to go back to being a Superstar. Mookie also needs to voluntarily go to the #2 spot in the batting order so as to let Gavin Lux take over that spot (if he can handle it – I think he can).
Mookie, you need to step up and show the Boys in Blue how to do it! Maybe even get more vocal. The Dodger will go as far this year as Mookie and the Youngsters take them. Take the challenge, Mookie! This has to be YOUR team! Seize it! Be the Superstar that you are and the leader you were meant to be. That’s all! Just do it!
I want to see Mookie play with the emotion he had in this Blog’s Opening Photo! I want to see that Superstar again!
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Discussion (100)
Disagree, not disagreeable
We’re complaining about Mookie and defending a guy who was making almost 20 mil and couldn’t find the Mendoza line with gps for 2 years! And regarding our prospects Vargas could be good and Busch and Outman are probably average mlb players. But then again who thought Smith would become one of the top catchers in the game 4 years ago? But I love our young pitching and expect big things from them!
We are complaining about a guy who made first team all mlb team this year! Now if you want to complain about a guy not living up to his contract look to Rendon and anyone else the Angels have signed outside of Trout. And cmon Mark, all these 10+ year contracts aren’t going to end well! Even Trout’s! Mookie’s given us one great year and a championship, one good year and one blah year. I’m satisfied so far
Digers could have this as a fixture of young and old vets to teach them the ropes. Outfield could be Jason heyward outman Betts and infield could have Vargas Swanson Lux Freeman Smith and in the bench Muncy Taylor McCutchen Barnes Busch Thompson. That’s what I see them doing then going with three young guys as starters and oh yes get Rodon to sure up the rotation why Buehler is out this year.
I’ve been having trouble writing comments on J.Dominique’s blog, here are a few who can, so I’m asking for your help in getting this message to Jeff:
“Jeff, you don’t need to tell us every day that the Dodgers don’t have elite rookies,” to paraphrase Mark: even Ray Charles can see that!!!
Review his writings and you will realize how many times he repeats that the Dodgers do not have elite rookies, we all know that, we are not assholes, enough of that, stop that!!!
Mark
You keep projecting Lux at leadoff and Mookie hitting second. It would make more sense to reverse that so if Mookie gets on leading off then it opens up the hole on the right side for the left hand hitting Lux.
Mookie should be more vocal. He has been in the majors long enough to assume that leadership role. If not Mookie, Freddie then. Freeman is respected and one helluva ball player. I look at the rookies this way, I am not expecting much, so if they do perform well, I will be mildly surprised, if they tank, I won’t be disappointed.
It’s nice that SF signed Sean Manaea, as the Dodgers love to take Batting Practice off him!
He was only tied for the 8th best player in MLB last year (by fWAR)
When Mookie is right he plays with a kid’s energy and passion. He has fun playing the game. When he’s horseshit, he stews and beats himself up. I’d like to see his emotional swings level out and not be so hard on himself.
100++++% agree with this piece. Mookie is very good but we need him to be great. Paid like a superstar now is time to produce like one. If the Dodgers are indeed going to have 3 rookies play in the starting line-up they will need Mookie and FF to be the run producers along with Max and others.
Without Mookie, we don’t win in 2020 for me that’s worth the contract by itself.
Yes Seags was the MVP but they dont win without what Mookie did not only at the plate but in the field and the basepaths….
He will have play well in 23.