Dodgers’ Mookie Betts Could Accomplish Feat Not Done Since 1876
Mookie Betts has dominated in just about every offensive category this season. He was recently named the National League Player of the Month by Major League Baseball for his insane performance during March/April.
He was the obvious choice for the award after slashing .368/.477/.624 while leading the majors in a plethora of categories, including hits, walks, runs scored, and Wins Above Replacement. If he keeps up this crazy pace, he will become part of baseball history at the end of the season.
According to OptaSTATS, the Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop entered Friday’s game against the Atlanta Braves leading MLB in hits, runs, and walks. The only player to finish a season leading MLB in all three categories was the White Stockings’ Ross Barnes in 1876.
It isn’t hard to imagine Betts leading baseball in hits and runs. How is he leading in walks with two-time American League Most Valuable Player Shohei Ohtani hitting behind him?
“That’s a great question,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman told Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group.
“I don’t think it is intentional that pitchers want to walk him. I think he has a really good eye coupled with really good bat-to-ball skills so he can spoil some really good pitches and buy himself another pitch and then they don’t execute.”
Betts was unaware of just how great he had been through the first month of the season. Leading in walks was surprising to him as well, especially with one of the game’s most feared hitters on deck behind him.
“That sounds weird. That sounds really weird,” Betts said. “I didn’t know (that he led the majors in walks). … It’s just being the best I can be, trying to get a good pitch to hit. That’s only right now. It’s just a month in. A lot of things change obviously. But right now it’s helping us win ballgames.”
Photo Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
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He might lead in another category too if he doesn’t get his arm under control. Throwing errors by a major league shortstop. The Dodgers should let Mookie play right field and let Miguel handle shortstop.
Mookie needs to have a little sit-down with Pages. Andy has that look about him, except for that one flaw. If Mookie or someone can get him to be more discriminating, we may be looking at a superstar in the making.
But this being about Mookie, all I can say is it is such a joy to be a Dodger fan while he is a Dodger. I’ve enjoyed watching Clayton’s whole career, it is great to be able to watch most of Mookie’s.