Dodgers: Mookie Betts Doesn’t Rate His 2020 Season as Highly as Others Do

Mookie took the Dodgers to the promised land. That’s what he was brought here to do. Last offseason when Andrew Friedman swung the deal to land Red Sox superstar Mookie Betts, he did it with an eye on a parade in Los Angeles come October.

Ultimately, he helped lead the team to its first World Series title in 32 years. But, disappointingly, the pandemic said the team couldn’t have that parade. 

And that was really the only disappointment for the Dodgers. The team was at or near the top in baseball in most counting stats. They led baseball in wins and home runs and secured an eighth consecutive division crown en route to that championship.

Despite all the great that happened, Mookie wasn’t satisfied. More specifically, he wasn’t satisfied with his performance. “It was serviceable. It got the job done,” the former AL MVP told reporters on Friday at Camelback Ranch.

He paced the team in wins above replacement (3.6 bWAR), runs scored (47), and home runs (16, tied with AJ Pollock) while finishing second in MVP voting in the national league. As his manager Dave Roberts said, “man, I’ll take serviceable then if that’s if that’s what he classified it as.”

Still, the Dodger leadoff batter sticks with the dry, cliche mantra most ballplayers go with — he’s not trying to do too much.

“That’s what we’re here for. This year, I’m not looking to be any better or any worse. Just come here to do my job. Help the team win, no matter what it takes.”

If Mookie stays serviceable, the Dodgers have a great opportunity to become the first team to win titles back to back since the New York Yankees in 1999-2000. If Mookie steps it up in his second year in blue, the league better watch out.

NEXT: Clayton Kershaw is Still Baffled That the Red Sox Would Trade Mookie Betts