Dodgers News: MLB Analyst Picks Mookie Betts Over Ronald Acuña Jr. for MVP Award
As the regular season comes to a close, so too will one of the best NL MVP races of all time between Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts and Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr.
Though fans across baseball and on each candidate’s respective teams chimed in their thoughts all year, one argument made by some analysts could decide the race for some voters in just a few weeks.
“I got Betts, because if you take him out of that lineup, LA’s done. I know what he brings to the table. The fact that he can probably be a Gold Glove shortstop, second baseman, right fielder, center fielder. I’ll never downplay what he’s (Acuña) accomplishing, but if any rule change has skewed the numbers a little bit, it’s the stolen bases for me. With the pick offs and the bigger bases, just the numbers for some of these big boys that run are going to be aggressively higher.
via Ruben Amaro, Jr., MLB Network
Citing Betts’ defensive versatility in comparison to the one position that Acuña Jr. plays rather poorly, the definition of value is being taken quite literally in the context of this argument.
Betts’ manager Dave Roberts, GM Ryan Gomes and plenty of his teammates have all mentioned that the his place in the infield or outfield based on the opposing pitcher for the day lengthens their lineup unlike any other.
Clearly the best team in the National League and all of baseball, the Braves’ lineup would still boast a number of heavy hitters including the major league home run leader Matt Olson and star third baseman Austin Riley.
Taking it one step further, even without the services of Acuña Jr., the Braves went on to win the 2021 World Series thanks in part to their strong depth defeating the Dodgers in the NLCS.
Meanwhile, LA’s 2020 championship simply doesn’t happen without the services of their superstar and his 2023 campaign is his best yet in Dodger blue.
Leading the NL in WAR all season long, the Braves’ star right fielder may have the gaudier offensive numbers, but there’s always two sides to being a baseball player sans your designated hitter.
Stealing bases is nice and all, but Betts’ willingness to sacrifice for your teammates to get quality at-bats by playing a foreign position is the very definition of the MVP.
Photo Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
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you homer acuna is mvp
This is drivel. Ronald has one of the strongest arms in right field and changes the game. He also plays in front of a big wall that skews his defensive stats similarly to how the Green Monster skews the stats in left field in Boston.
Acuña is the odds on favorite for a reason. If you really think Mooky is gonna win, you should go put your money on it in Vegas — because you’ll get great odds.
Acuña is having a historically significant season, and if Kookie is such a good player shouldn’t he have found a way to help his team with the rule changes? Part of being an excellent leadoff hitter is stealing bases. The more, the better. Why is Sookie Betts not changing his game to suit the times? Doesn’t sound like an MVP to me….
Since when has “take out of the lineup and that team is done” been the primary argument for MVP? People really only use that argument when the stats don’t support their case….like in this instance. The only stats Betts leads Acuna: doubles, RBIs, and walks. People like to make an argument about the bases being larger giving Acuna an “unfair advantage” but, at the end of the day, he turns those stolen bases into runs, which is largely why he’s scored 20 more than Betts. And, believe it or not, the bases are larger in Los Angeles too, so Mookie could steal bases too if he wanted.
Guys, please. No one is doubting that Mookie is good. The Dodgers are also good.
But this type of poor article writing is unnecessary. Mookie is great. He’s valuable.
But he’s not the MOST VALUABLE in the NL. Let’s stop grasping just because you want that to be the case.
Guys, please. No one is doubting that Mookie is good. The Dodgers are also good.
But this type of poor article writing is unnecessary. Mookie is great. He’s valuable.
But he’s not the MOST VALUABLE in the NL. Let’s stop grasping just because you want that to be the case.