Dodgers: Should Mookie Betts Move Out of the Leadoff Spot for Now?
Mookie Betts’ 2021 season has been pedestrian by his standards. The 2020 NL MVP runner-up is currently hitting a career-low .256 with his power numbers taking a big dip having hit just 5 home runs in 50 games.
We discuss different ways the Dodgers could get Mookie to start playing like Mookie again like moving him down in the lineup, placing him on the IL, or changing his approach at the plate. Plus, should the Dodgers move hot-hitting Chris Taylor to the leadoff spot?
Next, Dodgers insider David Vassegh sounds off on Mookie’s struggles this season.
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NEXT: A Healing Corey Seager Could Be Back Sooner Than Hoped
No. He’s still better there than anyone else they could plug in his spot.
Leave Mookie alone. He’ll be fine. Freeman won the MVP last year and hasn’t put up numbers close to Betts this year. There’s a lot of season left. It ain’t broke. Don’t fix it.
I concur with you and Tim here. Betts in the lead off spot is not an issue at all.
I would like to see Betts bat 2 or 3 in the line up. The reason, better position for batting runs in. The one spot should be Muncy. I just want to see what would happen.
Usually when putting a lead off spot together, it’s wise to put your best speed, contact and OBP player in the spot. Muncy would work but Taylor is the best option because he can out run Max, and Max is feared with power. If Roberts wants to get this team scoring he’d put Taylor lead off JT 2nd , Beaty 3rd, Pujols or Muncy 4th Betts 5th, Smith 6th , Bellinger 7th, Lutz 8th Pitcher. This entitlement mentality from Roberts kills this line up. Why is Bellinger even in there? Peters and Neuse did better than he is, and Beaty is much better than Pollock. I guess Roberts thinks that they’ll just miraculously turn into their former selves of 5 years ago. Bellinger should be sent down , I don’t get why he’s so entitled right now. He apparently isn’t healed from his shoulder surgery. Complete props and acknowledgement to the entire pitching staff for holding this team together.
Bellinger is a conundrum. Bellinger has had really only one good year. And even in that season his batting average dropped precipitously during the season, and if it didn’t start so high it would have finished at like .230.
He really neeeds more time at AAA.
As for Betts. The dodgers ought get rid of him while they can or they will be stuck with a big long contract to a guy who will NOT physically hold up for next 12 years.
All big long cntracts have turned out to be big mistakes for any team hat has signed one.
NO team should be so desperate to sign a “star” to these kind of contracts. That is overvaluing and over paying and creating weight that will around the collective neck of the team for years.
NO players is worth 25 million year in their late thirties unless they are on steroids.
And Betts is actually a smaller player. Without a juice ball he is already struggling.
The Yankees LaMachine needs to be oiled and Mookie Bust needs to be dropped in the lineup. Something is wrong with both of them. Fat cat contracts?