Red Sox star Mookie Betts will break out offensively in the World Series
By Rick McNair
The Boston Red Sox have advanced to the World Series, but Mookie Betts continues to have a minimal offensive impact. Expect a change in the WS.
The Red Sox had several players this postseason finally remove some negatives of the past with the most notable being David Price. Rick Porcello finally won a postseason game and that was against the Yankees for extra credit. Porcello also seemed quite dependable out of the bullpen. And bullpen means Craig Kimbrel who succeeded – finally – in a non-nerve rattling save to clinch the ALCS.
Jackie Bradley hit just .200 in the ALCS which is the same Ted Williams hit in the 1946 World Series. Williams had just one RBI in seven games and Bradley had nine in five games and an ALCS MVP Award. Then there is Mookie Betts who also had just one RBI against Houston.
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Betts has done little in his career on the very big stage of the playoffs. In 16 games Betts has just three RBI and a .231 average. Williams won an MVP for his 1946 season and Betts will most certainly win an MVP for his 2018 season unless the Russians or Yankee fans hack into MLB. But so far Betts has had an invisible bat.
In the financial crisis, the term often applied to investment houses was “Too big to fail.” With Betts, it is now “Too good to fail.” Players have slumps and Betts apparently picks the most inopportune time. Is it just pitching concentrating on Betts? Betts hit everything during the regular season. Is it pressure? Betts thrives on it.
Someone eventually pays a price just as Houston did with Price and his ending a personal curse. When you have an ability level like Betts’ the wheels of baseball good fortune eventually align. In 2013 against the Tigers David Ortiz had one momentous Papi moment with a grand slam – otherwise, Ortiz hit just .091. The Cardinals paid for that in the World Series.
What does happen with Betts is the other aspects of his game – defense and base running. Both are not affected, but that leaves the most recognizable part and that means hitting. A batting champion eventually gets his hits and my strong suspicion is either the Dodgers or Brewers may be in for some Betts highlight moments.
The Red Sox have survived the playoffs without a significant offensive contribution from Betts and that certainly bodes well for picking up slack. The same has applied to a lesser degree for Andrew Benintendi who hit just .208 against the Astros, but has also saved the day defensively. If or I should say when Betts and Benintendi warm up expect the J.D. Martinez RBI count to accelerate.
Next. Jackie Bradley earns ALCS MVP. dark
Betts remains the key for me since when Betts starts to go on a roll it reverberates throughout the lineup. This we have not seen, but I certainly expect we soon will. Betts is just too good to fail. I will make a prediction and that is Betts captures a WS MVP.