Boston Red Sox discussion point predictions for 2019 season
By Rick McNair
The pathway is becoming rather defined for Mookie Betts with a $20 million handout in arbitration 2 and the recent signings of Manny Machado and Bryce Harper which further define average annual value (AAV) and length of contract for a superstar. The Betts contract is the gift that keeps on giving as a storyline. A mind has gone blank? Writer’s block? Bingo! Betts always sells – the greatest of all Red Sox clickbait.
If you look at the long game, two numbers glare out and that is .264 and .346. For the mathematically deficient, that numerical discrepancy is 82 and is representative of Betts’ batting average from 2017 to 2018. What will it be in 2019? Using my own proprietary formulas, I would say that the darling of all things Red Sox will be a favorite for back-to-back batting titles and possibly MVP’s.
Betts is Mr. Contentment with a new addition to the household, a freshly minted pilot’s license, a bundle of money, a Rubik’s Cube Grand Master, Tenpin master of the universe and more. Contentment often results in complacency, but, hey this is Mookie!
The only wrench that can be tossed into the Mookie is the greatest mantra – forget Mike Trout – is an injury. Last season, Betts missed a small block of games and his Trot Nixon style can have negative results, but I’m focusing elsewhere and that is specifically J.D. Martinez. Is Martinez or was Martinez the catalyst for Betts’ remarkable season? Hopefully, 2019 will not provide that answer.