When will Boston Red Sox star Mookie Betts start to turn it on?

The Boston Red Sox offense needs a jump start and part of the issue is Mookie Betts’ contribution. Is Betts repeating his 2017 season?

Is Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts a Pushmi-Pullyu (pronounced Push me – Pull you)? Pushmi-Pullyu was one of the iconic characters created by children’s author Hugh Lofting for his Dr. Dolittle series. The animal was simply two heads going in the opposite direction and that may just equate to Betts’ early career. What is the direction?

Is Betts a player who is on again and off again year-to-year? In 2015, Betts was very good, but in 2016 Betts had an MVP Award pilfered from him in favor of Mike Trout. In 2017, Betts took a step down and hit just .264 – a drop of 54 points.  Last season, Betts got his much-deserved MVP and a batting title with a .346 average. The early results for 2019 show another precipitous drop with Betts well under .300.

The very good news with Betts’ version of Push me-Pull you is other aspects of his game do not follow his average into the productive sub-basement.  Power remains fairly consistent, defensive acumen borders on the spectacular, and Betts’ speed torments the opposition.

Betts is a realist and certainly knows that in cogs of the team his talent is a driver.  BSI’s Brendan Mizgala covered Betts’ disappointment in an article a few weeks ago and Betts has yet to extricate himself from a – for him – disappointing start. Will this on again and off again be symptomatic of his career?

What sets great players apart is a high level of consistently exceptional performances and that certainly applies to Trout. J.D. Martinez is a teammate of Betts who also has that demonstrated ability to know you can simply plug in certain numbers with guaranteed reliability unless injury intervenes.

Betts is quickly approaching the possibility of a record-shattering contract, but that may just have a caveat emptor attached. Betts will certainly get his money, but that could be mitigated somewhat. The Red Sox could also face a declining value if they choose to determine Betts is unsignable and attempt a trade.

The next issue is just what gives this season? Is there an injury? But that would not explain 2017 in which Betts was healthy. What type of malady causes this swing in batting average? Maybe Betts’ 2018 was a hitting anomaly and a Betts in the very low .300’s is more of an expectation?

The very good news is Betts is capable of going on an offensive rampage and making this article and any concerns expressed by Betts and others can be classified as a bad dream. What is certainly apparent is Betts simply needs to pick it up now that the pitching is stabilizing.  The offense is good, but not the dynamo of 2018 and Betts is a key ingredient.

If Betts continues to struggle it will mean the Red Sox will continue to struggle. With Jackie Bradley Jr.offensive dead weight and catching always an offensive concern a Betts “slump” is certainly not the medicine Dr. Dolittle would offer up.