Red Sox can only hope they're better off without Mookie Betts' playoff struggles
The Boston Red Sox haven't been consistent playoff contenders since before they traded Mookie Betts to the Dodgers in 2019.
The Dodgers are a perennial playoff team, but they can never get out of their own way. LA has become famous for legendary choke jobs in the postseason. It won the World Series in the shortened 2020 season, but the yearly National League favorites haven't been able to answer the call after a full 162. Betts' seasons have gone a similar way.
Betts has posted just two hits in the playoffs since 2022 — and they both came in 2022. He's hitless in his last 22 postseason at-bats, and it has the former MVP down on himself.
“They’re all outs. So they’re all terrible,” Betts said after Game 2 against the Padres on Oct. 6. “I don’t know really what to say about it. I’m giving my best, doing my best. Obviously it’s not good enough right now.”
Mookie Betts is now 0 for his last 22 in the postseason dating back to last year pic.twitter.com/Cz06SQsQZU
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 7, 2024
Betts slashed .289/.372/.491 in the regular season and earned an All-Star appearance for his work, but he's struggled with consistency in the 10th month. Yankees star Aaron Judge experiences a similar phenomenon. He holds the highest strikeout rate in history for any batter with over 200 postseason plate appearances at 34.2%. He's one for his last 22 in October.
Postseason ball is a different game, and anything goes — stars will struggle and under appreciated players will break out. Slumps are an unfortunate part of baseball, and they often come at the worst moment.
There's no telling where the Red Sox would be if Betts was still on the team, but fans may not know about his postseason woes if Boston chose to keep him around. Based on his struggles, the Sox could be better off without his .245 postseason average the next time they make it to the playoffs.
Many Sox fans still have love for Betts and would like to see him break out of his October funk. Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts believes he can break it just by being himself, and Red Sox and Dodgers fans would surely love to see that.
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