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Mookie Betts hit 3 homers, is crushing everything despite his size
Wednesday’s Say Hey, Baseball is all about the feats of Mookie, Clayton Kershaw’s stinginess, and a new standard for position players pitching.
Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images
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The Red Sox lead the majors in runs scored, and it's not close: they have 308, and the next highest is the Cubs at 275. Almost everyone in the lineup has had their turn as the focal point of the offense during the season's first two months, and now it appears to be Mookie Betts' time. The Sox right fielder hit three homers against the Orioles on Tuesday night in the second game of a four-game series with early AL East implications. He's now on pace for 37 homers and 84 extra-base hits overall, and before he even got to that point he was displaying historic power for a player his size.
If Betts reaches the 30-homer mark, he’ll be just the third player under 5’10 to do so by his age-23 season. His hitting coach Chili Davis credits Betts’ bat speed, which there is plenty of: it’s been a hallmark of Betts’ game since he first erupted in the minors back in early 2013. Regardless of the why, there’s no denying Betts has been on a serious run of late. He started the season a little slow, with plenty of power but his average and on-base percentage was much lower than you’d like. Over his past 20 games, though, Betts is batting .341/.379/.716 with eight homers and just 10 strikeouts in 95 plate appearances. It’s not some fluke, either: since June 15 of last year, a stretch encompassing 136 games and nearly 600 at-bats, Betts is batting .310/.353/.535 with 24 homers and 75 extra-base hits.
Betts is one of the many reasons baseball is such a weird, enjoyable game. Of course, Bryce Harper can hit a ball a mile: just look at him! Of course, Mike Trout has the power and size of a linebacker and also the ability to focus that power into his swings. Little Mookie Betts, all 5’9 and the 180 he is (maybe generously) listed at, has plenty of pop himself, though, thanks to his hand-eye coordination, strong wrists -- possibly developed from his career as a bowler -- and a discerning approach at the plate. Just read all that back. Mookie Betts is great, and baseball is just a little bit better for it.
- A fan defeated Chris Sale in rock, paper, scissors, and it earned them an autograph. Opposing hitters should try this, as the odds can't be any worse than they are batting against him.
- It was a night for the long ball, as in addition to Betts' three-dinger night, the Rockies went deep seven times as a team against the Reds.
- With MLB moving scheduled games in Puerto Rico to Miami due to the Zika virus, it's worth noting that Tigers closer Francisco Rodriguez battled Zika this offseason after returning to Venezuela, and recounted the experience.
- Clayton Kershaw has walked just five batters this season, and after studying them, Grant Brisbee realized the Dodgers' ace shouldn't even have that many.
- Francisco Lindor tripped on his own bat and then faceplanted while running to first.
- The Padres were rocked by the Mariners on Tuesday in embarrassing fashion, but backup catcher Christian Bethancourt gave us a new standard for position players pitching, so it wasn't all bad.
- The Braves have traded Jason Grilli to the Blue Jays, which is mostly an excuse to revisit the grilled cheese named after him.
- The first American League All-Star Game voting update is out, with the National League's coming later on Wednesday. Unless you are a Royals fan, you are probably annoyed.
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