Mookie?

[redsoxdirtdog]

How badly does he suck?

 

Kidding!! But, i'm a little worried that he is raking far longer to shoot the outside pitches to the oposite field, and MAY NEVER EVER recover?

 

Over under???? Where does he finish?

 

Avg. .270

 

OBP. .310

 

Slg. % .470

 

Ops. .780

 

HR's. 17

 

rbi's. 60

 

Runs scored. 90

 

RF ranking? 10th in the mlb?

 

Bowling has destroyed the kid's career? Y or N

 

I don't see the thread, so please excuse my .... whatever?

 

In full diisclosure...., I had the kid doing YUGE things this year. Disappointed with his slow adjustments for such a smart kid.

[Jasonbay44]

Mookie has made a lot of hard outs this year, I'm not worried at all, its just a slump. He'll figure it out sooner rather than later, just be patient.

[redsoxdirtdog]

Not worried. LOVE THE KID!!!!!

 

I am serious about hard numbers on the over under on the kid for this year. ???

[Kingface]

Mookie started EXTREMELY slow last year......to the point where he got moved down in the lineup for a bit. He started hammering the ball again in late June......but by then the season was pretty much done. I predicted a sophomore slump for him......and I'm wishing I was wrong. I hope the slow starts do not become too much of a pattern. The good thing is that the rest of the lineup is masking the fact that he really has not been that good at all. I think I heard the Farrell is going to give him a day or two off this week. I think that's a great idea. Maybe moving him down in the lineup may be a good as well if this continues for a few more weeks. The kid's a hard worker though......he'll get it figured out

[southpaw777]

Looks like Mookie is starting to heat up a bit...not worried about this kid at all. Hes a ballplayer.

[seannybboi]

I'm not worried about his batting avg but my concern about Mookie is his strikeout numbers are up and number of walks are down from this time last year. Through 151 PA in 2015 and 16,

2015: .241/.313/.429/.742 19 K 14 BB 5 HR 5 SB

2016: .246/.291/.401/.693 25 K, 9 BB 4 HR 7 SB

Pitchers clearly made adjustment how to attack Mookie by staying away and Mookie needs to figure out how to go to opposite field. Luckily, Mookie has two of the best teachers hitting right behind him. Mookie will be tearing in June.

[Emp9]

I don't start judging Betts until around the 50 game mark. He's batting .246... .004 higher than last season at this time. He's already well on his way to hit more HR, steal more bases, net more RBI, and score more runs than his first two seasons around this time. He's on track to do what he does, but just like last year around this time, his stats aren't jumping off the page so somehow some people think theres somekind of problem. There isn't.

[Jack Flap]

Still too early to read too much into the overall line, I think... as it is, he's on a 20 HR/35 SB pace, and the BA and OBP will end up looking strong by year's end. Not worried a bit.

[Kingface]

I don't start judging Betts until around the 50 game mark. He's batting .246... .004 higher than last season at this time. He's already well on his way to hit more HR, steal more bases, net more RBI, and score more runs than his first two seasons around this time. He's on track to do what he does, but just like last year around this time, his stats aren't jumping off the page so somehow some people think theres somekind of problem. There isn't.

 

Well......I wouldn't say 'well on his way considering he has less HR's, Less RBI's. Yes.....he has more runs (5) but that is skewed.... the players behind him are hitting WAY better than they did last year at this time and his OBP, OPS and SLG are ALL worse this year.... and he has less walks.

[Slasher9]

Maybe he is smoking weed and doesn't care. what do you think RSDD? he fits your "criteria"?

[Emp9]

Still too early to read too much into the overall line, I think... as it is, he's on a 20 HR/35 SB pace, and the BA and OBP will end up looking strong by year's end. Not worried a bit.

 

I agree ... only His BA & OBP will look strong by the end of June.

[Emp9]

Well......I wouldn't say 'well on his way considering he has less HR's, Less RBI's. Yes.....he has more runs (5) but that is skewed.... the players behind him are hitting WAY better than they did last year at this time and his OBP, OPS and SLG are ALL worse this year.... and he has less walks.

 

I'm talking about his typical first 50 or so games. We aren't there yet, so yes, he is on his way.

[Emp9]

Maybe he is smoking weed and doesn't care. what do you think RSDD? he fits your "criteria"?

 

Maybe he should, sometimes that helps:cool:

[Kingface]

I'm talking about his typical first 50 or so games. We aren't there yet, so yes, he is on his way.

 

Gotcha. I'm still a bit alarmed by his very low OBP, and low OPS though. Pedey, Papi and Ortiz will have their ups and downs just like any player so they can't keep masking Betts issues at the plate forever. He is the 'table setter' and a HUGE part of this team. I have no doubt he'll figure it out.......I just do not like the pattern of slow starts that is starting to develop.

[Kingface]

maybe he is smoking weed and doesn't care. What do you think rsdd? He fits your "criteria"?

 

haha!!

[sk7326]

It's May 10. Plenty of time to fix it. Line drive rates, hard contact rates are right in line with last season.

[Emp9]

Gotcha. I'm still a bit alarmed by his very low OBP, and low OPS though. Pedey, Papi and Ortiz will have their ups and downs just like any player so they can't keep masking Betts issues at the plate forever. He is the 'table setter' and a HUGE part of this team. I have no doubt he'll figure it out.......I just do not like the pattern of slow starts that is starting to develop.

 

Thing is, he's only our table setter because he's still our best option setting the table. One could argue maybe XB could be a better fit leading off, but remeber XB only has 5 more hits and 3 more BB than Betts. Could XB do more w/ more looks? Maybe, maybe not. I really don't know. Lead-off goes in blind the first time up every game. No cues, or hints, no wispering teamates or help 1 AB every game to start. Betts is hovering around the same production as last year. Some the same like BA, RBI,HR, some he's ahead on like SB, Runs, some he's behind on like walks. This time of year the stats that are average-dependent are very decieving due to the sample size and perception that the season isnt new any more. This seaon may not be new, but it's not that old either. Give Betts 18-20 more games, i think his #'s will start to even out then.

[redsoxdirtdog]

Maybe he is smoking weed and doesn't care. what do you think RSDD? he fits your "criteria"?

 

 

LOL. This kid is golden in my eyes... he would never! It would break his moma's heart! She warned him about hanging with t he bad boys.

 

[Maxbialystock]

I think this thread is unneeded. With Mookie leading off and leading the team in runs scored, the Sox are leading the AL in runs scored by a big margin--170 to the Rangers 147 and they've played one more game. Leading off is hard to do, so why move someone else in there? If Pedroia or Bogaerts, I would argue they are doing just fine batting 2d and 3d. Ditto everyone else in the lineup.

 

In other words, the OP wants Farrell to fix something that ain't broke.

[Jack Flap]

I agree ... only His BA & OBP will look strong by the end of June.

 

I like the way you think.

[Kingface]

I think this thread is unneeded. With Mookie leading off and leading the team in runs scored, the Sox are leading the AL in runs scored by a big margin--170 to the Rangers 147 and they've played one more game. Leading off is hard to do, so why move someone else in there? If Pedroia or Bogaerts, I would argue they are doing just fine batting 2d and 3d. Ditto everyone else in the lineup.

 

In other words, the OP wants Farrell to fix something that ain't broke.

 

Can't disagree with that. I will say though.....Pedey and Ortiz as well as Bogey have been GREAT. If they come back to earth.....and they will.....we'll need The 'old Betts' back.

 

Heck......we're Sox fans......there's ALWAYS something wrong with the team that will cause it to implode......right?? HA!

[bosoxmal]

Looks to me like he simply has to "loosen up." I hear Farrell has commented that he can hit a line drive and someone, then try to figure out what he did wrong? That says a lot. It's called PRESSING.

[Maxbialystock]

Can't disagree with that. I will say though.....Pedey and Ortiz as well as Bogey have been GREAT. If they come back to earth.....and they will.....we'll need The 'old Betts' back.

 

Heck......we're Sox fans......there's ALWAYS something wrong with the team that will cause it to implode......right?? HA!

 

You're right. Fans gotta be allowed to fix or at least improve any position on the roster.

[devildavid]

I think this thread is unneeded. With Mookie leading off and leading the team in runs scored, the Sox are leading the AL in runs scored by a big margin--170 to the Rangers 147 and they've played one more game. Leading off is hard to do, so why move someone else in there? If Pedroia or Bogaerts, I would argue they are doing just fine batting 2d and 3d. Ditto everyone else in the lineup.

 

In other words, the OP wants Farrell to fix something that ain't broke.

 

This thread was something I would consider starting after the month of May if his numbers are still bad. But just because nothing is "broken" on this team doesn't mean adjustments to the batting order can't be made. Mookie has been given the spot with the most plate appearances and so far has made the most outs, so the team is not really benefiting from having him lead off so far this season. I disagree that Mookie is the best option to lead off. Everything depends on performance. Mookie doesn't have to bat leadoff any more than JBJ has to bat eighth or ninth.

Edited May 10, 2016 by devildavid
spelling

[Kingface]

Holt has a .356obp, batting .280 and a .780ops. I'd swap Holt for Mookie in the order if Mookie doesn't get on track in a few weeks. Holt performed quite well in the past when given the leadoff spot. I'm not saying it should be a permanent move or anything......but I think Holt would be a very good leadoff hitter until Mookie gets out of his slump.

[redsoxdirtdog]

Sure it's early, that's why I would love to see some over / unders on all the catagories listed, & what you think they will be ?

 

I listed specifics that were much higher than the ones I had elsewhere, & now i'm wondering if I overshot?

 

Love the kid, & think he will come on strong, but no doubt he has been slow to adjust to the steady diet of outside sliders & FB UP & DOWN.

[devildavid]

Mookie is young so he has plenty of time to learn and develop as a player. He may be under a bit of a burden due to his meteoric rise and the expectations that come with that. So far, he is a good player, but not the obvious best on the team as some expected. At times I sense he is a bit frustrated at the plate. The mental approach for a hitter is critical, and he may not have it quite ironed out yet. I would still argue that due to his relatively lower OBP he shouldn't be presumed to be the leadoff hitter. Obviously it hasn't hurt the teams ability to score runs, but mathematically it doesn`t make sense to give him the most plate appearances if he doesn' make the most of them.

[Kimmi]

I'd give Mookie at least until the end of the month to get his numbers back on track before moving him out of the leadoff spot. That is, provided the offense continues to thrive as it has been.

 

I'm a worrier. I worry about a lot. Nowhere on my list of "things to worry about" is Mookie Betts.

[a700hitter]

I'd give Mookie at least until the end of the month to get his numbers back on track before moving him out of the leadoff spot. That is, provided the offense continues to thrive as it has been.

 

I'm a worrier. I worry about a lot. Nowhere on my list of "things to worry about" is Mookie Betts.

We know. You are consumed fretting over roster crunch.

[redsoxdirtdog]

At this point, i'd be inclined to drop him in the order to give the kid a breather.

 

XB, Pedey, Hanley, Papi, Shaw, JBJ, Mookie, Holt/Young, Vaz/ Hanigan

 

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