The Mookie Betts Performance Thread

[jung]

But why is Devers hitting better?

 

He is growing into his uni. He is 22 for God sake. Pitchers are still willing to pitch to him for some ridiculous reason.

 

The other night, Sanchez had two on and two out and threw it to the backstop with Devers at the plate. Sanchez is a RH pitcher. As soon as that went to the backstop they should have just walked Devers and pitched to X regardless of how good X is hitting this year. Instead they pitch to Devers now with two in scoring position and two out and of course Devers pounds Panini Sandwiches senseless and the Sox score two runs. So Rafi is still growing into a serious reputation so far unacknowledged by the slow on the uptake MLB.

[vegasbob]

In mookie's comments on his July turnaround, which has been great, he himself said that everything he had tried earlier in the season to adjust were the wrong things. So it tells me one thing or another. Cora and the coaches couldn't figure out where Mookie was going wrong, or they were coaching him correctly but the MVP didn't listen and adapt.

 

For a big time trade deadline improvement, DD should trade Brasier to the Dodgers for JDM's hitting guru coach.

[Bellhorn04]

But why is Devers hitting better?

 

Devers has the equally hot Bogey behind him.

 

But Bogey has the struggling JD behind him, so how Bogey is staying hot is anyone's guess.

[Slasher9]

Fine. It's the baseballs. But the Sox lead MLB in scoring right now with this stupid manager and his terrible lineups. Are you saying that the Sox are the only team allowed to hit these specially juiced baseballs?

 

No. I never said any such thing. But you know that.

[moonslav59]

No. I never said any such thing. But you know that.

 

It is interesting that we are second in runs scored and 18th in HRs.

 

Must be the excellent line-up construction!

Edited July 19, 2019 by moonslav59

[devildavid]

He is growing into his uni. He is 22 for God sake. Pitchers are still willing to pitch to him for some ridiculous reason.

 

The other night, Sanchez had two on and two out and threw it to the backstop with Devers at the plate. Sanchez is a RH pitcher. As soon as that went to the backstop they should have just walked Devers and pitched to X regardless of how good X is hitting this year. Instead they pitch to Devers now with two in scoring position and two out and of course Devers pounds Panini Sandwiches senseless and the Sox score two runs. So Rafi is still growing into a serious reputation so far unacknowledged by the slow on the uptake MLB.

 

So his improved hitting is self generated, and not dependent on who hits before or after him?

[devildavid]

Devers has the equally hot Bogey behind him.

 

But Bogey has the struggling JD behind him, so how Bogey is staying hot is anyone's guess.

 

So why not bat Leon before Devers and make him into a good hitter?

[Bellhorn04]

8th player in MLB history with 5 3-homer games.

 

OPS up to .906.

 

What say you?

[notin]

Devers has the equally hot Bogey behind him.

 

But Bogey has the struggling JD behind him, so how Bogey is staying hot is anyone's guess.

 

Betts had 4 3-HR games without Devers batting behind him. But now that it has happened one time with the red-hot Devers, it’s undeniable proof that “support” in the lineup and BOP are real and important...

[Jasonbay44]

8th player in MLB history with 5 3-homer games.

 

OPS up to .906.

 

What say you?

 

As I've said all season, he isn't a problem, its only a matter of time before he turns it up, and letting him walk with be a ridiculous mistake. He is a special talent and these players don't come around often. Pay him.

[notin]

As I've said all season, he isn't a problem, its only a matter of time before he turns it up, and letting him walk with be a ridiculous mistake. He is a special talent and these players don't come around often. Pay him.

 

Paying Betts would be great.

 

But come 2021, this team will have a serious financial crunch with no good cheap players filling holes for them.

 

A lot of Sox fans complain about Bradley’s offense. Wait til they see how his replacement hits...

[jung]

So his improved hitting is self generated, and not dependent on who hits before or after him?

 

 

Rafi might be seeing some better pitches to hit batting ahead of X. But he really does not need them. Neither does Bellinger for that matter. Devers dives across the batter's box because pitchers are not good enough at pitching inside to stop him and Bellinger does not have to dive across. He plants himself in the box with his lead elbow hung out over the inner third of the plate and pitcher's don't stop him either. As such both Bellinger and Rafi reach out as much as 3-6 inches outside the plate and can knock the rocket ship over the wall. They are allowed by the legions of s*** pitchers that occupy MLB unis these days to just cover the whole plate. Don Drysdale is likely turning in his grave. Point being I cannot even tell if Rafi is seeing better pitches hitting ahead of X. Rafi is out of the AB and on his way around the bases before most pitchers are even up to a 2-1 count.

 

Mookie does not do that. That is not his swing and he is not going to convert to a Bellinger or Rafi-like approach at this stage of his career. Why should he? As long as he is seeing good pitches to hit and not wasting swings on pitches he can't hit (which is what he was doing earlier this year) he is fine. But he will always need what are for him good pitches to hit. Why do you think Mookie was swinging at so many lousy pitches to hit early in the year, pitches he could not even get a bat onto? Do you think the notion just struck him to swing at that s*** or do you think it more likely that he was just not seeing enough of the pitches he rakes on and started seeing pitches that really were not good pitches for him as pitches he maybe should swing at.

 

You can guess at what point in the season I think Mookie started seeing more of what for him are good pitches to hit.

 

Just as an aside, it does not matter the level of serious baseball a hitter is playing at when he starts to slump and knows he is not seeing the pitches he is used to seeing. He thinks in his own mind that he is NEVER again going to see the volume of HIS pitches to hit ever again, that the league has figured him out. As unrealistic and pessimistic an expectation as that might seem to people that have never faced that predicament, that is what happens in the hitter's head. He was seeing nothing hitting ahead of Beni and he knows it. So there is that as well, the effect hitting ahead of Rafi might have had in Mookies head is as real as the actual fact of seeing better pitches for him to hit....like it or not.

Edited July 27, 2019 by jung

[notin]

Rafi might be seeing some better pitches to hit batting ahead of X. But he really does not need them. Neither does Bellinger for that matter. Devers dives across the batter's box because pitchers are not good enough at pitching inside to stop him and Bellinger does not have to dive across. He plants himself in the box with his lead elbow hung out over the inner third of the plate and pitcher's don't stop him either. As such both Bellinger and Rafi reach out as much as 3-6 inches outside the plate and can knock the rocket ship over the wall. They are allowed by the legions of s*** pitchers that occupy MLB unis these days to just cover the whole plate. Don Drysdale is likely turning in his grave. Point being I cannot even tell if Rafi is seeing better pitches hitting ahead of X. Rafi is out of the AB and on his way around the bases before most pitchers are even up to a 2-1 count.

 

Mookie does not do that. That is not his swing and he is not going to convert to a Bellinger or Rafi-like approach at this stage of his career. Why should he? As long as he is seeing good pitches to hit and not wasting swings on pitches he can't hit (which is what he was doing earlier this year) he is fine. But he will always need what are for him good pitches to hit. Why do you think Mookie was swinging at so many lousy pitches to hit early in the year, pitches he could not even get a bat onto? Do you think the notion just struck him to swing at that s*** or do you think it more likely that he was just not seeing enough of the pitches he rakes on and started seeing pitches that really were not good pitches for him as pitches he maybe should swing at.

 

You can guess at what point in the season I think Mookie started seeing more of what for him are good pitches to hit.

 

Just as an aside, it does not matter the level of serious baseball a hitter is playing at when he starts to slump and knows he is not seeing the pitches he is used to seeing. He thinks in his own mind that he is NEVER again going to see the volume of HIS pitches to hit ever again, that the league has figured him out. As unrealistic and pessimistic an expectation as that might seem to people that have never faced that predicament, that is what happens in the hitter's head. He was seeing nothing hitting ahead of Beni and he knows it. So there is that as well, the effect hitting ahead of Rafi might have had in Mookies head is as real as the actual fact of seeing better pitches for him to hit....like it or not.

 

Mookie had an OPS over 1.000 last year batting in front of Benintendi.

 

And really, the argument is that Betts sees better pitches because pitchers fear Devers with a man on base? Betts is the reigning AL MVP. He’s not a guy who needs protection in a lineup (if you believe in that); he’s a guy who provides protection...

[jung]

Mookie had an OPS over 1.000 last year batting in front of Benintendi.

 

And really, the argument is that Betts sees better pitches because pitchers fear Devers with a man on base? Betts is the reigning AL MVP. He’s not a guy who needs protection in a lineup (if you believe in that); he’s a guy who provides protection...

 

This year's beni is not last year's beni for one AND I am sure you know that. All pitchers especially in this version of MLB try to get hitters to chase including Mookie. Mookie WAS chasing much more early in this season.

 

You can shimmy and shake all you want to...the notion that the batting order does not matter is a laughable absurdity. While you quoted my post, you did zippo to answer it.

 

When Cora put Mookie, Rafi, X 1,2, 3 in the order Mookie's season turned around and the entire offense turned around. If you want to live in denial of that, be my guest.

Edited July 27, 2019 by jung

[moonslav59]

Mookie is back!

[notin]

This year's beni is not last year's beni for one AND I am sure you know that. All pitchers especially in this version of MLB try to get hitters to chase including Mookie. Mookie WAS chasing much more early in this season.

 

You can shimmy and shake all you want to...the notion that the batting order does not matter is a laughable absurdity. While you quoted my post, you did zippo to answer it.

 

When Cora put Mookie, Rafi, X 1,2, 3 in the order Mookie's season turned around and the entire offense turned around. If you want to live in denial of that, be my guest.

 

Extremely weak.

 

Last year’s Benintendi is nowhere near this year’s Devers and you know it.

 

You can argue that the team turned around with the lineup change, but the fact remains Betts has shown himself to be a better hitter in the past with lesser hitters than Devers behind him. But I guess a lot hinges on one game against a struggling pitcher and we should ignore Bets career to date. Including the comments about the adjustments he was making that just weren’t working. It’s not you, Millie. It’s Benintendi!!

[Bellhorn04]

Extremely weak.

 

Last year’s Benintendi is nowhere near this year’s Devers and you know it.

 

You can argue that the team turned around with the lineup change, but the fact remains Betts has shown himself to be a better hitter in the past with lesser hitters than Devers behind him. But I guess a lot hinges on one game against a struggling pitcher and we should ignore Bets career to date. Including the comments about the adjustments he was making that just weren’t working. It’s not you, Millie. It’s Benintendi!!

 

As I posted earlier, Beni had an .809 OPS in the #2 spot last year and an .809 OPS in the #2 spot this year.

[jung]

Extremely weak.

 

Last year’s Benintendi is nowhere near this year’s Devers and you know it.

 

You can argue that the team turned around with the lineup change, but the fact remains Betts has shown himself to be a better hitter in the past with lesser hitters than Devers behind him. But I guess a lot hinges on one game against a struggling pitcher and we should ignore Bets career to date. Including the comments about the adjustments he was making that just weren’t working. It’s not you, Millie. It’s Benintendi!!

 

And your argument is what? Betts just decided to swing at crap earlier this year? I did not say a damed thing about one game against one pitcher. You stat guys need to get a life because as soon as you are challenged you turn rather bitchy about your binkie.

[notin]

And your argument is what? Betts just decided to swing at crap earlier this year? I did not say a damed thing about one game against one pitcher. You stat guys need to get a life because as soon as you are challenged you turn rather bitchy about your binkie.

 

According to Betts, he was doing a poor job with pitch selection and adjustments.

 

The game thread (for my brief entry) was really deep into “See? Lineup protection works.”

 

It is amazing how often I get called a “Stat Guy” despite how infrequently I actually quote stats..

[Bellhorn04]

According to Betts, he was doing a poor job with pitch selection and adjustments.

 

And this was actually being said in game threads. "Mookie is looking at pitches right down the middle and then swinging at crap!"

[jung]

So you guys think what, that Mookie just woke up one morning and decided to start swinging at crap and letting good pitches go by or does it make more sense that Mookie was not getting enough good pitches early in the season and got anxious and confused by it?

 

If you boys think it JUST HAPPENED then we better trade him because it can JUST HAPPEN again.

[Bellhorn04]

So you guys think what, that Mookie just woke up one morning and decided to start swinging at crap and letting good pitches go by or does it make more sense that Mookie was not getting enough good pitches early in the season and got anxious and confused by it?

 

If you boys think it JUST HAPPENED then we better trade him because it can JUST HAPPEN again.

 

jung, for most of the games in April and May Mookie was batting second, with X-Bo or JDM behind him, and Beni leading off.

 

So the Beni factor is out the window anyway.

[notin]

So you guys think what, that Mookie just woke up one morning and decided to start swinging at crap and letting good pitches go by or does it make more sense that Mookie was not getting enough good pitches early in the season and got anxious and confused by it?

 

If you boys think it JUST HAPPENED then we better trade him because it can JUST HAPPEN again.

 

What exactly is your point?

 

It’s it like Mookie was struggling with a sub-.600 OPS before Devers moved to the 2 spot. The guy is a reigning MVP for a reason, and that reason isn’t the guy hitting behind him...

[devildavid]

Mookie seems to be adjusting his approach lately and it is leading to positive results. I'm now optimistic that he could go on a real tear.

[dannycater]

What I loved about Betts 3-HR game was his first at bat, he rarely adjusts to the Monster. He has been religious with his lightning bolt fast level swing, but he did a Xander on that at bat. Just lifted it out of the park. Vasquez does it too. Xander's power has been as much about his ability to lift the ball with an angle upper cut, not a big swing, just a nice job of abusing these wiffle balls that are baseballs in 2019. Betts has robbed himself at times by his level line drive swing. Some balls that would leave the park if he adjusted to today's upper cut. Anyway, go Mookie, go Sox!

[dannycater]

The fact that Mookie and Beni are both ripping the ball of late is making it a monster hit show because JD is also on a tear and Devers, Xander, Vasquez, Holt, Chavis (what a godsend to replace Pearce/Moreland and Nunez all in one) seem to be on season-long hot streaks.

[Bellhorn04]

Chavis (what a godsend to replace Pearce/Moreland and Nunez all in one) seem to be on season-long hot streaks.

 

Chavis OPS 790

Moreland OPS 852

 

Mitch has actually been pretty good too, when we can get him onto the field LOL

[moonslav59]

Chavis OPS 790

Moreland OPS 852

 

Mitch has actually been pretty good too, when we can get him onto the field LOL

 

I think we'll see Moreland at 1B vs RHPs, Chavis at 1B vs LHPs and 2B vs RHPs with Holt at 2B vs LHPs.

[dannycater]

Moreland singlehandedly kept the Sox 5 games ahead in the standings with clutch hits to either win or save games....but as mentioned he can't stay on the field since early in the season.

[moonslav59]

Moreland singlehandedly kept the Sox 5 games ahead in the standings with clutch hits to either win or save games.

 

Indeed.

 

The guy he replaced, Marco, was doing a good Moreland impression before being demoted.