Instead of simply focusing on standings this week, let’s take a second to consider some of the possible fallout of this year’s playoff race. There are some teams who are right where they need to be, while others have underwhelmed all season. Will a late season collapse cause our MLBbros to lose money this offseason?
What if the Chicago White Sox miss the playoffs?
Tim Anderson and the Chicago White Sox came into this season talking World Series or bust, and how could you blame them? Coming off a 93-win season and their first back-to-back playoff appearances in team history, the Sox were loaded with talent and looked poised to bounce back from a disappointing first round exit at the hands of Dusty Baker and the Houston Astros.
But instead of coasting to another division crown in a mediocre division, the White Sox have struggled all season and are now fighting for their playoff lives. If they don’t win the division, they most likely will miss the playoffs, which puts serious questions around their proverbial World Series “window”.
The first questions will surround the job status of Hall of Fame manager Tony LaRussa, who was sidelined recently due to heart issues. Since he arrived in Chicago the team has seemingly lost all life and missing the playoffs after being brought in to win a ring may force the White Sox to look in another direction.
Will Josh Bell get his paper?
The San Diego Padres acquired Josh Bell from the Nationals in the package that brought superstar Juan Soto to town, but the move hasn’t yielded the results they expected. But not only has the team struggled, Bell’s production has fallen off tremendously. Before the trade, Bell was easily the best switch hitter in baseball. Unfortunately for San Diego, Josh has struggled to find the same footing on the West Coast. What makes it even worse is that this is a contract year for Bell and his numbers have cratered.
In his last 30 games, Bell has slashed .222/.311/.342 with three home runs, nine RBI and 27 strikeouts, numbers that may make teams hesitate before handing over a nine-figure deal to the first baseman.
Where would another World Series ring and MVP mean for Mookie Betts?
The first two scenarios aren’t as positive as this one, but most players haven’t reached the heights Mookie Betts has. The Dodgers are World Series favorites in the National League, and Betts has been a major contributor for Dave Roberts’ guys. Now Mookie has already collected a World Series and Series MVP while a member of the Boston Red Sox, and if he were to collect the same hardware in Los Angeles it would make history.
No player has ever won a World Series and Series MVP in both leagues, so if Betts were to accomplish the feat there would surely need to be a reshuffling of the best players in baseball list. In fact, it would be time to start discussing Mookie’s rank all-time.
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