LOS ANGELES – This is Mookie’s world, and we’re just lucky to be a part of it.
Mookie Betts continues to show why he’s one of the best players in baseball once again. The seven-time All-Star has been playing out of his mind as of late, hitting .356 with 11 home runs and 25 RBI.
Of those 11 home runs, four of them have come in his last seven games, including a 396-foot grand slam on August 7th to give the boys in blue their sixth win in seven games, and their 65th win of the year against their bitter rivals down south in the San Diego Padres.
After a slow start to the year, Betts is now batting .284 overall, with 31 home runs, 75 RBI, and on-base percentage of .384, and a slugging percentage of .582. He’s also scored 92 runs, which is second on the team behind Freddie Freeman.
Out of those 31 home runs he’s launched, 10 of them have led off the game, which is the most in the MLB this season, four ahead of the man in second, Kyle Schwarber of the Phillies.
The most home runs leading off all-time was back in 2003 when Alfonso Soriano launched 13 for the Yankees. With Betts only three behind, and having about 50 games to go, Mookie certainly has a chance of tying the record, if not breaking it.
Mookie & Dodgers Had Sluggish First Half
The Dodgers didn’t have a great first half of the regular season by their standards, as they were chasing the Diamondbacks for the top of the division and fighting with the rest of the NL to stay in wild card position. Adding insult to injury, Mookie wasn’t playing up to his All-Star level offensively.
However, since the All-Star break, they’re 15-8, and have a five-game lead over the Giants. It took a bit more time than usual, but Mookie and the Dodgers are finally getting back to their usual ways.
August Blasts Off With 10 Games Against Division Opponents
From August 4th up until August 13th, the Dodgers will be playing ten straight games against division opponents, which will have a big impact on how the standings will play out. They already won three of their first four against San Diego, further burying the underachieving Padres. Next, Dave Roberts’ Dodgers play two games in Arizona against the Diamondbacks, before a four-game stand at home against the Colorado Rockies.
With all that he’s been able to accomplish since picking up stride in June, Mookie isn’t slowing down any time soon. From turning himself into more of a utility man by playing both second base and shortstop in addition to right field, to being an All-Star starter for the fifth time in his career, to participating in his first ever home run derby. Betts continues to be impactful on the game of baseball in various ways. All he needs to do to cap this season off is have a strong end of the regular season and postseason, and possibly win his third World Series.
Of course, it’s much easier said than done, but knowing Mookie, he makes the impossible look possible.
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