Mookie Betts is earning every penny hes paid by the Dodgers – Los Angeles Times

Emphasizes from the Dodgers 8-3 win over the Angels on Sunday.

So much for the worries that Betts power was amplified by the unbalanced layout of the Boston Red Soxs home park and would not equate to Dodger Stadium. He balanced 27 crowning achievement the last five seasons in Boston.
“You know, Fenway Park, theres doubles, its a short left field. To see it at our ballpark, at night, it just delighted me.”

Anybody who says such achievement ought to be gotten out of a $300-million gamer has a point.
To a degree.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, baseball was a $10-billion-a-year company. The financial environment made gifted however imperfect gamers such as Bryce Harper and Manny Machado $300-million players.
Ridiculous as it appears, Betts deal could be classified as a deal, especially when considering the $115 million in deferrals.

Whichs made him a rewarding investment.

That power was showcased Thursday, when Betts blasted three home runs in a victory over the San Diego Padres. The three-home-run video game was the sixth of his career, equating to the record formerly shared by Johnny Mize and Sammy Sosa.

He also has a steadiness that separates him from the other elite athletes who have actually played for the Dodgers in recent years– Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig and Cody Bellinger.
Mike Trout of the Angels might be the only other player as vibrant and consistent as Betts.
” I cant keep in mind anybody like that or like Trout,” Roberts said.
Roberts stated the 2 superstars have something in common, which is an openness to guideline.

Listed at 5 foot 9 and 180 pounds, Betts resembles a singles player. An active imagination could make him appear like a doubles hitter.
In truth, his slender and short frame includes genuine home-run power.
” Its more power than I anticipated,” Roberts stated. “You know that theres the bat-to-ball, you know the defense, the arm strength, the accuracy, the foot speed.

” When you have a particular talent and carry out at a particular level, theres constantly that kind of natural innateness of, Ive figured it out, I dont require to be coached,” Roberts said. “And, really, those two players have actually said it lots of times over, if theyre not being coached, then somethings wrong.”
The quality has actually made them all-around gamers. Roberts pointed to how when Betts began slowly on offense– he batted.200 in the very first week of the season– he assisted the Dodgers win with his defense.
” Thats the difference in between good gamers and great gamers,” Roberts said.

The early-season performance has made the Dodgers brand-new leadoff player a rarity in a city sustained by excessive buzz and populated by D-list celebs. Betts isnt tricks gold.” Its more power than I expected,” Roberts said. There were concerns that Betts low-key attitude could limit his appeal in a town that celebrates extra-large personalities. Roberts continued, “I will say that due to the fact that they do not get to see him in individual every day, you just cant appreciate what he does.

This has to be a first, a player finalizing for $365 million and in some way overdelivering.
Whether expectations were tempered because baseballs marketing failures kept him a relatively unidentified in this part of the country or because fans have discovered profitable agreements do not ensure production, the reality is that Mookie Betts has been a revelation to Los Angeles.
Betts was expected to be great, excellent even. Rather, hes been great.
The early-season efficiency has made the Dodgers brand-new leadoff player a rarity in a city sustained by excessive buzz and occupied by D-list stars. Betts isnt fools gold.

There were concerns that Betts subtle behavior might limit his appeal in a town that commemorates extra-large personalities. That might well hold true. But theres likewise the possibility that his meaningful style of play might offset that and permit him to turn into one of the couple of soft-spoken professional athletes to go beyond sports in this city.
Asked to picture how fans would be getting him if Dodger Stadium were open, Roberts responded, “I think that you must have about 40,000 No. 50 jerseys.”
Roberts continued, “I will say that due to the fact that they dont get to see him personally every day, you simply cant appreciate what he does. Running out to his position. On the bench, enjoying the video game, speaking with his teammates. The dives on the baseball in the outfield and the ground that he truly covers out there. And obviously how his colleagues react to him when he gets a base hit or a homer or how he responds to the success of his colleagues.”
While Betts said he tries to not believe about the pressure of playing up to his agreement, he acknowledged, “Not going to say its not there, but Im simply accepting it. Im just going in and playing my game and doing what I always do, not attempting to do more, not trying to do less.”

” I just do not understand how numerous more superlatives you can include,” supervisor Dave Roberts said.
More than a 3rd of the way into an abbreviated season, the Dodgers have the best record in the National League. Betts has been their driving force.
The former American League MVP improved his average to.314 and drove in his 19th run in an 8-3 road win over the Angels on Sunday. His 8 crowning achievement are the most on the group.
Hes a much better protector than marketed, smarter than promoted and certainly more effective than advertised.