With all that has gone wrong this year we have ... Mookie Betts.
It was hard for me, someone used to watching players like David Ortiz or Manny Ramirez, to grasp that Betts, while perhaps possessing no single overwhelming skill is nonetheless already as valuable as those guys in their prime because he does everything well. He is one of the best players in the league at age 22. He really should be an All-Star, though the process (and the Red Sox record) will work against him.
The best position player, in terms of bWAR, on the Red Sox last three championships teams:
2004 Damon 4.2
2007 Ortiz 6.4
2013 Pedroia 6.3
Betts has 4.0 wins half way through the season. This is one measure, sure, but ... Mookie Betts.
It was hard for me, someone used to watching players like David Ortiz or Manny Ramirez, to grasp that Betts, while perhaps possessing no single overwhelming skill is nonetheless already as valuable as those guys in their prime because he does everything well. He is one of the best players in the league at age 22. He really should be an All-Star, though the process (and the Red Sox record) will work against him.
The best position player, in terms of bWAR, on the Red Sox last three championships teams:
2004 Damon 4.2
2007 Ortiz 6.4
2013 Pedroia 6.3
Betts has 4.0 wins half way through the season. This is one measure, sure, but ... Mookie Betts.