Boston Red Sox: Mookie Betts reminds the league why he’s MVP

Reigning MVP Mookie Betts showed just how dominant he can be in leading the Boston Red Sox past the Minnesota Twins Wednesday night.

What is an MVP?  Well, an MVP is a player who could single handedly win a game on any given night.  On Wednesday night, Boston Red Sox slugger Mookie Betts reminded the league just why he’s the reigning MVP.

In the team’s 6-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park, a more aggressive Betts took control of the plate delivering five of the six runs, including two home runs.  More impressively, the two homers came on first-pitch swings.

We’ve seen these types of performances from Betts before, but Wednesday night was just another reminder of why this team needs to pay this man.  Sure, he hasn’t been as dominant throughout the season as he was in 2018, but with all he accomplished a year ago, the ceiling doesn’t get any higher.

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What is important now is that he is morphing into that player during a stretch where the team is battling for any hope to see the postseason.

Let’s go back to the first-pitch production.  With the two homers on 0-0 counts, Mookie Betts is not hitting .378 with four doubles, seven homers and 17 RBIs.  As a leadoff man, you really can’t set the tone any better than that by being aggressive and effective to start games and inning.  Folks, the numbers don’t lie.

"“You look at his numbers, and I think on the first pitch, he’s hitting close to .400 and slugging a lot,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said following the game.  “It’s the nature of him [not to swing at the first pitch].  He’s patient.  I’m not against it, but I feel that he can do this from the get-go, set the tempo.  It was good to see.”"

Entering the game in a bit of a slump, Betts going more aggressive at the plate was more about the pitcher he was facing.  The last time the Red Sox slugger faced Twins ace Jose Berrios, he was held to just one hit.

This time around, Betts did his homework and got the best of Berrios knowing that he couldn’t afford to fall behind in the count.  Berrios certainly recognized the difference in Mookie Betts at the plate on Wednesday night.

"“In reality, the last time I faced him, I dominated him, and today it was his day,” Berrios admitted.  “He obviously beat me the first two pitches, and they got the win today.  He looked very good at home plate, and obviously he was feeling good at home plate.”"

In all, Betts has to become the dominant hitter he was in 2018 for this version of the Boston Red Sox to keep their defense of their World Series championship alive well into October.

The frustrating part for Red Sox fans is that it could end up being a little too late.  It is also showing other teams just how valuable Mookie Betts is.  If he doesn’t get paid in Boston, he will certainly get the big bucks somewhere else.