Dave Roberts Evaluates Mookie Betts’ Confidence as MVP Candidate Keeps Delivering for Dodgers: “He’s Taking Walks When Needed”

The Los Angeles Dodgers are currently the most star-studded squad in baseball. But what makes it absurd is that all of those stars are firing on all cylinders right now. And that’s what makes Mookie Betts’ current performances so extraordinary. In a squad that has the who’s who of baseball, it’s Betts who is creating history. The sheer consistency present in Betts’ performances is a sight to behold. So is it a surprise that the skipper has nothing but praises for his shortstop?

Usually, there’s one question that’s asked of most players: “Which stat are they leading in?” However, things are different in the case of Betts. For him, the question is, “In which stat is Betts not leading?” Day after day, game after game, the story remains similar. Mookie Betts steps up on the plate and becomes a nightmare for every pitcher. 

“He’s playing really good baseball,” Dave Roberts said about Betts in his postgame conference. “I just think that every time he steps in the batter’s box, he’s expecting something good to happen. He’s taking consistently good at-bats, he’s taking walks when needed and he’s gotten a lot of big hits for us.” 

Betts continued his good form against the Arizona Diamondbacks yesterday. The former MVP went 3-for-5 with two RBIs. The star was pivotal in extending the Dodgers’ lead and ultimately leading them to an 8-0 triumph over the D-Backs. However, it’s his overall numbers this season that are eye-opening. 

With a WAR of 3.2 in 33 games, Betts is on pace to have a WAR unseen by most players in history. Is another  MVP season really on for the Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop?

Mookie Betts’ dominance across the league is a giant blessing for the Dodgers

According to baseball-reference, Mookie Betts currently leads the league in runs scored (29), hits (49), Walks (26), and WAR (3.2). On top of that, his average of .377 and 1.104 OPS are also the highest in the league. So is his OPS+ of 212. Leading in both walks and hits is an extremely rare phenomenon in modern baseball.

Since 11901, only four players have led their league in both hits and walks. The last one was Lanny Dykstra in 1993. Can Betts do the unthinkable? With the level that he’s operating in, it certainly wouldn’t surprise anyone if Betts joins those players. Even if he doesn’t, the superstar is certainly the engine that is keeping the entire Dodgers running. Perhaps that’s why the skipper is so high on Betts.

More importantly, Roberts is trying not to interfere with whatever it is that the star is doing. What isn’t broken doesn’t require fixing, and Roberts understands that more than anyone else.