Because the season winds down, the Nationwide League MVP award stays up for grabs. Proper now it’s a two man race between Ronald Acuna of the Braves and Dodgers famous person Mookie Betts.
Instances could possibly be made for each gamers to win the award as they’re each within the high 3 of most main offensive statistical classes. Based on Dodgers basic supervisor Brandon Gomes although, he believes Betts has the sting for his versatility.
“From our standpoint, his capacity to play a number of positions speaks volumes,” Gomes mentioned. “It has allowed us to get each of our nook outfielders — each (Jason) Heyward and (David) Peralta — into the lineup with regularity. … (Plus), if there’s a extremely robust lefty, we will hit one in all our right-handed-hitting infielders, and we will kick (Betts) again out to proper discipline, and we don’t miss a beat, defensively.”
Betts has performed a mess of positions on the diamond this yr. He’s performed a profession excessive in video games at second base and continued his elite protection at proper discipline. With a crowded outfield, it has made sense for Dave Roberts to maintain transferring Mookie round.
Some of the helpful positions Betts has performed is at shortstop. Earlier than the season Betts by no means performed the place. With some convincing to Roberts, Betts has performed 16 video games there.
When enjoying the shortstop place, Betts has been one of many Dodgers’ greatest offensive threats to play the place.
“Prior to creating a few of the strikes we did, we actually didn’t have one other shortstop,” Gomes mentioned. “So for Mookie to go play shortstop at no less than a median stage, along with second and proper discipline, actually helped us maintain our heads above water till we might get some reinforcements.”
By way of The Athletic
At present Betts solely completion is Acuna for the award. The Braves outfielder is presently first within the league in on base proportion, OPS, runs scored, stolen bases and hits.
Betts is high 5 in all these classes however has the next WAR on the season than Acuna.
Gomes thinks that although Acuna could have the stats over Betts, the Dodgers star ought to nonetheless obtain the award.
“You might argue passionately, for those who’re simply statistics, each side,” Gomes mentioned. “You might say that Mookie positively ought to have it, Ronald positively ought to have it, after which including that (versatility) layer on Mookie’s facet, it simply felt prefer it was an necessary piece for folks to know and digest.”
By way of The Athletic
Whereas there nonetheless is per week left to find out the MVP, it’s going to be a photograph end between the celebs of the 2 greatest groups within the Nationwide League.
Photograph Credit score: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports activities
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