Can Mookie Betts Season be Topped?
Can the season that Mookie Betts just had as a professional baseball player ever be topped? Now I’m not talking about statistically because somebody could definitely top a .346 batting avg., 32 hrs and 80 rbis, granted it wouldn’t be easy. But if you think about his season all around with the stats, the awards and titles, what an incredible 2018. Last night Mookie Betts finished off the year taking home the AL MVP award beating out Mike Trout of the Angels who finished 2nd and Jose Ramirez of the Indians who finished 3rd. The AL MVP is just another award in a long list of recognitions that Mookie took home this season. Let’s start with the team accomplishments because those are obviously the most important. The Red Sox set a franchise record with 108 wins on their way to the to their 3rd consecutive AL East title. As we all know, the Red Sox would go on to win the AL Championship Series over the reigning World Series champs in the Houston Astros and then bring home the ultimate prize of a World Series by knocking off the Los Angeles Dodgers in 5 games.
Most players would simply be happy with a World Series Championship but there was much more to come for Mookie Betts in regards to individual awards. Mookie Betts not only won a Gold Glove for being the best defensive player at his position, he also won a Silver Slugger for being the best offensively at his position. Then of course what is being the best offensively and best defensively at your position likely to do for you? Put you in contention for the AL MVP. In the end Mookie Betts finished the season with an AL East title, World Series title, AL MVP, Golden Glove and a Silver Slugger award. Literally the only thing he didn’t win was the World Series MVP or the All Star game MVP, but still Mookie Betts just put together one of the most impressive seasons by a single player in Major League history that is borderline impossible to top.
FYI: Mike Trout has now finished 1st or 2nd in MVP voting 6 times in the 7 seasons he’s played in the MLB. Also the one year he missed out on the top 2 he finished 4th and would have won the award if not for getting injured and missing 50 games. Mike Trout could get in the hall of fame if he retired today.