Alas, we’re taking the old metaphorical SlapChopper with us Mookie Betts. One of the more predictable, overrated posts of the past decade. If I wrote a Cal Raleigh overrated post this year it would be more predictable, but my thoughts on drafting a catcher early are: “Why?” Be thankful, you didn’t want to read 700 words referring to Cal Raleigh’s ass. Or, I guess, maybe you have. Here’s a sad big butt eyes emoji just for you. Oh well, instead of butts you get Betts. Alliteration instead of humor! In the Dodgers’ lineup, Mookie Betts sits between Shohei Ohtani and Kyle Tucker. He just needs to come to the park for 150 games and how can he not be valuable? (By the way, Strunk & White’s 101 Writing for Dummies tells you to make everything positive. So instead of writing, “Why can’t I sit?” You should write, “Why do I have to stand?” So instead of writing, “How can he not be valuable?” to Betts, I almost wrote, “He must be invaluable,” but English is such a dumb language. This was a side note that was less revealing than most.) For those who say that Betts can’t be. bust in that lineup spot, guess what? I’ll give you one guess because this one is super easy. You got it! That’s because he just played 150 games and had a line of 95/20/82/.258/8 in 589 ABs. Granted, Tucker wasn’t there yet. Yeah, poor Betts had to get between Ohtani and Freeman. The Dodgers lineup last year was real [holds nose]. No, it wasn’t! The only stinker was Betts! Bam! I got it! So, what can we expect from Mookie Betts for fantasy baseball in 2026 and what makes him overrated?
Okay, I hate to do it to you, but for someone who gets by on good vibes and bad farts like Mookie Betts, someone who is almost entirely stimulated by name value, then they should get the old Player A or Player B pick-a-whosies:
Player A: 70/20/80/.257/5 in 563 PAs
Player B: 95/20/82/.258/8 in 663 PAs
Okay, obviously Betts is player B, I just told you his line from last year. Player A will hurt your feelings and sensibilities, Jane Austen. Mookie Betts totals around 50 in checkers. Player A goes around 175. Any guesses? Come on, for the price of 25 runs and 125 spots in draft capital, someone has to be hurt or something, right? Different positions, but it’s Willson Contreras. Haha, that’s ridiculous. Willson Contreras and Mookie Betts are the same player. Oh, and Willson Contreras moved to a better lineup and park this offseason, so there’s reason for optimism with him, unlike Betts. I’ll do another one:
Player A: 66/15/77/.246/15 in 594 PAs
Player B: 95/20/82/.258/8 in 663 PAs
Stop guessing about player B! Player B is still Betts! Any ideas for player A? This time it’s the same position. There is a difference between the statlines. Player A has 30 fewer runs and five fewer home runs. He still has seven steals. If Betts is in the top 50 overall in checkers, what does this guy have to be? Around 100? Yes, that is not the case. It is Otto Lopez who is drafted 170 picks after Betts. Okay, one more:
Player A: 98/20/100/.290/27 in 720 PAs
Player B: 95/20/82/.258/8 in 663 PAs
Player B is Betts! Stop guessing! Okay, player A is clearly better. He better, he better, he not Betts. So why does Geraldo Perdomo go 30 picks after Betts? Nobody knows. I hate to do this to Mookie Betts, but it gets worse:
I could write down and spell out each of those numbers, but here’s what that tells me. His bat speed is a problem and he can no longer hit the ball hard. That’s the profile of the aging hitter I fear most. A guy who still has his plate discipline, but when he hits the ball it goes nowhere. His ExitVelo went from 92.4 MPH in 2023 to 89.1 MPH. This coincided with his position change, so perhaps it will take more out of him to play infield every day. Mine is not to reason why, but to do or die, and I’ll be damned if I’m drafting Mookie Betts. Stamp him schmohawk and avoid!
#Mookie #Betts #Fantasy #Schmohawk