Peter Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
The Boston Red Sox have struggled for the better part of two months, and one of the most perplexing and frustrating reasons for those issues has been their complete lack of offense. This was a team that was built to score a lot of runs and get by with fair starting pitching. So far, it really hasn’t happened that way. However, very recently Boston has shown some signs of the offense they were expecting. A lot of that is due to center fielder Mookie Betts.
Betts has been on an absolute tear, batting .548 in his last eight games. He has also raised his average to about .270. His defense has always been very consistent, but the big issue with him this season was the fact that he was experiencing some serious slumps. It almost felt that if he was slumping, the rest of the team would as well. Betts appears to be the catalyst to their offense.
He is so great to watch on the base paths because he brings a certain dynamic of speed to Boston’s offense they haven’t had since Jacoby Ellsbury left. Have you noticed that since Ellsbury left, the offense has not been nearly the same as it used to be? That is a direct reflection as to how Boston has been struggling. I get that they were never going to bring Ellsbury back, but I could not understand why they wouldn’t get a player with a similar skill set. And I don’t mean one who had been out of MLB for three years. Put your hand down, Grady Sizemore.
Betts not only has incredible offensive skills, but he appears to have a high baseball intelligence as well which makes him very exciting to watch. He just seems to have a great feel for the game.
It’s funny that ever since he ran into a wall and got knocked out for a few games, he has been tearing the ball. I sure hope more players don’t try that to break out of slumps.
Carter Roane is a Boston Red Sox writer for www.RantSports.com. “Like” him on Facebook, follow him on Twitter@CarterGRoane or add him to your network on Google.
