Look, I’ll be the first to say I think major league baseball salaries can get bloated. Given the frequency with which $ 300 million contracts are awarded these days, that’s absurd. We can sit here and discuss whether these players are making that money by providing stats, data, revenue for the team, etc. goes a long way in supporting their $ 365 million deal.
While the back end of these deals is where we judge these players (you don’t have to go far to see this, just check out Betts ‘teammates, Albert Pujols’ stats for years eight, nine and ten of these 10 YR / $ 240 to M-Deal), we can say that Betts makes his living at the front end of his 12-year pact with the Dodgers.
Players get these contracts to perform on the big stage. Baseball players are nothing more than entertainers, aren’t they? In his two years since returning from Boston, Betts has delivered a World Series title and a trip to the National League Championship Series. His regular season stats (and days on the field too) may be insignificant, but his postseason numbers are the reason he makes his paycheck.
Mookie Betts’ stats are why the Dodgers have seen posts-season success lately.
In a winning take-all game 5 against the San Francisco Giants, we knew the runs were going to be very popular. We thought the baserunners would have a minimum too. Betts was 4-4. High tension, not for him.
Mookie Betts is now 13-24 (.542) in six playoff games since joining the Dodgers. VON ELIAS: His 13 hits are the most in the history of the MLB postseason in all six qualifying games. Betts made it to the Dodgers in his first six.
– Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) October 15, 2021
Betts singled out and stole second base in the sixth inning, and later scored the Corey Seager double, giving the Dodgers their first run of the game. In his three other at-bats, Betts led the inning twice and carried out a runner on the base. All four times he was the table setter for the Dodgers and made up half of their hits in the game.
While the Dodgers continue to play The Braves, Betts has another series to shine. Another series to show your worth and prove your worth. Another series to make numbers up and popular with Dodgers fans. The early returns on the mammoth contract are positive. Can you say that Betts will pay for his 12 year contract in the first two years? It is possible.
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