This blog will be published long after opening day, because I have other things to do. My golf game isn't going to improve itself, after all.
I love baseball. I feel like I could start and end this blog with those words, so maybe I will. Guess you'll have to read the whole thing to find out. But yeah, Opening Day was a blessing, and we already have what seems like MLB in midseason form:
1. Alex Rodriguez making no sense:
2. ESPN completely missing an entire at-bat, and then some:
3. Clayton Kershaw out with back issues, again.
It's like coming home after vacation and sitting on your own couch for the first time in a week, this is indescribably comforting to me. I belong here.
One of the biggest storylines from the extended offseason was the Dodger's extending Mookie Betts' contract for another 12 years. The ESPN crew were quick to point out an interesting comparison between the Dodgers' current lineup and that of the 1963 New York Yankees, a team you may have heard of. Apparently, this Betts-Bellinger combination is the most recent instance of two outfielders, who had each won MVP in the last two seasons, playing the outfield together. The previous two players? Mickey Mantle (the OG Mike Trout) and Roger Maris, the purist's home run champ.
Let's start with Mookie Betts, the best bowler in Major League Baseball. He originally signed with the Dodgers for just one year, reminiscent of the rent-a-star deal Manny Machado signed in 2018 (both players were previously tearing up the AL East, interestingly). But before the first pitch of 2020 was even thrown, Betts inked the second-richest deal in MLB history, locking him in at $365 million dollars until 2032. Just last summer, we saw the Big Fish make a big splash, with Mike Trout signing a $430-million dollar contract with the Angels. It's a remarkable thing to have two recent MVP's in the same city*, but what about three on the same team? To be more specific, what about having two in the same outfield?
To answer that question, let's go back in time to get a feel for one of the greatest outfielders, and all-around athletes, of all time: Mickey Mantle. Mantle was fresh off a MONSTER 1962 campaign, when he led the Bigs in OPS, OPS+, on-base percentage, slugging, and, of course, MVP voting. Minds better than mine hypothesize that if not for his horrific knee injury sustained as a 19 year-old rookie, numbers like the ones he posted in '62 would have been average for Mickey. Either way, it's not like the Yanks needed any help scoring runs.
Roger Maris. In the eyes of the anti-juice purist, he recorded the best single-season home run performance in 1961, hitting 61 home runs in 161 games. Simple math would reveal that he also lead the league in total bases, RBI's, and runs that year. A stellar set of accomplishments in their own right, but what's really interesting is that he managed to secure his second consecutive American League MVP award, an achievement not seen since 1957. Take a guess who that was.
If you guessed Ernie Banks, you're wrong. I specifically asked about the American League MVP, because the right answer is...Mickey Mantle.
Yep. That's quite an outfield. Just between the two of them, a combined career WAR of 148.5, 30 seasons of outstanding baseball, 20 All-Star game appearances, and 5 MVP awards. And, there was another player out there with them, because apparently it takes more than two guys to cover all that ground. So, now that we've covered what happened the last time two recent MVP's stalked the same outfield, let's jump to this young season, and the careers (thus far) of two of the game's brightest stars.
Like we did with the Yanks, let's start with the younger guy: Cody Bellinger. Belli enters truncated 2020 season fresh off an NL MVP season of his own: 1.035 OPS, 351 total bases, and 21 intentional walks (the latter two of which are league-bests). Compared with Mickey's 1962, Bellinger's season looks okay at best. But remember Christian Yelich? No, not Pete Davidson, the other wiry, tired-looking young millionaire. Yeah, he had an absolutely impeccable 2019 campaign. Yelich led the league in the following: batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage (and therefore OPS), OPS+, and finished second in MVP voting. And you know what? Bellinger won MVP over Yelich. Clearly the BBWAA knows how to judge players better than I do (he typed through gritted teeth), so it really means something that Bellinger could have possibly won NL MVP over such a powerhouse. Speaking of dethroning the obvious MVP choice... SOUND THE TROUT HORN!
Yeah, we need to talk about Mike Trout. I think I'll figure out a way to mention him in every baseball related blog I write - and you shouldn't have a problem with that. Why? Well, speaking of MVP voting, the lowest he's ever finished is fourth. He's making a case for GOAT, whether you like it or not. And for as good as Jersey Mike is, Mookie was able to dethrone he who shall be king hereafter (haha, Shakespeare!) during one of his most dominant years. Ring any bells?
During Mookie's 2018 MVP year, Trout led the league in the following: walks, on-base percentage, OPS, OPS+, and intentional walks. What's more, this was the second of three consecutive seasons where Trout managed an OPS greater than 1. But in 2018, Mookie earned more hits, runs, RBI's, stolen bases, and an overall higher WAR than Trout - earning him 28% of the first-place MVP voting. So, both Bellinger and Betts managed to win the (decidedly biased) MVP race over another well-deserving, and all-time great, competitor. What's that going to look like over a truncated season? Will we see an in-house MVP race?
Oh, forgot to mention: there's only one active pitcher to have notched an MVP, and he's a Dodger too. He's won the Cy Young 3 of the 4 times he was nominated. Oh, and the Dodgers also have two different Rookie of the Year winners, and what might be the best pitching staff in baseball. If I had to guess, I'd say that the Dodgers are equipped to be one of the best teams in baseball for years to come. I would also say that this team is the best equipped to get close to that 43-7 hot streak they reached in 2017. They've spent their money, they've done their time, and Joe Kelly has made up for the sins of the Astros.
If there's anything I'm looking forward to (not Cubs-related) during this baseball season, it's got to be watching this Dodgers team. They're really good every year, but now it's starting to get absurd. Until they break through, the Dodgers of the late 2010s (and now into the '20s) are the best team in baseball to have never won a World Series.
...I love baseball.
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