“[Betts] is the best player in the game. Mike Trout’s fantastic, this guy’s the best player.”
Come on, guys
Mookie Betts showed in Game 1 of the World Series why the Dodgers traded for him and subsequently locked him up with a long contract extension. His home run and the run he scored thanks to some heads-up baserunning had people buzzing about his star power—and with good reason. The guys on Fox’s second-screen “watch party” broadcast went overboard, though.
Betts had a thrilling bottom of the fifth inning. He worked a walk, stole second, stole third and then used his combination of speed and smarts to score on a grounder to first.
It was an amazing sequence and it had the watch party crew buzzing.
“He might be the best overall baseball player in the game,” Rick Ankiel said. “I talk about that from a mental standpoint, too. There’s nothing that he can’t do.”
Tino Martinez went even further. He didn’t hedge with a “might be.” He just came out and declared Betts MLB’s best.
“I think he’s the best player in the game,” Martinez said. “Mike Trout’s fantastic, this guy’s the best player.”
Betts is one of the three best players in baseball but he’s not even the best player in Southern California. It’s ludicrous to suggest that anybody other than Mike Trout is the greatest player in the game right now.
It’s not an exaggeration to say that Trout might be the best baseball player in history. He’s a terror at the plate, an above-average centerfielder and a great baserunner. He’s won three MVP awards and there’s a very compelling argument that it should be six.
Betts is fantastic. He’s an elite hitter, just not on Trout’s level, and you can give him a slight edge on Trout in the field and with his arm (even though Trout has actually improved his throwing arm). He could easily lay claim to the title of his generation’s best player if that generation didn’t also include the best player in many, many decades.
Trout has been the best player in baseball for quite some time now, but it’s that sustained greatness that can lead people to overlook him. He’s been playing at such a high level so consistently that it can seem routine. It’s similar to how Michael Jordan only won five MVP awards.
Martinez’s opinion isn’t a common one, but it does highlight something about Trout’s career that’s impossible for him to shake. Because of his lack of a strong supporting cast, Trout hasn’t had the opportunity to introduce himself to a national audience in the postseason the way Betts has. There are certainly casual baseball fans who watched Betts in Game 1 and came away wanting to see more of him. With any luck, we’ll get a Dodgers-Angels World Series matchup in the near future and people will get to see two of the game’s best go at it and become just as enamored with Trout.
The best of SI
Tom Verducci weighs in on Clayton Kershaw’s dominant postseason. ... Tua Tagovailoa is taking over as the Dolphins’ starter and could push them into the playoff race. ... What should the Warriors do with the No. 2 pick in the draft? ... More allegations against Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall just illustrate his own weakness.
Around the sports world
Rob Manfred says he wants MLB to keep its expanded playoffs and the extra-innings automatic baserunner rule. ... Joe Buck is going to be extremely busy this week calling NFL games and the World Series. ... Troy Aikman walked back his hot-mike comments criticizing military fly-overs. ... The “Washington Football Team” name is likely to stay in place next season, the team’s president says. ... A photographer has filed a lawsuit against the Texas mascot’s handlers after being injured by the longhorn at the 2019 Sugar Bowl.
Mookie also crushed a homer
The one slip-up Mookie had
The Rays were really threatening before this incredible play
Check out the extra safe foot-tap celebration
Tom Brady? Really?
Don’t give Manfred any ideas
This is why Trevor Lawrence is 100% certain to be the No. 1 pick next year
It’s also mathematically possible for the Eagles to win the division at 4–11–1
The only appropriate way to handle someone asking you about the NFC East
Everything’s going great in Dallas!
Stoppage-time winners are always a thrill
Not sports
A British supermarket sent a chicken nugget into space. ... Phil Collins’s ex-wife and her new husband are allegedly occupying Collins’s Miami mansion with armed guards. ... Scientists have measured the shortest interval of time ever. ... An Iowa man who stole political law signs was then caught stealing copies of the newspaper that reported on the original theft.
An earthquake struck while Iceland’s parliament was in session
A good song
Email dan.gartland@si.com with any feedback or follow me on Twitter for approximately one half-decent baseball joke per week. Bookmark this page to see previous editions of Hot Clicks and find the newest edition every day. By popular request I’ve made a Spotify playlist of the music featured here. Visit our Extra Mustard page throughout each day for more offbeat sports stories.