Mookie expects more from himself: 'What I'm doing is unacceptable'
The Boston Red Sox are 6-11 to begin the season and star outfielder Mookie Betts is shouldering some blame amid his own struggles to stay consistent at the plate.
"Basically what I'm doing is unacceptable," Betts said, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive. "I need to figure out a way to get something done and help the team."
After claiming AL MVP honors and a World Series championship last season, Betts is hitting .222/.324/.413 with three home runs, one stolen base, and an uncharacteristic 13 strikeouts over 74 plate appearances.
Betts was particularly punchless in Boston's six-game homestand that concluded Monday. He went 3-for-21 (.143) as the Red Sox scrambled to a 3-3 split against the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles.
He's not the only top name laboring through the season's early weeks as Rafael Devers has yet to go deep, while starters Rick Porcello and Chris Sale have been incapable of getting batters out. The World Series hangover is certainly weighing on Betts.
"It's tough having so much success last year and not really having any right now," he added.
The Red Sox didn't lose their 11th game until May 9. They reached that number on Monday with an 8-1 drubbing at the hands of the Orioles.
Boston currently sits 6 1/2 games behind the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays. The club never fell back more than two games in the AL East at any point in 2018.