Mookie Betts Played Kevin Gausman For A Fool

Mookie Betts, the best non–Mike Trout player in baseball who makes everything look impossibly easy, has a history of showing as little mercy as possible to the division rival Baltimore Orioles. He continued that trend during last night’s 6-2 victory over the O’s in Boston.

Betts finished the game with three hits, a walk, and two runs scored, but it was his work on the basepaths that re-established his ownership over these particular opponents, particularly starting pitcher Kevin Gausman. Betts stole three bags, and snatched two of them by taking off before Gausman had even begun his windup.

Betts explained after the game that he was simply timing Gausman, who really needs to consider switching up his tempo. Or maybe Gausman never looked over to first because he was trying to pretend that Betts, who is now hitting .469 with a 1.309 OPS in 32 career at-bats against Gausman, doesn’t exist.