Mookie Betts commentates his own demise against Kris Bryant (Video)
By Matt O'Leary
During an in-game interview, Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts had a ball hit to him. When he couldn’t field it he dropped a hysterical one-liner on live TV.
Baseball is a game that often times lacks personalities. It’s the ultimate regional sport, and Major League Baseball often times fails to promote their stars properly. It’s rare that we see a baseball player show their personality, but Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts put that stereotype to bed today.
In a spring training game against the Chicago Cubs, the ESPN broadcast had Mookie Betts mic’d up for an interview. They were speaking to him during the top of the third inning while he was in right field.
Everything was running smooth and seemed pretty normal until a ball was hit over his head. What happened next left the broadcasters in fits:
At the crack of the bat, you see Mookie in the split screen say “ugh oh” and begin to track a fly ball. After running for a couple of seconds he says “I ain’t getting this one, boy” and continues running after the ball.
Baseball needs more of this. Rob Manfred is doing everything in his power to reach the younger demographic by trying to change the rules in favor of pace of play. The answer is so simple, mic up players and have them do interviews during innings.
Stuff like this is usually seen only during exhibition games and the All-Star Game but with moments like this how could you not want this as a regular segment of your programming. It’s almost like when hockey refs wear the GoPro’s on top of their helmets and get the really cool angles.
It’s just the right amount of fun that even Goose Gossage might be able to find some enjoyment out of it. Not everyone loves the bat flips and such but I can’t see how anyone can be opposed to these live on-camera interviews.
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It’s something unique, exciting and raw. It allows for fans to see another side of the players they love. Baseball is viewed by many as a “slow” and “boring” game. Want to make it fun? Mic up some folks and do a live interview once a game.