Mazz: Mookie Betts continuing to star as Mr. Ought-tober

Meanwhile, Betts is now 2-for-14 in the NLCS (a .143 average). This postseason, in 40 plate appearances including 33 official at-bats, he has no home runs. The Dodgers have hit nine home runs in their current series and 11 in the postseason overall – but the man who tied teammate A.J. Pollock for the team lead with 16 during the regular season does not have a single one of them.

Mazz: Trading Andrew Benintendi would tell us something ... about Chaim Bloom

Given the Red Sox’ predicament – few if any prospects, bad free agent market for pitching after the season – they are in a weak position. Benintendi shouldn’t be given away. But given the emergence of Alex Verdugo, Benintendi is an obvious piece to deal for good pitching, something the Red Sox desperately need as they try to rebuild their wretched organizational pitching pool.

Mazz: Did the door just open for the return of Mookie Betts?

Translation: the pandemic and its effects would have major free agency ramifications for a player who has been intent on going to the market from seemingly the day he set foot in the big leagues. And while the likelihood is that Betts would choose a one-year contract and hit the market when all economies are healthier, could the offer like the one the Red Sox presented him last spring be back in play?

Mazz: The one question the Red Sox still haven't answered

If the Red Sox knew they had to be under the luxury tax threshold as far back as the fall of 2018, why did ownership “green-light” the combined $213 million signings ($43 million annually in luxury tax) of Chris Sale and Nathan Eovaldi, two pitchers with histories of breaking down?

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