Because Mookie Betts Poem by Percy Dovetonsils

because why settle
for a broken bat single
when you can steal two bases
and take home
on a sacrifice bunt?

because when you're fielding
you're fielding,
not thinking
about
anything else,
taking homers
over the wall,
nailing runners to third
from right field,
making shoestring catches
on the run
to give your rocket home
mas velocidad
because
why not?

because when you're hitting,
you're thinking about hitting,
not anything else,
you're doing what is necessary
and what is available,
opposite field triple
down the foul line,
sacrifice fly,
going yard,
walking after 14 fouls,
little ball, big ball,
medium small ball,
whatever it takes.

because when you're
running the bases,
you're not thinking
about anything else,
you're alive, you're aware,
you're super quick
like a greased weasel,
you're aggressive
like a wolverine,
you're tough
like a honey badger,
you're joyful,
like an otter
chasing trout,
your mind is always
on fighting,
on winning,
on larceny,
on avoiding
the out,
you're taking
whatever can be taken,
whatever can be stolen,
and then some,
your body
is always
sliding under
the tag,
is always robbing
that extra bag.

because you led
Beantown
to a World Series
ring
why not bring
The Big Orange
a dynasty,
a fistful
of rings
like the good old days
of the Dodgers,
the days
of incandescent,
all electric,
home stealing
Jackie Robinson,
double MVP
and solid as a rock
Roy Campanella,
nimble
Peewee Reese,
slugging
Duke Snider,
fleetfooted
larcenous
Maury Wills,
lockdown
Drysdale and Koufax.

The new Dodgers
have been
knocking at the door
and getting turned away
for years
and now
Mookie's here
turning the key
in the lock
turning the knob
opening up
the door
and bringing back
Camelot
because
why not? !
Why not
win?
Why not
win
when you've not only got 5 tools
but 6
- - which is winning
by any means necessary
but 7
- - which is turning
a whole team
into the winners
they always knew
they could be
but 8
- - which is
reaching inside
andfinding
the best you can be,
the Betts you can be
when it counts,
when it's toughest
to be best,
to be Betts?