Kolek planning to go pro
I find it fascinating that some here only are able to come up with one criticism for Trout. That is that he has teammates who are not good players.
What would be another criticism? He’s the clear best baseball player of his era.
Yeah! (says the Matthew Stafford/Lions fan)
It's just such a ridiculously small sample size though. It's just inconceivable to me that in this day and age, where over half the franchises have made the playoffs in the last two seasons, that the Angels can't build something around him. One playoff appearance in 12 seasons???
Brewers DFA Lorenzo Cain today. On the day he reaches 10 years of service time.
And they've had the best hitter/pitcher two way player in multiple generations for the last 4 years and its still not mattered.In the last 8 seasons, the Halos have had the AL MVP 50% of the time. And they've managed to finish above 3rd, just twice...IN THEIR DIVISION. Its monumental suckage.
Dont get me wrong. The Angels have been embarrassing for many, many, reasons.But the bolded part isnt the best story.Really the only year Ohtani was the true two way player was last years historic year and Trout was injured for almost the whole year.2020 was the Rona year where Ohtani sucked at the plate and pitched like an inning. And he didnt pitch in 2019 either.Last year and this year are him truly become a full time everyday player.But yeah, Angels do really suck. Basically every signing they have attempted in the Trout era has been brutal. They have some promising bats now. Still zero pitching or depth behind the potential of Ward/Walsh/Marsh.
In the last 8 seasons, the Halos have had the AL MVP 50% of the time.
Makes one wonder what the "V" stands for.
Things like WAR show the exact standing of "V"Your too hung up on a already arbitrary definion of what an Mvp should be.........in other sports.Baseball is a completely different animal. The criteria simply cannot be the same as basketball.
We'll agree to disagree. Over the years, I've seen too many outstanding -- and valuable -- baseball players carry their teams to greatness.
Who?
2020 - Abreu and Freeman lead White Sox and Braves to playoffs.2019 - Bellinger leads Dodgers to best record in baseball.2018 - Betts and Yelich lead their teams to best records in their leagues.2017 - Altuve leads Astros to 100+ wins.2016 - Bryant leads Cubs to best record in baseball.2015 - Donaldson leads Jays to division title; Harper keeps Washington in race till final week.2014 - Trout and Kershaw lead their teams to division titles.2013 - Cabrera leads Tigers to division title; McCutchen leads Pirates into playoffs.2012 - Cabrera and Posey lead their teams to division titles.2011 - Verlander and Braun lead their teams to division titles.It's not that difficult to find very deserving players almost every year who actually lead their teams to something (or at least close to something).I realize I used the term "carry their teams to greatness," and that was probably too strong a term for most of the above. But certainly fine players had outstanding seasons to lead their teams to successful seasons.
I'm also not understanding how a baseball player can "lead their team to something." Baseball is a series of individual match-ups that are loosely meshed together to be a team sport.What exactly could Trout have done to "lead" his team? He isn't a pitcher. He can't bat more. Giving an MVP to a lesser player because his team does better is giving that player "points" for something he didn't do.
OK, you think that an MVP should have better players as teammates - something the player has no control over.It's just illogical.