Well, I was going to write a story of redemption and optimism and, most importantly, a win. The Angels, however, had other plans as they squandered a once 4-2 lead to an unanswered 8th inning grand slam.
The return of the offense was nice to see, with Cursed Kevin Padlo hitting a raucous RBI double in the second to put an end to the consecutive scoreless innings for Halos batters and eventually scoring himself. Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout later followed up with back-to-back homers giving us all the feeling that we were back to our winning ways. Patrick Sandoval was not quite feeling the Colorado air himself though as he would pitch in and out of trouble for 5+ innings himself, eventually exiting with 3 runs to his name.
Jacob Webb and Sam Bachman both pitched admirably, but the deciding blow came during the latter’s second inning of work when he failed to retire two batsmen in a row. In came Devenski. To his credit, it’s not all his fault. Andrew Velazquez, who is hitting very well right now but seems to be forgetting how to defend at the same time, failed to convert even one out on a fielder’s choice grounder thrown by Jared Walsh which could have probably been a double play ball just prior.
The Angels hope to put an end to their skid tomorrow as they trot out Griffin Canning against Chase Anderson.
Can’t wait to see how Canning can’s the Rocks. The last Escobar to play 3rd for us couldn’t field a lick but could hit .300. Fletcher returns and I feel like he’s been gone a long time.
This is damn near a Holiday for you. Haha
I do have faith in him, but I also rather have him at 2b, but I also see potential for a whole bushel of runs too. Also, after Squid’s performance last night, he should be benched.
Let’s hope he brings us a shot in the arm.
I like the potential of Moniak & Fletcher setting up the top of the order to do damage.
LFG
And Devenski to do damage of his own.
Renfroe is playing 1B today, he does have a better arm than Mickey, but Mickey has better range as he is faster. Squid has a better BA .263 than Trout’s .250 – who would have guessed 😯
I’m cool with Moniak in the bottom 3rd of the order.
Ward has been less than advertised, but this team is ultimately going to sink or swim with the veterans.
Lineup is very interesting, but provocative. 👀
Angels can win with this lineup, Expecting a large volume of runs tonight.
Nostradamus award goes to …
Fletcher returns just makes my day.
I feel bad for Walsh. It’s the right move but I still feel sad for him. Hope he can figure things out
Walsh hasn’t been hitting and it doesn’t look like that is changing. He also looks like he has lost -10-15 pounds and substantial strength. Or it that just me?
The Angels could pick up Wil Myers and hope he returns to form for almost nothing. That’s likely a better bet than Walsh. It’s a shame but that’s where things stand apparently.
And
wing.wav -: “His swing sucks.”
I know this isn’t feasible in the moment, but I’d
strongly consider nudging Adell to 1B for 2024.
I firmly believe he’s a 40 HR starter. The only question is if he’s .200 hitter with 220 strikeouts or a .250 hitter with 220 strikeouts.
Why would we pick up another dud in Meyers? I would prefer Walsh over Meyers as Walsh has more potential, fielding is a lot better with Walsh and he fits in better because everyone knows him already.
Walsh needs his Spring Training. Should be back up ala D. Fletcher
Stay away from Myers, a highly ineffective player. If he failed at the Great American Ballpark, nothing left in the tank.
Texas is toast today, 1-0 yanks.
Jerry’s kids lost to Baltimore
Hate that the Doyers are winning, but that means Ass’tros are losing, 3-0 early.
Go Yank….
Go Ass….
Aw I feel dirty…
6-3 Ass’. Grand slam…still hitting in the top of the 5th. Miller for the Doyers is very hittable now.
Eric Karros and his blowout hairstyle went flat
Alex Bregman hits 2nd grand slam this month to take lead over Doyers. He may be the main competition to Shohei for June AL MVP.
No shit Sam.
https://twitter.com/SamBlum3/status/1672731789545328640
It’s Livan Soto, Eduardo Escobar, or Jake Lamb if infielder. It could be Loupie. 😉
Upon further review, it’s not Loupie. Sigh.
It will be no-one on the 26 man Mr Chan since this would precipitate another 26 man roster move that we would already know about so the choice is from the remaining 11 players ( the 4 on the 11-15 day IL ( Rendon, Moore, Joyce & Neto) aren’t going anywhere . So that leaves someone form the 2 you mentioned ( Lamb & Livan Soto) as well as Weiss, Reyes, Walsh, Stefanic, Adell, Silseth, Herget, Wantz or Okey.
Whats your answer Ladies & Germs? Quickly time is running out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3lLYOGDsts
It looks like I need a nap. Overlooking two names that are already on today’s starting lineup and reserves. Gotta return to the basic fundamentals, triple/quadruple checking. See and hear you all in about an hour. 😴
Weiss, Reyes, Herget.
Weiss or Reyes from those 3.
Reyes. See ya.
I saw the recent 40man roster change on MLB.com.
https://twitter.com/SamBlum3/status/1672743039205535744
okay.wav – Classic: “Okay.”
I guess Ward is our #3/emergency catcher. I wonder if our newest Angel Escobar could catch. 😁
Uh_Yeah.mp3 – “quot;Uh… Yeah.”
1 inning in 2017. Less an emergency catcher, more of a catastrophe catcher.
Didn’t we just sign a DFA’d catcher last month
Chris Okey DFA’d
Fletch lives!
https://imgur.io/t/fletch
Fletch!
I’m sure Renfroe at 1st won’t hurt us in any way tonight😀
https://twitter.com/EricaLWeston/status/1672728712956223490?s=20
Not sure I would bat Moniak 8th but I like it.
Here’s hoping Renfroe is a hoover vacuum around the first base bag.
One can only hope. With Walshy struggling, we may be in the market for a 1B if our extra OF can’t cover it. Ward, Renfroe, or do we need to bring up Cabbage to help?
How bad was Thaiss there in the past? Could it be a way to keep his bat in the lineup when O’Hoppe returns?
I would think the Angels would carry 3 catchers for that reason but since rosters will expand around the time O’Hoppe could return so this is a real possibility
The Angels are loading up on their punches. The offense has been sluggish so I get it.
As the Russell Crowe said in ‘Gladiator’, “…the losses to our own troops are acceptable…”
They are putting forth an actual MLB lineup tonight. Good.
Any of you watching UFC right now?
Not I said the ghost.
What is Phillips’s opinion on 0 for the last 10 on Saturday nights?
opinion.wav – Phillip: “What the f*** do you think was my opinion of it? I think it was f***ing b*llsh*t.”
Our new third baseman is Dr Doolittle? https://twitter.com/AbbeyMastracco/status/1672641196013899778
Does he like Sad or Happy Donkeys?
Every year.
Breaking news!
Both Rengifo and Padlo are breathing a little bit easier for now.
They have to still be on thin ice, and Neto/Rendon will return at some point.
Thus, italicized. 😉
Fletcher!!!!!!!!!!
Finally!!!!!!!!!!!
Still need a 40 man move if they want Escobar in the lineup.
So that makes our best rostered defensive first basemen Drury or Padlo?
Ouch.
Angels still have an option of moving Urshela to 60D IL.
That spot was needed for putting Fletcher back on the 40 man
Then, the only method remaining is DFAing someone. Probably Padlo, but could be Rengifo being about 10% chance.
I doubt that since that would only leave Drury or Hunter Renfroe ( or Taylor Ward) to play first base.
Oh and BTW Sam Blumster you dont call up a 34 year old player that you just traded for from some other teams active roster. As a MLB beat writer you should know that but whatever.
Since Jeff Fletcher on vacation mode and Rhett Bollinger just amused that he finally completed all 30 baseball stadium tour, we can count on sleazy conniving Sam (probably related to Bobby V somehow) to inform us which one is getting DFA’d as soon as he finds out.
There is another.
https://twitter.com/Sarah_IsabelVee/status/1672652169370116096
Fletch is finally getting called up. A little drama behind it:
So when Neto comes back, there will be the following infield logjam:
Drury
Escobar
Fletch
Squid
Rengifo
Rendon
Padlo
Neto
Walsh
That’s 9 players for 4 position spots.
I would think at least 2 and probably 3 have to go once Neto returns. I presume that would be Squid, Padlo and maybe Rengifo? Not sure about their waiver status.
Hate giving up Crow in the deal for Escobar by the way. I think he has a lot of potential.
Prospects break hearts.
Padlo will clearly be sent down. I suspect Squid would be cut … The team really seems to like Rengifo for some reason… maybe because he is a switch hitter who can play multiple positions? I suppose they see value in that despite his horrible BA.
For some reason this team is treating Rengifo as someone like Maicer Izturis, but he’s no Maicer.
I had high hopes for Rengifo when he started the season with a great amount of walks. I thought he finally figured it out. But 10-cent Aybar he is.
Izturis was dependable and very consistent.
One of my favorites…
Padlo will be DFAd to open up a spot for Fletch on both the 40 man and the 26 man rosters.
The Plumber is the one who’s really getting jobbed here since he will be sent down to make room for Escobar. And let’s face it, defense is the one attribute that Squid possesses and he’s been abysmal.
I think these moves are more about cleaning up black holes with the recent injuries by the Angels moving Renfroe to first base, installing Escobar at third base (even though the defensive metrics say he sucks) benching Rengiblow while adding a viable backup at short. Trying to address all of the problems created by the injuries to Neto, Gio & Rendon while finding more playing time for Moniak.
The interesting thing will be what happens when/if Rendon comesback? Either Walsh gets sent down or Rengifo gets DFA’dforcing a big move by Perry.
Unless we have made a trade or two trying to improve pitching for the second half run.
We could get a starter either to replace Anderson or to keep Barria in long relief (and move on from Davidson in that role), and we could add to the relief depth replacing Loup or not needing to rely on as many of the Bachman, Soriano, Weiss, Wantz, Ingram etc.
Squid brings speed to the table as well.
5 SB’s in a very short period of time.
If Fletcher is truly healthy I would start him at Shortstop and play Drury at second. Squids best utilization then would be as a late inning defensive and base running replacement.
Unfortunately, I doubt this will happen.
He would have more SB’s if he could hit.
Yep, took a perfect throw to get him against Miami. Love speed.
Squid and Walsh have options . Everyone else would have to be DFA’d
Minor concern. We’ll have some TBD injuries by then to thin the proverbial heard anyway.
“He said he didn’t know if the team still had his back. ”
Seriously? Fletcher needs to grow up. He received an overslot bonus when he signed, and was given a $26M extension by the team. His batting average has decreased year-over-year since 2020, and he’s been injured more frequently during that time frame. His +RC went from 121 in 2020, to 69 in 2021, to 75 in 2022 and to -44 in 2023.
Fletcher is a utility role player, not an everyday starter. As a utility player he’s average to below average. The stats don’t lie.
If he wants to “feel that the franchise has his back”, then STFU and perform.
I don’t pay subscription to the Athletics because I am too cheap, but what this guy , Shawn, said, makes me wonder.
https://twitter.com/confuzd71/status/1672615660562665474
The Q from the article was “Does the organization still like you, do they still have your back?” To which Fletch’s answer was “I don’t know. I haven’t heard much from them. I don’t know.” He goes on to say “I haven’t heard anything from anybody.”
Thank you for your info. Fletch could have declined for the interview or answered like Shohei, who would just say something like, “I would just like to concentrate on contributing to Angels.”
Sam is an Ass Hat.
At least I give Sam Blum a sliver of smartness for not approaching Shohei with stupid questions because he knows Ippei is super black belt in both Hapkido and Jujitsu/Aikido. 😆
Well he could have just answered ‘yes’
Totally agree.
I’m glad he’s up now if for no other reasons than people can stop 🛑 incessantly bitching about 24/7.
While I am elated that Fletch is being called up, I am also confused as to why this didn’t occur sooner? I am wondering if this has something to do with Fletch is being very close to reaching 6 year service time, which supposedly qualifies him to become a free agent at the end of this season. I don’t have exact number of days for him to qualify, but I understand that it is pretty close.
So, if that’s the case, it has Arte’s nickel and dime attitude all over this Fletch controversy. However, I also read MLBTR article on Escobar’s trade puts Angels potentially exceeding the dreaded luxury tax level of $233 MM by few millions. Which is it, Arte, are you going all out, or still trying to save a few $?
How could Escobar’s salary put Arte over by a few million? The Angels are paying the league minimum for Escobar ($720K pro-rated) – the Mets ate the rest of his salary.
This is what MLBTR said:
Escobar’s contract contains a $9MM club option for next season with a $500K buyout. It seems likely the Halos will opt for the buyout, although there’s at least some flexibility to keep him around if he goes on a second-half tear. The far bigger concern is plugging in an immediate stopgap veteran to help them weather their injury issues.
Doing so at no financial cost keeps their luxury tax number around $238MM, a few million north of the $233MM base threshold. They’ll surely be willing to get more aggressive as the deadline approaches if they’re still in the thick of the playoff race. Supporting the back of the rotation and/or adding middle infield help could be future goals for GM Perry Minasian and his staff.
By the way, the article also mentions Mets paying down to MLB league minimum. There are many questions I have as to how each players salary calculated and whether player’s being on IL has anything to do with its calculation. (e.g. while Rendon is on IL, does his salary count towards the luxury tax calculation?)
Your comment was: “So, if that’s the case, it has Arte’s nickel and dime attitude all over this Fletch controversy. However, I also read MLBTR article on Escobar’s trade puts Angels potentially exceeding the dreaded luxury tax level of $233 MM by few millions. Which is it, Arte, are you going all out, or still trying to save a few $?”
The article does not make it sound like Arte is being “cheap”. He’s paying Fletcher $5m regardless if he’s at SLC or on the MLB club.
Arte is a lot of things, but in this case he’s not being cheap. He took on more salary to improve the team.
I think we are saying the same thing. It still does not answer the question assuming that Fletch is truly being called up today, why now? Why couldn’t it be few weeks ago when Padlo was being called up?
Let’s agree to disagree on this. I am probably deficient in understanding the details of being fully free agent eligible as opposed to not. After all, we both want these new transactions will boost Angels mojo for stringing many wins for the next 14 games.
Why now? I do see some logic.
Fletch was hurt not too long ago, so perhaps making sure he was healthy. Also, he just had a stint on the bereavement list, and perhaps that was foreseen.
But purely in terms of positions – Fletcher will be slotted in at 2B, with only possibily serving as SS until Neto returns. Drury can play 1B and 3B, but we have needed to keep him at 2B most of the time. Until Fletch arrives and takes that spot, we needed help at 1B (Walsh’s bat isn’t back) and 3B (with Urshela’s injury). Padlo was the stop-gap at 1B until we had solutions.
The arrival of Escobar means that we can safely play him there (until Rendon returns, or as long as he is healthy) and we free up Drury from that possibility. Fletch taking 2B means we can move Drury around and he can platoon at 1B with Walsh, Fletch at 2B and Escobar at 3B.
That means Rengifo (and Padlo) are expendable. Squid might stay until Neto returns.
According to Fangraphs/Roster Resource Perry is still 150K below the CBT threshold of 233 Million even accounting for the Escobar monies
https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/payroll/angels
Cowboy26-Sensei, two questions.
-Am I right to assume that Fletch’s salary is already included in the calculation of CBT number? Under the category of ‘retained’ column?
-If he declared free agency after this season, and another team pick him for league minimum, is the remainder of the 2024 ($6.0MM) and 2025 ($6.5) that Angels are still responsible go toward the CBT calculation?
Thank you in advance for making me smarter everyday.
Answer 1 yes.
Answer 2 Fletcher cant declare free agency since hes under contract with the Angels through 2025 ( and possibly 2027)
If your question is if the Angels were to DFA him again I believe he could sign for any team he wants to at league minimum for 2023 through 2025 while the Angels keep paying him during that time and yes those amounts would count against the Angels yearly CBT calculations.
Thank you. Forgot that he needs to be DFA’d first before he can become a free agent. He has team option of $8 MM and $8.5 MM in 2026 and 2027 respectively with $1.5 MM buyout.
Yes Mr Chan . Fully guaranteed. The buyouts also count against the CBT but I don’t believe the bonuses do unless they’re paid out
I am still learning about luxury tax calculation. SportTrac website has fascinating table, which sorta explains how it works. Salaries of all players on 40 man roster are used in this calculation. Obviously this roster changes just about everyday, so they must calculate every single day and total after 162 games and divide by 162 to come up with the number along with all these buyouts and other figures (retained column) you mention.
As of today, Angels are $3,442,051 away from reaching the threshold.
BTW – Fletch passed through waivers to get to AAA. If 29 teams did not feel he was worth $5M per season, he’s sure as shit not going to get more as a free agent.
Please read my post of about a minute ago. Something about let’s agree to disagree on this point. We both want these new transactions to have positive effects on Angels.
5 year is the magic threshold Mr Chan which I believe Fletch hits in about 4 weeks now that the clock starts running again
I must have read outdated version, then. I did put 5 first because I do remember your mentioning of this previously. I am learning.
If true lineup tonight should be this:
Moniak RF
Ohtani DH
Trout CF
Drury 2B
Renfroe 1B
Thaiss C
Escobar 3B
Ward LF
Fletcher SS
This the best lineup we can offer. But I see Nevin still putting in Rengifo & Walsh since tonight is a RHP.
Very concerned about Renfroe at first
Really thought it would be Drury at 1B and Fletcher at 2B until Neto comes back. Maybe this is a way to keep Moniak and Ward in the lineup?
Finally
Awkward.
What do we think about the infielder that Perry picked up from the Mets?
It seems obvious that the team has lost confidence in Rendon. It sucks, but you can’t blame them for taking out an insurance policy.
I’d rate it as a sage move by Perry.
Seems like a .240 hitter with some pop and a decent glove. He could add value. I think it probably means Fletch isn’t coming back anytime soon.
Fletch played today according to MiLB site. He started as SS and was in lead off spot, had two hits and one RBI. No idea why he has not been called.
If Fletch came up and didn’t stay for the rest of the year, he’d have to clear waivers again on the way down and that’s now not going to happen.
Disagree but for a slightly different reason Once he reaches 5 years of service time he could clear waivers it’s just that he would then become a free agent to sign with any team he wants to for the league minimum as the Angels would be on the hook for almost all of the remaining contract amount . Now THAT ain’t going to happen
Fletch should replace Rengifo.
Or Velasquez.
I don’t think the Angels are ready to DFA Rengifo yet so it will be Squid
Do we think that Fletcher can reasonably play 3B at this point? He hasn’t played there in AAA all season, nor in the bigs since 2020 (nor meaningfully since 2019). Fletch has been a good fielder for us, but does he have the quickness remaining to field the hot corner effectively?
Sure, maybe he should be up instead of Squid or Rengifo at SS while Neto is out, but I don’t know that he is better than Drury (at this point) at 2B or can handle 3B.
*Rengifo has an advantage of being more flexible in the utility role, since he can manage 3B (to some degree).
I question Rengifo’s glove in any position in the infield.
Fair enough, my point is simply that he has played the position for the Angels in 2023 (11 games), 2022 (39 games), 2021 (12 games) – all more recently than Fletch. For some reason, the Angels keep the guy in the utility role, and I suggest it is because we don’t have anyone else we think could plug in all over the IF.
(I am not even disagreeing with your assessment of his ability).
Drury played 3B for the Reds and Padres, but hasn’t yet for the Angels (and it seems they don’t want to move him there).
Velasquez has only played it a bit (4 games in 2018, and 4 in 2019), and even in the minors it was only 10 games for Scranton in 2021.
My guess here is that Fletch will only play there as a backup. Escobar is a switch hitter he will play there almost everyday there until Rendon gets back.
I just read MLBTR about the trade. I have never seen him play, but the main objective is to have a back up for Rendon at 3B. The article intimates that he is slightly below average 3B, and he is a streaky batter with occasional pop with 20+ homeruns in the past 6 seasons. So, Escobar is not quite Urshela, but I assume he will be better than Rengifo offensively and defensively. Assuming that he arrives in Denver tomorrow, he will be our starting 3B. He will probably be there until Rendon returns hopefully early next week in White Sox series.
It’s acknowledging the obvious. Rendon is unreliable at best and probably worthless.
Escobar has a long reputation for being a great guy and team leader, a very funny, charismatic, and kind person who helps build morale in the clubhouse. He can play all four infield positions well, and he’s a switch hitter with some pop. He is known for being a streaky hitter – so you take the slumps along with the two-week tears where he helps carry the team. I think he makes the Angels better. Any player whose presence should encourage Nevin to keep Rengifo on the bench is a welcome addition. And the Angels gave up very little to acquire him.
I know this will be controversial but when do we legitimately start worrying about Trout. He’s becoming Adam dunn or Chris Davis at the plate. Tonight for instance I was at the game and he looked overmatched in every at bat except for his HR. He’s got 90 strikeouts and is on pace to eclipse 200. He’s also batting .204 in his last 30 games so this is definitely a prolonged problem. Are we seeing the decline of a once in a generation talent?
2 weeks ago.
I’ve been worrying about him for the last 2 months. Opposing pitchers have been feeding him fastballs like crazy, now Mike tonight seemed to be cheating towards a fastball in his last at bat, he got an off speed and struck out. He seems to have lost a split second of reaction time.
Honestly, I don’t know. It would be a little tough to believe that he would decline this quickly. I just wonder if the back problems are in his head and therefore he’s lost a little bat speed which makes him vulnerable to a fastball. He has typically made adjustments over his career and I’m hoping that happens this year. But I think we all see what we see. He has not been the same player and his clutch statistics are just awful.
His decline started at 28 in 2020 when his OBP fell 48 points to .390 and his average fell to a career low .281 (2011 doesn’t count as 2012 was his rookie year). His k rate went up too and for first time didn’t lead AL in any offensive category. At 29 in 2021 he was injured and at 30 in 2022 his OBP fell another 21 points to .369, 61 points below what it was in 2019 while his average was the 2nd worst of his career at .283. Also had that pathetic 0-28 stretch and the k rate kept increasing. But he was hitting a lot of meaningless solo shots to keep his numbers respectable. And now at 31 he’s just fallen off the cliff, with another hat trick tonight. Meanwhile Judge had one of the top 10 seasons of all time at 30, is killing it this year at 31, and Freeman won MVP at 30 and is absolutely crushing it at 33. I don’t see either of those guys or 30 year old Harper now that he’s back from Tommy John slowing down anytime soon. And I don’t see trout ever getting it back with that massive hole in his swing. When he misses he’s so bad, on all his ks can tell from first pitch he swings at he has no chance and will strikeout.
De-pressing
Why should anything be “controversial”? It’s just baseball. As I said Trout has hit the wall hard at 31; Freddie Freeman is playing best ball of his career at 33.
Interesting that you choose Freeman as a comp based on the fact he is roughly the same age … But Freeman is having an MVP season this year and he’s really an outlier… Seriously, he could win NL MVP this year… Let’s look at other veteran All-Star caliber players and compare their current seasons to that of Trout :
Betts : .261/.358/.869
Devers .239/.302/.790
Rizzo . 273/.355/.794
Goldy .287/.377/870
Machado .253/.297/.711
Arenado .272/.320/.801
Trout .250/.358/.832
Just in this random sampling we can see that Trout is SLG better than everyone in this group except for Betts with whom he is tied and Goldy who he trails by just a little .358 to .377. And his OPS is better than all except Betts and Goldy. These are really good players.
In short, I am not sure what all the knashing of teeth is about in regards to Mike. If you haven’t noticed batting averages are DOWN all around MLB. Freeman is a beast, and as I said he’s having an MVP year, so juxtaposing Mike to him is more than a bit unfair. He’s just one guy.
As for Trout, sure his K’s are up… But I’ve always said I can live with strikeouts if you are hitting the ball out of the park, and Trout is. His 16 HR are right around what these other sluggers are doing ; Betts, 18 HR, Arenado 15 HR, Goldy 13 HR, Devers 18 HR, much better than Rizzo with 11 HR and Machado has only 9 HR..
You could argue that Trout has been a Top 5 player in the game for as long as we can remember, so he should be held to a different and higher standard. While there is some truth in that, I don’t think a knowledgeable fanbase expects even superstar players to maintain their youthful production into the second half of their careers. Some decline is not only normal but expected. I would say that Trout is still a very, very productive player. And if Dodger fans are not crying about Mookie Betts and his .261 BA we probably shouldn’t be crying about Mike and his .250 BA with the same SLG % and an acceptable OPS.
Yeah idk what what the gnashing the teeth is about trout either, no matter what he does people here will argue he’s somehow a top 5 player lol. Hey I too can live with trout hitting .250 if he hit when it mattered, but he’s at .203 .655 ops w RISP. Devers at .239 is .299 1.010 ops w RISP, which is why he has 60 RBI. Plus 18 bombs.
Betts and Arenado both have 59 ks to trouts 90; because they aren’t completely overmatched against fastballs. Betts has had over 100ks in his career twice: 104 and 101. Trout gonna have 200 this year alone. You comparing him to rizzo?? Wow ok. Rizzo is 33 btw, Freeman has been great since 30, he’s also 33. Trouts 31. 2 years at that age is huge in baseball. Judge is 31 and better than ever.
I never liked machado. Also idgaf if the stats are somewhat similar, when watching trout he is completely overmatched, while most those guys you listed aren’t. I’ll take Devers Goldy Betts even Rizzo in playoffs or game on line all day over trout, especially if against a good pitcher who throws the heat. Trouts a foregone conclusion out against good pitching.
The last sentence is just wrong. He hit a key double off of Emmanuel Clase earlier this season. Clase was the best closer in MLB last season and is still really good !..In that game it was leading off the 9th I believe in a tie game.. If I remember correctly he came around to score the game winning run that inning, so that was kind of a big spot. Likewise the go-ahead 9th inning HR he hit in St. Louis back in early May…Granted that lately he has not been great in key spots but it is not like he is incapable of producing there… I fully expect some big late inning hits in the 2nd half of the season… BTW as for the narrative that he is overmatched against a good fastball. Not true.
The key double off of Clase that I referenced above came off of a 100mph fastball.
Finally, as for playoff performance, or so called “big” spots it is kind of unfair to compare him to Devers and Betts when those guys have had many opportunities… Trout has only played in three playoff games in his entire career. The definition of small sample size… One of the main reasons I am so invested emotionally in the Halos making the playoffs this year is I desperately want to see what a mature Mike Trout does in those big spots when it REALLY counts..
I think he’ll surprise some people.
Also league batting average is actually up to .248 this year from .243 last year. And 11 guys hit .300 last year, 10 are hitting .300 this year including a guy at .402 halfway through year. And Ohtani is at .298 along with another guy so could easily be 11.
Not as many guys are hitting .280 and .290 as in recent years… Also ,up .05 from last is negligible as far as I am concerned …
It definitely seems like it might be mental? I mean, I am no specialist but if someone says they feel great, that there are no issues that they can tell with their body, then odds favor a psychological issue wouldn’t they? Of course, maybe Trout just doesn’t know that something is physiologically wrong. What worries me is he is the king of making adjustments, but for whatever reason he seems to really be struggling here. It’s WAY too early to be saying “father time” and the like in my opinion, it would be an absolutely travesty if so.