755 replies to this topic

[BSLChrisStoner]

Baseball Analytics: Pujols patience is returning
http://www.baseballa...-returning.html

[SportsGuy]

What do you guys think?

[Pedro Cerrano]

Nah, I'd give it to Hamilton but Trout is right up there. I'm still kicking myself over dropping him real early on in my fantasy league.

Maybe the Orioles will develop a guy like him before I die.

[SammyBirdland]

If Trout won both ROY and MVP, he'd be the third player to do it, after Fred Lynn in 1975 and Ichiro in 2001.

[SBTarheel]

I would say yes..Just look at the Angels since he's come up. The kid is something else.

Hamilton 2nd
Matusz 5,914th

[Can_of_corn]

He would get my vote right now.

[Mackus]

Mine is for Hamilton.

I wouldn't put too much weight on the Angels record pre- and post-Trout for my vote. I think his numbers are great, but he hasn't been as good as Hamilton at the plate, even with the time he's missed. When you factor in position and the steals, it's definitely closer, but I'd still give the nod to Hamilton.

[SBTarheel]

Mine is for Hamilton.

I wouldn't put too much weight on the Angels record pre- and post-Trout for my vote. I think his numbers are great, but he hasn't been as good as Hamilton at the plate, even with the time he's missed. When you factor in position and the steals, it's definitely closer, but I'd still give the nod to Hamilton.

The improvement is undeniable though, Mack. I know they fired Mickey Hatcher at the same time, and Pujols was struggling as well, but they've been they best team in Baseball since Trout was recalled.

You certainly can't go wrong with Hamilton, but Trout has to be in the conversation, and that in itself is really impressive.

[BSLChrisStoner]

FanGraphs: Angels' Rotation not as strong as expected
http://www.fangraphs...ng-as-expected/

[SportsGuy]

4-6 for Trout tonight...opposite field homer of 442 feet.

OPS just under 1000.

Best player in baseball.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Baseball Analytics: Trout Killing Pitchers Softly
http://www.baseballa...ers-softly.html

[Adam Wolff]

4-6 for Trout tonight...opposite field homer of 442 feet.

OPS just under 1000.

Best player in baseball.

He really is absolutely crazy good. I'm amazed watching him play.

[Nuclear Dish]

Albert Pujols this season:

Through May 4: 27 G, 108 AB, .194/.237/.269/.505, 0 HR, 5 RBI, 6 BB, 15 K
After May 4: 64 G, 241 AB, .324/.399/.585/.984, 16 HR, 51 RBI, 30 BB, 26 K
Overall: 91 G, 349 AB, .278/.344/.481/.826, 16 HR, 56 RBI, 36 BB, 41 K

So much for that killer slump.

Overall, his WAR is only 2.7, certainly not worth the overall money they are paying him (1 WAR is generally thought to be worth about $5M, so he's only worth about $13.5M so far this year). His contract gives him an average of $24M over the 10 playing years, plus $1M per year for the following 10 years on a personal services contract.

However, his contract is severely back-loaded, so he's actually only getting $12M this year, meaning he's outplayed this year of his contract.

Of course he's unlikely to maintain his current abilities for all 10 years, so they need him to play better in the earlier years, but the way he's hitting now, he's got a shot to be worth close to 5 WAR at year's end.

[SBTarheel]

4-6 for Trout tonight...opposite field homer of 442 feet.

OPS just under 1000.

Best player in baseball.

Crazy, and it doesn't even appear close right now.

[Nuclear Dish]

Crazy, and it doesn't even appear close right now.

I disagree with you guys. Maybe if I were choosing a player based on his age/talent combo Trout would be my top choice. But I don't think he's the best player in baseball on talent alone.

Kemp, McCutchen, Votto, Braun, and Pujols are all in the running. And Verlander, Weaver, and maybe Kershaw and Cain too.

To say that Trout is the most exciting, the best young player, even a top 5 talent, I agree with completely.

But if we're drafting on talent alone, I'd probably still take Kemp.

[BSLChrisStoner]

NBC Sports / Hardball Talk: Angels acquire Greinke
http://hardballtalk....om-the-brewers/

[BSLChrisStoner]

MLB Dirt: Angels made the Right Trade
http://mlbdirt.com/2...he-right-trade/

[Oriole85]

However, his contract is severely back-loaded, so he's actually only getting $12M this year, meaning he's outplayed this year of his contract.

Some analyst I forget who said it, said you should reverse the backloaded contracts in terms of logic which I think is a good idea. Think of Pujols as making $20+ million this year and making $12 million in his final year.

[You Play to Win the Game]

I stayed up for the Angels/Rangers game last night - what an insane game. Angels were up 7-1, only to allow Texas to claw back into it. Kinsler tied it up in the bottom of the 9th with a solo homer. In the 10th, the Angels scored 3 (2 on Pujols's 2nd homer of the evening) to take a 10-7 lead. Texas promptly scored 4 in the bottom of the 10th to walk off with an 11-10 win in extras. Pretty insane. That took what would have been a 2 game deficit for LA, and turned it into a 4 game deficit. Plenty of time left, but games like that are tough to swallow some times.

[SBTarheel]

Happy 21st Birthday, Mike Trout!

I could be his Dad, but I sort of have a man crush on him..

Funny to look at this thread now and see the Hamilton over Trout for MVP talk a few months ago.