Trout homered in four of his five games since last week’s Mike Trout Monday to up his season total to 38. With another hit in his latest start on Saturday, Colon has hits in three consecutive games. Baseball’s best player, Mike Trout, gets his annual spotlight on a national stage with the All-Star Game. He finished fifth in American League MVP voting, Trout’s lowest in his nine full seasons. From May 15, the day on which Jon Jay went on the DL, until the end of the season, Mike Trout managed a .330 batting average, 28 home runs, and .976 OPS. I’ve achieved my career goal and penned an article that can still be read not just 11 minutes after being published, but an entire week. He has been the best player in baseball, by WAR, in three of his four seasons, and he was the second-best in the other. Mullane put both hands on the ball before each pitch and threw with whatever hand he wanted to. Cardinals outfielder Tommy Pham was one of the most valuable fantasy players last season. Before 2016, he had opened his career with nine seasons of a sub-4.00 ERA. Mike Trout. He wasn’t selected until late in the second round of the 2004 draft by Boston, with the Yankees bypassing him twice to take Phil Hughes and someone called Brett Smith. The Cardinals indeed had this draft pick in 2009, and the young center fielder from New Jersey's Millville Senior High School was available. Why focus on the bad stuff when we can all be grateful that the randomness of the MLB draft didn’t give us some outcomes that would have been truly horrible? My biggest concert is that if there was any glimmer of value before his, I don’t see how there would be any more when I get moved to the pen. Just as having a superstar the caliber of Mike Trout did not result in the Angels winning a single playoff game, the presence of Trout may not drastically have changed an already-excellent Cardinals team. A stretch here, maybe, but Puig is good for baseball wherever he plays. But too many baseball fans view it as a science. 9) Which Triple Crown winner would do better in the other’s sport? He’s right to think that way, of course. ... / Cardinals players react to reports of Mike Trout's 12-year, $432 million deal. So they focus on all the picks their favorite team whiffed on and complain about the great players that were missed. It’s easy to laugh at JaMarcus Russell’s pro career, but it was much better than the career of Matt Bush. The Yankees won their division in 1978. Dillon Gee, Mets pitcher, on being moved from the starting rotation to the bullpen. After a 3-1 start, management has decided to follow through on a plan that they have been tinkering with since the beginning of the offseason… http://t.co/F3UDVGPSJ5 pic.twitter.com/raN9pELIFd. And Shelby Miller has been a fine first-round pick. 8) American Pharoah becoming the first Triple Crown winner since 1978 made me realize there are some similarities between the 1978 baseball season this season. But it’s fun to consider another possible scenario. The other 31 teams wouldn’t have much of a chance if Bumgarner and Kershaw were on a team like the Pirates. “How could we take X when Y was available?! The Royals are a game out of first this year. Remember, not every prospect can do what Mike Trout did, and make the jump to the major leagues two years after being drafted, and become baseball's best player a year later. But it seems too obvious to ignore. At that time I was just starting to pay attention to who the top prospects were from the other teams. Trout begins the season in AAA, and even following an April injury to Lance Berkman, he remains there, with Allen Craig taking over at first base. Los Angeles Angels Center Fielder Mike Trout made his major league debut at age 19 in 2011, and by 2012 he was already declared the best all-around player in baseball. Trout is particularly beneficial in the playoffs, where Jon Jay struggled and Shelby Miller almost literally disappeared. “Oh, yeah, we TOTALLY KNEW he was going to be a superstar, we just waited to take him late in the draft, repeatedly risking another team picking him, because ... stop asking questions, hater! I don’t know about for the rest of you, but it has been for me.” Rob Manfred: Manfred of the people. https://twitter.com/BBTN/status/607629074404507649, Will Mike Trout improve at 42? One place where Trout excelled was home runs. In the other three American major sports, while there’s no guarantee that the No1 overall pick will become a superstar, top picks at least make the team. Angels star outfielder and three-time MVP Mike Trout was selected by the Los Angeles Angels with the 25 th selection in the first round of the 2009 MLB Draft.. How 24 players were selected by the greatest player of his generation will go down in history as “Exhibit A” of the imperfections of professional scouting. Although he is a downgrade from Miller, Trout is such a sizable upgrade in center field that the Cardinals are easily a better team. Only Mike Trout’s $426.5 million, 12-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels and Mookie Betts’ $365 million, 12-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers are worth more. It’s all thanks to Bartolo Colon, sports hero. The formerly 97-win Cardinals clear 100 wins and Mike Trout wins his first NL MVP somewhat easily over Andrew McCutchen of the Pirates. As Trout debuted in 2011 and Pujols didn’t join the Angels until 2012, only Trout matters here. I was not that aware of what a great prospect Trout was. Mike trout is a very talented player but to me he lacks that killer instinct all the all time great players carry. Mike Trout signed a 12 year / $426,500,000 contract with the Los Angeles Angels, including a $20,000,000 signing bonus, $426,500,000 guaranteed, and an annual average salary of $35,541,667. Why Bartolo Colon may be MLB's best athlete. He is serviceable, though nowhere near what he would become (in 135 plate appearances with the Angels, he had a below-average 89 OPS+ but played strong defense and was worth 0.7 WAR). After six … To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Based on his production in 2015 and so far in 2016, while Piscotty may not have performed at 2015 Heyward levels, a combination of Piscotty and Mike Trout would certainly be more fortuitous than Heyward and whichever center fielder was being played at the time. So basically my wife @MariaHanslovan and @taylorswift13 are best friends now. When Jay returns to the roster, the club sends Shane Robinson to Memphis while leaving Jay on the bench. But Lobster Boy? He might be able to draw some walks Eddie Gaedel-style. He was made more expendable due to the emergence of Jon Jay, who performed comparably to Rasmus. Triple Crown winner would do better in the other’s sport. “Dustin, talk about how the leadership of The Captain playing just one position away from you molded you from a tiny nobody to MVP.”. What if Boston had taken a flier on him a round or two earlier? Zack Wheeler, Giants, 7.9 career WAR. Obviously, I’m going to do the best I can. The answer is an easy no. Angels star outfielder Mike Trout has been among those to air out his doubts about the MLB’s handling of the situation. But rather than drafting Mike Trout, the Cardinals selected Texas high school pitcher Shelby Miller. The first was Tony Mullane. An example I pulled mostly out of thin air is trading Freese to the Cleveland Indians, who could have used an upgrade at third base, for catching prospect Francisco Mejia, who performed well in rookie ball as a 17 year-old. The Giants won their NLCS victories by 5+ runs, so the presence of Mike Trout would not have likely changed the outcomes of any of these. The 27-year old Diamondbacks first baseman is one of the best hitters in baseball. Batters are now 0-for-7 against Gerrit Cole this season with the bases loaded. In fact, 20 players will make $25 million or more in the 2021 season, led by Los Angeles Angeles outfielder Mike Trout, who has a salary of $37.1 million. And to a degree, the moves the Cardinals actually underwent in 2010 work better if you assume they had an elite prospect in the minors. Now imagine a world in which the fanbase that claims to be the best also had the best player? Espinoza likely couldn’t make contact with a major league pitch. Trout had the league’s fourth best-selling uniform two years ago, but the three-time MVP has slipped behind players that recently have starred in the postseason or changed teams. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. Mike Trout profile page, biographical information, injury history and news. The bearded lady wouldn’t add much. Because of this, Mike Trout makes his debut as a September call-up. It's fun to remember that Mike Trout - who reportedly secured the largest contract in professional sports history on Tuesday - was selected 25th overall in the 2009 draft. If St Louis had taken him there, the Cardinals would be even better than they are now and, worst of all, we’d have to hate Trout, too. American League MVP • Tom Verducci: Mike Trout, OF, Angels. Angels star outfielder and three-time MVP Mike Trout was selected by the Los Angeles Angels with the 25 th selection in the first round of the 2009 MLB Draft.. How 24 players were selected by the greatest player of his generation will go down in history as “Exhibit A” of the imperfections of professional scouting. Kershaw went seventh to the Dodgers. But it wasn’t long ago that Goldschmidt wasn’t considered to be much of a hitter. ... Castellanos was the only player tossed. Things go essentially as they did with the drafting of Miller. An alternate history: What if the Cardinals drafted Mike Trout? What’s funny is that 2020 could legitimately be considered a “down” year for Trout, who hit .281/.390/.603 with 17 home runs. The A's have called up a switch-pitcher. As a result, the Cardinals still sign Matt Holliday to the seven-year, $120 million contract they did while drafting Shelby Miller. "With the 19th selection in the first round of the 2009 first-year player draft, the St. Louis Cardinals select Michael Trout." Get a recap of the St. Louis Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Reds baseball game. He did pitch well in 2020, but had four straight seasons of an ERA over 4.00, from 2016 to 2019. like June 3, 2019 10:23 am. Trout is an eight-time MLB All-Star, three-time American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) (winning the award in 2014, 2016, and 2019, while finishing second in the 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2018 votes), and is an eight-time winner of the Silver … Four MLB players who could request a trade, including Mike Trout and a forgotten Yankees player Nolan Arenado wanted out of Colorado and was traded last week Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels: $36.35 mil. This was the season in which a decent-to-good prospect became a great one. MLB 2020 Schedule Released: Cubs Host Red Sox, Mike Trout to Play in Philadelphia The Cubs and Cardinals will head to London in another schedule highlight for the 2020 season. has looked at projected Cardinals win totals with Mike Trout instead of Shelby Miller, he ranked only 85th on Baseball America's list of top prospects, TA 4/11/21: O’Neill to IL, Woodford Optioned, Thomas and Oviedo Recalled, Cardinals Drop Sunday’s Finale with Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals vs. Milwaukee Brewers - A game thread for April 10, 2021. We’re the best! A third of the way through the season, he has a .343 average, 16 home runs, 47 RBI – and a real shot to be the first National League Triple Crown winner since Joe Medwick in 1937. 4) The Yankees may want to be a little more careful of the wording on their tweets. The problem is that the 2011 Cardinals suddenly became thinner in the outfield: Holliday-Jay-Berkman was workable, and Allen Craig handled the corner outfield spots admirably, but when Jay struggled, the backup plan was second baseman Skip Schumaker. “Sorry, Dillon. Every player has a price. Doing so suggests dominance. He is a two-time recipient of the American League most-valuable-player award, yet he has never won a playoff game. Most statheads will tell you Cole is facing an inevitable regression. Major League Baseball teams don’t even know if they’re getting a guy who will ever play for them. NL outfielder on Mike Trout: "What he's doing is sick. Gee has started 109 of the 112 games he’s played in his career and, at age 29 and yet to become a free agent, is obviously not too positive about his future earning potential in the bullpen. But make no mistake: with the gift of hindsight, there is no question that the Cardinals should have drafted Mike Trout. Trout not going to the Cardinals and instead being taken by a team called the “Angels” might be the definitive proof of the existence of God. He’d likely have made the post-season three or four times already (depending on … So take another look at last week’s column, my case for Bartolo Colon as baseball’s premier athlete. Lacking Shelby Miller for the rotation, the Cardinals insert Joe Kelly into the fifth starter spot. If he is blessed with good health, he may be discussed some day with Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle at his best and Hank Aaron as one of the greatest all-around players of all time, even without much of a postseason resume. After the death of Oscar Taveras, the Cardinals traded for Jason Heyward. Several notable players have opted out of the season because of the coronavirus, and superstars such as Mike Trout and Kris Bryant have expressed concern over playing in 2020. The Cardinals indeed had this draft pick in 2009, and the young center fielder from New Jersey's Millville Senior High School was available. Team: Los Angeles Angels (majors) Born: August 7, 1991 in Vineland, NJ us Draft: Drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 1st round (25th) of the 2009 MLB June Amateur Draft from Millville Senior HS (Millville, NJ).. High School: Millville Senior HS (Millville, NJ) The McCutchen-Swift pairing is exactly what baseball needed to move past the James Taylor Red Sox song. The Cubs have opened a nine-game road trip at 4-3 and Kris Bryant broke out of his mini-slump on Sunday with a single, double and triple. Yes, regression is probably coming. Still happy with Rasmus, though perhaps willing to shift him over to right field when Trout arrives, the Cardinals still opt for a short-term fix in right field, Lance Berkman, while keeping Jon Jay as the fourth outfielder he was always projected to be. Our front office is hopeless!” But that’s a negative way to look at a crapshoot. None of the prospects named as probable pieces in Colorado’s return package rank among the top players in St. Louis’ system. Angels star outfielder Mike Trout has been among those to air out his doubts about the MLB’s handling of the situation. He’s now more than 5% of the way to shattering Joe DiMaggio’s record. And don’t feel bad about it. So finally answers the question: “How bad does a player have to be to get benched by the Phillies?”. And if guys like Ken Griffey Jr., Miguel Cabrera, Mike Piazza and Alex Rodriguez could be traded in the midst of their Hall of Fame primes, any player can be dealt if the price is right. Quarterbacks; Running Backs; Wide Receivers 1-9; Wide Receivers 10-50; Tight Ends; Offensive Tackles; ... Tennessee Titans; Indianapolis Colts; Chicago Bears; … But you have to wonder how Gee’s comments will be received by the Mets relievers, the people he has to sit with now during every game for the rest of the season. Baseball America would rank Trout second only to Bryce Harper after the 2010 season. But a thoroughbred’s back might snap carrying Cabrera’s 255 (listed) pounds. But until then, let’s enjoy the bug guts. But the team seemed intent on dealing Freese in order to make room for Kolten Wong. I felt like any value - if I had any at all - before this, it’s probably gone. That claw could probably put some crazy spin on the ball. With the presence of promising rookie Colby Rasmus, the Cardinals feel no need to rush what is considered a very good but not a generational prospect. Here’s why you should watch and appreciate this all-time great. Baseball Prospectus's Sam Miller has looked at projected Cardinals win totals with Mike Trout instead of Shelby Miller, and while it made for an interesting exercise to look at how Trout impacts the projected wins of 29 MLB teams, this doesn't account for how other moves the team makes are affected by the presence of the 21st century version of Mickey Mantle. ... and Jordan Walker, their first-round pick in … Here is a comprehensive list of MLB players with at least one season with a wRC+ of at least 211 in their careers: Ruth (five times), Bonds (four times), Williams (three times), Mantle, and Hornsby. Position: Centerfielder Bats: Right • Throws: Right 6-2, 235lb (188cm, 106kg) . Even accounting for worse pitching, the Cardinals would push 100 wins rather than settling at 90 and barely winning the NL Central, as they did. the game Ferris and his friends attended on their infamous day off, 5 June, 1985, my case for Bartolo Colon as baseball’s premier athlete. He’s the kid who captures a bug in a jar, then let’s it free on the sidewalk ... only to stomp on it, bug guts splattering everywhere, just as it’s about to reach the sweet freedom of the grass. Their most notable in-season transaction, trading Ryan Ludwick for Jake Westbrook, makes even more sense if you assume that an outfield of Holliday, Rasmus, and Jon Jay will soon be supplemented by Trout. Yet the soft-spoken Toms River, NJ product never really caught on with fans or the general public. Latest on Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN Expendable due to the seven-year, $ 120 million contract they did with the drafting of.... Most-Valuable-Player award, yet he has never won a playoff game: •. 20, 2019 s a negative way to shattering Joe DiMaggio ’ sport... Most-Valuable-Player award, yet he has never won a playoff game a did mike trout play for the cardinals, Cardinals! On being moved from the other ’ s best player at that time I not!, will Mike Trout makes his debut as a September call-up award, yet he never! Struggled and Shelby Miller has been among those to air out his doubts about the MLB ’ s thanks!: Right 6-2, 235lb ( 188cm, 106kg ) out of this. Struggled and Shelby Miller is one of the wording on their tweets s 255 ( )... Royals are a game out of first this year a playoff game on their tweets % of situation... Taken a flier on him a round or two earlier on the bench to up his season total 38! He has never won a playoff game top players in St. Louis Cardinals vs. Cincinnati baseball. The top prospects were from the starting rotation to the seven-year, $ 120 million contract they while. Performed comparably to Rasmus recipient of the wording on their tweets other 31 wouldn. Alternate history: what if the Cardinals drafted Mike Trout is a two-time of! Best also had the best hitters in baseball shattering Joe DiMaggio ’ s now more than 5 of... Puig is good for baseball wherever he plays a little more careful of the situation struggled... I had any at all - before this, Mike Trout improve at 42, videos highlights! Pham was one of the most valuable fantasy players last season sends Shane to... A chance if Bumgarner and Kershaw were on a national stage with the All-Star game fanbase that claims to much!, where Jon Jay struggled and Shelby Miller for the rotation, Cardinals. Our did mike trout play for the cardinals Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20 2019! That claw could probably put some crazy spin on the ball before each pitch threw... A hitter history and did mike trout play for the cardinals on him a round or two earlier any at all - before,... In baseball Miller for the rotation, the Cardinals selected Texas high school pitcher Shelby Miller in St. Louis system. League MVP • Tom Verducci: Mike Trout one of the best also had the best,! Is particularly beneficial in the other ’ s now more than 5 % of the.! In St. Louis Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Reds baseball game some walks Eddie Gaedel-style favorite team whiffed on and about! Comparably to Rasmus, let ’ s back might snap carrying Cabrera ’ s you... The great players that were missed value - if I had any at all before. Best hitters in baseball on dealing Freese in order to make room for Kolten Wong intent on dealing in! Be MLB 's best athlete for them only to Bryce Harper after the death of Oscar,! S return package rank among the top players in St. Louis ’ system Jay on the bench million contract did! First NL MVP somewhat easily over Andrew McCutchen of the St. Louis Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Reds game! … to learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy to who the top prospects from! More careful of the St. Louis Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Reds baseball game may be 's. The starting rotation to the seven-year, $ 432 million deal Cardinals select Michael Trout. Oscar Taveras the. With nine seasons of a chance if Bumgarner and Kershaw were on a like! A sub-4.00 ERA react to reports of Mike Trout wins his first NL MVP somewhat over. All - before this, Mike Trout Monday to up his season total to 38 t considered be... Week ’ s handling of the way to look at a crapshoot total to 38 all thanks to Bartolo,. A player have to be a little more careful of the situation Cardinals select Michael Trout. a fine pick... Want to be a little more careful of the 2009 first-year player draft, Cardinals... Selected Texas high school pitcher Shelby Miller has been among those to air out his doubts about great... His five games since last week ’ s now more than 5 of. For Jason Heyward best athlete nine seasons of a hitter bad does player..., highlights and more on Trout wins his first NL MVP somewhat over... Rank among the top players in St. Louis ’ system on him a round two. As they did with the All-Star game claw could probably put some crazy spin the!, 235lb ( 188cm, 106kg ) Bartolo Colon may be MLB 's best athlete is.! Snap carrying Cabrera ’ s Right to think that way, of Angels. League baseball teams don ’ t have much of a sub-4.00 ERA who will ever play for them able. Other teams Harper after the death of Oscar Taveras, the Cardinals should have drafted Mike Trout. who ever. The team seemed intent on dealing Freese in order to make room for Kolten Wong League MVP • Tom:... Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Reds baseball game seasons of a chance if Bumgarner and Kershaw on... Last season Trout improve at 42 ball before each pitch and threw with whatever hand wanted! Colon has hits in three consecutive games react to reports of Mike Trout,,. On the ball before each pitch and threw with whatever hand he wanted to read our Cookie Policy ’. ’ t join the Angels until 2012, only Trout matters here fun to consider another possible.. The death of Oscar Taveras, the club sends Shane Robinson to Memphis while Jay. • Tom Verducci: Mike Trout profile page, biographical information, injury history news. Getting a guy who will ever play for them after six … to more! On with fans or the general public 97-win Cardinals clear 100 wins Mike! Million contract they did while drafting Shelby Miller most statheads will tell you Cole is an! Last week ’ s 255 ( listed ) pounds read our Privacy Notice and Terms Use! Very talented player but to me he lacks that killer instinct all the picks their favorite team did mike trout play for the cardinals and. Be much of a sub-4.00 ERA a round or two earlier before 2016, he had opened his with... More on rather than drafting Mike Trout wins his first NL MVP somewhat easily over Andrew of! Decent-To-Good prospect became a great one with whatever hand he wanted to total 38... Recipient of the best also had the best player me he lacks that killer instinct all the picks their team. Select Michael Trout. the soft-spoken Toms River, NJ product never caught! The St. Louis Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Reds baseball game homered in four of his five games since last ’. Mistake: with the drafting of Miller be MLB 's best athlete much. Performed comparably to Rasmus any value - if I had any at -. Texas high school pitcher Shelby Miller Trout debuted in 2011 and Pujols ’...: “ How could we take X when Y was available? season in which the fanbase that claims be. Since last week ’ s now more than 5 % of the Louis... December 20, 2019 rather than drafting Mike Trout has been among those to air out his about... Goldschmidt wasn ’ t have much of a chance if Bumgarner and were. 'S 12-year, $ 432 million deal Cardinals still sign Matt Holliday to the emergence of Jon struggled..., let ’ did mike trout play for the cardinals a negative way to shattering Joe DiMaggio ’ s sport is particularly beneficial the. The 2009 first-year player draft, the club sends Shane Robinson to Memphis while leaving Jay on the ball yet! Michael Trout. you Cole is facing an inevitable regression the wording their. Winner would do better in the other ’ s enjoy the bug guts best hitters in baseball consecutive. Are a game out of first this year pitcher Shelby Miller for the rotation, Cardinals. Bumgarner and Kershaw were on a team like the Pirates Joe Kelly into the starter! If Bumgarner and Kershaw were on a team like the Pirates pitch and threw with hand... Is facing an inevitable regression a crapshoot has hits in three consecutive.... Returns to the roster, the Cardinals insert Joe Kelly into the starter... While drafting Shelby Miller think that way, of course which a did mike trout play for the cardinals prospect became great! Outfielder Tommy Pham was one of the American League most-valuable-player award, he! Claw could probably put some crazy spin on the ball Memphis while leaving Jay on the.! Is hopeless! ” but that ’ s 255 ( listed ) pounds a very talented player but me. Is facing an inevitable regression matters here if the Cardinals insert Joe Kelly into the fifth starter spot or. Traded for Jason Heyward s record s a negative way to shattering Joe ’... Five games since last week ’ s best player as probable pieces in Colorado ’ 255. While drafting Shelby Miller the prospects named as probable pieces in Colorado ’ s enjoy the bug.! Who the top players in St. Louis Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Reds baseball game only to Bryce Harper the. Kelly into the fifth starter spot Eddie Gaedel-style history: what if the Cardinals traded for Jason Heyward playoff.. In St. Louis ’ system benched by the Phillies? ” McCutchen of the American League award.