ANAHEIM — It has become normal this time of year to be discussing how Mike Trout is a candidate for the MVP despite the team’s failure, but this year there is a new wrinkle.
Unfortunately for the Angels, the team’s failure is part of the conversation, but the new addition is that Trout is no longer alone in the MVP discussion.
Anthony Rendon is finishing up his first season alongside Trout and polishing up his own MVP credentials, at least for voters who don’t disqualify players on losing teams.
Heading into Saturday’s play, Rendon was leading the American League in WAR, according to FanGraphs, while Trout was third. Rendon ranked eighth in OPS, while Trout was second.
“He just goes out there and hits,” Trout said. “It’s remarkable the way he does it. He doesn’t really stress over anything. He just goes out and hits. It’s pretty remarkable the way he does it.
“He went on a little skid there. I saw him stretching one day and said, ‘Hey man, what you got?’ ‘I’m not even hitting today.’ And he went 3 for 4 with a homer. I was like ‘Whoa, pretty impressive.’ He just comes to the ballpark and puts up numbers.”
In the first year of a seven-year, $245-million deal, Rendon is clearly the best player who has even shared a lineup with Trout. Some have suggested his presence would help Trout see more strikes. According to Baseball Savant, Trout has seen pitches in the strike zone 52.2% of the time, the highest it’s been in the six years of data available.
“Obviously just having somebody behind you, that can hit the ball hard and have good at-bats and do what Anthony does, you definitely see more pitches,” Trout said.
While Trout and Rendon figure to to be candidates for the MVP, they have plenty of company, including Jose Abreu and Tim Anderson of the Chicago White Sox, Nelson Cruz of the Minnesota Twins and DJ LeMahieu and Luke Voit of the New York Yankees.
Trout said he hasn’t given much thought to whether he will win his fourth MVP, but he did throw a compliment toward the White Sox duo.
“Those two guys over in Chicago are having unbelievable seasons,” he said. “They’re fun to watch. Every time you turn them on, they’re out there smiling and putting up big numbers. It’s good to see.”
NO UPTON
Justin Upton was not in the lineup a day after he was hit in the head by a pitch. Although Manager Joe Maddon said the reports were that Upton was doing well, he chose to keep him out of the lineup as a precaution.
“I didn’t like it, frankly,” Maddon said. “He got hit pretty good… I just thought it was the right thing to do.”
WALSH TO THE OUTFIELD
Jared Walsh was in Saturday’s lineup in right field, his first time in the majors playing the outfield. Walsh played outfield 85 times the minors, although sparingly the past couple years.
Maddon said “it’s not optimal,” but he wanted to get the best offensive lineup he could to face Rangers ace Lance Lynn.
Putting Walsh in the outfield allowed Maddon to keep Albert Pujols in the lineup at first base and put Shohei Ohtani at designated hitter. Although Ohtani has been slumping, he hasn’t played in six days and Maddon liked his left-handed bat against Lynn.
Mike Trout impressed with Anthony Rendon in first Angels season together posted first on https://anaheimsignsorangecounty.blogspot.com
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