Archive for the ‘Mike Trout’ Category

Video: Mike Trout Tears Fabric of Reality, Hits Tape-Measure Home Run

Posted by Drew Fairservice under HardBall Talkin', Mike Trout on May 23, 2013

I don’t know what kind of weather system blew through Kansas City tonight but our planet’s prevailing physics don’t appear to apply in the Show Me state.

What other possible explanation could there be for a baseball swing that short and compact to impart such violent force upon a baseball? The kind of force required to send a baseball careening some 460 feet the other way needs a bigger swing and a bigger man, doesn’t it? HOW? WHY? I’M BAMBOOZLED.

SUPERLATIVE SUPERLATIVE MIKE TROUT EXPRESSION OF DISBELIEF PROFANITY SUPERLATIVE.

3 Comments

Great Moments in Numerical Oddities: Mike Trout’s Zero Hour

Posted by Drew Fairservice under Analysis, Mike Trout on May 23, 2013

Earlier today, we covered Jose Bautista‘s record-setting game for the Blue Jays. Jose went 4-4 with two home runs and the game-winning RBI in extra innings (and a walk for good measure). His Win Probability Added for the game is the highest in Blue Jays history, exceeding 100% in a most delightfully counter-intuitive way possible.

In the comment section of that post, reader “TOK” pointed out something truly bizarre: when Mike Trout hit for the cycle earlier this week, his WPA for the game was actually negative. WHAT? Hold on a tick…

Read the rest of this entry »

13 Comments

Alex Rios: A Renaissance of Competence

Posted by Drew Fairservice under Alex Rios, Analysis, Chicago White Sox, Mike Trout, Vernon Wells on May 21, 2013

Boston Red Sox v Chicago White Sox

The 2013 is full of terrific redemption stories, most of them residing on the New York Yankees. Travis Hafner and Vernon Wells are putting together seasons many refused to believe they still had in them.

Vernon Well, in particular, looks like a new man. A few changes to his swing and setup have the former Blue Jays center fielder swinging like it’s 2006. Or 2010. Maybe 2003. One of those odd years in which Vernon Wells is good, I can’t tell which one.

While Vernon Wells might steal all the headlines with his multi-positional verstality and (dead cat) bounce back to relevance, he isn’t the only recovering Blue Jays outfielder putting together a solid first half in 2013. Wells’ old outfield mate Alex Rios is swinging the bat better than just about any outfielder in baseball, actually.

Read the rest of this entry »

7 Comments

Jeremy Guthrie’s Unusual Evening

Posted by Drew Fairservice under Analysis, Kansas City Royals, Mike Trout, Riffin' And GIFfin' on May 15, 2013

Kansas City Royals v Baltimore Orioles

To his eternal credit, Jeremy Guthrie is having a very unusual season. Unusual for Jeremy Guthrie in that he’s pitched very well and Jeremy Guthrie is the human embodiment of serviceable. He has a very low ERA and a sparkling 5-1 won/loss record. Before last night, it was a 5-0 record.

Last night, Jeremy Guthrie posted one of the weirdest pitching lines you’ll ever see. It was the anti-FIP start for the ages. And that was tip of Guthrie’s weirdness iceberg.

Read the rest of this entry »

6 Comments

GIF: Mike Trout Steals Third Versus the White Sox, Starts Slide From Chicago’s North Side

Posted by Scott Lewis under Mike Trout, Riffin' And GIFfin' on May 13, 2013

Let’s set aside the argument over whether or not this was the correct call and just admire Mike Trout‘s nearly 10-foot feet first slide. Ok, we all good? Trout probably should have been called out there.

Hit the jump for a look at the entire “stolen base”

Read the rest of this entry »

6 Comments

Context Doesn’t Live Here Anymore

Posted by Drew Fairservice under HardBall Talkin', Mike Trout on Apr 10, 2013

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim v Baltimore Orioles

Remember last year when Mike Trout made that amazing catch in center field against the Baltimore Orioles? It was great, he leaped far and high to steal a dinger from J.J. Hardy in what was arguably the baseball highlight of the year.

This year, Mike Trout reported to camp heavier than before, bulking up ahead of the long season. He lost most of the weight before the Cactus League schedule was even finished but, apparently, that hasn’t stopped some from digging away at this low-hanging fruit.

Last night, while playing left field against the Oakland A’s, Mike Trout went back to the fence on a high drive by Coco Crisp. Trout jumped in an attempt to steal the homer to no avail. Big fly for Covelli. Somebody at Guyism saw this play and noticed Mike Trout didn’t jump as high and then assumed it’s because Mike Trout can’t jump as high as he once did. Which is just terrific.

Read the rest of this entry »

6 Comments

Anatomy of a Hustle Double

Posted by Drew Fairservice under Analysis, Mike Trout, Shin-Soo Choo on Apr 05, 2013

Seattle Mariners v Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

If this post took the word “anatomy” used in the headline to its illogical conclusion, it would describe the “anatomy” in terms of the 200-or-so pounds of American male from the great state of New Jersey, consisting mainly of very fast twitch muscle fibers. How sinewy legs fired like pistons as the featured participant of the play in question from yesterday’s Reds/Angels game – a game the Reds went on to win 5-4 – put his team in position to score with his heart, his head, and his physical gifts.

This post won’t really do that. It will instead detail the manner in which Mike Trout, by force of sheer athletic will, stole second base from Shin-Soo Choo in the seventh inning. It will also detail the manner in which Emilio Bonifacio sensed an opportunity and exploited Michael Bourn so badly you’d think Bourn worked at Foxconn, not Progressive Field.

Read the rest of this entry »

26 Comments
« Older Entries