2017 MLB Season

Could Mike Trout and Bryce Harper become baseball's all time greatest superstar duo?
http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...ce-harper-baseball-all-greatest-superstar-duo

knightedsoldier5000 said:

Could Mike Trout and Bryce Harper become baseball's all time greatest superstar duo?
http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...ce-harper-baseball-all-greatest-superstar-duo

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Great to see you posting again, ks5000! I need a little help on the MLB thread as I have been covered up with work, which I guess is a good thing. Thanks to others posting here as well. I have a lot to say, but I just don't have the time. I'm just happy to get enough time to read everyone's posts!
Thanks again!

Thanks Carolina! I haven't been keeping up on baseball like I used to. I usually just check the box scores on Trout and Harper nowadays.

I was in a good mood post Federer/ Wimbledon for a day or two but I am firmly back in my "Summer Of Hate" mode. A few negative thoughts I have to blurt out.
1-Mike Trout does not look right so far since coming back and I anticipated this given the nature of his injury. Until he starts getting multiple hit games back to back I will wonder if he will ever get his mojo back this season.
2-The loss of Trea Turner is devastating. Again I just thank God the injury had nothing to do with his legs but I find it very dispiriting that among the three top NL base stealers HE is the one that gets plucked. Dee Gordon and Billy Hamilton are never pitched inside and remember that turd Gordon, who the media just loves, was suspended for PEDs in the past.
3-In comparing the four major sports baseball is the most outwardly racist. They backed up Adam Jones and his unsubstantiated story about racist Boston fans. They have a VERY aggressive plan to bring more African Americans into the league which will chip away at the number of white players at the glory/skill positions. Which begs the next question? Are the umpires instructed to give black batters a more preferential strike zone? I know it is a tough thing to pin down but I have noticed this season that the "black stars" and other young black players are often on the receiving end of a very tiny strike zone. I wouldn't put it past this league. This is the same league under Bud Selig that happily cashed in the money and acted dumb during the 'steroid era" until it all became all too obvious.
4-How fake is baseball? The balls are flying out of the ballparks and more so than ever the length of the Home Runs are mentioned. And oddly enough a lot of these balls are traveling way over 400 feet. What gives? The" reports" are that the balls are the same as ever. What a bunch of baloney. The BALLS are JUICED this season and once again this lying low down league is acting deceitful.
So I do not trust a league that is pursuing white genocide with such ferocity and if recent history is any guide MLB continues to hang out on the dark side of the road. And by the way baseball in general is making TONS of money. Minor League baseball is the only affordable sporting event that many middle class families can afford. The NFL, NBA and even the NHL have very high ticket prices. There was a time MLB was affordable for the lunch pail working man but even their tickets have sky rocketed. I guess the cheap seats are still within the reasonable price range but anything near the playing field costs a lot of money.
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/07/05/mlb-juiced-baseballs-denial-manfred/

I'd say the NFL is worse than MLB when it comes to being anti-white (screwing Hillis/Gerhart/a hundred other White running backs, not calling pass interference by defensive blacks against White receivers, Brady's ridiculous four-game suspension, blackballing Tebow but sucking up to Krappernick, banning Whites completely from a position - cornerback). White center fielders and shortstops face discrimination, but no position in baseball is banned for them because of skin color. But I agree that baseball is trending in a "dark" direction.

I think the debate on whether the NFL or MLB is tougher caste wise on whites is a close call either way. Your points are well taken and there is a truckload of evidence that the NFL on down to pee wee football is immersed in caste think. Whereas baseball is more OPEN about their goal to eliminate whites the NFL does it in a more tried and true UNDERHANDED way. And like you say the cornerback position has I guess been officially outlawed if you are white. But one major difference between the NFL and MLB is there is a much greater pool of white skill position players in the minor leagues than the say white skill position players in college football. The number of white speedsters, many of them centerfielders, who have never made it to the major leagues over the past 30 years is beyond staggering. Which leaves the cupboard barren. You have all of these speed demon white players who just plain stall and are left to DIE in the minor leagues and the sports world NEVER knew they ever existed. Makes you wonder if a lot of these white baseball players chose the wrong sport. McKay Christenson is a perfect example of a two sport white athlete ( who lost two years due to a mission) who was deemed at the time to be the best high school athlete in the MLB draft and the fastest runner. Instead of becoming the star record setting running back with blazing speed he was in high school he chose baseball and managed to barely play in the big leagues for a very short stint.
And baseball has eliminated many whites by bringing in Hispanic, mixed and Caribbean blacks and that trend has only increased dramatically over the years. Baseball is also hung up on American blacks because they are obsessed over the fact that they were the first major sport to integrate which is why they make an overblown production on "Jackie Robinson" day every season. They feel for various reasons that they need to emulate the NFL and NBA when it comes to black representation and as we know whites are now underrepresented in the key positions of CF and SS.
Of course with football the slotting and casting starts much earlier than in baseball so in a lot of cases the "white story" never gets off the ground. And with all this concussion talk a lot of white parents are leery of letting their sons play football.
That said I think we all can agree both sports are loaded with nauseating obstacles that prevent many white players from success at the pro level.

The Cubs are presenting Steve Bartman, whose life was ruined because of Moises Alou and rabid DWFs, a World Series ring today

Claimjumper said:

The Cubs are presenting Steve Bartman, whose life was ruined because of Moises Alou and rabid DWFs, a World Series ring today

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That's great! Thanks for sharing Claimjumper.

Some performances of note so far tonight:
Goldschmidt, AZ. 3 HR's,(25th) and 6 RBI's
Blackmon, COL. 25th HR
...and Mike Trout despite missing about a third or 50 games this season hit his 20th HR last night and if he had enough AB's to qualify would be leading the league in OB%, SLG. and OPS. and second in BA.

On another injury note, 15 game winner and leading the league, Clayton Kershaw injured. No time table on his return.

Carolina Speed said:

Some performances of note so far tonight:
Goldschmidt, AZ. 3 HR's,(25th) and 6 RBI's
Blackmon, COL. 25th HR
...and Mike Trout despite missing about a third or 50 games this season hit his 20th HR last night and if he had enough AB's to qualify would be leading the league in OB%, SLG. and OPS. and second in BA.

On another injury note, 15 game winner and leading the league, Clayton Kershaw injured. No time table on his return.

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Um, Trout HR number 21 in his first AB this evening!

Trout goes 3-4 with with a 2B + 1 BB last night. Pujols goes 0-5 behind him, thus Trout gets no Runs scored.

Trout is now hitting .346 which puts him right behind Altuve for the league lead once he gets enough Plate Appearances. Let's hop Trout keeps it up and Altuve cools off down the stretch. A batting title for Trout is def. possible this year!!

Batting Average
1.
Altuve • HOU
.365
2.
Ramirez • CLE
.322
3.
Correa • HOU
.320
4.
Segura • SEA
.318
5.
Hosmer • KCR
.316

Trout's OBP = .465, and here are your league leaders:

1.
Judge • NYY
.426
2.
Altuve • HOU
.425
3.
Correa • HOU
.400
4.
Trout • LAA
.465
**
5.
Gonzalez • HOU
.388
*

Now SLG %:

1.
Judge • NYY
.627
2.
Smoak • TOR
.597
3.
Springer • HOU
.590
4.
Trout • LAA
.706
**
5.
Gonzalez • HOU
.578
**

OPS:

1.
Judge • NYY
1.053
2.
Altuve • HOU
1.000
3.
Smoak • TOR
.978
4.
Trout • LAA
1.171
**
5.
Springer • HOU
.973


Trout is leading all these categories by a huge margin, and just behind Altuve for the Batting Title. All he needs is more PA's and I think he'll get them by the end of the year to qualify for the "lead' in all these categories. He could be the greatest player since Ruth, he certainly is so far if he can keep it going the rest of his career.

Given his loss of time to injury, just how many Plate Appearances does Trout need to "lead" in various categories like OBP?

Here's the rule:

A ** by the stat's value indicates the player had fewer than the required number of at bats or plate appearances for the BA, OBP, SLG or OPS title that year. In order to rank the player, the necessary number of hitless at bats were added to the player's season total. The value printed here is their actual value and not the value used to rank them, therefore some numbers may appear out of order.
For batting rate stats, generally a minimum of 3.1 Plate Appearances/G, 1.0 IP/G, 0.67 Gm and Chances/Team Game (fielding), 0.2 SB att/Team Game (catchers), and 0.1 SB att/Team Game (baserunners only since 1951), and 0.1 decision/G for single-season leaderboards generally needed for rate statistics.

So, 3.1 PA's per team game = 3.1 X 162 = 502.2 PA's required.

Now, what happens if he falls short at say only 500 PA's? My understanding is they substitute a zero for ever PA needed to get to the magic number, so they would give him 0 hits in 2.2 ABs to get his final "average" for consideration for batting title, OBP title, etc. So he doesn't really HAVE to have 502.2 PA's, but how ever many he falls short will be considered outs in his calculations.

Let's look at where Trout is:

He currently has 288 PA's, so he needs 214.2 to get to the minimum 502.2.

The Angels currently have 52 games left to play.

So, Trout needs 214.2 / 52 games = 4.112 average Plate Appearances per game for the rest of the year to reach the magic number.

He got 5 last night, but averaging more than 4 seems like a real stretch. It's going to be close for sure. But if he maintains a massive lead in these categories, he would easily be the official league "leader" in OBP, SLG, OPS, etc. even if he falls just short in PA's. Batting title will be a tough one, and it all depends on Altuve cooling off IMO. Trout will need a 10-20 point lead in BA to end up winning the title if he falls just short of the required PAs.

knightedsoldier5000 said:

Given his loss of time to injury, just how many Plate Appearances does Trout need to "lead" in various categories like OBP?

Here's the rule:

A ** by the stat's value indicates the player had fewer than the required number of at bats or plate appearances for the BA, OBP, SLG or OPS title that year. In order to rank the player, the necessary number of hitless at bats were added to the player's season total. The value printed here is their actual value and not the value used to rank them, therefore some numbers may appear out of order.
For batting rate stats, generally a minimum of 3.1 Plate Appearances/G, 1.0 IP/G, 0.67 Gm and Chances/Team Game (fielding), 0.2 SB att/Team Game (catchers), and 0.1 SB att/Team Game (baserunners only since 1951), and 0.1 decision/G for single-season leaderboards generally needed for rate statistics.

So, 3.1 PA's per team game = 3.1 X 162 = 502.2 PA's required.

Now, what happens if he falls short at say only 500 PA's? My understanding is they substitute a zero for ever PA needed to get to the magic number, so they would give him 0 hits in 2.2 ABs to get his final "average" for consideration for batting title, OBP title, etc. So he doesn't really HAVE to have 502.2 PA's, but how ever many he falls short will be considered outs in his calculations.

Let's look at where Trout is:

He currently has 288 PA's, so he needs 214.2 to get to the minimum 502.2.

The Angels currently have 52 games left to play.

So, Trout needs 214.2 / 52 games = 4.112 average Plate Appearances per game for the rest of the year to reach the magic number.

He got 5 last night, but averaging more than 4 seems like a real stretch. It's going to be close for sure. But if he maintains a massive lead in these categories, he would easily be the official league "leader" in OBP, SLG, OPS, etc. even if he falls just short in PA's. Batting title will be a tough one, and it all depends on Altuve cooling off IMO. Trout will need a 10-20 point lead in BA to end up winning the title if he falls just short of the required PAs.

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Thank you ks5000. Love that kind of information. Trout has 288 PA's in 65 games thus far, for an average of 4.431/game....and the Angels have moved him to 2nd in the batting order since coming back. That should help somewhat. Ordinarily, I wouldn't like this, but if it gets him enough PA's, I'm all for it. I think he has a chance. He'll be fresher at seasons end, because of the games missed due to the injury, whereas Altuve along with others will be a little more fatigued.

BTW, Trout closing in 1,000 hits (997) and 200 HR's (189). He would have easily reached these if not for the injury and other as well such as, 700 Runs, 200 Doubles and 2,000 Total bases. He will reach 1,000 hits in the next few games and has a real shot at 200 doubles and 200 HR's!

Bryce Harper with major knee injury stepping on first base. This really sucks, because he was in the running for his 2nd MVP. With the injuries to Eaton, Werth, Turner, Strasburg, and Harper, I'm ready to switch my allegiance to the Dodgers this season. Bummer, I was really looking forward to see Harper compete in the playoffs.

Bryce Harper has a deep bone bruise but not a torn ACL which is a relief.
Trea Turner will be lucky to make it back sometime in September.

I don't think Trout has a shot at the MVP this year. The media is lining up behind the NY halfrican Judge, and with the Yankees playing well he deserves the attention.

Flint said:

I don't think Trout has a shot at the MVP this year. The media is lining up behind the NY halfrican Judge, and with the Yankees playing well he deserves the attention.

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I would never count Trout out. I was probably the only one who thought Trout would win last season, and he did! However, I would give Altuve the nod. He's leading the league in 5-6 categories and has a higher WAR, 6.2. Trout has almost caught Judge in WAR despite missing 50+ games Trout 5.0 WAR, Judge 5.3. Incredible!
Also, I noticed that Trout apparently has enough PA's/AB's to qualify. He's being listed by baseball reference as the league leader in OBP. .469, SLG. .698, and OPS, 1.167. He's 2nd in the league in BA. at .345. In an injury shortened season, he could salvage a batting title if he remains hot and Altuve, (.361), goes cold.

I have never seen so many MLB stars injured in one season! With Harper now out and depending how long, Paul Goldschmidt should be the national league MVP. Redemption for being robbed a few years ago by the overrated McCutcheon.

You are right about Trout, and I was glaringly wrong last year however I am going with Judge because of his lead in other important statistical categories, he leads in being the highest profile candidate to be of mixed race, he leads in playing in the global capital of the world: New York, and he leads in most popular memes: Here come da Judge, and All rise for the Judge. Plus he's a power hitter not a little scratch singles guy like Altuve. Still a lot of season to go.

Hopefully Judge continues his slide. Trout is only a year older than Judge but has made a much bigger impact on the game due to his higher talent level. Trouts injury hurts him to some extent but the market he plays in also hampers his MVP chances.

Andrew Beinteindi has been playing some good baseball as of late. It would be great to see him continue to play well while Judge slumps and get AL ROY. It's a long shot but could happen.

Also Bellinger is coming on as well and has adjusted to pro pitching as of late. He is just as good if not better than Judge.

Altuve 0-4 last night. Now he's at .361 BA. Trout has cooled a bit and has a .340 BA. Trout still over 200 OPS+. Trout is now the official league leader in OBP at .466 despite hitless at bats being added to his totals to get to the required number to qualify.

Interesting dynamic in St. Louis. Carson Kelly, the top Catching prospect in baseball, got called up about a month ago to be Molina's backup. Yadi, the most overrated player in the game, by far, and most likely the slowest player and consistent leader in GIDP, is not happy about it. He knows his time is limited due to the talented white upstart. In fact, it's been reported that Yadi threw a hissy fit when Kelly got a start. Instead of sitting on the bench helping support the kids, Molina went out to the bullpen for the game to hang out with the pitchers. Molina, unfortunately got signed to an insane huge contract with several years left to go on it. Time will tell what happens to the 23 year old prospect, blocked by an aging, overhyped non-white.


"Kelly, 23, has been one of the engines behind Class AAA Memphis' tremendous success this season in the Pacific Coast League. One of the top catching prospects in the game -- if not the top catching prospect in the game -- Kelly made his major-league debut a year ago, but the team has kept him with the Triple-A team this season so that he could get regular playing time.
Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak stressed that Kelly would serve as an apprentice in St. Louis, even if that meant Kelly would have scarce playing time.
"Yadi is our catcher, right?" Mozeliak said. "And our belief is that Yadi will help mentor and grow Carson, but when you look at expectations for Yadi to play every day, they’re still very high."
Kelly set a career-high with 10 home runs to go with a .283 average, a .375 on-base percentage, and a .459 slugging percentage at Memphis. He was selected as an All-Star in the PCL.
Kelly went three-for-four Wednesday with a home run and two RBIs."
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/base...cle_21be86fb-243e-5eeb-9643-af0e3ae27135.html

I was watching a cardinals game earlier this season and the announcers were telling a story about how Matheny (the Cards manager) knew that Molina was going to take his place when he was called up as a young player. Matheny had the total opposite reaction that Molina has had with his eventual replacement. Hopefully the Cardinals dump Molina and his salary - any bspn cardinals game I have watched always brings up Molina and his story and what s great player he is.

knightedsoldier5000 said:

Altuve 0-4 last night. Now he's at .361 BA. Trout has cooled a bit and has a .340 BA. Trout still over 200 OPS+. Trout is now the official league leader in OBP at .466 despite hitless at bats being added to his totals to get to the required number to qualify.

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Also, Trout with his 24th HR last night, is now leading the league in SLG%. .684, OPS. 1.149 and OBP and as you mentioned now at .465. I believe he's also moved up into a tie for fourth in WAR, 5.2. Don't know that he'll catch Altuve, 6.7, but what a story that would be if he could despite missing 50+ games. If he could get close in WAR and the Angels make the playoffs, I think he has a strong case for MVP again!

Carolina Speed said:

Also, Trout with his 24th HR last night, is now leading the league in SLG%. .684, OPS. 1.149 and OBP and as you mentioned now at .465. I believe he's also moved up into a tie for fourth in WAR, 5.2. Don't know that he'll catch Altuve, 6.7, but what a story that would be if he could despite missing 50+ games. If he could get close in WAR and the Angels make the playoffs, I think he has a strong case for MVP again!

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Trout with his 25th and 26th HR tonight.

Carolina Speed said:

Trout with his 25th and 26th HR tonight.

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A lot of speculation on this thread about whether Trout can win the MVP with so many games missed. The only comparable of which I'm aware is 1980 George Brett. He only played 117 games, but hit .390 with 24 HR and 118 RBI. The Royals also won the AL Pennant that year.