No. 27

[LightTheHalo]

During Vlad's ceremony last night I was reminded of a question I've had for quite awhile: why did the Angels give a number to Mike Trout that is very likely to be retired by the team when Vlad goes into the National Baseball Hall of Fame? (Going by the precedent set by retirement of No. 29.)

Are they just potentially going to retire it twice?

[Blarg]

Vlad may very well enter the Hall as the last Expo to be enshrined, if he makes it.

[Taylor]

If they make Trout change his number, he's going to leave for sure.

[Chimi]

I don't think they will retire Vlad's number unless he goes into the hall as an Angel which is unlikely.  His stats as an Expo are far better than what he did as an Angel.

[Brian Ilten]

The Angels number 27 is going to end up retired... and it won't be because of Vlad.

[gotbeer]

Yanks are going to retire 42 twice.

[fan_since79]

Vlad may very well enter the Hall as the last Expo to be enshrined, if he makes it.

He had eight years with Montreal and six with us. His Expo numbers are better, but not by a lot.

 

His overall numbers are on the cusp of HOF standards. He'll probably get in, but not right away. 

[fan_since79]

I don't think they will retire Vlad's number unless he goes into the hall as an Angel which is unlikely.  His stats as an Expo are far better than what he did as an Angel.

Only his SLG pct is significantly better. The other offensive numbers are very similar. Adjusted OPS+ of 148 with Montreal, 141 with the Angels.

Edited April 1, 2014 by fan_since79

[Skram]

I do not think they should retire Vlad's number, even if/when he makes the HOF. I would feel that way even if it wasn't Trout's number right now.

[tomsred]

How long will it be before we see #101 in spring training?

[Jay]

Why would he retire as an Angel if he plans to go into the HOF as an Expo?

[Inside Pitch]

Regarding Vlad and the HOF...  The stats will likely take a back seat to the accomplishments.  MVP, playoffs -- all came with the Angels.  For many fans the Angels are the team he is most closely associated with.

 

FTR, I can't find it but I think the HOF referred to their choosing the team based on where a player made their most indelible mark or something along those lines.

Edited April 1, 2014 by Inside Pitch

[Tank]

Why would he retire as an Angel if he plans to go into the HOF as an Expo?

 

yeah, i was thinking about that last night, too.

[Sully151]

This is a serious question, who is more important to the Angels history, Vlad or Salmon?

[stormngt]

Vladdy made thee playoffs 5 of six years, was a member of 5 division titles, was AL mvp.

Salmon made the playoffs once. He never made an All Star game...and was never in the running for MVP. However he did win the WS.

I would lean toward Salmon because he played his entire career with Angels and did win the WS.

However as a individual player Salmon isn't close to Vladdy.

[WallyWorld]

Why would he retire as an Angel if he plans to go into the HOF as an Expo?

 

the HOF decides, not the player.  He retired as an Angel because he either feels closest to that organization or because it's no longer possible to retire as an Expo.

[Jay]

So what's the significance of retiring as one thing or another?  Just to draw attention to yourself one last time?

[gotbeer]

Also, researching it a bit more.  Looks like the Yankees have retired #8 twice.  Yogi Berra and Bill Dickey.  

[Brandon]

I thought this same thing about Percival. His number went to Colon then Jepsen.

[Homebrewer]

They should have asked Butcher to catch the ceremonial 1st pitch.

[Homebrewer]

oops wrong thread

[LightTheHalo]

Looks like Trout wore No. 1 in high school, so I find it all the more interesting that they gave him 27. I'm just curious if any exact thought went into that selection.

[Spencer]

Didn't he wear 25 in the minors?  Bourjos had 25 when Trout came up, so he switched to 27.

This is going off memory, so correct me if I'm wrong

[markb]

Vladdy made thee playoffs 5 of six years, was a member of 5 division titles, was AL mvp.

Salmon made the playoffs once. He never made an All Star game...and was never in the running for MVP. However he did win the WS.

I would lean toward Salmon because he played his entire career with Angels and did win the WS.

However as a individual player Salmon isn't close to Vladdy.

 

 

While Salmon never made the ASG, it's actually a bit crazy a guy that put up a .928 OPS over a 7 year span never got in.  I really can't think of a better player who never made one trip.  

 

Vlad is a more individually accomplished player, no doubt, but I feel like Salmon playing his entire career here gives him the edge.

[Inside Pitch]

Vladdy made thee playoffs 5 of six years, was a member of 5 division titles, was AL mvp.

Salmon made the playoffs once. He never made an All Star game...and was never in the running for MVP. However he did win the WS.

I would lean toward Salmon because he played his entire career with Angels and did win the WS.

However as a individual player Salmon isn't close to Vladdy.

 

I'd argue that the better player and the more important player (which is what he asked), are two different things.  

 

Tim Salmon wasn't the player Vlad was but like Downing before him, he is one of the players most closely associated with the team.  Salmon stuck it out, he signed for less, he was there for some of the lowest of the lows and the highest of the highs.. Tim Salmon made the lap around the stadium with the trophy over his head, a genuinely heartfelt moment meant to bring the fans into the fold after the franchise's single most important moment in it's history.

 

Tim Salmon has few peers when it comes to importance to the franchise.