What's behind Mike Trout's early struggles?

[Stradling]

No Claude it isn't common sense that Trout puts pressure on himself to live up to what Harper is doing. Nor is it common sense that he puts pressure on himself to carry the team. He's struggling simply because he's in a slump, it happens to everyone.

[Stradling]

All those times Escobar got on base in front of Trout and Trout didn't perform has nothing to do with who's batting behind him. He isn't being pitched around he's just missing his pitches because he's in a slump. That's common sense.

[Fregosi2Knoop]

Mike Trout is a superstar on the baseball field. But more than that, he's a human being playing a very unforgiving sport. He may be off to a slow start, but that won't last. He's just too good.

Edited April 20, 2016 by Fregosi2Knoop

[Jason]

I don't think Trout gives a crap about Harper or anyone else that is playing better than him. There may be some validity to him putting too much pressure on himself as he isn't even helping let alone carrying the team.

[bloodbrother]

Trout is under a lot of pressure. The expectations alone must be heavy on him. Bryce Harper's enormous success is no doubt on his mind. It has to be eating at him that he's struggling. I think he's trying to push himself to hard.

 

There's no doubt in my mind that Trout doesn't give one rip about what Harper is doing in relation to him.

[stormngt]

The pressure of having to carry an entire ML roster on his back @ 24 years old.

The whole emphasis this off season was to get people on base in front of Trout. Well he had had runners on base and is currently failing.

[stormngt]

Welcome.

This website might be the only thing that keeps this season tolerable.

And really, IMO the truth is..even if Trout were batting .355 with 8 hrs and 15 RBI

The W-L record would be pretty much the same.

If you believe that you haven't been watching the games. Outside of Cubs they haven't been blown out. Had Trout played to his normal this team would have at least three more wins.

[stormngt]

Trout w/ 3 hits.

Angels as a team, 4 hits.

The thread should be renamed to "Who's hitting, besides Mike Trout?" (and Kole Calhoun)

What about the previous games?

[WallyWorld]

If this goes on for another couple of weeks, I'm going to have to think there's either some sort of injury we don't know about, or a personal issue off the field. He's just not himself.

[mancini79]

In 2014 he went .183, 2 HR in a 20 game stretch. (Apr 28-May19). Oh, he won MVP that season.

 

Baseball is an inconsistent sport. That's why numbers consist of averages. His season will average out as it has done every other year.

[Ohtaniland]

http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/69922/bryce-harpers-explosion-has-he-surpassed-mike-trout-as-games-best

 

[Stradling]

http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/69922/bryce-harpers-explosion-has-he-surpassed-mike-trout-as-games-best

Cool story bro, you must be pumped!

[bloodbrother]

Looks like Harper's success is on somebody's mind, but it's not Trout's

[Brent Maguire]

The idea that the pressure is getting to Trout is ludicrous. If that were the case, he wouldn't have finished top 2 in MVP voting in the last 4 years. He's slumping, plain and simple. He'll be fine. 

[Chuck]

Trout was awful over a 5 week stretch late in the summer last season and still finished with great totals.

Claude...

Bryce Harper didn't have shit batting behind him last season and had a career year.

You cannot blame Pujols for Trout's slump here.

[mancini79]

Harper's hot start is Albert's fault.

[Blarg]

He is being hindered by lack of fan support.

[Ace-Of-Diamonds]

Welcome.

This website might be the only thing that keeps this season tolerable.

And really, IMO the truth is..even if Trout were batting .355 with 8 hrs and 15 RBI

The W-L record would be pretty much the same.

I doubt that, we have had too many close loses where Trout went 0-4 with a couple Ks. A HR here or there and we win those games. Trout is 0 for the season with RISP. How Trout goes so goes the offense/team.

[Stradling]

With the way Trout has hit the last couple days Albert must have started hitting and Harper must be slumping.

[DoubleOffTheWall]

nice game for Trout today.

 

But I still feel something spoiled what could have been a much cooler Trout. I want the Trout from the first 2 full seasons - the 30/30 guy who was also the fastest player in the game, and an insane on-base machine. A reincarnation of Ricky Henderson with more power. 

Now we just have a really good slugger, who is also prone to a lot of strikeouts and an on-base thats lower than the first 2 seasons. While he's amazing now, he doesn't transcend the game like he used to. 

[Ohtaniland]

nice game for Trout today.

But I still feel something spoiled what could have been a much cooler Trout. I want the Trout from the first 2 full seasons - the 30/30 guy who was also the fastest player in the game, and an insane on-base machine. A reincarnation of Ricky Henderson with more power.

Now we just have a really good slugger, who is also prone to a lot of strikeouts and an on-base thats lower than the first 2 seasons. While he's amazing now, he doesn't transcend the game like he used to.

Mike Trout is a great modern day player but he is not Mantle, Henderson or the masher Pujols was in his early St Louis years. Many people including myself will argue that Trout is no longer the best hitter in baseball. There are several reasons I've cited before. Trout plays in a pitchers ballpark and plays in a very weak lineup. He seems to press a lot and try to force the issue. He was a better hitter two years ago. A .330 / 35hrs / 115rbi / 1.000ops type Trout would be great.

[mtangelsfan]

Did it really take two pages for Claude to blame Pujols for this?

 

Claude, honestly your obsession for Albert is really kind of creepy.

[Docwaukee]

Slow start for Trout through 10% of the season .286/.843.  16/56 with 11bb and 16k.  

 

Last year through 16 games he was .316/.929.  18/57 with 9 bb and 14k

 

So he's about 1hr short of being Mike Trout.  

[Docwaukee]

Mike Trout is a great modern day player but he is not Mantle, Henderson or the masher Pujols was in his early St Louis years. Many people including myself will argue that Trout is no longer the best hitter in baseball. There are several reasons I've cited before. Trout plays in a pitchers ballpark and plays in a very weak lineup. He seems to press a lot and try to force the issue. He was a better hitter two years ago. A .330 / 35hrs / 115rbi / 1.000ops type Trout would be great.

Nope.  That is one thing he has never done.  

[mulwin444]

He had a  9.3 WAR in 2013 and a 9.4 WAR last season

 

I don't know what people want from the guy