Trout: LF Vs CF

[tomsred]

Trade him for 5 major league starters, then we can go back to looking for a big bat once again.

[Lifetime]

And yet last year did not have that effect. The theory doesn't hold water. 

 

The answer to which player should play where, you play the best player for the position. Bourjos is a better CF. 

 

Trout didn't seem "uncomfortable" in LF last year. 

[gotbeer]

So if this correlation is correct.  Then the correct answer is 100%, without a doubt, Hamilton needs to be moved to CF.

[AZMike]

So if this correlation is correct.  Then the correct answer is 100%, without a doubt, Hamilton needs to be moved to CF.

 

Some have actually theorized that Hamilton doesn't hit well in RF or LF because he can hear fans heckling him and that bums him out. OTOH if he plays in CF or DH, everything is totally fine 

[stormngt]

I really didn't think that moving a player from CF to LF would have an effect on a player's offensive performance. But here are Trout's stats so far this year:

LF: .247/.327/.412, 2 HR

CF: .329/.381/.645, 5 HR

 

Maybe the stats are more reflective of a star having a slow start. After all, there is no way Trout was going to finish the year batting .250 regardless of any OF spot. But when Peter comes back, it might be a good idea to keep Trout in CF. Yes, Peter is a better fielder, but Trout for some reason is hitting better in the CF spot.

 

No causation whatsoever!  One's position on defense has no relation to how one bats!

[stormngt]

it doesn't matter. The samples are ridiculously small. Not to mention he played LF last year and there was no shift in his offense. It doesn't matter even for a young player. It's not like it's a major position shift either.

Thank you, an intelligent post.  Maybe we should sacrifice a live chicken and that will help Trout bat better in LF?

[stormngt]

His slow start didn't have anything to do with him playing LF. When he played LF last year (138 ab's), he put up great numbers (.326/.395/.645/.1.040). 

No one wants to look at those facts, they have already made up their mind.  Trout will dominate offensively based on where he plays on defense.

[nate]

Bourjos takes bad routes to balls and makes up for it with his speed.  I am less than impressed with his defense in CF.  He is not as great as everyone makes him out to be defensively.  Trout does a great job there and looks much more natural at the position.

[Troll Daddy]

You do everything to keep Trout in a good frame of mind PEROID! He prefers CF ... PB will be fine in a corner spot.

Quit trying to make the perfect outfield.

[jshep]

You do everything to keep Trout in a good frame of mind PEROID! He prefers CF ... PB will be fine in a corner spot.

Quit trying to make the perfect outfield.

 

If Trout can't be in a "good frame of mind" playing LF(which I don't buy, by the way), he has issues.

[Lifetime]

You do everything to keep Trout in a good frame of mind PEROID! He prefers CF ... PB will be fine in a corner spot.

Quit trying to make the perfect outfield.

LOL so Trout's ego is hurt but Bourjos will be fine.

[Lifetime]

Bourjos takes bad routes to balls and makes up for it with his speed. I am less than impressed with his defense in CF. He is not as great as everyone makes him out to be defensively. Trout does a great job there and looks much more natural at the position.

Bourjos does not take bad routes. He is a very good defender.

[mulwin444]

Or maybe he started to turn it around at the plate because talented players go through slumps and pull themselves out of it eventually and none of it has to do with where he plays defensively?  Just a thought...

[mulwin444]

Oh, and Bourjos is a better CF...one of the best in baseball.  At 21, I'm sure Trout has time to adjust to the massive shift of 30 ft to his right defensively.

[Troll Daddy]

The point is ... Is doesn't hurt the team to keep Trout in his natural position.

Personally I prefer PB's arm throwing runners out at the plate from LF. You rarely see that happening from CF.

[decinces11]

It's simple, really. Fat Trout has a better view of the Diamond Club Buffet from center field, which is the result of his better stats.

[Lifetime]

The point is, it doesn't help the team to do so why bother

[Troll Daddy]

The point is, it doesn't help the team to do so why bother

You haven't figured that out yet? Lol

[HaloFan85]

Was Trout still bothered by being in LF when he hit .419 during a 7-game hit streak in April that raised his average to .307?

[HaloFan85]

The point is ... Is doesn't hurt the team to keep Trout in his natural position.

Personally I prefer PB's arm throwing runners out at the plate from LF. You rarely see that happening from CF.

Actually it does hurt if Trout can't stop runners from going first to third.  Having a stronger arm in LF won't matter if that's the case.

[AZMike]

Actually it does hurt if Trout can't stop runners from going first to third.  Having a stronger arm in LF won't matter if that's the case.

With our pitching staff stopping runners going first to third is a moot point. Opposing teams can simply steal third at will.

[Mark68]

Some have actually theorized that Hamilton doesn't hit well in RF or LF because he can hear fans heckling him and that bums him out. OTOH if he plays in CF or DH, everything is totally fine 

Shouldn't his actual suckage bum him out more?

 

FWIW, Trout playing CF has nothing to do with his hitting. Nothing. This is a theory that holds absolutely no water.

 

Bourjos is the better CF, and it's not close, IMO.

 

Trout does not have the arm to play center, Bourjos does.

[ten ocho recon scout]

Trout playing CF again has NOTHING to do with it guys. Trout had some adjustments to make, he did, and he's come around. This is the same line of thinking some were saying about him batting second versus leading off....

 

If this were true, is anyone up for bumping Trout so Hamilton can move back to CF and hit 43 home runs?.......(me neither)