OT: Trout vs. Mantle

[Peter_Spaeth]

What's gone wrong with Bryce Harper, speaking of can't miss prospects?

[shelly]

I saw Mantle play his first and last games. In ten years ask the question.

[icollectDCsports]

The Greats of the Game are so revered that it's natural (so to speak) to wonder which of the players we're now watching will join that group.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

What's gone wrong with Bryce Harper, speaking of can't miss prospects?

You can't expect every can't miss prospect to live up to their hype the way Strasburg has.

[darwinbulldog]

I have my own formula for calculating how great a career someone has had. Using that formula (I acknowledge you have every reason to be skeptical of its validity, but if you trust me...)

I've scaled the scores so pitchers and non-pitchers can be ranked fairly on the same list.

Babe Ruth (1st) scores a 45.7,
Mickey Mantle (21st) scores a 17.0,
and Mike Trout is at a 5.2, which means he's already had one of the 200 greatest total careers in MLB history if he retires today! In all likelihood he moves into the top 100 next year.

Anything over an 8 almost always gets a guy into Cooperstown, so the 5.2 is ridiculous for someone who is at the age when a big league career would normally be starting. If I had to put money on it, I'd say he'll end up ahead of the Mick, but of course [insert your favorite sports cliché here].

[ctownboy]

IMHO, I think the Angels are mismanaging Trout.

One study that was done (a Saber study?) showed that most players best years were between the ages of 26 - 28 or 27 - 29. That is when everything seemed to jell especially the power numbers.

To me, guys with speed usually are best when they are younger and then the speed goes and they have to adapt as a player. If Trout is already not running as much (by choice or by orders from above) then he/they are limiting his skills and wasting the speed years while trying to force him into the power years which he might be ready for and which the strikeouts show.

No, if Pujols doesn't want Trout running because it distracts him when he is in the box, my suggestion has always been to have Trout lead off, with Hamilton batting second and Pujols third. That way, Trout can run if he wants to and Hamilton has the hole between first and second to try and pull a ball through.

This also makes it harder for opposing defenses to put a shift on. I say this because if nobody is covering third and Trout is successful at stealing second then he can just get up and run to third.

So, to wrap it up, I would let Trout steal as much as possible early in his career to get those numbers up and then let him grow into his power. He could easily be stealing 50 bags a year in his youth and then hitting 40 to 50 home runs a year in his peak years.

David

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by ctownboy

IMHO, I think the Angels are mismanaging Trout.

Anything other than pan-fried in butter with a little salt and pepper, is mismanaging trout. But the Angels also were done with their Salmon a bit early. These two fish should have played for the Marlins.

[Davino]

Originally Posted by ctownboy

IMHO, I think the Angels are mismanaging Trout.

One study that was done (a Saber study?) showed that most players best years were between the ages of 26 - 28 or 27 - 29. That is when everything seemed to jell especially the power numbers.

To me, guys with speed usually are best when they are younger and then the speed goes and they have to adapt as a player. If Trout is already not running as much (by choice or by orders from above) then he/they are limiting his skills and wasting the speed years while trying to force him into the power years which he might be ready for and which the strikeouts show.

No, if Pujols doesn't want Trout running because it distracts him when he is in the box, my suggestion has always been to have Trout lead off, with Hamilton batting second and Pujols third. That way, Trout can run if he wants to and Hamilton has the hole between first and second to try and pull a ball through.

This also makes it harder for opposing defenses to put a shift on. I say this because if nobody is covering third and Trout is successful at stealing second then he can just get up and run to third.

So, to wrap it up, I would let Trout steal as much as possible early in his career to get those numbers up and then let him grow into his power. He could easily be stealing 50 bags a year in his youth and then hitting 40 to 50 home runs a year in his peak years.

David

great analysis!!

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

What's gone wrong with Bryce Harper, speaking of can't miss prospects?

His health.

He missed 44 games last year and has missed 60 this year.