Trout Continues to Amaze

This year’s All-Star game weekend was very entertaining in a great city of Cincinnati. This weekend provided a record number of home runs in the home run Derby with 159 and the hometown hero Cincinnati third baseman Todd Frazier became the second player to win in his home ballpark. A great build up to Tuesday night’s Midsummer classic that saw Angels superstar Mike Trout make MLB history by becoming the first player ever to win back-to-back All-Star MVPs!

Mike Trout continues to build an amazing legacy

A career that has just begun has everyone in awl of what he has already been able to accomplish. In just four years in the majors, he has not only become the face of the Angels he is must-see TV. In his short career, he is hitting .306 with 124 homers, 362 runs batted in and 111 stolen bases only being caught 18 times. He is not only a prolific offensive player he is not too shabby on the defensive side of the ball either ask Gordon Beckham, JJ Hardy, and Price Fielder just a few who have had home runs robbed by Trout.  A five-tool player that is still getting better at his craft and he has already won the rookie of the year award and the MVP! If it weren’t for Miguel Cabrera he could have won three in a row. It is remarkable to think that he is just 23 years of age; I would say baseball in great hands!

He definitely has the baseball thing down, but he is an even better person staying humble through all the success he still thinks of fans and others before himself. Baseball was worried when Derek Jeter retired last season, but I don’t think they have to worry anymore! Mike Trout is going to continue to make MLB history and it’s going to be fun to watch, it’s great to see the youth infused in the game of baseball today and the leader of that pack is Mike Trout. Baseball just keeps getting better and better that is why it’s called America’s National Pastime!

A-ROD is the Biggest ALL-Star Snub

The All-Star festivities got underway Monday night with a fantastic Home Run Derby that saw their hometown hero Cincinnati Reds third baseman Todd Frazier become the second player to win in his home ballpark. An awesome build up for Tuesday nights Midsummer classic, but I think there is a notable omission on the American League All-Star squad is Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez.

The Stats don’t lie

Love them or hate them, he is having a remarkable start to the 2015 season at times carrying the Yankees offense that has been stagnant at times during the season. He is hitting .271 18 home runs and 51 runs batted in, he also has a 900 OPS and everyone that has a 900 OPS or higher is on the All-Star team with the exception of Rodriguez. I guarantee you if you told the Yankees and Alex Rodriguez himself knew those were the numbers he would put up in the first half they would have taken that and ran with it. He has defied father time at almost 40 years old and two surgically repaired hips it’s downright amazing that he has been able to put up these All-Star type numbers.

The reality is his reputation will never be clean, but he has done and said everything right the season just letting his play do the talking. That’s something we can all appreciate from an athlete that has had a tumultuous life and career. The only reason he was not selected to the team is because he is behind a stacked position at designated hitter with Nelson Cruz, Albert Pujols, and Prince Fielder. That just shows you how deep every position is in Major League Baseball.

Who knows how the season will end for Alex Rodriguez and the Yankees, but I can say one thing the Yankees would not be in first place without Rodriguez’s production and that is a fact with the topsy-turvy nature of the AL East. As every milestone continues to be broken by Rodriguez you can think of that what you want, but the way he has carried himself this season is very respectable and is putting up numbers to help his team win and that’s all that matters to the Yankees and definitely Rodriguez. Many of you may disagree with my claim that he should be on the All-Star team, but I respect and enjoy watching what he has been able to do this season and the numbers don’t lie they are All-Star game worthy.