March 17, 2017 Page 1 of 16

Clips

(March 17, 2017)

March 17, 2017 Page 2 of 16

Today’s Clips Contents

FROM LOS ANGELES TIMES (Page 3)

Angels' Danny Espinosa is glad to help out with his baserunning

Los Angeles Angels rally for 8-7 victory over Colorado Rockies

FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER (Page 5)

Angels enigma Alex Meyer trying not to think about Triple-A

Garrett Richards is sharp, Angels rally late for win over Rockies

FROM ANGELS.COM (Page 8)

Angels' Opening Day starter still a question mark

NASCAR, 'Trotters and Angels, oh my!

Pujols' 2 RBIs back Richards' solid start

Few roster decisions remain for Angels

FROM USA TODAY SPORTS (Page 13)

‘He’s always the best:’ The everyday excellence of Mike Trout

March 17, 2017 Page 3 of 16

FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES .

Angels' Danny Espinosa is glad to help out with his baserunning

By Pedro Moura

Danny Espinosa launched a ground-rule double in Thursday’s second inning at Salt River Fields, then

stopped to examine the array of Colorado Rockies anchored around him as defenders.

When Ben Revere tapped a grounder to third, Espinosa scampered to third base on the throw to first,

and scored on a subsequent single. Espinosa whacked another double in the sixth. While Ryan LaMarre

batted, he swiped third base, and when LaMarre hit a grounder to first, Espinosa again scored a so-

called manufactured run.

The new Angels’ second baseman is a powerful but flawed hitter, with a career .226 batting average and

an inescapable tendency to strike out. His often-overlooked baserunning abilities help to salvage his

overall offensive skills.

“I love to run the bases,” Espinosa said. “I love getting on and forcing the issue. I don’t know if it’s just

because it’s exciting for me or what. I don’t play out of control, it’s just something that I like to push the

envelope on.”

The list of the best baserunners in baseball by estimated runs added is generally a list of the players with

the most stolen bases. Espinosa is the anomaly. According to fangraphs.com, his baserunning last

season for Washington was worth more than five runs over average — 15th-best in the major leagues.

The 14 players who added more value averaged 22 stolen bases. Mostly hitting eighth in the National

League, Espinosa had nine.

“I love to steal bases, but you can’t steal bases in the eight-hole, when the pitcher’s up to bat,” he said.

“There’s just no reward for the risk.”

So he compensated in another manner, checking the opponent’s outfielders when he arrived on the

bases.

“I know what they can do and what they can’t,” Espinosa said. “If I feel a guy has to turn to his side or

he’s not making his routine play to throw a ball, unless he’s got such a plus arm that he can make up for

it, I’m gonna go.”

He characterized his approach as akin to following the Golden Rule.

“To me, if I was hitting, and I had a guy on second base or first, I would want that extra RBI,” he said.

“So, if I’m out there, I want to get them that RBI. I want to get the team an easy run.”

March 17, 2017 Page 4 of 16

Freed from the National League and hitting higher in the lineup in 2017, Espinosa expects to steal more

bases. Angels Manager Mike Scioscia always envisions his roster running aggressively, and Espinosa fits

right in.

“He applies himself,” Scioscia said. “We expect him to create stuff on the bases for us this year.”

Richards for openers?

A month ago, upon his arrival to camp, Angels right-hander Garrett Richards said he assumed he’d be

the Angels’ opening-day starter for the second consecutive season. He knew, though, that no formal

announcement would be made, or even delivered to him, for quite some time.

That time continues with no obvious end or answer in sight. Richards started Thursday and is now in line

to start the Angels’ third game of the season, not the first. If the rotation remains the same, right-

hander Matt Shoemaker would be the opening-day choice, and left-hander Tyler Skaggs would start

second.

That’s not necessarily what will happen, just what is on track to happen. Richards said he’d like to make

all three of his remaining scheduled spring starts. If he completes those on regular rest, there’s no way

he would be ready for the April 3 opener, creating a minor mystery for the rest of spring training.

“I know you guys are worried who’s gonna start opening day, right?” Richards said in response to a

question about his regular-season debut. “It just doesn’t add up. I don’t know. I don’t have any answers

for you. I know in the past you’ve been able to tell by this time in spring training.”

Said Scioscia: “There’s definitely room for reorganization. We’re gonna look at it here in the next 10 days

and see where guys are.”

Short hops

Reliever Huston Street (back strain) said he will need at least three weeks to ramp up to being big league

ready once he is cleared to resume throwing, which he is not. That means he will open the season on

the disabled list, because opening day is 17 days from Friday. … Right-handed reliever Andrew Bailey

pitched an inning on a back field Wednesday after struggling through his first four major league

appearances. “He just needs to get work in,” Scioscia said. “He doesn’t need major league hitters.”

Los Angeles Angels rally for 8-7 victory over Colorado Rockies

By Pedro Moura

The Angels rallied to defeat the Colorado Rockies, 8-7, in front of a sellout crowd Thursday at Salt River

Fields, improving their spring record to 11-8.

AT THE PLATE: After Eric Young Jr. was hit by a pitch, outfielder Ryan LaMarre knocked in the go-ahead

run with a double in the ninth and catcher Carlos Perez tripled home LaMarre and scored on a passed

March 17, 2017 Page 5 of 16

ball. … Earlier, designated hitter Albert Pujols hit a 400-foot drive to center field that was caught on the

warning track.

ON THE MOUND: Garrett Richards fired his fastball at speeds up to 98 mph in the first inning, an

encouraging sign for the Angels. In four innings, he struck out two and walked none, giving up four

singles and a home run. The homer was hit by Dustin Garneau on a fastball that Richards left over the

middle of the plate. … Right-hander Bud Norris pitched two innings in relief, striking out three, walking

none and giving up a run. Norris’ usage this spring indicates that the club is examining the longtime

starter as a potential reliever. … Among right-handed relievers, Kirby Yates gave up one run, Jose Valdez

gave up none and Brooks Pounders gave up two.

EXTRA BASES: Norris made a curious decision on a sixth-inning comebacker, running to third base in an

apparent attempt to force out a runner from second. But first base had been open, so the runner simply

retreated to second and the batter reached safely. … Left-hander Tyler Skaggs, who started Wednesday,

passed a post-start strength test administered by the Angels’ training staff. … The Angels began playing

minor league games Thursday.

UP NEXT: Angels vs. the Texas Rangers at 1 p.m. Friday at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Ariz. On the air:

TV: FS West; Radio: 830.

FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER .

Angels enigma Alex Meyer trying not to think about Triple-A

By JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER

TEMPE, Ariz. – Alex Meyer, who appears to be ticketed for Triple-A, is trying not to think about it.

“Everybody in this situation thinks about that, but right now, that’s the last thing in my mind,” Meyer

said. “I’m just taking the opportunity I have right now and doing what I can with it.”

Meyer’s next opportunity will come in a start against the Texas Rangers on Friday. Meyer is getting the

nod for the major league exhibition game because the Angels are having Jesse Chavez pitch in a minor

league game to ensure that he gets five innings worth of work.

Preparing Chavez for the regular season in that way is another sign that so far he’s holding on to his spot

in the rotation, fighting off a group that includes Meyer.

Meyer, however, still could be a part of the long-term solution, as the Angels hoped when they got him

in a trade for Hector Santiago last summer.

Or he might not.

March 17, 2017 Page 6 of 16

Meyer, 27, could still go either way, from phenom to flame-out, and his last two outings demonstrated

what an enigma he is.

On March 6, he walked four batters and could not finish an inning. Six days later, he pitched two

scoreless innings, with no walks, and two strikeouts. Manager Mike Scioscia said Meyer “was throwing

BBs, 180 degrees from where he was last week when he pitched.”

Meyer said the key was just “forgetting what happened” in the previous outing.

“Just staying more positive and having more confidence out there and simplifying it,” he said. “It makes

a world of difference.”

Meyer is still trying to adjust to his new delivery, which was tightened up over the winter in order to

keep his problematic shoulder sound.

“It’s going to take time,” Meyer said. “The more you go through camp, it’s going to feel more natural.

It’s getting there and I feel good with it.”

ECKSTEIN 2.0?

Angels prospect David Fletcher has been tied to David Eckstein for years, and they are going to be able

to work together this week.

Eckstein, the shortstop on the Angels’ 2002 World Series-winning team, joined the club as a guest

instructor this week. Fletcher, who said Eckstein was one of his favorite players when he grew up in

Orange County, has been compared to him ever since he set foot in the team’s farm system.

“Although there’s nothing eye-popping about what David Eckstein or David Fletcher do, when you put

them on the field, they win,” Scioscia said.

Fletcher, a 22-year-old middle infielder out of Cypress High, has been one of the fastest climbers in the

Angels farm system since he was drafted out of Loyola Marymount in 2015. In 2016, he had a 22-game

hitting streak at Class-A Inland Empire and finished at Double-A. Fletcher was sent to minor league camp

after Tuesday’s game, after hitting .333 (9 for 27) in major league exhibitions.

Fletcher, like Eckstein, gets a lot of credit for playing above his talent because of intelligence and work

ethic, but Scioscia said there is more to both players.

“Don’t underestimate that they don’t have major league talent,” Scioscia said. “That’s not the case.

When David Fletcher plays in the big leagues, it’s not going to be because he overachieves. It’s because

he’s doing what he’s capable of doing. He’s a good player.”

SKAGGS CLEARED

Tyler Skaggs said Thursday morning he passed the strength test the Angels administered a day after he

returned to the rotation on Wednesday. Skaggs said the Angels trainers simply manipulated his arm and

shoulder manually to test him, rather than using the machine they had used last time.

March 17, 2017 Page 7 of 16

After his first outing of the spring, the Angels detected weakness in Skaggs’ shoulder that prompted

them to have him skip a start. When he returned on Wednesday, he declared himself fine.

Skaggs is next scheduled to pitch in a minor league game on Monday, which is an off day for the major

leaguers. He is likely to extended to about 50 pitches. Skaggs said he still has time to get his pitch-count

up enough to be in the rotation when the season begins.

Garrett Richards is sharp, Angels rally late for win over Rockies

BY JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER

THE GAME: The Angels scored four runs in the ninth inning, on RBI hits by infielder Nolan Fontana,

outfielder Ryan LaMarre and catcher Carlos Perez, to beat the Colorado Rockies, 8-7, on Thursday at Salt

River Fields.

PITCHING REPORT: Right-hander Garrett Richards gave up three runs in four innings, throwing 64 pitches

and consistently throwing his fastball around 95-97 mph. Richards gave up all the runs on a homer to

minor league catcher Dustin Garneau, who took a pitch on the inside corner and drove it just inside the

left-field pole. Richards struck out two. “A couple fastballs he didn't hit spots with, but outside of that he

was terrific,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “Electric stuff. He spun the ball well. He's just where he should

be.” Richards has looked sharp throughout the spring as he tries to come back from missing most of last

season with a damaged ulnar collateral ligament. He underwent stem-cell therapy instead of Tommy

John surgery. ... Right-hander Kirby Yates pitched immediately after Richards, perhaps a sign that he is

getting serious consideration to make the opening day roster. Yates gave up a solo homer to Rafael

Ynoa, and retired the other three hits. It was the second hit and first run Yates has allowed in six innings

this spring. ... Right-hander Jose Valdez, who has impressed the Angels with his improved command and

control this spring, pitched a scoreless inning.

HITTING REPORT: Third baseman Yunel Escobar had two singles and a walk. Coming into the game, he

had been 4 for 25 this spring, with his spring interrupted by two trips to Florida to earn his U.S.

citizenship. ... Second baseman Danny Espinosa had two doubles, one from each side of the plate, and a

stolen base. After a slow start, Espinosa has four hits, including three doubles, in his last 12 at-bats. ...

Designated hitter Albert Pujols had a pair of singles, and each drove in a run.

DEFENSE REPORT: Shortstop Cliff Pennington, who had been out with a sore shoulder, was tested right

away. He had to make a hard throw to complete a double play. ... Left fielder Ben Revere made a sliding

catch of a sinking liner. ... Pitcher Bud Norris failed to properly start a run-down after fielding a

comebacker. He threw to third too early, which allowed the runner to easily get back to second safely. It

ended up costing him a run. ... Perez made a perfect throw to nail a runner trying to steal second, for the

second out of the ninth inning.

UP NEXT: Angels (Alex Meyer) vs. Rangers (Mike Hauschild), Friday, 1 p.m. PT, Surprise Stadium, Fox

Sports West, KLAA (830 AM).

March 17, 2017 Page 8 of 16

FROM ANGELS.COM .

Angels' Opening Day starter still a question mark

By Maria Guardado / MLB.com

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Opening Day is less than three weeks away, but the Angels still have not determined who

will take the mound for them when they face the A's on April 3 in Oakland.

Manager Mike Scioscia said Thursday that the club is still weighing its options, and will use the next

couple of weeks of Spring Training to see which members of the rotation will line up best for the first

week of the regular season.

"There's a group of guys that we're going to see as we get into this week, where they line up and what

makes sense and look at the first couple of weeks of the season to see how it plays out," Scioscia said.

Right-hander Matt Shoemaker is currently on track to start on Opening Day if he continues to pitch

every five days, though Scioscia said the Angels still have time to reshuffle their rotation before the

season begins.

"There's definitely room for reorganization," Scioscia said. "We're going to look at it here within the next

10 days and see where guys are, what guys are ready [and] who's throwing the ball well."

Ace Garrett Richards, who looked sharp in his third Cactus League start during an 8-7 win against the

Rockies on Thursday, seems the most logical choice to inaugurate the season for the Angels. Still,

Richards said he has three more scheduled starts this spring and has not been informed of the Angels'

rotation plans for the opening week of the season.

"I'm going to take the ball when they tell me to take the ball," Richards said. "That's not my area of

expertise. When they want me to throw, I'm going to be ready to throw. That's all I can do."

Left-hander Tyler Skaggs, who is behind the rest of the Halos' top starters after missing one start due to

shoulder weakness, and right-handers Ricky Nolasco and Jesse Chavez will likely round out the rotation

to start the season.

Worth noting

• Shortstop Cliff Pennington returned to the Angels lineup Thursday after missing five games with a

shoulder issue. He went hitless in three at-bats.

• Right-hander Kirby Yates, who is in the running for a bullpen job, surrendered a leadoff home run to

Rafael Ynoa in the fifth inning Thursday. It was the first run Yates allowed all spring. Entering the game,

the 29-year-old reliever had worked five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts over his first five

outings.

March 17, 2017 Page 9 of 16

"He's got that kind of arm that's really sneaky," Scioscia said before the game. "He's got a live fastball. I

think he's got a better understanding of how to put [his secondary pitches] together over the last couple

of years. He's kind of a sleeper."

NASCAR, 'Trotters and Angels, oh my!

Halos spend time instructing racecar drivers, Harlem's squad on their craft

By Maria Guardado / MLB.com

TEMPE, Ariz. -- A 6-foot-8 right-hander dressed in basketball shorts took the mound Thursday at Tempe

Diablo Stadium and unleashed a perfect strike to Angels reliever Mike Morin, who was crouched at

home plate anticipating the pitch.

"Hey, that has some cut on it!" said right-hander Keynan Middleton, who was observing from behind the

mound alongside left-hander Tyler Skaggs. "That has a little bit of cutter action. I like that. Mariano

Rivera style."

He wasn't talking about an up-and-coming Angels prospect. He was talking about Harlem Globetrotters

forward Orlando "El Gato" Melendez.

Morin, Middleton and Skaggs all took a break from their regular Spring Training schedules Thursday to

coach Melendez, fellow Globetrotter Bucket Blakes and NASCAR drivers Bubba Wallace and Ryan Blaney

through a series of baseball drills. The event was part of a collaboration with Whistle Sports, Major

League Baseball, the Globetrotters and the NASCAR Goes West adventures.

In addition to pitching, the Angels also had the baseball neophytes try their hands at robbing home runs,

catching fly balls, throwing out basestealers and fielding bad hops. The results were mixed, though

Middleton said he was impressed with Melendez, Blake, Wallace and Blaney's efforts.

"It's definitely difficult for them, but it just shows them how hard our sport is," Middleton said. "If you

put us in their sport, I feel like it'd be the same way for most of us. I used to play basketball, but I bet

you if I tried to go drive for NASCAR, I couldn't do it. But these guys, they're actually pretty good at it.

They're quick learners."

Pujols' 2 RBIs back Richards' solid start

By Thomas Harding and Maria Guardado / MLB.com

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Nolan Fontana and Ryan LaMarre delivered RBI doubles and Carlos Perez delivered

a run-scoring triple in the ninth inning of the Angels' 8-7 victory over the Rockies on Thursday in a Cactus

League game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.

The contest featured solid, four-inning work from starters Garrett Richards of the Angels and Tyler

Chatwood of the Rockies.

March 17, 2017 Page 10 of 16

Angels slugger Albert Pujols, who is coming off December foot surgery, finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs,

and second baseman Danny Espinosa added a pair of doubles. The Rockies' Dustin Garneau hit a three-

run homer and finished with four RBIs as he intensified his bid to earn an Opening Day roster spot.

Richards gave up the Garneau homer in the second, when he yielded four of the five hits off him in his

four innings pitched. He also fanned two.

"I'm still fine-tuning some things," said Richards, whose fastball sat at 95-97 mph in the 64-pitch outing.

"Everything is not exactly where I want it right now, but it's moving in the right direction and every

outing is getting better. I feel good. My stamina is there. [I'm] still doing what I do in the first inning in

the fourth inning, so that's a good sign that I'm building in the right direction."

Chatwood gave up eight hits -- seven singles, mostly on the ground -- but held the Angels to two runs

while striking out five.

"I think that's their 'A' lineup right there," said Chatwood, who ran his fastball to 95 mph on multiple

occasions, and mixed a cutter, changeup and a few curves. "Anytime you face that, get into some jams

and get out of it, it's great for confidence and just making pitches."

Garneau, looking to join Tony Wolters in a catching tandem while rookie Tom Murphy is out with a right

forearm hairline fracture, took Richards deep for his second spring homer. He added a sacrifice fly.

The Rockies' Rafael Ynoa had a solo homer and Correlle Prime added a two-run homer in the bottom of

the ninth.

Angels catcher Tony Sanchez also drove in a run.

Rockies reliever Scott Oberg, whose 2016 season ended early because of blood clots in his right forearm,

threw a spotless fifth inning with one strikeout. Oberg is looking to earn a spot in middle relief. Garneau

later added a sacrifice fly. Stephen Cardullo had two hits and Jordan Patterson one; they are competing

for one spot as a corner outfielder and first baseman.

Angels up next: Right-hander Alex Meyer, who is fighting for the fifth spot in the Angels' rotation, will

make his fourth spring appearance Friday when the Halos head to Surprise Stadium to face the Rangers

at 1:05 p.m. PT. Jesse Chavez, another rotation contender, is also slated to pitch five innings in a Minor

League game Friday.

Rockies up next: Lefty Harrison Musgrave, who pitched at Triple-A Albuquerque last year and is being

looked at for rotation depth, and righty prospect Zach Jemiola are slated to pitch against the Giants at

Scottsdale Stadium on Friday at 7:05 p.m. MT.

March 17, 2017 Page 11 of 16

Few roster decisions remain for Angels

No. 5 pitcher, some bullpen pieces still to be decided as Halos whittle down

By Maria Guardado / MLB.com

With Opening Day less than three weeks away, the Angels' 25-man roster is beginning to take shape,

though manager Mike Scioscia will still have tough decisions to make regarding the fifth starter spot and

the bullpen.

Here's an updated look at who appears primed to make the team this year:

Catcher

Martin Maldonado, Carlos Perez

It remains to be seen how the Angels will divide time behind the plate between Maldonado and Perez

during the regular season, but Maldonado seems to have a strong shot at becoming the club's primary

catcher due to his cannon-like arm and his pitch-framing abilities. Perez also figures to draw plenty of

playing time, especially since Maldonado has spent most of his career as a backup and has not started

more than 79 games in any season.

First base

C.J. Cron, Luis Valbuena

Valbuena missed nearly two weeks this spring with sore legs, but returned to the lineup Wednesday

against the Giants. If he's healthy, Valbuena should get most of his at-bats at first, likely cutting into

Cron's playing time. Cron still has an option and could open the season at Triple-A Salt Lake to alleviate

the Angels' corner infield logjam, but he entered Wednesday hitting .457 (16-for-35) with three home

runs in 12 Cactus League games, and is making a strong case to break camp with the team.

Second base

Danny Espinosa

The Angels' outlook at second base remains unchanged. Espinosa, the switch-hitting middle infielder

acquired from the Nationals over the winter, will start at second, providing a defensive upgrade and

some power, especially from the left side.

Shortstop

Andrelton Simmons

Simmons has spent the past two weeks playing for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic, but

the starting shortstop job is his when he returns to Angels camp. A two-time Gold Glove Award winner,

March 17, 2017 Page 12 of 16

Simmons will team up with Espinosa to give the Angels one of the best defensive double-play

combinations in baseball.

Third base

Yunel Escobar

Escobar will reprise his role as the Angels' everyday third baseman and leadoff hitter in 2017. Valbuena,

who primarily played third for the Astros last year, could also see time there and spell Escobar.

Designated hitter

Albert Pujols

Pujols was considered questionable for Opening Day at the outset of the spring, but has progressed well

in his recovery from December foot surgery and appears to be on track for the start of the season. The

37-year-old slugger entered Thursday 3-for-10 with one home run in four Cactus League games. Pujols

isn't ready to play first base yet, but the Angels don't need him to play on the field, since they already

have Valbuena and Cron.

Utility

Cliff Pennington

Pennington has not played since March 10 because of shoulder stiffness, but the ailment is not

considered serious and he is expected to return to action in a couple of days. If Pennington has any

other setbacks, Jefry Marte or Kaleb Cowart could get the opportunity to win a spot on the bench as the

Angels' reserve infielder.

Outfield

Mike Trout, Cameron Maybin, Kole Calhoun, Ben Revere

The Angels figure to have an elite outfield unit headlined by Trout, the reigning American League Most

Valuable Player. The 25-year-old center fielder will be flanked by Maybin in left and Calhoun in right.

Maybin, acquired from the Tigers in an offseason trade, has gotten off to a slow start this spring, but

Scioscia has already said his starting job in left field is safe. Revere will serve as a backup in all three

spots and will also provide speed off the bench.

Starting pitching

Garrett Richards, Matt Shoemaker, Tyler Skaggs, Ricky Nolasco, Jesse Chavez

One of the biggest questions for the Angels entering the spring was how their three top starters --

Richards, Shoemaker and Skaggs -- would bounce back from injury, but the trio has had few hiccups so

far. Skaggs hit a minor speed bump after missing a start with shoulder weakness, but returned to the

rotation Wednesday against the Giants and still has time to ramp up for the season. The competition for

March 17, 2017 Page 13 of 16

the fifth starter spot will likely come down to the wire, but Chavez is likely the frontrunner after signing

a one-year, $5.75 million contract over the winter. Alex Meyer, Manny Banuelos and Bud Norris could

still challenge Chavez for the job, however.

Bullpen

Cam Bedrosian, Andrew Bailey, JC Ramirez, Yusmeiro Petit, Jose Alvarez, Kirby Yates, Mike Morin

Huston Street suffered a back strain in his first outing of the spring on March 3 and will be sidelined for

three to four weeks, putting his Opening Day availability in doubt. His absence could open the door for

Bedrosian to start the season as the Angels' closer, though Bailey is also fighting for the role this spring.

The rest of the bullpen slots appear to be up for grabs. The Angels are trying Ramirez as a starter this

spring, though he has a better shot at earning a relief role since he's out of options. Petit and Alvarez

have been away from Angels camp representing Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, but they

performed well in their Cactus League outings before departing. Yates, who was claimed off waivers

from the Yankees, has impressed this spring and has not allowed a run in five innings, putting him in

position to earn a spot in the bullpen. Morin, on the other hand, has struggled, logging a 9.00 ERA over

five innings, which makes his spot on the team tenuous. If he continues to be ineffective, Deolis Guerra

or Norris could emerge as right-handed alternatives.

FROM USA TODAY SPORTS

‘He’s always the best:’ The everyday excellence of Mike Trout

By Ted Berg

TEMPE, Ariz. — Baseball happens every day.

Outside of a scattered handful of scheduled off-days and whatever reprieves come from rainouts and

disabled-list stints, Major League Baseball players go to work every single day from mid-February until at

least the end of September. The NBA and NHL schedules come with their own hurdles, but pro

basketball and hockey teams might play games on back-to-back nights no more than a dozen times all

season. Baseball players have to skip a game to see consecutive days off, and even then, in the regular

season at least, they’re still there and in uniform and doing baseball stuff. It’s every day.

And Mike Trout is the best at it, every day.

“What makes him special — and you have to see him every day, really, to appreciate the ability — he

plays every pitch, every situation the way you’d expect a player to play it,” Angels manager Mike

Scioscia said at Tempe Diablo Stadium lat week. “He applies himself when he runs the bases, so his

speed’s always in play. In center field, the ground he covers. You see what he does in the batter’s box.

But he’s so much more than that. He’s a great teammate, a great leader. I think he sets a tone for our

whole team.”

March 17, 2017 Page 14 of 16

“He’s on a different level than a lot of players,” said fellow Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun. “This sport’s

not that easy a game by any means. But you don’t see him get into many slumps, and when he does, it’s

like, 1-for-4.”

The Angels have played 790 games since the day Trout broke into the Majors for good in late April of

2012. Trout has appeared in 771 of the 790, averaging less than four total games missed per season

across five seasons. And Trout, you’ve probably heard, has led the American League in Wins Above

Replacement in all five of those seasons. He has finished in the Top 3 of OPS in all five of those seasons.

He has led the league in runs scored in four of the five years and finished third in the stat in 2015.

“It’s inspiring on a lot of levels to see such a young man so devoted, so committed, so well-rounded,”

said reliever Huston Street. “I think he’s great for the game of baseball, and I think he’s also one of the

most impressive teammates and people I’ve ever been around.”

I experience spring training as a tourist of sorts. While local beat writers spend the bulk of February and

March in camp developing or rekindling relationships with the players they’ll cover all season, I rarely

spend more than one day at any given team’s facilities. And the nature of a mid-March spring-training

trip, for me, means dropping into a clubhouse to pursue details on aspects of the team that often feel

like old news to the media, players and coaches that have spent the past month inside the bubble that

develops over any group of people spending so much time in preparation for an endeavor as grueling

and time-consuming as MLB’s regular season.

All of which is to say that by the time I swing through Angels camp to check in on ol’ Mike Trout every

year — “Hey, is this guy still the best?” “Oh yeah, definitely.” — the focus has mostly shifted to less

triumphant details of the club’s roster: The battle for final roster spots, the minutia of which reserve

infielder might get called upon to play shortstop in a pinch, the long-term prospects of various

prospects. This year, one Angels player, after patiently, graciously, and insightfully answering all my

questions about how cool it is to get to watch Mike Trout every day, perhaps without realizing I was still

well within earshot, called across the clubhouse to a teammate:

“I’m so (expletive) sick of the Trout interview, dude.”

No one in Angels’ camp seems sick of Trout himself, unsurprisingly, and everyone with whom I spoke

praised his virtues as a teammate and a clubhouse leader. But it’s hard to fault anyone tired of

discussing Trout’s greatness: What else can be said that hasn’t already been said?

It’s all pretty straightforward: He’s the best. He’s the best player in the sport right now and, still

somehow only 25 years old, the most accomplished young player in baseball history in terms of on-field

value. Where once, several years ago now, a sort of old-school vs. new-school debate existed around

how certain advanced stats — WAR especially — assessed Trout’s merits, now every reasonable fan and

analyst recognizes him as the game’s top guy.

The consistency with which he dominates the sport would be boring if it weren’t so spectacular to

behold: Trout chasing down liners in the gaps, chugging from first to third on singles, crushing massive

March 17, 2017 Page 15 of 16

moonshots. He is the constant on a club that has appeared increasingly frustrating in recent seasons,

with too many holes in the lineup and too little continuity on the pitching staff. He sustains success so

steadily that somehow, despite — again — being the best in the game for five seasons, Trout has won

the AL Player of the Week Award only three times in his career, or as many as Yankees outfielder Brett

Gardner in the same span.

“A Mike Trout bad game is light years above anyone else’s bad game,” said reliever Cam Bedrosian. “But

he always takes it really, really well. He just knows it’s another game, and you get another opportunity

tomorrow.”

In demeanor, Trout remains steadfast. His remarkable competitiveness and his enthusiasm for playing

baseball appear transparent whenever he plays, but Trout is not prone to conspicuous on-field displays

of emotion or clubhouse meltdowns or defiant celebrations. He shows up on time and he’s good to the

fans and he goes about his business. Mike Trout is pretty much always Mike Trout, not by any means

unlovable or stodgy or lifeless, but also not likely to offer much fodder for those that like to yell about

sports.

“He stays the same,” said Street. “He stays humble.”

“He’s always the best,” said first baseman C.J. Cron. “Not just on the field, but he’s always keeping the

clubhouse loose, always signing autographs for the kids. He’s just a good dude all around. Being able to

watch him day in and day out is fun, just the way he conducts himself in the locker room and the way he

always has a smile on his face.”

The only real mystery left surrounding Trout, investigated here and elsewhere in recent weeks, is why

he fails to register as a household name like his counterparts — or his inferiors, even — in other sports.

But Trout, true to form, is not bothered by his relative lack of celebrity.

“I don’t really care,” he said. “I haven’t really looked into it, but I think the biggest thing is the long

season. The football players, they play every Sunday, and people watch every game. Basketball,

obviously, it’s a shorter season. But other than that, I haven’t really thought about it.”

Trout said he gets recognized a lot while out in Orange County and Los Angeles, and everyone knows

him in his hometown of Millville, N.J. He appreciates the opportunity his stardom provides him to make

a fan’s day by providing an autograph or posing for a photo, but he values his privacy and isn’t

necessarily out to court off-field attention.

And that’s all kind of the thing, here: Well-meaning fans and media may wish Trout would more often

unleash jubilant bat-flips or erupt on umpires or canoodle with celebrities or act in any manner that

might give us something to talk about besides the only thing we talk about when we talk about Mike

Trout — his perpetual excellence — and help draw more headlines and spread the game of baseball to

more fans. But they discount the possibility that achieving Trout’s level of greatness and consistency on

the baseball field over the course of a 162-game season necessitates an unwavering sensibility.

March 17, 2017 Page 16 of 16

The only Mike Trout the baseball world has ever had is the one we get to watch play nearly 160 games

every year, and any behavior more apt to raise awareness of his brand of baseball greatness might also

be incompatible with it.

Trout happens every day. As baseball fans, we may feel — as I certainly do — an obligation to herald his

accomplishments so the people of Earth can join us in appreciating the stunning things he does on

baseball fields around the country all summer long every year, but ultimately Trout’s responsibility in

the matter is only to continue playing baseball Mike Trout. He’s doing just that, it’s awesome, and if

people don’t want to recognize it, that’s their problem.