Editor’s note: Today’s article is supplied by reader Kevin Adams, who believes that Mike Trout is the player that the baseball media should be buzzing about, not Bryce Harper. And while Trout had enough at-bats in 2011 to prevent him from consideration for the 2012 Rookie of the Year campaign, it’s hard to argue that Trout’s early success has been largely ignored by a media that adores Bryce Harper. What do you think?
The baseball world is still abuzz with Bryce Harper news, predictions and praises. But why is so much attention directed towards the young rookie? It is true he has a vast potential, and yes he has posted some solid statistics so far as a major leaguer, but why the never ending media buzz? I think it is time we turn our attention in a new, but much more deserving direction: Mike Trout.
Trout has had an incredible impact on his team, the Los Angeles Angels. Since he was called up they jumped from a 7-14 record to 22-14. His leadoff bat has been hot with a .404 OBP, a .950 OPS, and a .349 batting average, His glove has been baseball’s black hole—only a single error this season. And he seems to be living up to every word of his praiseworthy scouting report. Harper has no such stellar report card. Though he carries a high OPS (.885) he is only batting at .282 and 3 errors have already stained his stat sheet.
So why is Harper still getting all the attention? Because the media would rather write about a kid who hits his bat against the wall only to have it bounce back and smack him in the forehead than about a well rounded rookie who is playing fundamentally sound baseball at its highest level. Trout has done everything right (if not much better) and he still plays in the shadow of the “great” Bryce Harper. That just isn’t right!
I implore the media: let sensationalism give way to good, old fashion baseball. Give us the facts and let us decide who the heroes should be. For now, my Rookie of the Year is Mike Trout and I think he has easily earned the right to rule baseball’s spotlight.
