Mike Trout’s Injured Again

You know the question: if a tree falls in the woods does it make a sound? I’ve been thinking about that question in baseball terms today. Like, if a Hall of Fame career happens in a vacuum, did it actually happen? Can a Hall of Fame career really be silent, and have no fanfare, and include no meaningful baseball games?

Obviously, I’m asking the question for Mike Trout. Who had yet another major injury setback yesterday? When he found out, out of nowhere, that he has a torn meniscus and will need knee surgery. 

You want to talk about a kick in the stick. You want to talk about a blast in the package. You want to talk about SEARING PAIN. For baseball fan, for Angels fan, for Mike Trout, for everyone.

This guy cannot catch a break. He’s already missed 249 games in the last three years and he’s about to miss another extended chunk. Meanwhile the Angels are already 11-19, even with Trout leading the American League in home runs. And just to put a bow on this crap sando, they blew the lead in the ninth inning last night at home and lost again.

So, basically, season over. They almost kept a sliver of hope alive until May 1st. Almost. Good job, good effort guys.

I mean I know it's harsh and I hate to hit the team right up the road like this. This is the pro sports organization that is the closest to the spot I am currently sitting. I'd love to hype him and hype them, but as always, what is there to hype? 

Reality is, the Big A is just a Big Pit of Misery. The reality is, and I hate to do this, especially because Dodger Janno used to love going there and cheering for that idiotic monkey, so this brings me no pleasure Angel fan, but The Big A is really The Big L.

And that's unfortunately nothing new. In fact, that misery spans Trout’s entire career. Including the six years they had two best players of this century on the team together. And still did nothing.

At least Shohei got out when he could. Trout has stayed in the fight and I'm really not sure why. Because now he's in danger of becoming the single best example of a totally wasted career in baseball history.

Seriously, has anyone had a no doubt first ballot hall of fame career that was any quieter? Or made any less of an impact on the sport? Or had any less fanfare? Like I said, it's a Hall of Fame career happening in a vaccum.

And now we're squarely in the phase of that career where the dude just can't stay on the field, no matter what he does. He doesn't even know how he hurt his knee this time. 

He told the media yesterday "I play this game hard, bleep happens." Yeah, except you have no idea what actually did happen? Sure, guys get hurt playing the game hard all the time. What doesn't usually happen is guys shredding their knees without really even knowing how or when. 

Look, we can all hope that it's a fast recovery and we somehow see him back again by August. But what will he be coming back to by August? This team is already 6 games out of the Wild Card on May 1st, how far out will they be by the time Trout is ready to play again? Will it even be worth it for him to play again? Is any of this worth it at this point? Was it ever worth it?

That's why I started off asking, if a Hall of Fame career happens in a vacuum, did it actually happen?

I bet Mike Trout's bank account feels pretty strongly that this has all been worth it. And considering the dude has $35 mil/per coming his way all the way through 2030, I'm thinking his bank account also is in favor of Trout staying in this fight as long as he can put up with it. 

Look the dude is an even better business man than Kirk Cousins and good for him. He earned that contract. Problem is, that massive contract keeps him locked in baseball purgatory. And it keeps him on the quietest path to Cooperstown pretty much ever.

I know he loves the game. I get that. And he’s a great dude. And a great teammate.  And   I know he loves the angels.  I’m not sure I get that, because I have to think he loves to win. And I know many of these injuries are freakish, that he has no control over.  And not even his fault.  But it doesn’t matter: it’s a weird legacy: an all-time great, who never really played in any games that mattered, who in the end, couldn’t consistently stay on the field.  Weird legacy.  Weird career. And frankly impossible not to say his best years are behind him and not in front of him. And those best years included no team success.  All so weird. And weird is generally good. But not in this case.