Mike Trout Is Good at Playing Baseball

FiveThirtyEight.com - Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout is widely acknowledged to be the best player in baseball and has been for quite some time. But for all his gifts, awards recognition has been hard for Trout to come by. Although Trout has led the American League in wins above replacement (WAR) for each of the past five seasons,¹ he had only won MVP honors once going into Thursday night’s award announcement — and victory there was far from assured.

Unlike in the past, though, when Trout’s horrid teammates were held against him in favor of some lesser player on a winning team, the voters broke with tradition and went for the player with stellar individual numbers. In winning the MVP, Trout became just the sixth player from a losing teamto take home the hardware. It was a victory for the new ways of player evaluation and a more modern take on what the “valuable” part of MVP really means.

But even if Trout hadn’t won the award, he could have taken the same solace he could last year: MVP or not, but he’s still tracking to be the G.O.A.T.

WAR THROUGH AGE 20				WAR THROUGH AGE 21
1	Mike Trout	11.4		1	Mike Trout	20.7
2	Mel Ott	11.4		2	Mel Ott	17.9
3	Ty Cobb	9.5		3	Ty Cobb	15.7
4	Bryce Harper	8.9		4	Ken Griffey Jr.	15.5
5	Al Kaline	8.9		5	Al Kaline	15.4
a
WAR THROUGH AGE 22				WAR THROUGH AGE 23
1	Mike Trout	28.6		1	Mike Trout	37.9
2	Ty Cobb	25.5		2	Ty Cobb	36.0
3	Ted Williams	23.6		3	Ted Williams	34.2
4	Mel Ott	23.5		4	Mel Ott	31.4
5	Alex Rodriguez	22.9		5	Ken Griffey Jr.	30.1
a
WAR THROUGH AGE 24
1	Mike Trout	48.5
2	Ty Cobb	46.7
3	Mickey Mantle	40.9
4	Alex Rodriguez	38.0
5	Ken Griffey Jr.	37.0

Mike Trout just won another MVP and he is clearly seen as a top player in the game today. Many argue he is the best player in the game currently. This should even be a discussion. If this cat played in New York or Boston, He would be the biggest name in baseball since Griffey. Even though he plays in the 2nd largest media market, The Angels get forgotten about being the second team in that market and usually not seen by the majority of media located on the east coast because of time zones.

I pray this guy stays healthy because his defense, speed, and game awareness is just as awesome as his craft of hitting a baseball. I had the pleasure to meet this guy pregame when he was in town his rookie year before he blew up. Nicest guy going and I was floored at this build. Guy looked like a Running back when he was warning up in tee shirt and shorts. You could clearly see he was the alpha athlete amongst everyone else warming up that day and he was only 19 years old.

I mentally compare this guy to Griffey a lot. Who knows what Griffey would've done if he had stayed healthy. When Griffey lost his speed it was a tragedy to all baseball fans because we missed out on greatness. Just like Bo Jackson. 

Griffey appeared smoother in every aspect. Running/jumping/Swing(Smoothest Every IMO) and held himself with a new found swagger that was new to the league. (P.S. Him getting full credit for the backwards hat is something that we need to address in the future)

Trout does everything that Griffey did but in a explosive manner that isn't always smooth. But, he has been a better player through age 25 IMO and is built to last longer than Griffey but time will only tell.

I will say he is one of the few athletes in SoCal that I will go out of my way to go see in person because TV doesn't do this guy justice.

My Baby & Baby Doctor Just Dunked on Me

So today was the big day when my crew was supposed to find out the newest member of our family's gender. Today was supposed to be the day when I found out a HUGE factor in the rest of my life.

The whole idea of finding out your kids gender is such a mind game that's something that dominants your brain. You think about it a ton leading up to the day of reveal and then you start dealing with the news until the day the thing comes out to party.

Your boy (Me) is awesome at letting his brain dominant his life. Therefore, I basically let this new baby news and idea of adding another one to the crew to overtake my brain. When I try to shut it down at night is the worst because that's when my brain decides to really get going.

The night before the reveal date is the worst. Stayed up all night thinking of both possible outcomes. To be 100% honest, I want a boy. I already have a girl and always wanted 2 kids. I want to be able to experience raising a boy and seeing what that's all about. The family already has a baby girl and a dog who happens to be a female. My wife is also a female.  It's 2016 and I feel that is the politically right thing to declare in our modern society.

So this morning, I have my coffee and try to basically waste time so my brain could stay in autopilot until the meeting with the Doctor. I managed to do make it through the morning. Load up the car which is a rant for another day because loading up your car when you have a wife and baby is a beast of an operation. I have my wife drive because I find that to be a sneaky power move while I chill on my phone looking at strangers random thoughts on twitter. We get all the way to the battle arena which is the Doctors office which is an accomplishment within itself. I have my head on a god damn swivel whenever I'm at a Doctor office for news regarding anything about a human that I will be responsible for.

This Doctor rolls in and does his tests. He then turns to us and calmly states, "Whelp, not gonna find our the gender today, Looks like we will find out on the 28th". Takes a peek at me like he just didn't shatter my delicate brain and jots down some fake Doctor notes.

I calmly lose it. I start yelling at everyone in the room and maturely relay that I'm not pleased with finding out nothing. This isn't an inconclusive fumble we are talking about here.

The Doctor then tries to professionally rationalize with me of what I'd like to do about the non news. I then said we will wait this baby out and wait until it wants to revel its gender parts to us when it repositions. He thought I might wait it out as waiting to the 28th. I then explained like, Lets just bunker down here with everyone and the machines until this thing wakes up. You can't have a 19 week old tadpole with arms pulling the first power move on you as a father. So, I calmly suggest that I call in a bunch of food and play the waiting game with this baby.

Everyone laughed at me until they realized I was being dead serious. My wife then asked if I could just go and wait in the waiting room because I was being ridiculous.

So, I sat in the waiting room like a chump with no news.


Now this baby basically owns my brain ever more and all I can do is complain/kinda tip my cap to this fucking baby.



P.S. - 1000% it's a girl because I believe in Karma.

Bill Simmons Twitter Murdered

Yahoo Sports - Announcers don’t necessarily have easy jobs. At least, it’s not easy to speak into a live microphone for three hours and have every single thing you say be second-guessed by millions of people who all think they can do your job better.

NBC’s Cris Collinsworth apparently reached his breaking point, at least when it came to hearing from Bill Simmons of HBO and The Ringer.

Simmons sometimes references Collinsworth, the longtime “Sunday Night Football” color commentator, on his podcasts, imitating his voice. Simmons has poked fun of Collinsworth talking about deflate-gate late in Super Bowl XLIX, when the New England Patriots were driving for the winning score. He has criticized Collinsworth and NBC play-by-play announcer Al Michaels (who has appeared multiple times on Simmons’ podcast) for supporting Roger Goodell.

On Sunday night, Simmons was on Collinsworth’s case about a comment he made on the Seattle Seahawks’ offensive line.

Because Simmons has said before that he likes the “SNF” crew and that he respects their work, that doesn’t seem too harsh. And maybe Collinsworth’s response could be viewed as a good-natured jab back, but Collinsworth got personal by referencing Simmons’ recently cancelled TV show, “Any Given Wednesday.”

Collinsworth deleted the tweet shortly after posting it, but of course it was saved in screen shots:

Rough week for Bill. First his terrible TV show mercifully got canned and then Collinsworth took that info and reverse tomahawk jammed it in your face. 

Nothing worse for us sports social media nerds to get flat out stabbed on twitter for all the nerds to see. Twitter streets are vicious. 

Bill needs to stop doing anything involving a camera. The guy is just not a TV guy. I was flat out shocked when HBO green lit this project. He is awkward every time he has been on TV. He makes me feel awkward when I watch him be awkward. Almost like a bad rapper trying to do a battle rap. It's a stay in your lane situation for Simmons. The guy is a hell of a writer. He is also a smart guy who knows the direction of sports media and its going away from his strength. 

His podcast is fine. I think its overrated because no one would listen/download it if it weren't for how much his name was previously promoted by ESPN. He would have zero podcast following If he produced the same show under a random fake name. I could produce the same show with better jokes with my old college buddies. But, that's half the battle with podcasts is the promoting aspect moreso than the content.

Also Collinsworth is a bum for deleting the tweet. Deleting a tweet that has obviously been screen grabbed already is such a stupid move. Makes it 100x worse and makes you look like a pussy.

PS- Bill has made so much money that it's impossible to feel bad for him on any level at all.

PPS- The guy has to stop playing the card that he is still just a Boston guy and tied into Boston. My man Bill has lived in LA for over a decade. LA is the polar opposite of Boston in every way.

Conor McGregor is the Perfect 2016 Sports Celebrity

Via ESPN.com -

NEW YORK -- It likely went down as the line of the night on Saturday at the UFC's historic debut at Madison Square Garden. But it might as well sum up Conor McGregor's entire career.

"I'd like to take a chance to apologize to ... absolutely nobody!" McGregor said, setting off a cacophony of noise -- both supportive and derisive -- inside the legendary arena.

I couldn't love Conor anymore than I currently do. He is a small Irish guy that is an elite athlete that can sell/talk trash better than he can throw a left cross. In today's sports environment most elite/popular athletes are very one dimensional on purpose or because they have a shitty personality. The best to ever do it and say it is clearly Muhammad Ali. He was a once in a generation athlete who basically invented the self promotion sales game. He was the best and everyone since him simply copies his model. 

Michael Jordan is clearly the best/popular athlete of my generation but it wasn't from MJ's personality. His marketability came from his insane athleticism and the monster of a game plan from Nike.

Conor is not like Muhammad. He isn't doing the "sales game" for social justice. He is doing it for straight cash/popularity/power. He is already a master because no matter how awesome he dominates in the ring, I will always be more interested in him when he gets a mic in his hand.

Granted, I am not an MMA guy. I wouldn't for a second watch some guy who is technically sound on the ground because that simply bores me. Any MMA hardos that argue that Conor isn't 100% sound MMA athlete can kick rocks. Who Cares. The guy is the funniest and smartest trash talker that brings non MMA fans to the television. 

It is really simple. The guy talks trash and is an entertainer who happens to also knock out the majority of guys he faces. Long live this motherfucker.

P.S. Say what you want about us Irish assholes. You can say we ain't that smart. You can say we are mostly short and pasty. But, don't call us a bad time. A drunk Irish based crowd is what sports atmospheres should always strive to be from an energy perspective. Maybe not from a security or law enforcement perspective but that's just semantics.

UCSD Protestors

SAN DIEGO (CW6, CNS) – 

Following the results of the presidential election and Donald Trump’s victory, a large crowd of UC San Diego students walked the streets near the La Jolla area campus, and one was hit by a vehicle.

One of the roughly 300 people demonstrating on and around the onramp from La Jolla Village Drive to southbound Interstate 5 was struck by a car shortly after 1:30 a.m. A caller told the California Highway Patrol that person was knocked unconscious.

The injured protester was sent to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla to be treated, according to the CHP.

The onramp was closed during the protest but was reopened around 2:15 a.m., according to the CHP. No arrests were reported.

First and Foremost. I am not a political guy whatsoever. I will never say someones political standpoint is wrong and I think its stupid to argue politics because no one ever meets in the middle because everyone thinks their viewpoint is the only "smart" viewpoint. Also, I am not political because I don't consume politics and don't feel like I know nearly enough about politics to have a valid viewpoint on the matter.

What I do have is takes on sports and regular life shit and I want to file the election protests under the regular life shit file...

So here is my non political post election protest take....

Everyone go home. Protests are good when their is a legitimate gripe and there is a possibility that said protest could make a change in a timely manner. 

Blocking traffic simply infuriates me to no end. The fact that assholes are inconveniencing people trying to get home after a hard days work to try to make a scene is the biggest bullshit ever. Its just you, the protester, being an asshole and being selfish/rude. Especially being a college kid and doing it because you simply have no perspective on real life and that these innocent people are trying to get home to their families in a timely manner.

I am a firm believer that if this situation occurs that every driver should be allowed to continue driving at 5mph and you shouldn't be charged with anything if some kid/person doesn't get out of your way. Sorry not sorry.

P.S. 

I would KILL to find the percentage of protestors that actually voted. I hope that its a 100% but am fearful about how low that number actually is.

Emergency Situation: Bill Walton's Bike Stolen

Sports Illustrated - On Monday afternoon, Bill Walton tweeted a plea for help. His beloved bike had gone missing and he called on Hawaiian Airlines to return his ride. Walton says that he waited in the Maui airport for FIVE hours and it never showed up. That's love... Walton is 6'11" so it must have been tough for any bike thief to reach the pedals.


Bill Walton is an absolute American Treasure. The fact that San Diego doesn't go out of its way to just promote him as our own is bonkers to me. I have no facts of how many days a month he actually lives here but he couldn't embody the city/region more even if he tried. The guy is happy go lucky, Weird, Passionate about drugs, and likes to to talk about the sun/weather.

The only way I will watch a west coast late college basketball game is when Bill is going off on random tangents about nothing because it is electrifying entertainment. He literally rants about everything and anything which usually doesn't correlate to anything that is happening on the basketball court right in front of him.

We need more updates on Walton's day to day life because this was a thrilling bike theft case that had me riveted for multiple minutes. The fact that this guy rides a bike is an incredibly story to begin with in itself. San Diego local sports network should have a "Walton's World" reality show. Show would be an instant hit and I think I just came up with a billion dollar idea again.


Give me more Walton


Update: Bike has been recovered and it legitimately makes me really happy. 



Random Bill Walton Story:

I partied at the house he owned/rented back in the glory days of the San Diego Clippers. One of my mutual friends rented to the house in most part because it was Waltons old stomping grounds in Sunset cliffs. The house location is one of those sunset cliff houses that has horrendous cell phone reception which is incredible in itself for the given tech times. He mentioned the only reason why Walton chose to live in the house during his career was because of the outdoor shower. The story is Bill Walton refused to take indoor showers and would only shower outside. 


I couldn't be more team outdoor shower if I tried. Outdoor showers are sneaky a top 10 thing you can do without getting arrested.


P.S. Bill Walton and David Wells need a show together just doing nothing as well. We need to promote the locals and that show as me as the executive producer might be the best show ever.

2nd East Meets West Podcast

Round 2. Give it a listen. 

Listen HERE