**The Perennial MIKE TROUT Thread**

[Cardsandcoffee]

Originally Posted by marl1220

What is with his OBP this year? I haven't been able to watch much of him. Has he changed his approach at the plate or something?

Wow he absolutely crushed that HR. Serious upper deck action!

I haven't seen every game of his but it just seems like pitchers are more willing to pitch him in the zone this year, particularly up, so he's been swinging more, where as previously before in years past, they where more cautious. But to my eye, not seeing any change to approach.

[Rabs]

Dead man swingin!

[REGGIE206]

BOOM! HR #37!

[cardsin47]

Originally Posted by REGGIE206

BOOM! HR #37!

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[HOFAutoRookies]

3-4, 3 xbh's. Love to see it!

[speedyjg13]

Originally Posted by HOFAutoRookies

3-4, 3 xbh's. Love to see it!

We do! Go Trout!!!!

[goldeneye2131]

Originally Posted by marl1220

What is with his OBP this year? I haven't been able to watch much of him. Has he changed his approach at the plate or something?

K rate is highest of his career, walk rate is second lowest….but HR rate also highest. Hard to say though as these are just 3 metrics.

[cardsin47]

Originally Posted by goldeneye2131

K rate is highest of his career, walk rate is second lowest….but HR rate also highest. Hard to say though as these are just 3 metrics.

https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1527975

[Cardsandcoffee]

Originally Posted by HOFAutoRookies

3-4, 3 xbh's. Love to see it!

Yup, his last at bat where he turned on a 98 mph 4 seamer up in the zone was particularly nice!

[goldeneye2131]

Originally Posted by cardsin47

https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1527975

I'm not sure the point you're trying to make. That discussion is about a gradual change across years (and ones where Trout has typically bucked the trend). From 2011 to 2021, Trout's fly ball percentage was 29.2%. This year it's 45.3%. I'd be very much more inclined to say it's a change of approach (or something else) rather than a result of a gradual change in pitching across the league. I 100% agree that there is a change in pitching which is making it harder on hitters, but it doesn't help either that kids are being encouraged to focus on launch angle (HRs) instead of the line drive mentality of the past. In some ways it's unsurprising that batting averages are down, but I don't feel that it's a strong contributing factor to Trout's performance this year with respect to his historical performance.

[cardsin47]

Originally Posted by goldeneye2131

I'm not sure the point you're trying to make. That discussion is about a gradual change across years (and ones where Trout has typically bucked the trend). From 2011 to 2021, Trout's fly ball percentage was 29.2%. This year it's 45.3%. I'd be very much more inclined to say it's a change of approach (or something else) rather than a result of a gradual change in pitching across the league. I 100% agree that there is a change in pitching which is making it harder on hitters, but it doesn't help either that kids are being encouraged to focus on launch angle (HRs) instead of the line drive mentality of the past. In some ways it's unsurprising that batting averages are down, but I don't feel that it's a strong contributing factor to Trout's performance this year with respect to his historical performance.

Maybe it’s the combo? Superior Pitching shutting down a lot of hitters this year , plus a launch angle change….

[goldeneye2131]

True. I meant to check how Trout is/was fairing in certain counts and/or if there's data on whether they're consistently pitching him up or something. I'm not too worried as the best usually figure it out and adjust.

[JRX]

So if he gets 40 this year, that would also be 350?

[caflisch78]

He legit stopped taking walks. Walking about just over half his career rate.

Career OBP = .415

2022 OBP = .364 (lowest of career)

[Cardsandcoffee]

This is anecdotally but I’ve watched quite a bit of their games this year. It feels like that it’s not that he’s not taking walks, it’s that they’re challenging him more up in the zone, thus having to deal with either taking high strikes or swinging at them. Data from Fangraphs shows about an 8% increase in upper 1/3 zone pitches thrown this year compared to 2016-19. So I think it just will be a matter of adjustment on his part. Always a game of cat and mouse in baseball.

[BigSlim16]

Big fly Mike Trout! HR #38

[ThoseBackPages]

washed

[REGGIE206]

BOOM! HR #38!

[JohnnyHatesJazz]

Mikey The Messiah!!!!

[cardsin47]

Originally Posted by REGGIE206

BOOM! HR #38!

One of the UNDISPUTED Greatest Baseball Players in History - Career Stats don’t lie!


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[Rabs]

Will he get to 40?

[BigSlim16]

Originally Posted by Rabs

Will he get to 40?

Pretty incredible this is even a real question considering the fact he missed a full month of games + played through a bad back for a couple weeks

Makes me think that 50 homers would’ve been a lock if he hadn’t missed time

[Rabs]

Originally Posted by BigSlim16

Pretty incredible this is even a real question considering the fact he missed a full month of games + played through a bad back for a couple weeks

Makes me think that 50 homers would’ve been a lock if he hadn’t missed time

The way he's been hitting HRs this year no doubt he would have reached 50.

Not bad for a "lost" season!

[NYRE2PECT]

Originally Posted by Rabs

The way he's been hitting HRs this year no doubt he would have reached 50.

Not bad for a "lost" season!

It would have been interesting for sure! Still a great year with all things considered. He is pretty amazing.


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[caflisch78]

Headed to the game tonight.

Ohtani's last home start on the bump.

Hoping for #39 + #40