Mike Trout: 3 reasons outfielder does deserve to be named All-Star starter
There has recently been discussion that LA Angels franchise player Mike Trout doesn’t deserve to be voted to be a starter for the All-Star Game on Thursday night.
It’s one of the most ridiculous takes I’ve heard all season.
The best player of the past 11 years absolutely deserves to hear his name called on Thursday night, and undoubtedly deserves to be the leading vote getter among AL outfielders.
No. 1 reason why Mike Trout does deserve to be named as an All-Star starter: His 2021 performance
First and foremost, Mike Trout deserves to be named an All-Star starter because of what he did when he’s been on the field this year.
Cry me a river. Obviously, Trout has only played in 36 games this year. However, his play in those 36 games was the best he’s ever played in his career.
His .333 batting average and .466 on-base percentage were the best of his career, and he also slugged an incredible .624. His 1.090 OPS is also the best of his career.
He was on pace for 36 home runs this year, and 103 runs scored. He also hasn’t made an error in multiple seasons.
Trout has been injured, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that he absolutely was the best position player in baseball for the time he was out there. It wasn’t that close either, and nobody would doubt that he is truly the best position player in baseball right now.
Therefore, why not let him claim his spot as the best player in the game this year. It’s not like he didn’t play at all, and he’ll be back shortly after the All-Star break. They’ll award the center field spot to the next best guy after Trout wins it, and that player will get his recognition.
Trout deserves his recognition as well.
No. 2 reason why Mike Trout does deserve to be named as an All-Star starter: He’s earned his respect
The second reason Mike Trout deserves to be named as a starter to the Midsummer Classic is that he has earned whatever respect he’s given.
Has Mike Trout not been the best player on the planet of these past 11 years?
He absolutely has, and has earned whatever respect he gets. If nobody wants to vote him to the All-Star Game, then that’s fine. I would disagree with it, as I have been voting for Trout to be named the starter (and have absolutely no regrets about it), but everybody is entitled to their own opinion.
However, if people do want to vote him to the All-Star Game, then obviously there is nothing wrong with that. People want to convince others that he doesn’t deserve it when the people they’re trying to persuade clearly have working brains and are voting him in.
Do these people understand how delusional they sound? “Don’t vote for the best outfielder in baseball as the best outfielder in baseball.” That’s quite literally exactly what they’re saying.
It appears that they’ve lost touch with reality. The All-Star Game is made so we can celebrate the best players, so let’s celebrate the best player and give him his recognition.
No. 3 reason why Mike Trout does deserve to be named as an All-Star starter: It’s a bad look for Major League Baseball
Again, if the All-Star Game is about celebrating the best players in Major League Baseball, then shouldn’t we be taking every opportunity to celebrate Mike Trout?
Trout already can’t play in the game. So, now imagine him not even getting mentioned as that best outfielder in the game.
Imagine the MLB not acknowledging Trout at all. How terrible of a look is that?
The MLB asked the fans who they wanted in the game, and the fans have been answering. If somebody pulls off an upset and takes Trout’s spot tonight, then that’s one thing.
But these people who have issues with Trout being named the starter are obviously acknowledging that the fans want Trout, and have an issue with it.
Why should the votes not matter? The whole point of the All-Star Game is that the fans get the chance to vote. If the fans clearly want one guy, and people then try to campaign against him, then the MLB’s best player doesn’t get honored at the best place to honor the best players in this league.
That would be a bad situation for the MLB.
If you don’t think that Trout should be named as an All-Star starter; I’m sorry that his dominance offends you, but you need to get over it.