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By Anthony Franco | at
Click here to view the transcript of today’s chat with MLBTR’s Anthony Franco.
MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com
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I’m stunned, where do I start?
At the beginning! Shocking revelation, I know.
Curly, you started this thread good sir, you got anything for us??????
I can answer the Pujols question: 0% chance he doesn’t retire because there is 0% chance he will pass his drug test in spring training.
drasco036,
But he has never failed a test…Why would there be a 100% chance of him failing a test come spring?
My bad…. Lots of “42” year olds all the sudden go from being washed up and barely able to walk to hitting like it’s 2007 again…. But hey none of the cardinals are surprised because “all the work he’s put in” this season.
Mlbs drug testing is one test during spring training and one random… something tells me pujols random test happened shortly before his “resurgence”.
Even if he is juicing, that doesn’t automatically make him go from a mediocre to good hitter again. Lots of factors could be at play here.
He’s likely more engaged playing for STL than LAA. Remember, he performed decently for LAD, too. He also is getting more favorable matchups and is being allowed to ride his hot streaks. He’s swinging at the first pitch more than he has in the statcast era (and by far) and is also inexplicably being shifted 15% less than last year and making teams pay by destroying non-shift defenses to a .373 wOBA.
I would also point out that even when his average was poor for LAA he was still hitting HRs. He hit over 30 in 2016 and over 20 in both 2017 and 2019. He only has 1 more this season than last as of now, plus it’s not like he’s hitting .300 or something.
He’s hitting fewer balls on the ground and actually has the 3rd highest soft contact percentage of his career. PEDs don’t fix your launch angle
drascoo-I agree. I hope he isn’t using again, but history in this league has taught us to not be naive about these sudden changes in performances by players. I mean, this is a great story for baseball and a way to create ratings which equates to $$$$$ for the league.
Albert looks like he got fit in the off-season. Credit to him because it would have been hard work. Going out in style is a great reward for the effort.
Fletch you just laid down the best bunt I’ve seen in 5 years. Good job buddy.
If you thought that was good check out what I’m gonna do tomorrow
3-3 with 3 bunt hits. I already see it!
But i thought he was 45?
Who is 45 Albert? Sheesh maybe. All the more impressive.
So it has to PED’s is why Albert is having a good year? His performance this season is actually on par with what he did with the Dodgers last season.
Albert went into this season chasing a rare milestone and maybe he did put the effort in to his physical conditioning, doesn’t mean he’s juicing. Getting out of the dysfunction in Anaheim has had a more positive effect on Albert than anything else
Rsox, couldn’t agree more. He is home, with his BFF Yadi. I was hoping he would have this kind of year so he could get to 700 and go out with a bang. Anyone that think he is on the stuff just doesn’t know Albert, know baseball, and understand how the juice works. Albert has always been big and full of muscle. He would never take that risk at this point in his career. He is a heck of a guy. Chairs one of the biggest Downs Syndrome charities in the world (his Daughter has it actually). He is a great human being. I don’t like seeing baseless garbage spread about him.
@rsox & trumbo couldn’t agree more, someone who has also seen #5 up close in his prime for 11 years the man is just a freak of nature. a big who had the quickness of a small guy and great hand eye. also as far i know #5 has never failed a drug test in 20+ years, so either he’s clean (which i believe) or he’s incredibly lucky and beat every test (even though probability of that is very slim). imho i think why we’re seeing vintage #5 is because in his mind he has already made this his last year and he is leaving it all out there, so whenever his last game is this year (hopefully it’s real late into oct with a ws win) he can look at the fans and tips that cap one last time he can walk off the field with no regrets.
Drasco with a all time stupid take. I can’t believe society let’s these people walk around in society being that blissfully stupid.
First half 215 .301 .376 .676
Second half 336. 390 .729 1.119
And I’m the stupid one…. You can argue if the numbers were reversed he had a more intensive off-season, more motivation but no “42” year old goes from being the freaking tin man without his oil can to hitting like he did at 30 in the middle of the season without “help”
As for the genius who claims peds do not help with launch… improved quick twitch muscles, strength and mobility absolutely help you get more launch, quicker twitch muscles greatly improve your ability to barrel a freaking baseball.
Chat: Who is the best player you have ever seen?
A. Franco: TROUT!
ATTABOY Franco!
Bonds, Barry.
Barry is among the best but he could never fly and play the OF like Trout. Mookie and Ichiro are right up there with the best I have seen.
When I’m asked who is the best player I’ve seen, I pretty answer Bonds 50% of the time and Trout 50% of the time. Prime Bonds, btw, could fly!
I hear you, but Barry was never faster than Trout. Not many are. But some of Trouts defensive plays are the stuff of legend. If he is gonna get compared to someone let it be Barry though. I can look at Barry’s career before the nonsense objectively and still see he was already a clear hall of famer. Mookie Betts is something else though…The guy has all 5 tools and is just unbelievable. You should have seen his home run last night. The way he brought his hands in, never seen anything like it.
I disagree about Bonds not being faster than trout… bonds at 185 was lighting… 240 pound bonds not quite as nibble
Thats alright we can’t agree on everything. Even Trout NOW is still lightning though!
Was that before his hat size grew?
You really wanna blow your mind, look at Nelson Cruz’ before and after pics.
The Clear erased Bonds from my book. I’m extremely partial, but I may have to say Gwynn. Griff, Ichiro, Winfield, Larry Walker… there’s lots of these type of names on my list but the real answer might be Trout or Ohtani instead of Gwynn.
Gwynning, Tony was maybe the best pure left handed hitter ever. His 8 batting titles speak for themselves. I would imagine you have seen the interview he did with Ted Williams, but for those who have not, you gotta see it..
also worth noting that, ted told tony there was a bit wrong with his swing.
this was in late july/early august of 1993.
tony realized it, fixed the hitch, and from august 1st 1993 until the strike of 1994, hit over .400 (and with over 500 plate appearances, so had it been done over a full season, rather than split into two seasons, tony hits .400).
Haha He kept getting on him about using a heavier bat too
Bonds was by far and away the best hitter… people are in awe of Judge this year but this, being his best year falls far below Bonds best years with the bat.
Bonds broke his bat on a pitch thrown by Beckett, in his prime, and it still went over the wall. Bonds would take any pitchers best pitch and deposit in mccovey cove.
Tony Gwynn was the best Pure hitter I have ever seen. Pre-Clear Barry Bonds might have been the best overall hitter, but I would put Trout right there with Bonds before steroids. I would also put prime Vlad Sr. just behind. Lifetime .318/.379/.553. Great hitter with huge power, great(40-SB) speed, excellent defense and 1 of the strongest OF arms I have ever seen.
Thats a gutsy call with Big Daddy Vladdy but I like it.
Ichiro and Vlad= best OF arms ever seen. With a little Clemente mixed in. Maybe Bo and Jose Guillen too haha
The best player I’ve ever saw in person, Junior. Best player in my life time, it would be hard to pick between Junior, Bonds, or Tony Gwynn.
When Trout first came to the show, it was Junior who he was reminiscent of…. Can’t go wrong with either of those 3 when you are talking about the best.
In person? Michael Jack Schmidt.
He wrote a great book as well (Always on the Offense). Can’t argue with anyone saying Schmidt.
TrumboJumbo
Mike Trout the best that Anthony has seen? Yes, Trout is first-ballot HOF is he retires tomorrow.
But how old is Anthony?
I have seen Randy Johnson and Greg Maddux and both top Trout and his 1500 hits. Trout is more like the tier with Griffey, Jr., Adrian Beltre, Scherzer and Verlander IMHO. And due to longevity and durability, I would take any of those over Trout. Despite seeing a ton of baseball games, I never saw Griffey, Jr. play in person. For me, I will say Randy Johnson overall among those I saw in person.
I have seen Bonds and AROD and I will assume that Anthony gives them an asterisk and no complaints from me on that.
Even Ripken, Jeter, Pujols and Cabrera have a case.
But now I am guessing that Anothony is under 35. In which his answer is sort of like Hakeem Olajuwon is the best basketball player that I have ever seen in person because I have gone to fewer than ten NBA games in my life. Kobe Bryant and Patrick Ewing would be next among those that I saw in person and I would not claim that any of those three are top ten all-time.
Manny, I read your post and I know you put thought into it and mean well. I have no doubt A. Franco has seen a all the guys you mention through various means. For a lot of people, the question of Trout being the best isn’t even close. I know of all the greats….Hornsby, Wagner, Cobb, Shoeless Joe, Double X, The Iron Man, Hammerin Hank, Say Hey Kid, Joe D, The Mick, Junior, I could go on all day. To me, Trout is the best ever. Seen him up close for over 10 years. My whole life has been baseball. My opinion will never change on Trout. I am always up for a debate about the “greats” etc. But of course we are all gonna have our unwavering opinions. Mookie and Ichiro are close seconds.
Manny, a lot of people/fans these days have no idea about some of the OG greats…They probably have no idea that The Mick got to 1B in 3.0 seconds and ran a 6.0 60yd dash. World track speed…Or how Jimmie Foxx never got the notoriety that he deserved because The Babe overshadowed him. If I had to break it down into Offense and Defense, I would say Ichiro for Defense and Ted Williams for Offense. If I am picking a player who best represents both, it is Trout.
I never saw him play, but if I had to pick who I think was the greatest hitter ever, it would be Ted Williams. Talking just hitting. Trout is a better overall player.
@trumbo age aside i envy you if you we’re able to see half that list of goats that’s awesome (i’m especially jealous if you got to see horns play he’s a cards legend like stan, dizzy, gibby, smith and soon to be al, wanio and yadi), long and short whenever i hit your age i hope i can have a list of goats to tell younger generations about (hopefully one of them younger kids is one of my own). sucks you live in ca and not around stl, i would love to have a few “man sodas” and talk about some of the best bb and players we had the privilege to watch or attend. i.e. one of the best games i’ve seen was a cards game in atl back in 06, i took some leave and went to see them play in atl. sadly we got blown out but al hit a dinger, but what made it the best game for me was how most of the players treated the fans there. most memorable moment for me was during bp and al just finished up and this 5yo lil girl who was the honorary bat girl for the game was dragging al’s bat back to him and he turnt around to pick the bat up from her. she did the cutest thing i ever see a kid do and point and al’s wrist and asked “can i have your red band on your wrist”. without thinking about it al instantly took them off and handed it to that lil girl. i’m sure trout has a few of them stories because he seems like a class act just like mccutsion (sorry if i misspelt his name) but imo that was a guy pit should of kept he meant more to the city of pit and the young fans than his stat line (heck he would often give away batting gloves to kids in the outfield because that glove meant something to them.
Question for fantasy buffs, you startin Kelly V LAD tn?
Risky move, but I would if I had him. I am starting Waldichuk and Hunter Brown today though. Good luck in your playoffs!
Thanks mate! Good luck in yours too, Hunter is a stud
Anthony is the first analyst to say the Giants initial priority needs to be the bullpen. Need swing and miss guys. Biggest difference between last year and this.
The Dodgers are so good that haters are saying it’s because the NL west isn’t that great. It’s not LA’s fault that the giants suck and padres are choke artists.
The Astros get this despite Seattle being 18 over .500. The Dodgers have been great for a while.
10 straight playoff appearances is not bad.
The Angels are 23rd in the Majors in runs scored. They are 14th in the majors in runs scored against. Ohtani and Sandoval both have a sub 3 ERA. But it seems like most people want to focus on the pitching struggles. Instead of the fact, the have one of the worst lineups in the majors. That even with Ohtani and Trout in the lineup. Yes the need to add pitching. But ignoring the lack of offense. Is hilarious
I would say with all cylinders firing, Fletcher, Walsh, Trout, Shohei, Rendon, and Ward, that they have a formidable lineup/offense. Wish I could mention Adell but that would be icing on the cake.
Fletcher was dropping bunts today like X-Factor and Juan Pierre 2.0
TrumboJumbo;
Listened to the Cleveland radio broadcast of the Angels game. Interesting points they brought up…….
1. Nevins has had the team playing hard all year.
2. Going into the game Jose Suarez was 5-2 with a 1.76 ERA since being recalled from St. Lake City.
3. Angels are 9th in pitching by ERA in MLB, and 6th in the AL.
4. Angels lead the AL in shutouts with 17, one behind the Mets for the MLB lead.
Teams (and their pitching) don’t turn on a dime.
Assuming the franchise is sold, the new owner might want to think twice about firing that GM. He went about making the pitching better…he has….and it should continue to get better with so many young pitchers. Their issue now is not enough offense.
If the new owner is dumb enough to let Perry Minasian go, the Tigers might want to consider snatching him up.
Sam The Man,
Nice to hear some postive points/indicators with the Halos. We just want Suarez to be more consistent/find a groove (like Heaney once the blue guys got their mitts on him). His recent success as you point out warrants hope though. Offense wise, they have the talent. It is mental at this point. All the quasi-anomalies you allude to (postive indicators/stats amongst a garbage season) help solidify that possibility. They got 5 solid hitters in my opinion. If Nevin can get them fired up and can manage (Trout approves of him mightily and was probably the voice that got him his interim role) then great. He can be our Skip. I have tried in vain to truly figure out the crux of what the Angels issues are for years and am still at a loss. They are one strange organization. Can’t speak to Perry much. Hasn’t been around long enough. With Arte gone maybe things change? Maybe Perry has been vetoed and stifled too much? Hoping for a miracle next year never the less…
Samuel my biggest issue this season. Especially after they went in that down word spiral, is refusing to play the young players that need to play to get better. Instead of playing journey man players. Sitting Adell, isn’t going to help him improve. Kept playing guys like, Duffy, Velasquez and Goslin, over Reginfo, despite Reginfo being the better option. I understand, he is trying to prove, he should be the next manager. But that was the problem under, Mike S, he wouldn’t play the younger players, to allow them to get better
I would like to see the Angels bring in Howie to work with Adell and his hitting. With Adell speed and power to hit to hit to all fields. A inside out swing, would really improve his ability to put the ball in play.
Couldn’t agree more. They gotta surround themselves with the Angels OG old timers. Howie, Carew, Eckstein, Erstad, maybe the King Fish, get that good energy going again with the guys who have lived it and know it.
Entering Tuesday, Ohtani has a 12-8 record to go along with a 2.55 ERA and 188 strikeouts on the season. Ohtani’s 188 strikeouts are ranked eighth in the majors while his ERA is the 10th-lowest in all of baseball. Meanwhile, Ohtani owns a .267 batting average while hitting 34 home runs and 88 RBIs at the plate this season. The Angels slugger is tied for fifth in baseball in the home run department.
I agree with Sabathia. Ohtani is the MVP.
Judge is MVP and it should’ve been Vlad Jr last year.
Answering the question “who is the best player you’ve ever seen?” Is a matter of opinion but also of showing your age. Ask anyone under 30 and they will probably say Trout. But i have to say for me it was Ken Griffey Jr. (With the Mariners, not the Reds)
Trout is better than Griffey both by peak and total.
I think the question was seen, in person…so what games you go to is a big factor as well.
@rsox you are correct for me i’m 36, and not trying to sound like a homer but 3 out of the 4 on this are cards, which is albert, wanio, yadi, and chipper (who got a standing o every at bat in stl his final year), i’ll throw a caveat for the wizard (ozzie smith) but unfortunately when i saw him it was at the end of his career but from i remember he was still making the difficult plays just not like he used too. if we go with who i saw either tv or at the game my list is and in no real order but the first 3 are. prince Albert (some bias to that because he’s a card) trout, griffey, randy, doc, alt’s big 3 and so on. i’ve watched damn near every hof’er play from 95 on (i use 95 because that’s about the time i could understand what i was seeing) and tbh who was the best you ever saw is going to be subjective because of how you view what the best is. for me it’s al, jr, and trout because they were on another level for so long on both sides of the ball.
RSox, My Gramps is a baseball LIFER. Almost 90. He says TROUT is the best he has ever seen. He won’t pitter patter when asked directly either.
@trumbo (bleep) man i really wanna have a beer with you now, you and your gramps seem like solid bb guys please tell me your old man is as well. at this point screw the bar me, you, your gramps, and both of our dads sitting in my backyard pounding down “man sodas” just talking bb from a multi generational standpoint. imho what i think makes bb special (especially to guys) is that it’s something that multiple generations can sit down and enjoy a hof moment happen, share a memory that will live on and pass down, or just plain out just have a man soda with dad and gramps. btw trumbo keep enjoying them games with gramps if you can he’ll be gone before you know it.
Brodie, throwing back a few Man Sodas and talking baseball sounds like a heck of an idea. I’ll even bring the steaks…Dad is no baseball fan. More of an aviation and car enthusiast. Mom’s Dad on the other hand (Gramps) is a different story. He had me pushing a baseball across the carpet with my head as I was just learning to crawl. But yeah he was a “bonus baby” back in the 50’s. He’s done it all seen it all. I am out here on the West Coast so we will have to talk logistics eventually haha Appreciate the nice comments and invite. Ttyl friend!
Chipper Jones for me. You said actually seen.
Freddie the Merc,
Can’t argue with Chipper either. Another good call. Chipper could do it all.
@merc and trumbo (bleep) let’s make this work heck me and the old man will go out there and i can cross off a few bucket list items while i’m out in sunny ca. (my bucket list is to catch a game in every city so far i’m 3/30 tb,atl, and stl so far) and merc i have a special hate for the braves and it’s because the beat us in the 96 nlcs, but have always respected the braves and chipper. atl seems to have that tired saying the “cardinal way”, but just like my birds you have a culture and a way to build teams that is more important than numbers. i.e. for the most part atl drafts and trade for players that are blue collar guys that mesh with your city. sorry trumbo until either you get new ownership or arte gets his head out of his arse, which is sad because you have some of the best players post 11 al and yet stumbling around in the dark. tbh with you trumbo you need an owner who is a fan but step back and let bb people build your team, but more importantly establish a philosophical mindset of what kind of team you want to be. i.e. for as long as i’ve been alive my birds have been about pitching and d, decades later cards still hold true to that philosophy even thou it isn’t “sexy”.
Brodie, we’ll make it work. It’ll be tricky but no problem. I’ll find you on here a day I see you commenting, I’ll probably post a burner email address for you to message me and I’ll ask you a question about a prior convo we have had. Something only you’ll know. Basic spy stuff. But we’ll make it work. I’ve linked up that way once or twice with someone before.
@trumbo works for me i get a kick out of that james bond stuff, then again what dude in the u.s. hasn’t dreamed of either being a spy like bond, a pro athlete, or a fighter pilot
mlb.com/news/mike-trout-mookie-betts-best-mlb-play…
This was right after the Dodger took the WS in 2020. I still think it can shed some light on perspectives on Trout from the execs. Is healthy Trout the same player as he was in 2020? Maybe even better.
Mind you I am still convinced they are the best 2 players in the game currently.
in terms of seen, he’s up there for me.
i was at the braves/mets series in late 99 where he pretty much wrapped up the mvp that year.
place exploded when he hit a homer to give the braves the lead in the last game of it, i knew that the mets weren’t gonna catch up that year, and that chipper was getting the mvp (despite not even making the all star game that year, which is crazy in hindsight).
George Brett was pretty darn good. I of course never saw Jimmie Foxx, but from what I have heard and read, he was truly something else. He sticks out to me more than anyone else from that era. Ted Williams couldn’t have spoke higher about his ability. He said he hit it further than anyone he ever saw.
brodie-bruce;
What’s interesting about your list and others is this……
All those players had high baseball IQ’s. They play(ed) smart on the field, and did/do what they could to help their teams win every game they were in – health permitting. As such they were setting examples for their teammates in how to play the game.
Too many of today’s “superstars” are more into showing off to get on the highlight reels. On D by dogging it a step or diving when it’s not necessary to avoid trying and failing to make difficult plays (which naturally they cannot be held accountable for); and making what should be hard plays look more difficult the they are. On O swinging away trying to hit HR’s each PA rather than recognizing the game situation, taking a shorter swing and putting the ball in play. I realize that those things are harder to do on the field then it looks. But that’s why superstars and HOF’ers are superstars and HOF’ers.
@samuel spot on, i know from time to time our bb view points don’t see “eye to eye” but i can’t even argue your point. honestly your points is why i feel like the game is dying. right now in mlb you have a majority of “me” players and not team players. i will agree to be hof class you need 3 things and 2 of them are out of your control. 1st you need that “god given talent”, 2nd the health to put up a hof career (a lot of players have the talent but not the health) and 3rd good bb iq and unselfishness. in today’s game i don’t see the 3rd point out of a lot of players. tatis is an example awesome talent but so far he is a bonehead doing stupid stuff and letting his team down. i really hope for him the light switch flips on and gets it together. i’m giving him a semi-pass right now (ringworm included) because i think his heart is the right place just not his head, then again he is barely 21 and 99% of people that age are idiots that think there smart when there not, i should know because when i look back at my early 20’s i often respond with (bleep) i was a freaking idiot
“Dogging it a step or diving when not necessary.” Hahaha See it everyday…My FAVORITE though is the SS trying to backhand a little routine grounder for no apparent reason then he boots it!!! Haha Drives me nuts.