Revisiting The Time Mike Trout Got Fed Up With His Team Tipping Pitches

[@zdc3]

“Thanks for showing the whole stadium what I’m doing wrong”

[@RebeLzBoyX]

"youre welcome"

[@Payton3434]

Totally.

[@socalangler4082]

lol the other team probably already knew before Mike Trout realized it haha

[@NickPR87]

He's a great player, but he has dug up his own grave by staying loyal to a mediocre organization. He doesn't even have a deep post season run on his resumé. Ohtani knew better and that's why he's already playing in a world series!

[@TheRfGuy]

I have doubts the Angels really tried to keep him - probably because they knew he would (and should!) walk. I'm sure he got the qualifying offer though.

[@Farragutsfinest]

Mediocre is a compliment. They just managed to have two of the all time greats and couldn't do anything with either of them.

[@cityhawk]

No one put a gun to Mike Trout’s head to sign that godawful extension with the Angels. He knew the Angels were terrible (still are) and were going nowhere (still are). He could have let his contract run out and sign somewhere else as a free agent. Just saying.

[@Chance_2018]

He saw potential in the team that's why he signed with the angels. They had Shohei

[@DC180PP]

​@Chance_2018 and even then, he could literally ask for a trade. He has a full trade clause so he can hand pick where he wants to go. But I don't think he wants to win like that anyway. He has his family living in SoCal...Great place to live and he seems comfortable with generational wealth

[@cityhawk]

@@Chance_2018 What potential did the Angels have? Outside of Ohtani and maybe Rendon, there’s nothing else to signal to the fans that the Angels were ready to contend. Overspending on bad free agents, terrible player development, and a horrible pitching staff. Again, where was the potential?

[@TheRfGuy]

Mike Trout signed for a boatload of money. However, given the generational talent he is, he even gave the Angels a bit of a discount for his services. Still, he can Scrooge McDuck into his vault of money whenever he wants. But he very likely won't ever get a ring let alone sniff the World Series. The Angels were gifted Ohtani - someone worth possibly more than Trout on the field and were paying him league minimum for years. But they couldn't build a team around that. Nine straight seasons of a losing record, including this last season where they winning percentage was .389. What should be frustrating for Trout is he even gave the Angels a discount. He could easily have been north of $45M/year. The Angels blew that money on players that just haven't worked out and aren't willing to spend to build a winning team. He made that deal, he has to live with it. While he won't be crying to the bank anytime soon, he'll always be on the outside looking in come October. And possibly wondering if he should have taken less money to be on a team that actually has a chance.

[@emupike6]

Usually teams build around a superstar like Trout, they signed quite a few good to great players that basically all flopped with Rendon being exhibit A

[@d.a.baracus]

Lol. Trout can see the pitcher tipping his pitches from 180 ft. away, but none of the Angels' coaches or their catcher noticed it.... He must be so jealous that Ohtani got out of that dumpster fire in Anaheim when he had the chance...

[@LoveStallion]

Trout's devotion to the team is truly bizarre. Part of it is I think he's a player's player. He doesn't care much about being a brand or having a media presence. He doesn't do loads of endorsements. He just plays the game. And still, why he wouldn't want to play the game for a winner is beyond me. Ohtani walked the moment he could and now he's in the World Series. Maybe Trout is just happy playing baseball and that's that.

[@TheRealBruceLouis]

I'm gonna say Trout is happy having a steady job, being in a familiar environment, stability in staying with the same franchise for his family. He's just a 9-5er who likes to work at the same company for 30 years then retire, but he plays baseball instead of working a 9-5.

[@RubMySweatyThighs]

Ohtani legit wanted to stay with the Angels it was the owner who cheaped out

[@drygnfyre]

Mike Trout is probably the ultimate example of why you shouldn't ever be too loyal to your employer. Remember, your employer only ever cares about what you do for them economically. They don't care about you personally. On one hand, it's very admirable that Trout has a rare loyalty to one team. But on the other hand, he can't really complain if people forget about him, because he did nothing to try to improve his odds of having a strong legacy. Ohtani finally did what he needed to do to find a contender.

[@jonfox4022]

You seem to think he's unhappy where he is. At the end of the day he signed for a huge sum of money on a long term contract that provided his family with stability in a city they wanted to raise their kids in. While he may get frustrated at times with their lack of success you really shouldn't get that confused with him wanted to relocate his family for a ring that may never happen anyway.

[@drygnfyre]

@@jonfox4022 I didn't say he was unhappy or that I think he is. What I'm saying is if later on he wonders why he doesn't have a legacy, it will be (at least partially) on him for never trying to go to a winning organization. But you are right, we don't know Trout and his actions suggest he is perfectly happy being on the Angels and close to home. That's why I don't fault him for his loyalty, but rather it's just a case of he's likely going to go down in history as one of the best players you've never heard of sort of thing.

[@gedalyahreback2133]

The Angels are just as weighed down by him as he is by them. They can't build around him at this point in his career, so trade him and get a huge package of prospects for him. Get a couple of hitters that can be effective now.

[@Ryouski]

Agreed. At this point in his career (especially with how injury-prone he is) he is not what he used to be. Still a great player, but can't really build around him anymore.

[@User-b9q2z]

The angels had a healthy trout and Ohtani at the same time and didn't even make the playoffs. Probably the greatest pairing of hitters this generation will ever see. They will never be good until the entire team philosophy and ownership is stripped down and rebuilt

[@IRanOutOfPhrases]

Why is everyone 'faulting' Trout for his loyalty? I swear its lose-lose for players. You either get accused ofnchasing championships by signing with stacked teams or get blamed for "sticking with a loser."

[@jonfox4022]

Sports fans just love being mad about stuff. Only things to really be mad at are when your team just gives up competing or when ownership/management fails the team and city.

[@riesencarlberg4666]

its not really a lose-lose in this situation, though. The angels have been terrible for Trouts entire career. No one would blame him for "chasing championships" if he decided he wanted out of anaheim. If he was on a team that was making the post season every other year, it would be different. Only one postseason with one of the best players in MLB history is a disgrace.

[@IRanOutOfPhrases]

@@jonfox4022 absolutely right

[@IRanOutOfPhrases]

@@riesencarlberg4666 thats a disgrace on the Angels though. Not something to fault Trout for as others seem ready to line up for

[@aquila519]

I can respect loyalty but if it's loyalty to one of the worst ran organizations in sports, i don't really understand why he would do that to himself. Even in basketball, Damian Lillard who was known as one of the most loyal players, even he asked for a trade from the Blazers finally after so many years of mediocrity. Trout wasted his career in Anaheim by being loyal to a franchise that constantly failed and showed no signs of turning the corner.

[@lgude]

The contract is Trout's business, but showing him outing the pitch tipping from the outfield is pretty amazing - if authentic that is brilliant reporting and shows a usually hidden side of the game.

[@jibberjabberstepback612]

If Trout cared about winning he'd be literally anywhere else. He made a choice, and that's fine, but it's not something to feel bad for him over.

[@therealmonkfromtibet]

I'm not sad about Trout playing for this horrendous team in his whole career. The guy is richer than all of us together, so why pity him?

[@matthewlupton1539]

well he has generational talent and it was all wasted doing a whole bunch of nothing with the same team... its the same as calvin johnson wasting his career on the lions... it kinda just sucks to see regardless of the paycheck.

[@AndrewJanusson]

Almost every player in MLB is wealthier than us all, this is an inane argument.

[@LobotomizedLarry]

I'm just pitying myself and the wider baseball world that a generational talent was never relevant

[@deestrick5712]

Because they are trout fans and like him. They don’t see all the money and just root for the guy.

[@jayr.3720]

As a Mariners fan, I feel more sorry for the Angels than anyone else in our pisspoor division. The talent they've squandered with terrible pitching is mind boggling. But they're good enough to make a mess of things and take random games off those Texans. And us...

[@SergioAbarca9]

He simply was done with the incompetence and mediocrity 😅😂😂

[@Somatom_Man]

Many times you have to just take the money and stop worrying about the job after hours. Your at home time is the best part.

[@Zagirus]

Trout remains with the Angels not out of loyalty, but out of a fear of the postseason spotlight. After all, he's still haunted by flashbacks of when the Royals swept the Angels and he completely choked, batting .081. It's a clever strategy, really; if you never play in the postseason again, you can’t choke in the postseason. Deep down, he knows he isn’t clutch, not a big game player, but a high leverage/postseason choker.

[@FavreianVengeance]

The Butt Holes signing tanked the Angels long term.

[@markula_4040]

Damn, I thought Ken Griffey Jr. only playing in 18 postseason games was tragic. Trout may never even get a shot at approaching that.

[@Twitch760]

There's a team just south of him in San Diego that's an actual contender. Why hasn't he demanded a trade at this point is beyond me? Arte Moreno is not a good owner and by the time the team gets rebuilt Trout will be at or nearing retirement. Trout could be moved to 1B and DH to reduce his chances at injury.

[@justinpridham7919]

He gets up to an extra month off every year.

[@joeg5414]

I just like how the Angels had Tim Salmon in the 90s, and Mike Trout now. Lots of fish names. Oh and Tim Salmon played his entire career with the Angels

[@ksrmk]

Except Trout was partial to the cadisfly nymph whereas Salmon was vulnerable to the blue and chrome salmon spoon.

[@SvendleBerries]

And thats why I get the two mixed up lol

[@noob.168]

Thankfull AJ Pollock isn't in this bs.

[@deestrick5712]

@@SvendleBerries it’s only two people. You must have done awful in school.

[@SvendleBerries]

@@deestrick5712 I have dyslexia. So yeah, school was difficult. Still managed to graduate with a 2.77 GPA, for what its worth.

[@dannybursace9151]

Generational talent got uber money for loyalty..like HOF Joe Thomas on the Browns wasted career…it is what it is

[@AlMa-q7t]

He literally signed TWO extensions... Everyone including the Rays would have gave him whatever $$$ he wanted lol.

[@TonyCrenshawsLatte]

The tales of two superstars in Trout and Ohtani are absolute cautionary tale for players to never sign with Angels. Trout put his faith and loyalty in a wrong team, and he's going to be forgotten by all but the most ardent sports fans, while the likes of Judge and Ohtani are gonna be household names for decades if not centuries.

[@wampabites]

In Japan, Trout will always be Trout onii-san (Ohtani's "older brother"). Deep down we all wished here that Trout and Ohtani would play together until the end. He seems perfectly content of not being one of MLB's protagonists anymore, it's a bit sad. Can't complain though, he's a multimillionaire, he'll be remembered as one of the sport greats. Let's go Mike, at least be the fire this team needs until things get better (if it will whatsoever, because Moreno won't give up the chair).

[@backpackmatt8160]

Angels making the playoffs this year

[@stephaniekarlik2071]

Lol

[@deestrick5712]

If only the year wasn’t over. I saw them coming back also

[@mrhats830]

Hey Trout. You could 1:24 have gone with a winning team instead of staying with the angels your entire career.

[@johns.8220]

I'm sure he will read this and I'm sure he will regret not hiring you as his career coach.

[@ItsAllAboutGuitar]

That's pretty bush league. You point stuff like that out in the dugout or at practice with no one else around. Maybe that attitude isn't helping.

[@tawkoeh]

I’m all for more shitting on angels videos.

[@myusernameiscooldude]

he took the money, this is what he gets

[@jareddanielcunanan4303]

if mike trout went to the dodgers at the start of his career he would have 5 world series rings 2 WS mvp's

[@drygnfyre]

I remember that one point in time that Ben Zobrist somehow wound up on like three World Series teams in a row. Trout could have gone to a bunch of teams that would have given him a chance for at least the playoffs.

[@deestrick5712]

If he began his career with the Yankees he would have 12 World Series rings and 17 mvps And 45 WS mvps

[@deestrick5712]

If he began his career with the dodgers, we wouldn’t be able to hate Cody bellenger as a dodger jagoff

[@deestrick5712]

If he began his career as a Tampa bay Ray, then he would have played most of his games in Tampa. Oh wait, that one is true

[@Zagirus]

World Series MVP? Oh, that's rich! Trout, the ultimate 'Mr. Regular Season,' shines brightest when it absolutely doesn't matter. His postseason prowess is legendary, if we're talking about that unforgettable .081 performance against the Royals in 2014 that gifted them a clean sweep. Stat-padding is an art, and under the spotlight, Trout is a true master of disappearing acts!

[@Prideofthepacific808]

Trout is now nearing the dusk of his career, I hope when he reaches the end of his career he will look back and be satisfied with the money he has made and be content with never making it to a championship series. Nobody but to blame but himself

[@IRanOutOfPhrases]

A strange remark to make on a guy who has only played for one team. Thats usually the type of thing people find to be a more noble trait but you're faulting him for it, lol

[@Alexander_Grant]

@@IRanOutOfPhrases I think for a lot of teams that comes with competent management. If your front office isn't doing you any favors, no one is going to fault you for leaving.

[@IRanOutOfPhrases]

@@Alexander_Grant I'd never fault anyone for leaving any team, honestly. Get your payday. Live in your preferred destination. Get your championship. You do you, as we know the teams themselves have zero loyalty to fans or players a like. But sure, nobody would fault him for leaving, but that's different from faulting him for staying. He's one of 11 active players who has stayed with just one team his whole career (that has lasted longer than 10 years.) Its hard to believe there are so many people out there saying, "I wish there was less of that."

[@drygnfyre]

I don't think Trout has ever given any indication he regrets his decision. For the reasons you stated. He made a ton of money, lives nearby, and seemed okay with being a regular season player. But if does later come to regret, well, that's on him.

[@AFoulOdor]

Go tell your teammate or your coaches instead of whatever that was.

[@foreverdnc123]

Loyalty has nothing to do with Mike Trout wanting to remain with the Angels .It is how he is treated by the fans and the media that makes him want to stay.The last 4 seasons Trout has missed 382 games and hasn’t played 150 games since the 2016 season yet he is treated like a hero by the fans and media. Seldom do you hear anything negative towards him. He is not much of a clutch player and doesn’t drive in many runs. Very overrated.

[@Ryouski]

Thank you! That's what I've been saying for many years now. Great play when he's healthy, but him being injury-prone makes him WAY overrated

[@Zagirus]

Exactly. Trout remains with the Angels not out of loyalty, but out of a fear of the postseason spotlight. After all, he's still haunted by flashbacks of when the Royals swept the Angels and he completely choked, batting .081. It's a clever strategy, really; if you never play in the postseason again, you can’t choke in the postseason. Deep down, he knows he isn’t clutch, not a big game player, but a high leverage/postseason choker.

[@MiC-T]

He'll be a Phillie in April 2025

[@opiniononion]

Get Trout out of there

[@RichardSanchez137]

Who's Mike Trout?

[@Zagirus]

Some regular season merchant who chokes in high leverage situations.

[@RickB1792]

It used to be called loyalty when a player stayed with one team his entire career. Now, a huge contract like Trout’s more often than not prevents the organization from building a winning team around that one highly paid guy, with maybe just a few exceptions. I don’t feel sorry for him at all as this as predictable. He gets to keep the money, live the life, have the babes, etc..

[@Sour_Pancakes]

That is not the case for the Angels. They have been a Top 10 or near top 10 payroll team his entire career. They have paid stars like Josh Hamilton, Albert Pujols, CJ Wilson, Rendón. They just never seem to work out. It’s an organizational issue not a Mike Trout issue

[@User-b9q2z]

The Angles really had the single greatest pairing of hitters this generation will see and still couldn't even get to the playoffs. Honestly id say they're the most embarrassing franchise of the last decade

[@donaldzuramp4404]

Its alright he get paid millions

[@MikeK-h4z]

Poor Trout & his 400 million plus. He rarely plays. He's malingering.

[@joemckinnon2834]

Right, even if he was on a good team he would be on his couch watching them play because he was injured yet again.

[@deestrick5712]

I feel bad for his $14K pure bread dogs. He probably kicks the shit out of them when he gets home.

[@bobbymoss6160]

I can't believe Trout wasted his entire fricking career on a trash team... But then again, he loved the money more than the game, so F him.

[@K20EF8]

He could have gotten more money elsewhere but stayed loyal to the Angels. He doesnt love money more than the game.

[@nickr3441]

Guy is so irrelevant

[@theahearn2658]

Honestly, I know it is Mike trout's fault that he's in this position with the angels and it was by his own choice. But I do feel bad for him because look at what shoo tawny just did after one yearwith the Los Angeles Dodgers. He's got himself a ring. The angels are mediocre in garbage and Mike trout deserves better and I'm hoping that the angels see that and understand that it will trade him because he's a Halifae player who deserves to be in the postseason and have a chance at winning a ring.