SB Nation Dallas - Rangers Vs. Angels: Texas Avoids Sweep With 7-3 Winhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48887/dallas-fave.png2012-06-04T06:00:28-05:00http://dallas.sbnation.com/rss/stream/28226582012-06-04T06:00:28-05:002012-06-04T06:00:28-05:00Take Two: Reflections On The Second Rangers-Angels AL West Showdown
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<p>Texas may have lost the series in Anaheim, but that does not mean it was a significant problem.</p> <p>For <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Texas Rangers</a> fans, there has probably not been a lower point in 2012 than Saturday night. Fresh off consecutive beat-downs at the hands of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Mariners</a>, Texas was down 0-2 in Anaheim to their surging rivals.</p>
<p>For the first time since April 14th, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Los Angeles Angels</a> of Anaheim were just 3.5 back of the Rangers.</p>
<p>With a nice game on Sunday, and a little perspective, thinks don't look so bad, though.</p>
<p>It is a bit disappointing after the way the season started, no doubt. Before May had even started, the Angels had nearly fallen back by 10 games, and Texas was winning at an unreasonable pace. To suddenly look like the AL West is a bad week away from being a real pennant race is distressing.</p>
<p>It's also better than things were last year. After 54 games, the 2011 Rangers had 29 wins, and were up just one game in the division. 32 wins and a 4.5 game lead on June 3 on Anaheim probably didn't sound to good to you on May 1, but how would it have sounded before the season even started? Despite the prolonged stretch of losing close games, despite the annihilation at the hands of Seattle, and despite the hot stretch by the Angels, Texas is still in fantastic position on the season.</p>
<p>Even losing the series isn't a terribly big deal. Home field advantage counts for a lot (winning about 8% more of the time, to be exact). Despite it not seeming that way for much of the year, the Angels are probably close enough to Texas that expecting a series victory in LA would probably be a little optimistic. Getting one would have been nice, and not necessarily a big deal, but neither is losing it (shy of a sweep, which we didn't get).</p>
<p>A series loss, by the way, in which the Angels were outscored. 11-10, close, but that's kind of the point: it was close. By batted ball profile, the Rangers probably should have expected to outscore their opponents in the opener. <span>Jerome Williams</span> was annoyingly-good, but the Texas pitching started off by <span>Colby Lewis</span> was better than the still-okay four runs allowed suggests. Ground balls aren't going to beat you that often.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, game two was a frustrating loss, with the Rangers shot down by poor defense. The offense being shut down by <span>C.J. Wilson</span> made it even worse. Yet, still, it was a one-run loss. Frustrating does not mean bad.</p>
<p>Then, to avoid the sweep, the Rangers went out and got 14 hits, six walks, and the longest home run of the year. So, Texas lost the series, but actually added to the run differential in the process, and lost a whopping one game in the standings. Angels fans might be excited, but .500 against the Rangers -- which they are against the season -- is not going to win the West.</p>
<p>This is not so much to say we should all be satisfied with a lost series to the Angels, and certainly not necessarily happy. It's just that, as frustrating as the series was, there were no terrible signs, no collapses, and no reasons to panic. Texas is still in firm control of the AL West, and are still the better team.</p>
<p>Barely losing a series on the road to a good team does not change any of that.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/texas-rangers/2012/6/4/3061844/take-two-reflections-on-the-secondRobbie Griffin2012-06-03T18:01:06-05:002012-06-03T18:01:06-05:00Rangers Vs. Angels: Texas Bounces Back With 7-3 Win
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<figcaption>Jun 3, 2012; Anaheim, CA, USA; Texas Rangers starter Matt Harrison (54) delivers a pitch against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>The Texas Rangers end their four-game losing streak and avoid a sweep in Anaheim behind solid pitching from Matt Harrison and patient hitting.</p> <p>After dropping four straight games to divisional foes, the <a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Texas Rangers</a> snapped their losing streak with a 7-3 win over the <a href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Los Angeles Angels</a> this afternoon in Anaheim.</p>
<p>The Rangers, who have been playing uncharacteristically sloppy lately, needed a big win today. After Saturday night's loss, Ron Washington addressed his team, urging them to get back to playing "Ranger Baseball".</p>
<p>They did just that, as Sunday's win was an all-around solid performance, with solid pitching, defense, base-running, and plate discipline.</p>
<p><i><b>Pitching:<span> </span></b></i></p>
<p><span>Matt Harrison</span> led the way for the Rangers, putting together his third consecutive solid start. Harrison retired the first 12 batters he faced and did not allow his first hit until the fifth inning. His final line was 6 2/3 innings pitched, allowing three earned runs on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts.</p>
<p>The bullpen had a slight redemption as well. Alexi Ogando did surrender a run (that Harrison had left on) but other than that, the bullpen was near-flawless.</p>
<p><i><b>Defense:</b></i></p>
<p><i><b></b></i>Elvis Andrus has struggled in the field lately, but he was absolutely stellar on Sunday, with two spectacular plays in the field: the eighth inning backhand in the hole and another near-identical play in the third.</p>
<p>More importantly, the Rangers did not commit an error today either</p>
<p><i><b>Base-running:</b></i></p>
<p>The Rangers had two great executions on the base paths this afternoon, both of which led to runs.</p>
<p>The first was a Mitch Moreland sacrifice bunt with no outs in the sixth inning. He successfully got the bunt down and safely advanced David Murphy to third and Mike Napoli to second. Ian Kinsler then grounded out to shortstop, scoring Murphy on the play. If not for the bunt, the grounder would have been an easy double play and Murphy likely would not have scored that inning.</p>
<p>The second came in the ninth as the Rangers were looking for an insurance run. Murphy reached first on a one-out walk and Craig Gentry came in to pinch-run. Everyone in Southern California knew Gentry was looking to steal. The Angels called a pitch-out on the exact pitch Gentry chose to steal on, but were unable to throw him out. Gentry would score on the next pitch, Mike Napoli line-drive single to left-center. Gentry came in, executed his job, and the Rangers notched an insurance run as a result.</p>
<p><i><b>Plate discipline:</b></i></p>
<p>The Rangers batters were patient, forcing Dan Haren to throw 104 pitches in only five innings. Haren's final line was five innings pitched, allowing two earned runs on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts.</p>
<p>As a result, they were able to get the soft underbelly of the Angels pitching staff in the sixth and seventh innings, scoring three runs against <span>Bobby Cassevah</span>, including a monster two-run home run off the bat of Nelson Cruz. LA pitchers threw 193 total pitches Sunday, resulting in 14 hits and six walks for the Rangers.</p>
<p>Unlike hitting, which will come and go, pitching, defense, base-running, and plate discipline are all very controllable. The Rangers recent struggles have been mostly attributable to poor execution on defense. They corrected that Sunday afternoon, and also executed in the other three areas.</p>
<p>Washington's speech Saturday night obviously struck a chord with the team. The result, a 7-3 victory.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/texas-rangers/2012/6/3/3061368/rangers-vs-angels-texas-bounces-back-with-7-3-winJohn Stathas2012-06-03T14:18:46-05:002012-06-03T14:18:46-05:00AL West Standings: Texas Rangers Atop Division By 4 Games Over Angels
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<p>The Texas Rangers have been a first class organization in the American League over the last few years, and it's clear that 2012 will be another entry into that growing catalog of evidence. Even with the hundreds of millions of dollars that their rivals like the Los Angeles Angels spent on names like <span>C.J. Wilson</span> and <span>Albert Pujols</span>, the Rangers still lead the AL West by four games and that's in the midst of a four game losing streak. </p>
<p>The Angels are definitely the only contenders who will touch the Rangers, and there's still a long way to go. But Neftali Perez returns and <span>Roy Oswalt</span> should soon join the ML rotation which makes an already rich team in pitching even better. There's little reason why the Rangers shouldn't repeat as AL West champs.</p>
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<h3>AL West Standings</h3>
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<th></th> <th>W</th> <th>L</th> <th>PCT</th> <th>GB</th> <th>STRK</th>
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<td class="td-name td-first "><a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Texas</a></td>
<td>32</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>.592</td>
<td>0</td>
<td class="td-last">Lost 4</td>
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<td class="td-name td-first "><a href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Los Angeles</a></td>
<td>28</td>
<td>26</td>
<td>.518</td>
<td>4</td>
<td class="td-last">Won 2</td>
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<td class="td-name td-first "><a href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Seattle</a></td>
<td>24</td>
<td>31</td>
<td>.436</td>
<td>8.5</td>
<td class="td-last">Won 1</td>
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<td class="td-name td-first "><a href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Oakland</a></td>
<td>23</td>
<td>30</td>
<td>.433</td>
<td>8.5</td>
<td class="td-last">Won 1</td>
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<p class="updated">(updated 6.3.2012 at 3:16 PM EDT)</p>
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<p><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Read more about the Rangers at <b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><a style="color: #c82527; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" href="http://lonestarball.com/">Lone Star Ball</a></b>. Check out <b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><a style="color: #c82527; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">Baseball Nation</a></b> for additional news and notes around Major League Baseball.</i></p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/texas-rangers/2012/6/3/3061134/al-west-standings-texas-rangers-los-angeles-angelsMatt Conner2012-06-03T08:15:35-05:002012-06-03T08:15:35-05:00Rangers Vs. Angels Time, TV, Radio Info And More
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Texas Rangers</a> will attempt to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Anaheim <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a> on Sunday and escape California with most of American League West lead intact. </p>
<p>Texas has dropped a season high four straight games while the Angels are streaking having won nine of 10 and the Rangers' lead in the division is down to just 3 1/2 games.</p>
<p>Texas will give the ball to <span>Matt Harrison</span> on Sunday as the lefty is looking for his third straight win in as many starts. The Angels will counter with <span>Dan Haren</span> who is also looking for his third straight win. </p>
<p><b>Game Date/Time:</b> Sunday, June 3, 2:35 p.m. CT</p>
<p><b>Location:</b> Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, California</p>
<p><b>TV:</b> Fox Sports Southwest</p>
<p><b>Radio: </b>103.3 FM</p>
<p><b>Online Streaming:</b> MLB.tv</p>
<p><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Read more about the Rangers at <b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #c82527;" href="http://lonestarball.com/">Lone Star Ball</a></b>, and for more on the Angels head over to<a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #c82527; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.halosheaven.com/"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">Halos Heaven</b></a>. Check out <b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #c82527;" href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">Baseball Nation</a></b> for additional news and notes around Major League Baseball.</i></p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/texas-rangers/2012/6/3/3060543/rangers-vs-angels-time-tv-radio-info-and-moreKris Willis2012-06-03T06:48:29-05:002012-06-03T06:48:29-05:00Rangers Vs. Angels Final Score: Losing Streak At 4 As Texas Loses 3-2
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Texas Rangers</a>' lead in the American League West is down to just 3 1/2 games after a 3-2 loss to the the Anaheim <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a> and former teammate <span>C.J. Wilson</span> Saturday night. The Rangers have now lost four straight while the Angels have won nine of their last 10 to close the gap. </p>
<p>An error by <span>Adrian Beltre</span> gave the Angels their first run in the sixth inning. Texas came back in the seventh, tying things up on a sacrifice fly by <span>Daniel Murphy</span>. <span>Alberto Callaspo</span> put the Angels back in front with an RBI single in the seventh and <span>Kendrys Morales</span> added an insurance run with a sacrifice fly. Texas cut the lead to 3-2 in the eighth thanks to a Michael Young RBI single. The Rangers threatened again in the ninth but <span>Josh Hamilton</span> struck out with the bases loaded to end the game. </p>
<p>Nelson Cruz and Young finished with two hits each for the Rangers. Callaspo and rookie sensation <span>Mike Trout</span> finished with two each for Anaheim. </p>
<p><span>Yu Darvish</span> takes the loss after allowing five hits and three runs (2 earned) in 6 1/3 innings of work. He struck out seven while walking three. C.J. Wilson takes a no decision after shutting out his former club over six innings while allowing five hits and striking out five. <span>Bobby Cassevah</span> earns the win and <span>Ernesto Frieri</span> earns the save after working out of a bases loaded jam in the ninth. </p>
<p><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Read more about the Rangers at <b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #c82527;" href="http://lonestarball.com/">Lone Star Ball</a></b>, and for more on the Angels head over to <a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #c82527; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.halosheaven.com/"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">Halos Heaven</b></a>. Check out <b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #c82527;" href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">Baseball Nation</a></b> for additional news and notes around Major League Baseball.</i></p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/texas-rangers/2012/6/3/3060481/rangers-vs-angels-final-scoreKris Willis2012-06-02T18:31:19-05:002012-06-02T18:31:19-05:00Rangers Vs. Angels Game 2 Lineup: Craig Gentry Gets The Nod At Centerfield
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<p>With the Angels starting left-handed pitcher <span>C.J. Wilson</span>, the Rangers are countering with a mostly right-handed lineup which includes having Craig Gentry get the start at center field in place of <span>David Murphy</span>. Another change in Saturday night's lineup is having Yorvit Torrealba play catcher and Mike Napoli moving to first base replacing <span>Mitch Moreland</span>.</p>
<p><span class="sbn-auto-link">Here is the </span><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a> lineup:</p>
<p>1. <span>Ian Kinsler</span> 2B<br>2. <span>Elvis Andrus</span> SS<br>3. <span>Josh Hamilton</span> LF<br>4. <span>Adrian Beltre</span> 3B<br>5. <span>Michael Young</span> DH<br>6. Nelson Cruz RF<br>7. <span>Mike Napoli</span> 1B<br>8. <span>Yorvit Torrealba</span> C<br>9. <span>Craig Gentry</span> CF<br> <br><span class="sbn-auto-link">Here is the </span><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a> lineup:<br> <br>1. <span>Mike Trout</span> CF<br>2. <span>Alberto Callaspo</span> 3B<br>3. <span>Albert Pujols</span> 1B<br>4. Kendrys Morales DH<br>5. <span>Mark Trumbo</span> LF<br>6. <span>Torii Hunter</span> RF<br>7. <span>Howie Kendrick</span> 2B<br>8. <span>Erick Aybar</span> SS<br>9. <span>Bobby Wilson</span> C</p>
<p><i>Read more about the Rangers at <b><a href="http://lonestarball.com">Lone Star Ball</a></b>, and for more on the Angels head over to<a href="http://www.halosheaven.com/"> <b>Halos Heaven</b></a>. Check out <b><a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com">Baseball Nation</a></b> for additional news and notes around Major League Baseball. </i></p>
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https://dallas.sbnation.com/texas-rangers/2012/6/2/3059914/rangers-angels-game-2-lineupJeremy Mauss2012-06-02T08:30:54-05:002012-06-02T08:30:54-05:00Angles Vs. Rangers, Game 2: Pitching Probables, Game Time And More
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<p>For the second time this season Saturday night, Texas Rangers Japanese pitching phenom Yu Darvish will take the mound against the Anaheim Angels and their ace hurler C.J. Wilson. Darvish (7-2, 3.25 ERA) will try and help the Rangers (31-21) take Game 2 of the three-game series at Angel Stadium (<b>10:05 p.m. ET on Fox Sports Southwest</b>) and help snap a three-game losing streak.</p>
<p>On Friday, Texas lost 4-2 to the Angels which set-up the second meeting between Darvish and Wilson. On May 11, the two squared off in a rain shortened contest that featured Darvish going 5 1/3 innings allowing three runs, while Wilson giving up four runs in just 1/3 of an inning.</p>
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<h3>Next Game</h3>
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<p class="game-title"><a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Texas Rangers</a> <br> <span>@ <a href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Los Angeles Angels</a> </span></p>
<p class="game-info"><span>Saturday, Jun 2, 2012, 9:05 PM CDT</span><br> Angel Stadium of Anaheim</p>
<p class="pitchers"><span>Yu Darvish</span> vs <span>C.J. Wilson</span></p>
<p class="weather"> Clear. Winds blowing out to center field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 65.</p>
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<p class="foot clearfix"><span class="link-more"><span>Complete Coverage ></span></span></p>
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<p><i>Read more about the Texas Rangers at <a href="http://lonestarball.com">Lone Star Ball</a>, and for more on the Angels head over to<a href="http://www.halosheaven.com/"> Halos Heaven</a>. Check out <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com">Baseball Nation</a> for additional news and notes around Major League Baseball. </i></p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/texas-rangers/2012/6/2/3059001/angles-vs-rangers-2012-game-2-pitching-probables-game-time-tv-schedule-cj-wilson-yu-darvishJared E. Smith2012-06-02T08:00:37-05:002012-06-02T08:00:37-05:00Mike Trout Makes A Splash
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<p>The 20-year old outfielder, considered one of the best young players in baseball, was the difference in the Angels 4-2 victory over the Rangers on Friday night.</p> <p><i>"If [Mike Trout] is not the best player in the game by the end of this season," said the evaluator, "he will be by the end of next." -- <a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog?name=olney_buster&id=7974287&_slug_=los-angeles-angels-mike-trout-potential-baseball-best-player-mlb&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fmlb%2fblog%3fname%3dolney_buster%26id%3d7974287%26_slug_%3dlos-angeles-angels-mike-trout-potential-baseball-best-player-mlb">Buster Olney</a></i></p>
<p>You don't need to be a very serious baseball fan to recognize <span>Mike Trout's</span> talent: the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a> young outfielder is big (6'1 220), really fast and hits the ball really hard.</p>
<p>At only 20 years old, he's been putting up historic numbers in his first 130 at-bats this season: .303/.366./.521 with 5 HR's and 16 RBI's. <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/mike-trout-is-pretty-good-too/">There have been only 14 players in MLB history</a> who have matched Trout's performance so far at the age of 20; 10 are in the Hall of Fame and the 11th is <span>Alex Rodriguez</span>.</p>
<p>He showed <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a> fans what he could in the Angels 4-2 victory on Friday night.</p>
<p>First, with Texas up 2-0 and <span>Colby Lewis</span> throwing a one-hitter coming in the bottom of the 6th inning, he ripped a line-drive down right-center into a sliding triple that drove in LA's first run and just beat <span>Josh Hamilton's</span> throw. The extra base proved important, as he ended up scoring on a sacrifice fly.</p>
<p>The next inning, with the bases loaded, Trout drove in the winning runs on a bloop single to center.</p>
<p>The comparisons with <span>Bryce Harper</span>, MLB's other rookie phenom, are inevitable. For a sense of how highly the two are regarded, check out the last line of <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/mike-trout-is-pretty-good-too/">this Fangraphs article</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>If anyone is going to challenge Harper for the title of the game's best player five years from now, it's almost certainly going to be Trout.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>In the grand scheme of things, one victory in a 162 game season doesn't mean all that much, and it's far too soon to tell how much of a difference Trout's emergence will have in the AL West race. Maybe his hot start will ultimately prove to be a small sample size mirage or maybe the rest of the league will figure out a hole in his swing over the next five months.</p>
<p>However, it's always exciting to watch a young player with Hall-of-Fame level talent, regardless of what ends up happening to him in his career.</p>
<p>For now, it appears that the Rangers biggest competitor in the AL West has a five-tool center-fielder who isn't eligible for arbitration for another six years.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/texas-rangers/2012/6/2/3058622/rangers-vs-angels-mike-troutJonathan Tjarks