Mike Trout was hearing it from many of his fellow All-Stars on Monday in Minnesota about not being a part of the Home Run Derby, and the guy had to pass the buck onto his manager.
Trout is one of the biggest stars in the game and, with 22 home runs on the season (fourth in MLB), he certainly has the power to challenge for the crown. So why isn’t one of the fan favorites in the Derby? Trout says you can blame Mike Scioscia for that.
Trout says Scioscia didn’t want him to participate in the Derby because the manager felt it could wear out the All-Star candidate, make him prone to injury, and possibly mess up his swing.
But that won’t stop Trouty from doing it next season.
“If I get another chance, and if I said I wanted to do it,” Trout said via the Los Angeles Times. “Scioscia would be against it, but he would support it.
“I don’t think it will mess up my swing,” Trout said.
Does the Home Run Derby mess up a player? Nobody really knows the answer to that. There is a lot of conjecture but logic would tell you it doesn’t.
As a fan of the game, it would be nice to see Trouty in the derby. As an Angels fan, it’s just as well that he’s not. Bottom line? Trout should do what he wants.
