Month: October 2016

What is the All Star Game?

The All Star Game is a game usually in August where all of the best players in baseball play on their respected league team. Each year, the All Star Game and all of its festivities are moved to a different ballpark. The fans vote exclusively online. The winner of the All Star Game gets home field advantage in the World Series. An MVP is selected after the game by fans. The night before the All Star Game is the Home Run Derby.

Derek Jeter

Derek Jeter was a shortstop who played for the Yankees from 1995 to 2014. He was born June 26, 1974, in New Jersey. He would wait outside Yankee Stadium when he was young to get autographs from his favorite players. 21 years after his birth, Jeter fulfilled his dream and made his first of 2,747 career Major League games. In his 20 year career, all of which were spent with the Yankees, Jeter hit 260 home runs, doubled 544 times, stole 358 bases, scored 1,923 runs, batted .310, and collected 3,465 hits. He has the most hits ever for a Yankee. His 3,000 hit was a home run.

In his career, Jeter collected many rewards. He has five Gold Gloves, five Silver Sluggers, Rookie of the Year in 1996, and the World Series MVP and All Star Game MVP both in 2000. He has two websites currently.

Websites

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/

http://ww.derekjeter.com/

Hank Aaron Award Winners Announced

Once a year, the Hank Aaron award is given to the baseball player who is the best hitter. 2016 saw Kris Bryant of the Cubs and David Ortiz of the Red Sox take home the award. Ortiz, in his last season, batted .315, drove in 127 RBIs, hit 38 home runs, and led the American League in doubles with 48. Bryant, in his second season, batted .292, drive in 102 RBIs, hit 39 home runs, and led the National League in runs with 121.

What is the Rookie of the Year Award?

The Rookie of the Year (ROY) Award is an award given to the best rookie in each league. A position player and a pitcher are both equally qualified to win the award. To win the award, a batter must have less than 130 plate appearances and a pitcher must have less than 50 innings pitched. The award is given once a year and to one player in each league. It is voted on by the BBWAA. Jackie Robinson is the first player to win Rookie of the Year honors.

What is the Cy Young Award?

The Cy Young Award is an award given to pitchers who are considered the best in their respected league. It is named after the great Cy Young who holds the all time Major League record for wins with 511. It is selected once a year and voted on by the BBWAA. One pitcher in each league can win it. Starting pitchers usually win the award although relievers can win it too. Roger Clemens has the most career Cy Young Awards with seven.

What is the MVP Award?

The MVP (Most Valuable Player) Award is an award given to the best player. The winner is usually a position player although pitchers can win the award. It is given at the end of the postseason. One player in each league wins it. The BBWAA votes on the winner. Barry Bonds has won the most MVP awards.

Mike Trout 2016

Mike Trout isn’t even 30 but is receiving comparisons to Mickey Mantle, Pete Rose, Barry Bonds, and Hank Aaron. We now breakdown Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Michael Nelson Trout was born August 7, 1991 in Vineland, New Jersey. He has played baseball from a young age. Now, he is known as the best player in baseball. Trout was drafted 25th overall in the 2009 draft. He would have a short stint with the Angels in 2011 before having his official rookie campaign in 2012. In 2012, he would be named the AL Rookie of the Year for hitting 30 home runs, posting a .326 batting average, and tying the league lead in stolen bases with 49. 2013 saw similar numbers for Mike.  He hit 27 homers, drove in 97 RBIs, stole 33 bases, and led the league with 110 walks. But 2014 was what brought Mike Trout into the lime light.

2014 was Mike Trout’s first MVP season. It was also the Angels best season. They won 98 games and advanced to the playoffs. Trout was a big reason of this. He hit 36 home runs, drove in an AL best 111 RBIs, scored a league leading 115 runs, doubling 39 times, and stealing 16 bases. He became the youngest player to be a unanimous MVP.  In 2015, Mike would set career highs. He hit a career best 41 home runs and drove in 90 RBIs. Although Trout’s power numbers were increasing, he base running was decreasing. From 2012 to 2015, his stolen bases decreased drastically. He went from stealing 49 bases in 2012 to stealing 11 bases in 2015. This all changed in 2016. 2016 was a great all around season for Mike Trout. His stolen bases and average were back up. In 159 games, he batted .315, hit 29 home runs, drove in 100 RBIs, scored 123 runs, collected 173 hits, and stole 30 bases. He even set an Angels franchise record by walking 116 times.

All of these great numbers have put Trout on record watch. On the day he turned 25, he had more hits than Pete Rose, more runs than Rickey Henderson, and more home runs than Barry Bonds. In his first six seasons, Trout has 175 doubles, 168 home runs, 37 triples, 143 stolen bases, 600 runs, 497 RBIs, and 477 walks. He is only 25 and has been awarded the AL MVP in 2014, the All Star game MVP in 2014 and 2015, a Silver Slugger from 2012-2015, and finished runner up to the MVP in 2012, 2013, and 2015.