Mike Trout Is Los Angeles Angels' Biggest Strength So Far In 2016

This feels like a recording on replay. The 2016 Los Angeles Angels are a team lacking pitching depth and built around center fielder Mike Trout. The Angels are below average in defense and pitching, yet they still are within striking distance of the Texas Rangers in the American League West. Even with Trout’s superhero level production, the Angels only rank 17th in MLB in runs scored. That lack of depth has kept a potential World Series contending team around .500 all season long.

The good news is that the Angels have stayed in contention thanks to Trout. Trout is the best player in world since he came up to stay in 2012. There’s not an everyday player who can even compete. This season he is having a bit of a down year for him, but it is still enough to carry the Angels.

Trout leads the everyday players of the Angels in OPS, slugging, OBP, batting average, stolen bases, walks, RBIs, home runs and runs scored. If third baseman Yunel Escobar didn’t lead the team in hits and doubles, Trout would lead the Angels in all of the meaningful offensive statistics. This kind of domination on a competitive team is unheard of in the modern era.

Trout is not completely alone. Aside from Escobar, Albert Pujols is doing his best to be his old self. He is tied with Trout at 12 home runs and is second in walks. That’s important, because Pujols provides a sense of protection for Trout in the lineup.

The Angels have added former Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum to the pitching mix and may have found a solution in left field in Rafael Ortega. Meanwhile, Trout has kept doing what he has done for the past five years. He’s trying to will his team into the playoffs where he can literally carry them to the World Series. That is the biggest strength of anyone in MLB.