{"id":8780,"date":"2012-07-12T13:00:46","date_gmt":"2012-07-12T21:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/?p=8780"},"modified":"2022-04-13T12:19:21","modified_gmt":"2022-04-13T20:19:21","slug":"mlb-mid-season-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/mlb-mid-season-report\/","title":{"rendered":"MLB Mid Season Report"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hello Spokeo blog readers! Let us introduce you to Robb, QA Specialist for Spokeo and our resident baseball expert. \u00a0Since we’re committed to keeping you updated on all people-related news, we’re inserting some baseball news to the mix. \u00a0Welcome Robb! (For those slightly less baseball literate, we’ve linked you to all of the players bios and provided\u00a0definitions\u00a0and descriptions when\u00a0necessary.)<\/em><\/p>\n

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We are more than halfway there, by about six games. But in baseball you cannot round up.<\/p>\n

Thank you, 2012’s first half! Thank you for the best pitcher in baseball being RA Dickey<\/a><\/strong>, a stark contrast from last season when Justin Verlander<\/a><\/strong> was keeping American League (AL) bats supressed, armed with a 100 mph heater. Thank you for another Konerko<\/a><\/strong> surprise, a good looking last hurrah from Chipper<\/a><\/strong>, the Pirates and Orioles in contention, Trum-bombs<\/strong>,<\/a> Chapman’s somersaults, for proving Braun<\/a><\/strong> is for real, for getting Vernon Wells<\/a><\/strong> the off the field. But most of all thank you for putting Mike Trout<\/a>,<\/strong> who is the most beautiful baseball player I have ever seen, in his place.<\/p>\n

We have of course gotten our first taste of the spitfire that is Bryce Harper<\/a><\/strong> as well. The tandem of Harper<\/a><\/strong> and Trout<\/a><\/strong> together span the two extremes of baseball greatness. Of course both of them have demonstrated stunning ability in every facet of the game, including a flair for the dramatic. But over the course of time I think that the greatest have fit into two different molds. We will call these “George Bretts<\/a><\/strong>” and “Ken Griffey Juniors<\/a><\/strong>.”<\/p>\n

Harper<\/a><\/strong> plays like I imagine Ty Cobb<\/a><\/strong> played: flooring it. He is Kobe Bryant<\/a><\/strong>, competing for the title at all times. He swings as hard as he can, he runs as hard as he can, and he takes the highest crow hop you’ve ever seen. He has stolen home. Harper<\/a><\/strong> is a Brett<\/a><\/strong>, he plays with a ferocious intensity that is the loudest among the many remarkable things about him. He is chaos.<\/p>\n

But Trout<\/a><\/strong>… Trout is quicksilver, he is a masterpiece. He soars around the bases under total control. He is totally fluid, the essence of physical perfection. His swing is blistering, yet effortless. I watched him steal third by a mile, and pop up to go home as the throw sailed into left. As soon as he was back on his feet he was at full speed. I could only think of Griffey<\/a><\/strong> as a point of comparison.<\/p>\n

Joey Votto<\/a><\/strong> and David Wright<\/a><\/strong> are the only players in baseball with a higher WAR (wins above replacement) this season and they have played 19 and 18 more games than Trout<\/a><\/strong>, respectively. If play stopped today he would not just be Rookie of the Year. He would be a near consensus pick for MVP. He would get the vote of the sabermetricians for leading the American League in WAR and wRC+(weighted runs created), and for being the fourth most valuable defensive player in the game (as measured by UZR\/150*). He would win the American League’s batting title, and take its crown for stolen bases, to win the votes of the old school press. And he will be held in the hallowed space reserved for only the ones like him: tacked onto bedroom walls, by kids across the country.<\/p>\n

Playoff Picture As of Today<\/strong><\/p>\n

Division Winners:<\/p>\n

American League<\/strong><\/p>\n