Time for the Los Angeles Angels To Shut Down Mike Trout For The Rest Of 2021

By Jordan Long

The Los Angeles Angels’ record  stands at 57-58, 11.5 games behind the Houston Astros for 1st place in the American League West Division.  They are also 8.5 games out of the 2nd Wild Card spot.  Los Angeles is certainly going to miss the postseason for the 7th consecutive year.  They aren’t going to shut down All-Star centerfielder Mike Trout for the year but they should.

                Sohei Ohtani and Trout are the best players on the team and maybe all of MLB.  Ohtani can’t carry this team himself without Trout. Trout is always an All-Star and in the conversation to win the MVP of the American League.  This year he is hitting .333 with 8 home runs and 18 RBI’s.  The home runs are 2nd worst in his career while the RBI’s are the lowest in his career.  He appeared in 36 games which are the fewest in his career but Trout has been hurt dealing with a  calf injury. 

                The last game Trout played was on May 17th.  The Angels anticipated Trout would miss 6 to 8 weeks but it has been longer.  The Angels are still hopeful he will be back.  According to CBSSports.com, General Manager Perry Minasian said, ”My policy with any player is we go day-to-day and communicate. From our end, we will not rush him. We want him to feel good about how his calf feels and to play at his level when he does come back.”

                The calf injury seems to still bother him, otherwise Trout would have been back a long time ago.   What happens if he comes back and the calf is injured again?  He may hurt it worse to the point it of  requiring surgery. That wouldn’t do the Angels any good.  Trout is also 30 years old and still has more baseball left in him.  It is better to shut him down now.

                There is no point to bring Trout back.  Sure fans will be able to see him hit the baseball and play center field but the Angels aren’t going anywhere this year.  They are 8.5 games back in the Wild Card.  It is possible if they catch fire, they could earn a playoff spot but there are 4 teams ahead of them in the American League Wild Card Standings, Seattle, Toronto, New York, and Boston.  Boston is holding the 2^nd Wild Card spot.   They would need those teams to fall off which is not going to happen. 

                The Angels have 47 games left in the year.  Hopefully, they will do what is best for Trout. He should heal up and be ready for next year.  They anticipate Trout can help them in 2022 and beyond.