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This has been a major story since the All Star break. It all began when MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred made some strange comments to USA Today:
‘Mike has made decisions on what he wants to do, doesn’t want to do, how he wants to spend his free time or not spend his free time,’ Manfred said in the hours before MLB’s All-Star Game at Nationals Park. ‘I think we could help him make his brand very big.
‘But he has to make a decision to engage. It takes time and effort.’”
The context of that quote is not immediately clear, but what most people gathered from it was that baseball’s commissioner believes the game’s best player is not putting enough effort into expanding The Brand.
This is, of course, completely silly, and many people have not shied away from saying so. The Angels even issued a statement on the matter:
Today, the #Angels released the following statement on OF Mike Trout: pic.twitter.com/xFLURtZ4bT
— Angels (@Angels) July 18, 2018
The fact if the matter is this: it is not the responsibility of Mike Trout to turn into a free propaganda machine for Major League Baseball. Mike Trount contributes to the Baseball, The Brand simply by being a generational talent and the best baseball player in the world. If he wants to continuing doing that, he is allowed to, encouraged to, in fact. Luckily, that seems that is exactly what he plans to do:
Statement from Mike Trout: pic.twitter.com/qM7h2SXoPB
— Angels (@Angels) July 19, 2018
Of course, this could all just be s clever ploy by Manfred to get people talking about baseball and Mike Trout, which in that case Manfred is a genius.
Baseball is back in full after its mid-season break. It should be fun.
A few things...
Admittedly on the fence at the trade deadline, Mozeliak and staff have talked Through a variety of strategies. Tanking is “inconceivable” but tinkering? They would have to be wowed to trade pitching — but they’re not closing that door. #stlcards #cardinals https://t.co/eZsDmlG4Go
— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) July 20, 2018
The Easiest and Hardest Rest-of-Season Schedules https://t.co/DXybHIxdEW
— FanGraphs Baseball (@fangraphs) July 20, 2018
No. 43: McGwire’s 5th inning, two-run homer off Padres reliever Brian Boehringer tied Johnny Mize’s 58-year-old franchise record for HRs in a season. Big Mac finished the game 4 for 4 (his 8th career four-hit game) as the #STLCards won 13-1 at Qualcomm Stadium. #BigMacFlashback pic.twitter.com/ec3PQQ2Ijx
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) July 20, 2018
Random stat of the day... Teams swinging at the Highest % of pitches out of the zone. pic.twitter.com/3fijYA3KhQ
— Daren Willman (@darenw) July 20, 2018
You might have noticed the format of today’s post is a little different. It is because today’s Hunt and Peck is brought to you from the middle of nowhere! The full, comprehensive H&P will be back next week!
As always, tweet and email me links @lil_scooter93 or at lil_scooter93 AT msn DOT COM!