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ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Mike Trouts claim to the designation of best player in baseball is no longer fodder for debate. Remember the hot take from last season, that Bryce Harper had caught up to Trout and that they were on equal footing as the Mantle and Mays of their generation? That argument has died a slow death since Harpers torrid April. On the grand measuring stick of MLBs elite, theres Trout and theres everybody else.The impact extends beyond the field. Trouts fellow Los Angeles Angels love him because hes so humble and reliable. Fans love him because when they line up for autographs and selfies, hes on the other side of the railing, ready to oblige. Trout is cheerful and vanilla, and with the exception of a recent car accident, he never makes news. He has been dominating the game since 2012, and what do we really know about him? He roots for the Philadelphia sports teams, and hes a weather geek. Thats pretty much it.Trouts sustained but boring brand of excellence has earned him a $144.5 million contract and an endorsement deal with Subway, but its not a recipe for acclaim when the awards are dispensed in November.Baseball attributes notwithstanding, Trout stinks at crafting a Most Valuable Player narrative. Without a storyline that captivates voters, hell have difficulty winning the MVP award this season or any other year.Yes, Trout won the award in 2014, the only year the Angels have made the postseason since he entered the league, but the media-driven MVP storyline already has bitten him twice in his young career. In 2012, Trout finished second to Detroits Miguel Cabrera, who won a Triple Crown and selflessly switched positions to accommodate the newly acquired Prince Fielder. It happened again last season, when Josh Donaldson rolled into Toronto, changed the Blue Jays clubhouse culture and led the franchise to its first playoff appearance since 1993.So wholl stand in Trouts way this season? Maybe its Jose Altuve, the undersized, big-hearted engine who makes the Houston Astros go. Or it could be Mookie Betts, a dynamic breakout star whos poised to carry the leadership mantle for Boston in a post Big Papi-world. They play for contenders, whereas Trout plays for the Angels, who are doggedly trying to fend off Oakland for fourth place in the American League West.Heres the scary part: The Angels have one of baseballs weakest farm systems, and their second-best player, Albert Pujols, turns 37 in January. They also play in a stacked division against the Texas Rangers?and?Astros and an improved Seattle Mariners?team. Talk to baseball executives, and the consensus is that the Angels outlook over the next several years falls somewhere between challenging and grim.So we might be back in 2017 and 2018 discussing which player in the midst of a great year is about to relegate Mike Trout to second or third place in the MVP race.On the field, Trout is the Mickey Mantle of his day. But is he destined to be the Phil Mickelson of MVP voting?Winners get the edgeTrout isnt one to complain about the situation -- he never complains about anything -- but he said he has given it some thought.Should a player on a losing club receive the same consideration for MVP as a candidate from a winning team?A lot of people talk about that, Trout said. They say, Are you playing meaningful games or not playing meaningful games? For me, I go out there, and every game is meaningful. It doesnt matter who were playing.History confirms that MVP voters like winners. Of the 171 recipients since the Baseball Writers Association of America began handing out the award in 1931, only seven have played for teams with .500 records or worse:1952 NL -- Hank Sauer, Cubs, 77-77, fifth place out of eight teams1958 NL -- Ernie Banks, Cubs, 74-80, fifth place out of eight teams1959 NL -- Ernie Banks, Cubs, 72-82, sixth place out of eight teams1987 NL -- Andre Dawson, Cubs, 76-85, last among six teams1989 AL -- Robin Yount, Milwaukee Brewers, 81-81, fourth place out of seven teams1991 AL -- Cal Ripken Jr., Baltimore Orioles, 67-95, sixth place out of seven teams2003 AL -- Alex Rodriguez, Texas Rangers, 71-91, last among four teamsThe tilt toward contending clubs is so firmly ingrained in the baseball consciousness, even Trouts manager cant deny it. Mike Scioscia was catching for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1988 when Kirk Gibson arrived from Detroit via free agency and put his stamp on the team psyche during spring training. After reliever Jesse Orosco pranked Gibson by smearing shoe polish on the inside of his cap, Gibson bolted camp in anger. When he returned, he made it clear to his new teammates that he would not abide any juvenile pranks moving forward.Lets just say I wont be doing it again, Orosco told reporters. Thats because I dont want to read my name in the obituaries.MVP voters were smitten by the story, and Gibson emerged from a crowded field that included Darryl Strawberry, Will Clark, Andy Van Slyke and teammate Orel Hershiser. He is the only MVP winner who never made an All-Star Game in his career.Nobody impacted a team more than he did us, Scioscia said. Guys had better numbers, but we won a division and then beat the Mets in the playoffs and beat Oakland [in the World Series].If somebody separates himself with numbers -- if a guy hits 60 homers, and the next guy hits 30 -- that might carry him through a mediocre season. But all things considered, I think there has to be a certain amount of weight given to a teams performance. How much is up for debate. I definitely dont go by the old adage that a team has to win to have an MVP candidate. But I dont go purely on stats and say, This guy hit 35 home runs and the next guy hit 32, so all his numbers are better and he should be MVP.Trouts supporters contend its not his fault that pitchers Garrett Richards, Andrew Heaney, C.J. Wilson and Nick Tropeano suffered arm problems, or that the Angels second basemen rank 28th in the majors in OPS.If were in first place, this guy is literally on the top of everybodys MVP charts, Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs?said. Very rarely do you see a guy win the MVP whos on a last-place team thats 20 games out in the division. But at the same time, would they be 50 games out in the division if hes not on the team? Theres something to be said about that.A spirited debateSeveral all-time greats have fallen victim to the narrative or other novel circumstances in MVP voting. In 1942, Ted Williams finished second to New York Yankees second baseman Joe Gordon amid suspicions that a hostile Boston writer left the Splendid Splinter off his ballot. In 1962, Willie Mays hit .304 with 49 homers and a .999 OPS, only to lose out to Maury Wills, who stole a record 104 bases for the Dodgers. And in 1991, Barry Bonds finished second to Atlantas Terry Pendleton, who led the Braves from last place to first in the NL West.Pittsburgh outfielder Andrew McCutchen won the MVP award in 2013 when he led the Pirates to their first winning season and playoff appearance in 21 years. McCutchen posted better numbers in 2012 and 2014, but finished third both seasons. As a player, he could only guess at the criteria writers use to make their calls.It depends on your definition, McCutchen said. Some people think the value you bring has to do with team success. Some people might think its what you do individually. Thats the reason I won it -- because of the team.As Trout keeps plugging away in Anaheim, hes raising the debate to a new level because of a unique confluence of circumstances. Statistical analysis has advanced to the point where his advocates can make a stronger case on his behalf, even as the MVP landscape gets more crowded because of the expanded postseason field.Trout is the poster boy for wins above replacement (WAR), which has grown in popularity over the past decade. Since 2012, he leads MLB players in Baseball-Reference.com WAR at 46.7, with Robinson Cano a distant second at 32.3. He also grades out well on baserunning and defensive metrics.At the same time, as Trout plays out his season in a publicity vacuum on the West Coast, Altuve, Betts, Donaldson and Manny Machado take part in high-profile games that are perceived to be more meaningful because playoff berths are at stake.There are now 10 teams in the postseason, Steve Hirdt of the Elias Sports Bureau said. There are a lot of different stories and narratives just within those teams who had successful seasons. In the old days, when only one team finished in first place and made it to the World Series, it might have been easier to look for someone on another team. When 10 teams make it, thats a lot of competition for a guy whose team doesnt make it.Regardless of the backdrop, its a challenge to win an MVP award. Eddie Mathews, Mel Ott, Eddie Murray, Al Kaline, Dave Winfield and Tony Gwynn all sailed into Cooperstown without one.So as Mike Trout continues to exude greatness each time he takes the field, its likely these missed opportunities will have zero impact on his legacy. He receives validation every night in the form of praise from fans and his peers. But come November, MVP time, hes getting used to the role of spectator. Colorado Avalanche Store . A forerunning sled crashed into the worker Thursday at the Sanki Sliding Center. The unidentified worker broke both legs and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. Wholesale Avalanche Jerseys . The Cincinnati Reds remain perfect with their speedy rookie outfielder in the starting lineup. https://www.cheapavalanche.com/ .C. -- Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats got off to a fast start, and the Sacramento Kings were never quite able to catch up. Custom Colorado Avalanche Jerseys . Barcelona also left injured defenders Carles Puyol, Javier Mascherano and Jordi Alba out of its squad for the trip to Glasgow. That means that Marc Bartra will probably start again in the centre of the defence alongside Gerard Pique. Cheap Avalanche Jerseys . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. Sitting at home one day, Rashid Khan watched Shahid Afridi on TV. The hair, the wicket celebration, and the legspin made an immediate impression on him.I just saw Shahid Afridi on TV and learned from there, as I like the way he bowls, Rashid says. I am still trying to develop few other deliveries and working a lot on them. Hopefully when I meet him I will learn more from him.Rashid couldnt quite copy the hairstyle, but the bowling action has a definite tinge of the Afridi bustle. He runs in quickly, and whirrs his arms through his gather and delivery stride. For a moment, it looks as if he bowls off the wrong foot. But it doesnt seem to bother his rhythm, and often makes it harder for the batsmen to pick his legbreak and googly from his hand.Its possible no one has told him if his slightly unusual action is good or bad, because Rashid has only spoken to a more experienced legspinner on one occasion, a few months ago in India.So far I have only spoken with the Indian legspinner Piyush Chawla when we had a camp in India, Rashid says. I spoke to him and I have learned from him. He just told me that everything is okay. I just have to try to bowl a little bit slower.In the first ODI against Bangladesh on Sunday, Rashid didnt really slow it down. Still bowling noticeably quicker than the average legspinner, he was still Afghanistans best bowler, picking up the wickets of Mushfiqur Rahim and Sabbir Rahman with googlies.Rashids senior international career began suddenly, when he was called up last year for Afghanistans ODI series in Zimbabwe. He gave away only 3.65 runs per over in the four ODIs, picking up five wickets. In the return series in the UAE, he took six wickets at an average of 23.00.It was a huge surprise for me, getting called up to the national side in Zimbabwe, Rashid says. I talked with all the coaches, especially the Under-19 coach Dawlat Ahmadzai before leaving for Zimbabwe. He just told me, keep yourself calm and play your cricket. He said it is easier than domestic cricket and just go there and play positive. I just did that.Having performed well in the Asia Cup T20 in early 2016, Rashid was a revelation at the World T20 in India, where he finished with 11 wickets. Going back home after the tournament, he says, was a great experience, with everyone praising him for his efforts over the previous five months.My parents are now feeling so prooud for me the way I performed in the World T20 and then the Zimbabwe series, he says.dddddddddddd I am getting so much love from Nangrahar and also from the whole country. People are so keen to watch cricket, they love the players.Rashid was born in 1998 in Nangrahar, a province that is considered Afghanistan crickets powerhouse. He is sixth among seven brothers, and says he first followed his older siblings to a local ground to play tennis-ball cricket when he was around nine years old. It helped being in a cricket-steeped environment, although facilities were at a bare minimum.We had no facilities as we have today, Rashid says. Nowadays we play a lot of games. Now, Masha Allah, there are lots of academies. We have four-five grounds where we play matches, even international games as well. But still we have to improve our cricket and we have a lot of work to do and build more grounds for cricket.Rashid loves playing for Afghanistan, particularly because of how senior members of the Afghanistan team have treated him. He is especially fond of Mohammed Nabi, who was his hero growing up, and of Mohammad Shahzad, whose dancing jigs have often accompanied Rashids wickets.The senior players, especially Mohammad Shahzad, Asghar Stanikzai and Mohammad Nabi really supported me in fielding, bowling or batting, he says. My favorite player is Mohammad Nabi and I like his batting and watching him play.Shahzad is always a funny person. He bothers all the players, not only me [laughs]. But it feels great to be with him and he is a great person as we all enjoy his presence.Rashid has his eyes set on playing for his country for a long time to come. While he says the T20 format suits his style of legspin, and hopes he can get a chance to play in franchise leagues around the world, he would love to play Test cricket someday, an aim he and the rest of Afghanistan cricket are working towards.My bowling is especially for T20s as I bowl a bit quicker, he says. If I get an opportunity to play in any leagues, I am ready for it.It is a dream for everyone in our team to play Test cricket. We are working hard for it. From the board, everyone is trying and we are getting a lot of facilities to play Test cricket. Hopefully we will play Test cricket soon. ' ' '