A's, fans get rare shot to see stars
Angels' Trout, Ohtani lead MLB's best debate
Shohei Ohtani could be right. Mike Trout might have already reclaimed his long-standing place in baseball's hierarchy.
Except the verdict isn't nearly as unanimous as Ohtani described. Ohtani himself is a popular pick these days for the unofficial title of best player, a debate that will continue to play out this weekend at the Coliseum, where the A's play host to Ohtani and Trout's Los Angeles Angels.
“No matter who sees it, no matter how you slice it, I think Trout is No. 1,” Ohtani said in Japanese.
Ohtani rejected the idea that he and Trout could push each other to greater heights, intimating he was unworthy of exercising such influence over the threetime MVP.
“I feel like I'm being pulled along by him,” Ohtani said. “In reality, last year was my only good season.”
There was almost certainly an element of false modesty that is customary in his culture. Regardless, the opportunity to bestow such praise on a teammate represented a marked change for Ohtani, the pitching and hitting star, and the team that employs him.
Heading into Friday night's series opener, the A's had won three in a row and four of five on the road since snapping a nine-game losing streak. But they've also lost seven straight home games and will play
four games in three days (there's a doubleheader Saturday) against an Angels team that is 13-5 since April 24. After a threeweek run leading the AL West, the Angels enter the series a half-game behind the Astros, who needed a 10-game winning streak to catch L.A.
Offensively, the Angels are the team they were expected to be the past two seasons.
Their 164 runs are the most in the majors. Their .325 on-base percentage leads the AL and their .248 average ranks second. They're doing that with Ohtani batting .258 and Anthony Rendon .198.
“I think what's hardest is when I'm not hitting and the team is losing,” Ohtani said. “But the team is winning. I feel I'm being saved by that.”
Ohtani has alternated between looking unhittable and shaky, posting a 3-2 record with a 2.78 ERA. As a hitter, he has six homers but was batting barely .200 three weeks ago. He arrives in Oakland on a 10-for-28 tear that has raised his average to .258.
He knows the Angels are bound to slow down at some point.
“When the team is in a tough stretch, I want to be prepared to help them,” he said.
Ohtani should have more help than he did last season. He has Trout. He will have Rendon. He could also have a capable group of role players.
Which means that come October, Ohtani could have chances to praise not only Trout at his own expense but others too.