The "Mike Trout vs. Bryce Harper" Debate is Dead

[trojanfan12]

Trout is freakin' ridiculous. I was watching Dodgers/Angels yesterday and Vin Scully says: "Mike Trout is already arguably the best player in baseball and he won't hit his peak for about 4 more years."

That's scary.

 

[Villain]

This should never have been a debate. Trout has been better since day 1, and that's been a massive accomplishment because Harper is just plain ridiculous. To win this "contest" so convincingly is just more credit to how stupidly good at baseball Trout really is.

Those guys are unreal. I saw a funny tweet from April that said something like "I wonder how many home runs Bryce Harper will hit when he's Kris Bryant's age?" They are both freaks of nature.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

This should never have been a debate. Trout has been better since day 1, and that's been a massive accomplishment because Harper is just plain ridiculous. To win this "contest" so convincingly is just more credit to how stupidly good at baseball Trout really is.

You're declaring a "winner" between a 22 year old and a 24 year old? A lot of things could happen between now and the end of these guys' careers.

Trout got his career off to a ridiculous start and at this point has been the better of the two.

Harper's 2015 season has been better than any Trout's best season.

We'll see.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

Bump.

 

[navamind]

Major League Leaderboards » 2015 » Batters » Dashboard | FanGraphs Baseball

Harper's having a much better year offensively.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

IT'S ALIVE!!!

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

Major League Leaderboards » 2015 » Batters » Dashboard | FanGraphs Baseball

Harper's having a much better year offensively.

Offensively, Harper's having a much better year than Trout's best.

MT 2013 - .323/.432/.557/.988/179

BH 2015 - .331/.460/.627/1.086/193

 

[Villain]

I love that we have these two players in baseball.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

I love that we have these two players in baseball.

I'll drink to that.

Spoiler

 

[Villain]

If cumulative WAR is a thing (like, last year's plus this year, etc), then Harper still has a long way to go. Trout with 36.3 career WAR and Harper worth 17.8.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

If cumulative WAR is a thing

It's not.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

If cumulative WAR is a thing (like, last year's plus this year, etc), then Harper still has a long way to go. Trout with 36.3 career WAR and Harper worth 17.8.

Seriously though, there's no question that as of this point, Trout has done more.

But who knows what tomorrow will bring. These are a couple very young guys. Hell, Harper could quit baseball to sing show tunes on Broadway. Way too young to be comparing careers, in my opinion.

The fact that Harper's been better this year demonstrates that the debate is just being born - it's far from dead.

 

[Villain]

Crazy to think that Harper is still younger than most of this year's ROTY candidates, who happen to be Mike Trout's age.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

Crazy to think that Harper is still younger than most of this year's ROTY candidates, who happen to be Mike Trout's age.

Super crazy.

Harper didn't face a MLB pitcher younger than him until maybe half way into this season -- his 4th in the bigs.

 

[navamind]

By the numbers: Harper's impressive plate discipline put in historical context

 

[Montalban]

Three years in and it's not even close. Trout is smashing records from the steroids era and Bryce Harper is flipping his hair.

Harper is a fool but I'd take him on the Giants in a heartbeat.

 

[navamind]

.337/.469/.647, 201 OPS+. All NL leading stats. The gap between Harper and the 2nd highest in SLG% is pretty big (Arenado, .580). Votto's 2nd in OPS+ at 179.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

.337/.469/.647, 201 OPS+. All NL leading stats. The gap between Harper and the 2nd highest in SLG% is pretty big (Arenado, .580). Votto's 2nd in OPS+ at 179.

Historical perspective:

That 201 OPS+ ranks tied for the 51st best season of all fucking time and the highest since Bonds' steroids fueled seasons in the early aughts.

22 years old.

 

[Voltaire26]

Given a choice ... I'd take Mike Trout. I just have a better feeling about him.

 

[Villain]

Given a choice ... I'd take Mike Trout. I just have a better feeling about him.

A good feeling, huh... How good is it? And where does it come from?

*Looks up Trout's stats, sees back-to-back 10-win seasons followed up by an 8-win season and a 7-win season.

*Looks up Harper's stats, sees that this is the only season worth more than 5 wins, still may not catch either of Trouts 10-win years.