Inside the Numbers: Angels Hitters Rankings

Doesn’t make the Vernon Wells trade look any better does it? There Mike Trout is, by far the best offensive player on the Angels roster, and an astounding 1st in the American League in WAR, despite not playing an inning in April. Because of who else, but the incomparable Vernon Wells. While we don’t really know how Trout would have responded had be been promoted right out of Spring training, it wouldn’t be a stretch to guess that he would have handily beat Vernon Wells’s production of 0 WAR.

Speaking of underplaying top performers, look who’s number two and ranked a stellar 13th overall in the American League: Mark Trumbo. Vernon Wells’s timely injury helped ensure he would receive steadier playing time in the outfield after the failed experiment at third, but it still hasn’t left much room for Peter Bourjos, who last year posted a gaudy 4.3 WAR and still has, according to Fangraphs, managed more WAR to date than either Kendrys Morales and Howie Kendrick. It seems that the optimal Angels line up at this point would have Trumbo at DH and Bourjos and Trout in the outfield, with Callaspo at third and Morales riding the pine.

Other interesting notes: Albert Pujols is slowly but surely bringing his season stats to respectability, though they are still on target for career lows across the board. One continuing ugly trend however — check out his his awful baserunning scores (BsR), worst in the American League! (See for yourself here).

Also, John Hester isn’t bad. And Torii Hunter continues to be a bit of an ageless wonder. Good for him.