It defies all logic."How is it even possible that a player c

ould launch five home runs in a series?Never mind the fact that this is the greatest player in the history of the sport; it is beyond all belief that he would see the requisite number of pitches (due to the new Addison Russell Jersey , pitchless intentional walk) after having crushed the way he did in the first few games.This guy is slugging 1.000 right here and now. That is a load of malarkey. Think about it: he has averaged a base for every single plate appearance this season aside from a lone sacrifice fly. That is across 43 plate appearances — a small sample size to be sure, but a large one for which to maintain that kind of success. Frankly, it makes zero sense to pitch to him. The man has more home runs than singles right now and is striking out less than both Andrelton Simmons and Michael Brantley. He’s whiffing at all-time lows and making elite contact at all-time highs. His hard hit rate is 50%. Brent detailed about a million other ways that this start to the season might just be the greatest we will ever see from an Angel.So why would you even bother? What could you possibly hope to gain from throwing a strike with the bases empty? How often could being in the zone really benefit you?Let’s look at his protection. “It doesn’t exist” is only a thing because managers have pitcher egos to stroke. That thinking won’t hold for long at Trout’s rate.Justin Bour, Andrelton Simmons, Albert Pujols, and Kole Calhoun are batting a combined .185/.269/.285 across 145 plate appearances. Again, that is including Calhoun! Going into the final game against the Rangers, players batting 3rd in the lineup specifically have a .143/.231/.171 slash over 39 plate appearances. If Mike Trout is on base, he will only be moved over via hit about 1/7 of the time. That is absolutely terrible.Worse still, Justin Bour and Andrelton Simmons (the only two players to bat third all year) are groundball machines so far. Before today, Bour had a groundball rate of 52.9% while Simmons was at 52%. When batting third, these players have combined for a 56.7% GB% with a .167 BABIP.And it isn’t like Trout is stealing right now. What are you, stuck in 2012?Let me ask again. WHY WOULD YOU EVER PITCH TO HIM?Bases loaded? You’re more likely for him to drive in runs via hit or walk than get out anyway. I repeat Sammy Sosa Jersey , he has more home runs than singles alone, so you’re more likely to clear the bases than not at the moment. Might as well limit the damage with a walk, especially when facing him with fewer than 2 outs. Oh, you want to pitch around him? Drew Smyly did too, with a fastball up and out of the strike zone. How foolish.Bases empty? What could it possibly hurt to put him on when you have Justin Bour behind him still trying to find himself? He can’t drive himself in if he’s on the basepaths. If there are 1 or 2 outs, there is absolutely zero excuse.Let’s get hypothetical here. If this is Trout’s new norm, the only acceptable choice for an opposing manager is to take the bat out of Trout’s hands every single time. As things currently are, it only makes sense to get to the next guy in line with minimal damage. Yes, somewhere in the vicinity of 15-20% of the time it might bite you in the butt, but that is fewer than one time per game on average. If Trout really is trending toward one of the greatest seasons ever seen, limiting him to approximately <1 run per game is a massive win for the opposition. Of course this isn’t going to happen, but it makes a lot of sense. We don’t require run expectancy figures to know that the current configuration of the lineup is possibly as bad it can get.A smart manager is going to make the move every single time the game is within a stone’s throw of winnable, short of walking themselves off. If Ohtani’s return is delayed Joe Maddon Jersey , Trout may just break the single season American League IBB record by the All Star Game. Heck. At this point, he might even be so good that all the protection in the world couldn’t justify throwing him a strike. SAN DIEGO – It is pretty clear how San Diego Padres manager Andy Green is approaching the final games of the 2018 season.The final series against the Arizona Diamondbacks is a continuing audition process for the three rookie pitchers in the Padres’ rotation.Each game features a Padres rookie going out against a Diamondback veteran.Article continues below ...On Friday night, rookie left-hander Eric Lauer held his own against Arizona veteran Patrick Corbin, and the Padres won the game 3-2 in 15 innings.Saturday night will feature Padres right-hander Jacob Nix making his ninth major league start, while Arizona goes with Zack Godley. And in Sunday’s season finale, the most seasoned of the Padres’ rookie starters, left-hander Joey Lucchesi, faces another veteran left-hander in Arizona’s Robbie Ray.The fact that the three rookies have started consecutive games on the final two weekends of the season — at Dodger Stadium and the final home weekend at Petco Park — is no coincidence.“I wanted to see them in the pressure at Dodger Stadium and again at home over the final three days of the season,” said Padres manager Andy Green. “It’s a chance to make the most of the situation.”The 22-year-old Nix, the Padres’ third-round pick in the 2015 draft, will also be seeking some redemption Saturday night.He will be facing the Diamondbacks for the second time. And the first time didn’t go very well. In fact, it was the worst outing of his eight major-league starts. On Aug. 16 at Petco Park, in his second major league start Willson Contreras Jersey , Nix gave up five runs on five hits and two walks with a strikeout in just two-thirds of an inning against Arizona. One of the hits was a three-run homer by David Peralta.His most recent start didn’t go particularly well, either. Last Saturday night at Dodger Stadium, Nix gave up six runs on six hits in just 2 1/3 innings.Overall, Nix is 2-4 on the season with a 6.81 earned run average, a .303 opponents’ batting average and a 1.88 WHIP. Nix is 2-2 in five starts at Petco Park with a 4.67 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP and a .279 opponents’ batting average. Left-handed hitters are batting .314 against Nix while right-handers are hitting .290.Godley will be making his 33rd appearance of the season for the Diamondbacks and his 32nd start. He is 14-11 with a 4.75 ERA, a .261 opponents’ batting average and a 1.46 WHIP.Godley has not won a decision in September and has lost four straight starts since Aug. 29 – the most recent defeat coming on Sunday against the Rockies although he allowed only two runs on six hits over five innings.Godley is 2-1 this season against the Padres despite a 5.24 ERA in five games (four starts). He has given up 13 earned runs in 22 1/3 innings.He is 3-4 lifetime against the Padres with a 5.40 ERA, allowing 35 runs in 58 1/3 innings over 14 games (10 starts). He is 0-3 with a 6.55 ERA during his career at Petco Park, where he has given up 16 runs in just 22 innings.Godley is 8-6 on the road this season with a 5.52 ERA in 17 starts.