The Mike Trout Effect on the Angels

Mike Trout’s big league numbers, with the exception of his home-to-first times, are not off-the-charts — he entered Tuesday night’s game against the Seattle Mariners with a .241 average, five home runs and 14 runs batted in in 27 games.

But there is one statistic that is eye-popping: The Angels are 18-4 in games the 20-year-old outfielder has started.

“That’s just part of the Lore of Trout—or the Lure of Trout?” outfielder Vernon Wells joked after Monday night’s win over Seattle, pun intended.

Trout is a dynamic two-way player, a 20-year-old with speed, power, plate discipline and excellent defensive instincts, and he has injected some much-needed life into an offense that has averaged 6.6 runs, more than two runs above its season average, over the past 16 games.

Since being recalled from double-A Arkansas for the second time on Aug. 19, Trout is hitting .325 (13 for 40) with four homers, 11 runs and eight RBIs in 13 games.

India dressing room: rain delay fly-on-the-wall

India's latest call-up warms up for action at the Rose Bowl

Behind-the-scenes in the Indian rooms at a rainy Rosebowl…

“Right then you guys,” said Duncan Fletcher. “How about we use this rain delay for a bit of work in the gym?”

He bounced a rugby ball eagerly on the floor and mimed some forward presses.

“That is a most splendid idea, Mr Duncan,” said MS Dhoni. “And thank you so much for bringing it to our attention. Very much the sort of radical ‘out of your box’ thinking that we are keen to hear from you.”

Fletcher looked pleased. “I thought we could start with a really good run around and then I could whack some balls about for everyone to chase and –”

MS held up his hand, smiling benevolently.

“As I say, Mr Duncan, a wonderful suggestion but I think it would be best if we all had a bit of discussion and got back to you with our findings.”

Politely but meaningfully, MS nodded towards the dressing room door. Fletcher trudged out sadly. He took a picture of Ashley Giles and Geraint Jones fooling around with the slip cradle out of his pocket and sighed. Fletcher shut the door behind him.

Parthiv Patel woke up with a start.

“Is that the pizza man? You better not have had my pizzas, you greedy sods. I’ve had nothing since lunch,” said Parthiv.

“It’s okay man, relax,” said Suresh Raina. “It’s just that old guy who tells the scary stories about packs of fast bowlers. He’s harmless enough.”

“Oh thank goodness,” said Parthiv. “I thought I’d missed my pizza.” He went back to sleep on top of a pile of bandages.

“Well then boys,” said MS. “Shall we give this ‘gymnasium’ business a go, then? Rahul swears by it, apparently.”

Praveen Kumar stood up. He picked up a niggle.

“On second thoughts,” said Dhoni. “I don’t think we can afford any more injuries. I’ll tell Fletcher he’ll have to come up with something else.”

Telegraph interview: UFC signee Alistair Overeem on fighting Brock Lesnar on Dec 30

Alistair Overeem spoke to Telegraph Sport shortly after it was announced that he has signed with the UFC, and will face Brock Lesnar in Las Vegas on Dec 30. He was offered his first fight in the UFC against the winner of Cain Velasquez (UFC heavyweight champion) v Junior Dos Santos, but turned that down as he wanted to get into action sooner.

GAD: A very exciting announcement that you have signed for the UFC. The world over, MMA fans are excited for this. You must be too?

Alistair Overeem: I am as well. My team is excited, the UFC is excited. It’s a great development. And yeah what can I say? I’m all pumped up.

GAD: It’s come in the week that it’s been announced UFC has signed a 7 year deal with the FOX Network, taking the UFC brand on to mainstream television. It must be fantastic to be involved at a time when the heavyweights are being put on the main frame in the sporting world?

AO: Very exciting time. It couldn’t have been better timing, and for me it’s the logical next step. Not fighting in Strikeforce anymore, Japan was quiet, one of my goals was to become world champion and I already achieved that goal in K1. The UFC has always been regarded as the highest belt out there so for me it’s the next step and yeah it’s just a great time.

GAD: Have there been talks ongoing for a long time behind the scenes?

AO: There have been talks for the last couple of weeks and of course there was a little beef going on. There were all the differences, over when they could start negotiations. I heard the last couple of weeks there were talks. I didn’t really worry about myself but I did worry about my team-mates because of the beef. My future wasn’t really a major concern because I have a good record, and I am a world champion. But the deal came and today’s the big day.

GAD: When you came into the UFC office [in Las Vegas] was the deal already signed?

AO: It was finalised but not yet signed.

GAD: Ok, so you’ve come in today and its been finalised. Did you know before today that Brock Lesnar would be the first opponent?

AO: Ummm… well, yeah we wanted to do it. So that would be the first fight.

GAD: It’s a great fight for you to start in the UFC against Brock Lesnar who has become a great star in the UFC and who has achieved great things already, but he has holes in his game. I’m sure you feel you must be able to exploit them ?

AO: Definitely. I think Brock is an excellent wrestler but I see myself as better rounded, a better striker, but that’s the sport. It can go either way. I’m not sure I would still be standing if Brock hits me clean on the chin.

GAD: But obviously you’re not gonna let him?

AO: That’s the thing with the sport… it can go either way. The thing with Brock is that he’s an unpredictable, strong explosive guy. It’s exciting. I’m really excited about it.

GAD: In some ways, you were the missing piece in the jigsaw puzzle for the UFC in the heavyweight landscape. Now they have the strongest heavyweight group. Could we now end up – finally – with a European heavyweight champion in the UFC ?

AO: That’s quite exciting, right ? And I was even born in England. I have, like, British nationality.

GAD: Where will you go from here? The fight is at the end of the year. Will you go straight into training camp in a couple of weeks?

AO: Well, I’m already keeping my shape up. I’ve got some sparring partners with me. I’m going to head to Tokyo after this to do a television tour, so there’s going to be breaking news there as well. After that I’ll be heading back home and then get into my 100% training schedule.

GAD: Did you always feel this would come about ? Did you think ‘I’m going to end up in up in the UFC’ ?

AO: I did see the UFC as a place that I was going to end up in. But of course you never know. You could injure yourself, you could get hit by a truck. That is one of the things I have seen in my career, in my experience that a lot of things can change in the fight scene. But I did see it coming. I thought I would end up in the UFC eventually….

GAD: Finally, there’s another major heavyweight fight coming up on FOX on November 12 between Cain and Junior. Can you give your analysis on that fight and how you’d pick in that contest?

AO: It’s going to be a very exciting fight. Two fighters who are well-rounded, who have excellent striking. They both come from two excellent camps. It could go either way. It’s hard to say. They’re well rounded, evenly-matched. For me, it’s 50/50. I have no gut feeling on who the winner will be.

Chris Leben v Mark Munoz: UFC expecting sell-out

The UFC announced yesterday that tickets for the Saturday, November 5 event at the LG Arena, Birmingham, are on sale. It is expected to be a sell-out, with the mixed martial arts fighting organisation returning to British shores for the first time in a year.

UFC UK President Marshall Zelaznik told The Daily Telegraph: “It’s great to have an event in the UK again. At one point it looked like venue dates and TV dates just wouldn’t line up for us, so we’re very happy that tickets for UFC 138 go on sale this week.

“Yes, we are expecting a sell-out. We’ve sold out all our events in England, the UFC is the biggest indoor sporting event in the UK with us breaking records in the biggest arenas all over the British Isles. There’s some great fights up and down the card, from the historic main event – a five rounder with Chris Leben and Mark Munoz, right down to some new British talent getting their shot at fighting in the UFC.

“I know a lot of fans are very excited to see what Brad Pickett can do in the UFC. Along with Mike Bisping, he’s probably the Brit closest to a world title shot right now, but he’s fighting a real talent in Renan Barao, who has the longest unbeaten record in the entire sport.

“For the sport to keep growing in the UFC, we need to developing British talent and we are always looking for the next Mike Bisping, Dan Hardy or Ross Pearson.”

NBA, players union meeting Wednesday

 

NBA Commissioner David Stern and union representatives including Lakers guard Derek Fisher are scheduled to attend another bargaining session Wednesday in New York in an effort to end the two-month-old lockout, sources reported Tuesday.

The parties met last week for the second time since the lockout took effect. The players have agreed to accept a smaller percentage of league income but have balked at the league's proposed $2-billion total salary cap after earning $2.15 billion last season.

The scheduled opening of training camp is the first week of October.

Both sides continued to be reluctant to assess the tone of the talks despite some reports that there was momentum to strike a deal. Stern told reporters after last week's meeting that there was "clearly enough time" to save regular-season games that are set to begin Nov. 1.

"I could see it going either way," former MVP guard Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns told the Canadian Press on Tuesday. "It looks like right now we probably won't start on time.

"Hopefully, as we start to get into the time of year where everyone is missing basketball, we can start to concede on some points that each other are looking for and find a middle ground. That would be the best of both worlds."

Wednesday's meeting could spawn follow-up sessions later this week, sources have reported to Associated Press.

ALSO:

USC falls out of AP top 25 rankings

Quarterback controversies still the rage at UCLA and in L.A.

UCLA's Kip Smith has kicker's job, with caveats

--Lance Pugmire

Twitter.com/latimespugmire

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

 Photo: David Stern. Credit: Neilson Barnard / Getty Images.

 

UCLA football: Brandon Willis enrolls, hopes for NCAA waiver

Brandon Willis, the well-traveled defensive tackle, has enrolled at UCLA and will be able to practice starting today.

The last step in his return was the repayment of a student loan from his previous time at UCLA, according to a person in the program not authorized to speak on the matter.

Willis originally signed to play at North Carolina in 2010. He transferred from North Carolina to UCLA in the summer of 2010, but left UCLA this past spring and enrolled at North Carolina.

UCLA is requesting a waiver from the NCAA that would allow Willis to play this season. Willis can practice with the team while the waiver process is in progress. If it is denied, he will have to sit out another year.

RELATED:

USC falls out of AP top 25 rankings

Quarterback controversies still the rage at UCLA and in L.A.

UCLA's Kip Smith has kicker's job, with caveats

-- Chris Foster

Angels minor leaguer Ercilio De La Cruz fails drug test, is suspended

Outfielder Ercilio De La Cruz, who helped lead the Angels' Dominican Summer League team to a  championship this season, has been given a 50-game suspension after testing positive for an elevated testosterone/epitestosterone ratio in violation of baseball's minor league drug prevention and treatment program.

De La Cruz, an 18-year-old switch-hitter from Santo Domingo, hit .231 in 47 games, scoring 30 runs and stealing 13 bases in 19 tries. He's a .226 lifetime hitter in two minor league seasons, both in the Dominican.

De La Cruz will serve his penalty at the start of next season.

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Angels call up Alexi Amarista, Gil Velazquez from Salt Lake

Angels right hander Garrett Richards moves to bullpen

Angels' victory is a thing of beauty for Dan Haren

Bill Dwyre: Angels are warming to September task

-- Kevin Baxter