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ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Mike Trouts claim to the designation of best player in baseball is no longer fodder for debate. Remember the hot take from last season, that Bryce Harper had caught up to Trout and that they were on equal footing as the Mantle and Mays of their generation? That argument has died a slow death since Harpers torrid April. On the grand measuring stick of MLBs elite, theres Trout and theres everybody else.The impact extends beyond the field. Trouts fellow Los Angeles Angels love him because hes so humble and reliable. Fans love him because when they line up for autographs and selfies, hes on the other side of the railing, ready to oblige. Trout is cheerful and vanilla, and with the exception of a recent car accident, he never makes news. He has been dominating the game since 2012, and what do we really know about him? He roots for the Philadelphia sports teams, and hes a weather geek. Thats pretty much it.Trouts sustained but boring brand of excellence has earned him a $144.5 million contract and an endorsement deal with Subway, but its not a recipe for acclaim when the awards are dispensed in November.Baseball attributes notwithstanding, Trout stinks at crafting a Most Valuable Player narrative. Without a storyline that captivates voters, hell have difficulty winning the MVP award this season or any other year.Yes, Trout won the award in 2014, the only year the Angels have made the postseason since he entered the league, but the media-driven MVP storyline already has bitten him twice in his young career. In 2012, Trout finished second to Detroits Miguel Cabrera, who won a Triple Crown and selflessly switched positions to accommodate the newly acquired Prince Fielder. It happened again last season, when Josh Donaldson rolled into Toronto, changed the Blue Jays clubhouse culture and led the franchise to its first playoff appearance since 1993.So wholl stand in Trouts way this season? Maybe its Jose Altuve, the undersized, big-hearted engine who makes the Houston Astros go. Or it could be Mookie Betts, a dynamic breakout star whos poised to carry the leadership mantle for Boston in a post Big Papi-world. They play for contenders, whereas Trout plays for the Angels, who are doggedly trying to fend off Oakland for fourth place in the American League West.Heres the scary part: The Angels have one of baseballs weakest farm systems, and their second-best player, Albert Pujols, turns 37 in January. They also play in a stacked division against the Texas Rangers?and?Astros and an improved Seattle Mariners?team. Talk to baseball executives, and the consensus is that the Angels outlook over the next several years falls somewhere between challenging and grim.So we might be back in 2017 and 2018 discussing which player in the midst of a great year is about to relegate Mike Trout to second or third place in the MVP race.On the field, Trout is the Mickey Mantle of his day. But is he destined to be the Phil Mickelson of MVP voting?Winners get the edgeTrout isnt one to complain about the situation -- he never complains about anything -- but he said he has given it some thought.Should a player on a losing club receive the same consideration for MVP as a candidate from a winning team?A lot of people talk about that, Trout said. They say, Are you playing meaningful games or not playing meaningful games? For me, I go out there, and every game is meaningful. It doesnt matter who were playing.History confirms that MVP voters like winners. Of the 171 recipients since the Baseball Writers Association of America began handing out the award in 1931, only seven have played for teams with .500 records or worse:1952 NL -- Hank Sauer, Cubs, 77-77, fifth place out of eight teams1958 NL -- Ernie Banks, Cubs, 74-80, fifth place out of eight teams1959 NL -- Ernie Banks, Cubs, 72-82, sixth place out of eight teams1987 NL -- Andre Dawson, Cubs, 76-85, last among six teams1989 AL -- Robin Yount, Milwaukee Brewers, 81-81, fourth place out of seven teams1991 AL -- Cal Ripken Jr., Baltimore Orioles, 67-95, sixth place out of seven teams2003 AL -- Alex Rodriguez, Texas Rangers, 71-91, last among four teamsThe tilt toward contending clubs is so firmly ingrained in the baseball consciousness, even Trouts manager cant deny it. Mike Scioscia was catching for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1988 when Kirk Gibson arrived from Detroit via free agency and put his stamp on the team psyche during spring training. After reliever Jesse Orosco pranked Gibson by smearing shoe polish on the inside of his cap, Gibson bolted camp in anger. When he returned, he made it clear to his new teammates that he would not abide any juvenile pranks moving forward.Lets just say I wont be doing it again, Orosco told reporters. Thats because I dont want to read my name in the obituaries.MVP voters were smitten by the story, and Gibson emerged from a crowded field that included Darryl Strawberry, Will Clark, Andy Van Slyke and teammate Orel Hershiser. He is the only MVP winner who never made an All-Star Game in his career.Nobody impacted a team more than he did us, Scioscia said. Guys had better numbers, but we won a division and then beat the Mets in the playoffs and beat Oakland [in the World Series].If somebody separates himself with numbers -- if a guy hits 60 homers, and the next guy hits 30 -- that might carry him through a mediocre season. But all things considered, I think there has to be a certain amount of weight given to a teams performance. How much is up for debate. I definitely dont go by the old adage that a team has to win to have an MVP candidate. But I dont go purely on stats and say, This guy hit 35 home runs and the next guy hit 32, so all his numbers are better and he should be MVP.Trouts supporters contend its not his fault that pitchers Garrett Richards, Andrew Heaney, C.J. Wilson and Nick Tropeano suffered arm problems, or that the Angels second basemen rank 28th in the majors in OPS.If were in first place, this guy is literally on the top of everybodys MVP charts, Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs?said. Very rarely do you see a guy win the MVP whos on a last-place team thats 20 games out in the division. But at the same time, would they be 50 games out in the division if hes not on the team? Theres something to be said about that.A spirited debateSeveral all-time greats have fallen victim to the narrative or other novel circumstances in MVP voting. In 1942, Ted Williams finished second to New York Yankees second baseman Joe Gordon amid suspicions that a hostile Boston writer left the Splendid Splinter off his ballot. In 1962, Willie Mays hit .304 with 49 homers and a .999 OPS, only to lose out to Maury Wills, who stole a record 104 bases for the Dodgers. And in 1991, Barry Bonds finished second to Atlantas Terry Pendleton, who led the Braves from last place to first in the NL West.Pittsburgh outfielder Andrew McCutchen won the MVP award in 2013 when he led the Pirates to their first winning season and playoff appearance in 21 years. McCutchen posted better numbers in 2012 and 2014, but finished third both seasons. As a player, he could only guess at the criteria writers use to make their calls.It depends on your definition, McCutchen said. Some people think the value you bring has to do with team success. Some people might think its what you do individually. Thats the reason I won it -- because of the team.As Trout keeps plugging away in Anaheim, hes raising the debate to a new level because of a unique confluence of circumstances. Statistical analysis has advanced to the point where his advocates can make a stronger case on his behalf, even as the MVP landscape gets more crowded because of the expanded postseason field.Trout is the poster boy for wins above replacement (WAR), which has grown in popularity over the past decade. Since 2012, he leads MLB players in Baseball-Reference.com WAR at 46.7, with Robinson Cano a distant second at 32.3. He also grades out well on baserunning and defensive metrics.At the same time, as Trout plays out his season in a publicity vacuum on the West Coast, Altuve, Betts, Donaldson and Manny Machado take part in high-profile games that are perceived to be more meaningful because playoff berths are at stake.There are now 10 teams in the postseason, Steve Hirdt of the Elias Sports Bureau said. There are a lot of different stories and narratives just within those teams who had successful seasons. In the old days, when only one team finished in first place and made it to the World Series, it might have been easier to look for someone on another team. When 10 teams make it, thats a lot of competition for a guy whose team doesnt make it.Regardless of the backdrop, its a challenge to win an MVP award. Eddie Mathews, Mel Ott, Eddie Murray, Al Kaline, Dave Winfield and Tony Gwynn all sailed into Cooperstown without one.So as Mike Trout continues to exude greatness each time he takes the field, its likely these missed opportunities will have zero impact on his legacy. He receives validation every night in the form of praise from fans and his peers. But come November, MVP time, hes getting used to the role of spectator. Cheap Authentic Nike Shoes Wholesale . But the quarterback hopes to stay involved in football after officially calling it quits Tuesday. "Id love to look at those opportunities as they arise," Pierce said in an interview from his Winnipeg eatery. Nike Shoes Wholesale China . The veteran safety was a starter for the Bengals from 2008-2012. He totaled 41 tackles and three interceptions while starting all but four of the 13 games he played last season. http://www.cheapshoesnike.com/ . After a replay, the winner will meet Sunderland in the quarterfinals. 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PARIS -- Paris Saint-Germain must find a way to eradicate the sloppy errors that keep resurfacing to stand any chance of winning the Champions League.Tuesdays scrappy 2-2 home draw with unheralded Ludogorets meant that PSG qualified in second place in Group A -- two points behind Arsenal, which won 4-1 away to Swiss side Basel.To guarantee top spot, PSG needed to beat a team that had not won any of its previous five group games. Instead, the French club needed an equalizer from winger Angel Di Maria in the second minute of injury time to avoid a hugely embarrassing defeat.Within moments, club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi made it clear his players are falling well short of expectations.First place was our target (and) we were first before the match, he said on beIN Sports television. Were very disappointed with the result and the quality of our performance. I was expecting more from the players.It was Al-Khelaifi who took the shock decision to fire coach Laurent Blanc in the summer, despite Blanc winning back-to-back domestic trebles. Al-Khelaifis reasoning was that Blanc fell short in Europe, with PSG going out in the quarterfinals for the fourth straight season.He replaced Blanc with Unai Emery, who guided Sevilla to three straight Europa League titles.Yet PSG is no better in attack than last season, and defending has got worse.Of course I am worried, Emery said. The team is conceding a lot of goals at the moment.Dutch forward Virgil Misidjan scored in the 15th minute and Brazilian forward Wanderson made it 2-1 in the 68th, shortly after Edinson Cavani had leveled for PSG.PSGs shortcomings at the back are too glaring for a team hoping to win Europes biggest club trophy.Following a mistake by midfielder Thiago Motta, Misidjan headed the Bulgarian league leaders in front and PSGs players were jeered off at halftime.Cavani equalized in the 61st with an overhead kick from close range after Ludogorets had failed to clear Di Marias cross from the right. It was Cavanis sixth goal of the campaign so far and the Uruguay striker appears full of confidence.The defense is not, having leaaked goals in a 3-0 loss away to Montpellier in the French league last weekend.ddddddddddddBrazil defender Marquinhos clumsily lost possession when receiving a throw-in. He turned his back on play, allowing Brazilian Jonathan Cafu to steal the ball off him and burst down the left, before pulling it back to Wanderson to finish with a low drive.PSG beat Basel 3-0 in its previous home game but it was far more difficult than the result suggested, with Basel missing several chances.This time, Ludogorets punished PSGs mistakes to secure third place -- a point above Basel -- and a spot in the Europa League.Nobody should underestimate us in the Europa League, Ludogorets midfielder Svetoslav Dyakov said.There was no excuse for the sloppiness that led to Ludogorets opener from a player of Mottas experience.The 34-year-old Italy international, who has played for Barcelona and Inter Milan, committed the most basic of errors when he failed to look up properly as he passed out from the edge of the penalty area, hoping to find winger Hatem Ben Arfa.The pass was easily intercepted and the ball quickly fed to left back Natanael, who scored when Ludogorets lost 3-1 at home to PSG in September. Natanaels curling cross from the left found Misidjans downward header.At least PSG was still creating chances.Center back Thiago Silva headed against the post in the 35th following a corner, and moments later Di Marias shot from 25 meters out drew a leaping save from goalkeeper Vladislav Stoyanov.Silva hit the woodwork again in the second half before Di Marias goal, which was set up by left back Layvin Kurzawa -- one of three substitutes introduced in the last 10 minutes.By then, Emery had left it too late.Considering the gulf in funding between the sides -- PSG has invested heavily in players since Qatari investors QSI took charge in June 2011 -- PSGs performance was way below par.There are no excuses, midfielder Blaise Matuidi said. We must be aware that we need to do better. ' ' '