Much of what the Angels did this offseason to boost the offense (signing Albert Pujols, imagining Mark Trumbo at 3B) did so to the point of not necessarily needing outfielder Mike Trout for 162 games. To season him in the minor leagues for at least part of 2012 is not the worst thing in the world for the Angels. In this video shot before the season began, I go over the many reasons why the team is starting the 2012 season with Trout at Salt Lake City.

In his first five games as a Salt Lake Bee this season, Trout is 10 for 20 with a .700 Slugging Percentage and a 1.242 OPS (On-Base Percentage Plus Slugging). He hit his first homerun of the season Monday night in Reno and has already stolen 2 bases. What keeps him off the team n 2012 may be the blessing that keeps him on the team in 2017, so don't discount the ticking clock that is the "Super-Two" governing rule of everything related to ticking contract clocks of young superstars in the making.