Trout slumping amid deep counts

ARLINGTON -- Mike Trout works a lot of deep counts, and that's generally a good trait. It's indicative of his discipline, selectiveness and overall comfort hitting with two strikes. But it's also dangerous, and sometimes, even for a hitter of Trout's caliber, it can lead to slumps.

The Angels' center fielder is in the midst of one now.

Trout entered Sunday's series finale against the Rangers on an 0-for-16 drought that includes seven strikeouts and has dropped his batting average to .289, and Angels manager Mike Scioscia believes it's a product of being "a little passive."

Consider …

• Heading into Sunday, 283 players have put the first pitch in play more often than Trout, who's tied for 11th in the Majors in overall plate appearances.

• Trout has hit with two strikes 308 times, third most in the Majors.

• Trout is a .221 hitter with two strikes this season, which is still 44 points higher than the Major League average but is still low because, you know, hitting with two strikes is hard. For his career, he's a .345 hitter with a .575 slugging percentage on the first pitch.

Asked about hitting more first pitches after going 1-for-3 with a walk in Sunday's 3-1 loss, Trout said: "There are some times when I'll go up there swinging, but I get too big sometimes and get myself out. I'd rather see some pitches."