LA Angels Monday News Crash: Hurricane Near Houston

The Angels spent the week in the Bay Area, and the weekend finished with the Halos losing two of three to the A’s. Sunday afternoon’s game ended with an A’s walk-off, despite the home plate umpire missing two very obvious strike calls. We are now done with Oakland for the year, having gone 4-6 against them, which seems like an impressive mark considering where the respective records are.

The Week Ahead

Next up is Houston, which might be the site of a hurricane soon. Stay tuned to the weather reports. The Astros are 15-13 and mired in a slump (courtesy of the San Diego Padres), but even though they are 4.5 games out of first place in the AL West, they are comfortably in second and the automatic playoff berth it entails. Monday through Wednesday feature 6:10 PM Pacific games, while Thursday’s is a getaway at 12:10 PM Pacific. The probables are as follows:

On Monday, Patrick Sandoval pitches against Framber Valdez. On Tuesday, José Suárez pitches against Cristian Javier. On Wednesday, Andrew Heaney pitches against Lance McCullers Jr. On Thursday, Griffin Canning goes against TBD, although that appears to be Brandon Bielak’s slot.

About the Halos

Anthony Rendon is good. After his slow start, he’s turned it on so even his season-long numbers make him an MVP candidate. David Adler explains why.

The Angels have designated Michael Hermosillo for assignment. He was at Long Beach.

Ramón Laureano made another incredible defensive play against the Angels that probably hadn’t been seen in a long time (if not ever). This time, it was an 8-1 putout at second base.

What is next for the Angels?

A Mike Trout rookie baseball card just sold for $3.9 million. Check those packs, kids!

The Angels and Cleveland Indians (if they are still named that in 2021) will be playing in the Little League Classic next season. It could be an opportunity to show the nation that the team is good. Or, as it is slated to occur at the end of August, it more likely will feature the Angels doing their usual late summer swoon.

Around the Bigs

Fernando Tatis Jr. is good. Hunter Pence has been designated for assignment. The Mariners traded Daniel Vogelbach to the Blue Jays. The Phillies acquired reliever Brandon Workman to fix their bullpen woes, and he promptly blew one game Saturday and nearly blew another Sunday. Jose Abreu homered in four straight ABs. A teddy bear got lasered.

Oh well. The team is last in the Majors. Looks like we cannot escape the Buttercup.

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Jessica DeLine
Admin
Super Member
4 years ago

So the Thursday game was moved to Tuesday with a double header starting at 2:05PM. Wednesday’s game time was moved up to 11:10PM. That means 3 games in 24 hours.Yikes!!

WallyChuckChili
Legend
4 years ago
Reply to  Jessica DeLine

Tuessday game 1 is 1:05pm. Wednesday’s game is am and at 10:10am.

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
4 years ago

te-te-te-te-ten??!???! a.m.??!!!??! wow.

Jessica DeLine
Admin
Super Member
4 years ago

right. My bad..
It’s still 3 games in about 24 hours and 4 games total in 43 hours.

Last edited 4 years ago by Jessica DeLine
hockey_duckie
Member
4 years ago

No game today as it’s postponed due to a storm. Doubleheader tomorrow.

Plus side, we don’t lose today! Yay!

Jessica DeLine
Admin
Super Member
4 years ago
Reply to  hockey_duckie

They are moving Thursdays game to Tuesday. There is still a game today.

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
4 years ago
Reply to  Jessica DeLine

I find this confusing.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
4 years ago

I don’t get MLB’s fascination with playing true home series this season. The series against Oakland (air quality) and Houston (hurricanes) could easily have been flipped around. No fans would be inconvenienced, players would hate been safer. And in these cases series later on could have been changed.

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend

Get back in there and sell. SELL, SELL, SELL!

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
4 years ago

What is there to sell? Goodwin heads the list IMO, followed by the rentals in Castro and Simba.

Charles Sutton
Editor
Super Member
4 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Apparently Bundy is marketable, although there is no word on what kind of offers are being made. https://crashingthepearlygates.com/2020/08/24/angels-receiving-trade-interest-in-dylan-bundy-as-deadline-approaches/

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

I’d sell on Bundy, Simba, Buttrey, Castro, Goodwin. I’d sell Fletcher only in a lopsided deal for us.

Fansince1971
Legend
4 years ago

Can’t help but wonder if some of Trout’s struggles are due to wanting to be home and missing his young family. That can definitely affect focus particularly if he wasn’t all-in on this short season to begin with.

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  Fansince1971

Well, he’s getting paid a metric shit-ton of money. If his head and heart aren’t in it, forego the paycheck and opt-out.

Personally, I think he’s just having a down year. Even Mantle and Babe had challenging seasons. Keep in mind that their “down years” were still better than nearly everyone else playing the game.

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
4 years ago

hardly a down year, more like a down week

Fansince1971
Legend
4 years ago

There’s a difference between being focused and being FOCUSED. in the past Trout has been able to stay laser focused on baseball. I’m guessing he has more on his mind this week being away from home. I’m going to guess his home stats end up being much better than his away stats for the rest of the year.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
4 years ago

Nice article on Rendon. I was talking to my dad yesterday about his season turnaround.

Other than that, it would be nice to be a thorn in Houston’s side if possible, at least knock them down a seed or two in the playoffs and/or bean a cheater or two. Something.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
4 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Not worth a draft pick slot, but on the other hand……….Weird not to see Trouty numbers for Trouty but for Rendon, hopefully

Trouty will turn it on now and just say the heck with the walk and start hitting the ball and get to hitting .320 and raise

his OBP that way. The Fletcher and Noodles combo up top has given Mike plenty of RBI opps. Now time to cash in.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
4 years ago

Trouty Card worth more than a Mickey Mantle or Honus Wagner card, go figure. @ $3.9 million that is a chunk of change.

In the past Baseball Cards were like a fine Scotch and the value raised through some time, but Trouty is still playing.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
4 years ago

l hope that l am wrong, but l see this Covid – 19 mess continuing into June of 2021 before not only a vaccine is ready

but also before the vaccine is produced and available to the General public. There are 335 million people in the US

currently (est.) and the government has ordered 100 million doses up until now, do the math. Government, Military,

first responders, front line workers, hospital staffs all go first. Major Leagues sports Stars and families are not high priority. .

Jessica DeLine
Admin
Super Member
4 years ago

We’ll probably see treatments before a vaccine and with VERY good treatments, maybe we see things get back to normal again even without a vaccine.

Charles Sutton
Editor
Super Member
4 years ago
Reply to  Jessica DeLine

Hospitals are probably throwing everything at it but the kitchen sink, at least among FDA approved antiviral meds. Sooner or later something will dent the curve.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
4 years ago
Reply to  Jessica DeLine

I realize everybody has the right to set their own comfort level but this is mine: get a good treatment and I’ll go back to a pretty normal life. Pretty normal, still avoiding contact with some loved ones and rocking a mask in most places, but actually going to those places.

Rahul Setty
Admin
Trusted Member
4 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Physically going into the office for almost four months now has desensitized me to seeing other people, but it’s still concerning when going to high-foot traffic areas in confined spaces and seeing noncompliance with mask wearing.

losangel
Trusted Member
4 years ago

If you’re under 45, the risk is really, really low. Let’s not throw out a 1 sized fits all solution given what the data is telling us. Tons of infections hitting the teams now, the players seem to be doing just fine recovering, just like they would from the flu. Sure, some have had a rougher time than others. CV-19 isn’t a bad as we were lead to believe for most people, unfortunately we’re slow to wake up to this news.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
4 years ago

Offing JUp’s contract or even a portion paid by us is not going to happen with all the teams cash starved right now. The
Angels do not want to trade Fletcher and LaStella and Goodwin will net very little. There is simply no value in the pen and while Heaney is being inquired about the offers are bargain basement. Add to it lame duck status of Billy Boy and there is little chance that the Angels stand to acquire a young arm the will mature in the next few years.

nishiogawakun
Super Member
4 years ago

The good news is that cash flow should be more or less tough for everyone. I don’t know what the answer is, but the most excellent leaders often capitalize on hard luck situations or a “down” market and end up pulling ahead of the pack because of it. Now…where can we find some leaders like that?

rez2405
Trusted Member
4 years ago

The pessimist says last in the majors

The optimist says first in the draft! (Re: tank pic)

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
4 years ago
Reply to  rez2405

l like that, going to chase a draft choice is a positive thing? OK l’m in. Leiter seems doable at least.

WallyChuckChili
Legend
4 years ago

Call me Crazy and Rich but, Kinna is making this “wise man say” that this Butterccup song is not so annoying when she sings it.

Jessica DeLine
Admin
Super Member
4 years ago

I was going to say she makes it almost sound enjoyable to be buttercupped

Rahul Setty
Admin
Trusted Member
4 years ago
Reply to  Jessica DeLine

It is a good song, we dislike it because it’s too real. 😅