LA Angels Thursday News Crash- Game Two

Blake Snell faced off against Tony Gonsolin in game 2 of the World Series.  But the Rays won. I guess there won’t be a sweep. Meanwhile, Tony La Russa is considered a top candidate for the White Sox Manager position. His interview must have went well.

World Series Related Links

Beyond the Box Score explores “Why the Dodgers Will Win the World Series.”  Whereupon, they then explore “Why the Rays Will Win the World Series.” 

Links From Around Baseball

Every team’s most likely trade chip according to Bleacher Report, is a list containing a lot of middle infielders and a couple of pitchers.  The annual Fangraphs crowdsourcing of free agent contract projections is underway.  This ballot #2 concerns infielders. As expected, Jeff Luhnow continues to deny any wrongdoing in the matter of the Astro’s sign stealing scandal.  He seems to admit he knew about “Codebreaker” but denies he knew anything about the trash can.  He then proceeds to blame “Codebreaker” on unnamed guys from the video room.  In other news, Major League Baseball’s Ownership Committee approved Steve Cohen’s bid for the New York Mets.  Cohen will still need to get approval from New York Mayor Bill de Blasio. 

Marcus Stroman says that the Yankees don’t have any pitchers in his league other than Gerrit Cole or Luis Severino (when he’s healthy).  The Georgia authorities arrested Padres catcher Luis Campusano for driving around with 79 grams of marijuana in his car.  That is about 2.79 ounces if you are metric system challenged.  This was a felony arrest.  This season has been a very strange one for MLB umpires, as it has been for pretty much everybody else.  It’s so weird they would even welcome being booed. Maybe boo these guys a little bit at Game Two if you get a chance. Finally, former MLB umpire Derryl Cousins has died at 74 after a battle with cancer. 

Photo credit: Rex Fregosi

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gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

Angels are looking at DD Gregorious here. Meh. Simmons will probably be cheaper. Don’t hate DD, and he is a lefty so that’s nice, but we can probably just sign a solid 2B for a lot less.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

I just think, PR and GM search wise, the Angels could stand to sign a pitcher, even a reliever or innings eating arm, before spending on a SS. There will be good SS choices in January.

matthiasstephan
Super Member
3 years ago

Simba will likely be cheaper (I am still hoping to sign him back for 3/30, and use Fletcher as the starting 2B) and without the forecasted decline the Didi’s underlying numbers suggest.

I don’t know why the mainstream sports media is pushing us to go out and get another SS. If we want to bring back Simba, I think we could. If we don’t, I think it signals we are going with Fletcher – so the focus on Lindor and Didi seems like just misguided articles that don’t know the Angels well (or at all).

2002heaven
Trusted Member
3 years ago

Because SS is a mission critical position in Beisbol.
Little punching Judy’s like Gary DiSacina and Freddy Patek aren’t good enough anymore. Cal Ripken Jr and A-Rod made the big tall power hitting SS a necessity. 💪  👈 

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
3 years ago

At this point I think we have to accept that Marsh and/or Adell are traded this off season. Probably just one of them but they are really the only 2 trade pieces we have that will allow us to get anything of value.

One starter will have to come from free agency. But we need a second starter, 1-2 bullpen arms, a middle infielder, and a catcher. Tons of bullpen arms and middle infielders on the market so probably value to be had there.

Fansince1971
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

I agree that one or both are gone. Trade value on Adell has likely fallen considerably. But he and Marsh are the only ones that will bring anything in return.

AnAngelsFan
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

I doubt his value dropped at all. Teams now know he won’t be ready to start the 2021 season in the MLB, but any team that looked at his AAA stats already knew that.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  AnAngelsFan

That’s likely. He isn’t any less talented just because we had to rush him up and play him some this season. He still has a ton of prospect value, any evaluator would already have seen him as too raw after 2019 and would have just said “yep” after watching 2020. Adell’s still a beast prospect.

Greatjake
Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

I’ve been working on an early “If I were (insert GM name here)” and am contemplating which of the two is more valuable. Conventional outlets say Jo but I thought I read that internally we saw them as comparable. Would love Turks opinion on a couple of things. Are there PMs on this site?

steelgolf
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Greatjake

PMs?

Greatjake
Member
3 years ago
Reply to  steelgolf

Private Message

matthiasstephan
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Are we going to spend money on a middle IF? If we don’t bring back Simba because of the cost (to focus on pitching), then why not just go with Rengifo/Barretto/Jam Jones?

Who would we even target for 2B that would be meaningfully better at a reasonable price?

Mia
Legend
Mia
3 years ago

Man Hulu TV dropped the Fox RSNs too. Sinclair buying the channels seems to have had a bad effect on their availability.

In the choice between getting cable again, or finding illegal streams, the choice is an easy one. Hopefully things change for local fans before the season starts. Seems like the options could be limited for those in CA.

AnAngelsFan
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Mia

It doesn’t help with the RSN, but the $10 over-the-air antenna that https://www.cnet.com/news/cut-the-cord-for-10-best-indoor-tv-antenna-to-buy-in-2020/ says is the best one will let you watch the World Series.

losangel
Trusted Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Mia

I find a double play through Comcast is actually a reasonable value as opposed to buying separate streaming services. (not sure that is your provider)

For $90 you get internet and cable (+$20 for RSN and broadcast TV fees). Even if you don’t want the cable box, the cable sub allows you to authenticate through many providers apps.

I can stream all the Comcast channels through the Xfinity stream app on a Roku or LG tv. Alternatively, I can use my comcast login to get access to things like the Fox app which has been streaming the World Series in 4K, which is available on Amazon fire tv, Apple TV and Roku.

Fansince1971
Legend
3 years ago

Would love this thing to go 7 with the Rays pulling it out. It’s great baseball. These teams are really deep and fun to watch.

So Luhnow essentially admits to operation Codebreaker. And MLB continues to meaningfully punish no one. It is a stain on the game of baseball. And the fact that Luhnow, as the head of baseball operations, fails to take all responsibility, and instead blames faceless folks in the video room, is a stain on Luhnow.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

Morton vs. Buehler in game 3 would mean the same match up in game 7 which would be incredible. Tampa will have Snell vs. the bullpen advantage in game 6, too. Tomorrow night’s game is so critical.