Angels 2 Royals 3
Whenever the Royals and the Angels play, I always think back to the 2014 playoffs and remember how sad I was, so I root doubly hard for a fun Royals loss. In this 11th game of the season, the Halos had Dylan Bundy dealing. Bundy went 7 innings, gave up 5 hits, struck out 8, walked 2 and gave up only 2 earned runs. “But there were 3 runs on the board before he left the mound” you say… well, we had on the field a slightly different line-up than we’re familiar with so far this short season.
Max Stassi to the IL, Anthony Rendon to the IL, Justin Upton with a stiff back, Lagares to the IL, Dexter Fowler IL. So we see John Jay in the field, Suzuki behind the plate, Walsh playing right field, Mayfield is at the hot corner… different indeed.
The fun stuff?
Sho-tahni hits a 431ft, 108.9 mph exit-velo home run!!!
Other fun stuff? Mike Trout now has a 30 game on-base streak and the Angels have homered in 11 straight games to start the season.
Not so fun stuff? The Angels had more than twice as many hits as the Royals but they couldn’t capitalize, going 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position and leaving 11 stranded on base. Mike Trout certainly didn’t help. He’s been hot to start the season, but wore the Golden Sombrero (4 Ks) tonight. Ouch.
The really not fun?? Albert Pujols drew a walk to load the bases for Jared Walsh in the top of the 9th, only to have Salvador Perez pick off David Fletch at 3rd base to end the game.
Turn the frickin’ page on this one.
Fletcher made a great dirt ball read – but then it hit Walsh. Ugh. Just a bad break.
Hey, Hey… at least the Angels still managed to push 2 across the plate during a bad game. The Mets can’t even get DeGrom 2 runs if they try.
Based on what possible reason are Mayfield and Jay the call ups? Apparently, playing in Spring Training to prove oneself was a ruse.
The only possible reason Jay is up that I can imagine is that Lagares is on IL and we need a backup who “can play CF.” That doesn’t make me feel safe.
Teams can only add players from the taxi squad when they are on the road.
You mean they can’t add until the team returns home.
Thanks. I figured that out later. Tough rule.
Cheap Arte. if we had Adrian Beltre up there, the ball would have never bounced back to Perez and the run would have scored.
Me with bases loaded, down by a run and Walsh at the plate. And then…..
I blame Sosh for letting Jay hit in the 8th and I blame Billy for putting Jay on the roster
Perry/Billy. Potato/Potatoe 😉
We will win some games, we will lose some games,
We will Hit and we will Throw!
Source?
Really frustrating to lose because Mayfield and Jay were guys on the taxi squad. If those guys aren’t replaced by guys we can expect to OPS over 400 when they get back home then there is a huge issue. Get Ward/Schebler/Rengifo up ASAP. They can hit at least a bit.
Yeah kinda puzzling. Why not Rengifo instead of Mayfield and why not Ward instead of Jay? I know these baseball guys have tons more experience than me, but…
So, Maddon says (in an MLB.com article) that he chose veterans for the taxi squad so that the younger players would get more consistent reps in Arizona. A team can only take 5 players on the road, and only put in those taxi squad players while still on the road. All new rules here, still due to COVID.
So, I guess, was it wise for Maddon to fill the taxi squad with vets rather than the next best players. That is hard in hindsight, as it is hard to predict that many players hitting the IL or getting hurt at once (Stassi, Lagares, Upton, Fowler, and Rendon).
I am guessing we see more of Ward, Rengifo and possibly Schebler (unless Mayfield and Jay really step it up) when we get back home.
Maddon and the org are looking at the bigger picture. Better to have Ward, Rengifo and Schebler getting consistent ABs every day. As it is, I expect probably Schebler will be brought up since Fowler’s done for the year and Lagares is now on the 10-day IL.
At the end of the day, yesterday’s game was just bad luck. What happens if that wild pitch doesn’t hit Walsh’s nuts and bounce right back in front of home plate for Perez to pick up on a silver platter? Tie game and he’s still hitting. Possible Angels win, and we’re not even worrying about this.
I agree. I wasn’t happy seeing Jay and Mayfield in the lineup, but the taxi squad rules change that reaction. I would likely have suggested this too – it was just a lot of bad luck that we had to use the entire taxi squad. I too think we will have someone up now – instead of Jay – to replace Lagares (who is now the starting RF, right?) and then someone to take his spot as 4th OF (where we should still have room for someone on the bench, even if Walsh/Rojas are getting reps there), so hopefully Schebler (lefty bat, raked in ST), or possibly Ward/Rengifo (to cover for Rendon). One more game on the road, then we can reload.
Yeah I wasn’t aware of the taxi squad rules either. Seems strange that once Fowler was announced out for the year, they couldn’t call up a player from the alternate site, it HAD to be from the taxi squad. Well, we are still living/playing in a COVID world, I guess I understand the need for rule and roster tweaking.
Yep. It’s a logical decision to let the other guys play. After tomorrow no more Jay or Mayfield.
Bundy was the only reason this game was not over early. Jay and Mayfield AND Trout strikes out 4 times – only lose by a run?! That’s how good Bundy and the bullpen was.
Well we had some good luck and tonight was bad luck.
That’s nuts.
Walsh will get the DL…
Only if the Angels say, “He will be fine!”
Grade 11 groin strain inc if they say that.
Upon further review of the MRI, we’ve found that Walsh no longer has a bottom torso
TJGS?
The Angels can get a 2 for 1 deal with Walsh and Rendon
Uh, that would be a 4 for 2 deal. Thank You
Don’t want to put all your Marbles in one bag
Ballsy play by Perez!
Damn ball hit Walsh and bounced right in front of Salvy.
Yeah. Really bad luck.
Wasn’t completely confident with Mayfield and Jay starting but we were in this game.
Dumb Luck!
I don’t know what happened, but the ball was just right there in front on me!
Usually I have to pay for videos like that.
That is a funny video and that is a funny comment. I love warped humor.
This Gif makes me uncomfortable
Just be happy it wasn’t the splitter.
Unfortunately that ball went to Jared tonight and hit him right in the jewels