LA Angels Tuesday News Crash: Sleaze Bags A’Poppin

Sleaze Bag Of The Day

Marcell Ozuna apparently assaulted his wife right in front of the cops.  I guess it is safe to say that he didn’t think things through in the heat of the moment. 

Meanwhile, a second sexual misconduct allegation has been leveled against Roberto Alomar.

Angels, Or Former Angels, Links

As you probably know, the Angels selected Kean Wong and designated Drew Butera for assignment. 

They did that because of Jose Iglesias going to the ten day injured list due to a left hamstring strain. 

Albert Pujols passed Babe Ruth for fourth all time in extra base hits.  It was his 670th home run. 

Links From Around Baseball

The number of pitchers on a roster will be limited again next year.  They might even lower the number below 13. 

Tomorrow is Lou Gehrig day.

The Mets shut Noah Syndergaard down for six weeks for elbow inflammation.  Also in this link, who’s to decide which pitcher’s hat to confiscate in the search for foreign substances?  

Trevor Bauer got a taste of his own medicine and now seems to have found an opponent’s celebration unacceptable

I guess it might take a while to get ready to pitch after an emergency appendectomy.

Get a load of this guy leaping over the fence to catch a foul ball well out of play.  

Photo credit: Rex Fregosi

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FungoAle
Super Member
2 years ago

Angels are playing a Giants team that has been constrained just as much as we have with over-weight veterans. Pretty damn clear to me, Farhan is kicking Perry’s ass at the FA game, pitching and run prevention. NL West is better than the AL West as well. The only common cancer is the bullpen and my money is on Farhan to make the necessary bullpen improvements well before Perry can spell Joe Maddon.

h27kim
Trusted Member
2 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

Only if Farhan were available to hire in last few years as the top baseball person to be poached from another team nearby…..

H.T. Ennis
Admin
Super Member
2 years ago

Stassi back. Quijada down. The fact that the Angels are keeping three catchers for the moment rather than just getting rid of Bemboom is…interesting. Especially since Butera cleared. Could this mean Suzuki’s days are numbered?

Twebur
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  H.T. Ennis

Had the same questions…I posted above, didn’t see yours.

Suzuki might be headed to the IL, banged up yesterday? Needed another day to sort it out, wanted Stassi catching now which is the right call…who knows, Angels.

AnAngelsFan
Super Member
2 years ago

Stumbled across an old article about the Angels’ woes that somehow still feels relevant.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1673618-how-the-angels-spent-450m-and-became-one-of-the-worst-teams-in-baseball

Twebur
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  AnAngelsFan

It’s a trAdition

Gives me the sad’s just thinking about it.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  AnAngelsFan

Angels 2013=2021

h27kim
Trusted Member
2 years ago

Angels did have the best record in MLB a year after 2013. I don’t see the current squad coming close for a few years. :/

nishiogawakun
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  AnAngelsFan

Wow, this is amazing. 8 years ago and still “too soon”.

aces666high
Trusted Member
2 years ago
Reply to  AnAngelsFan

Article is 8 years old and they’ve gotten far worse. Right now this team would kill for that bad bullpen!

Another wasted season and it’s not gonna get any better soon.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  AnAngelsFan

Same record spinning around time and again.

Arte hasn’t changed so why should the fortunes of the club?

MarineLayer
Super Member
2 years ago

Probably not going to be a popular take, but unless you bring a ball back into the field of play without going out of the field of play, I don’t think your catch should count either when it’s a foul ball or a homerun. I saw the same thing in a women’s college softball game on a homerun catch going over what looked like a 3 foot fence. On that play all you need to do is high jump over there short fence and go back as far as you want to make the catch. Very unfair the hitter in my opinion.

MarineLayer
Super Member
AnAngelsFan
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  MarineLayer

That seems like a sensible rule to prevent attempts that have a high-risk of injury.

H.T. Ennis
Admin
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  MarineLayer

Agreed.

(1) That catch was outstanding and an incredible athletic feat.
(2) I don’t think that type of catch should count as an out.

Obviously it’s harder in that softball game because that fence was not legit at all.

JackFrost
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  H.T. Ennis

That catch was amazing for several reasons, not least of which is that the ball was not in the air very long (it was not a high pop-up) and was curving/slicing away from the defender. Normally the fielder would have to momentarily take his eye off the ball in order to see the fence and jump it. Then he would have to quickly recover sight of the ball. Here the Dallas Baptist dude looks like he kept his eye on the ball the whole time, more or less guessing on his jump.

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  MarineLayer

I believe as long as your last step was on the field side of the fence, the catch should count. If you jump over and land and then catch then you’re out of play.

H.T. Ennis
Admin
Super Member
2 years ago

It’s easy to see who has been affected by football! =) I have, haha

red floyd
Legend
2 years ago

ryanfea could learn something from that high school kid….

AnAngelsFan
Super Member
2 years ago

So typical. On a make or break road trip the Angels start by dropping 2 games, then fight back by winning 2, sparking just a tiny bit of hope, but then drop the next one again. I predict they go 5-5 over the next ten just to keep hope alive but then fall apart, ending up 11-15 in June.

Trout comes back after the all-star break and the team has a mini-streak, pulling back to within 3 games behind .500. Then, of course, will come his late season slump and the team will quickly fade, only to finish the season strong with a winning record in September, thereby ensuring they once again finish in the middle-of-the-pack for draft picks without making the playoffs.

AnAngelsFan
Super Member
2 years ago

That Trevor Bauer story is awful. I’m sorry, that is not an example of Bauer being a hypocrite by complaining about player’s celebrating. That is an example of Bauer making fun of a player for using Bauer’s celebration against Kershaw.

It’s perfectly consistent to support a player’s right to celebrate while criticizing them for failed attempts at celebrating in a clever manner.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
2 years ago

Ozuna went full Osuna.

I’d love to see a platform in the next CBA that froze pay upon the arrest on a charge of hurting a woman or child. If found not guilty, back money is paid. If convicted, contract is immediately cancelled and back pay stays with the club.

matthiasstephan
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Or backpay goes in trust to the woman/kid (only in trust to keep the abuser for getting the money).

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
2 years ago

I like the trust idea. Would compensate the victim.

Turk's Teeth
Editor
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Yeah, I’d shy away from any regulations that essentially reward MLB owners for hiring talented abusers. The last thing I’m concerned about is that owners get their money back if the creeps they hire hurt their families.

Much better if the owners have to think twice about hiring assholes, and the money they risk in contracts ultimately flows back to the victims.

steelgolf
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Ozuna just showing he has a 10 cent head. He let his soon to be ex wife get to him which will now cost him millions and possibly his career. Zero maturity and self control.

halofansince1978
Super Member
2 years ago

Not sure why my original Team USA victory post has not been approved.

Correction needed…next games are today at 4pm PT and Wed 4pm PT.

halofansince1978
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Charles Sutton

Thank you for an answer.

Delete the schedule link.

Fansince1971
Legend
2 years ago

Bundy was really awful in May – his last 4 starts particularly. But I am of the opinion hat if you could sign him to a 3 year – $35 million type contract, there is upside. As a part of a pitching staff (say a #3 or #4) he is not a bad option.

halofansince1978
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

Bundy is a bust and will be DFA’ed.

Extend Ohtani before anything else.

H.T. Ennis
Admin
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

It’s typical of the way he pitches. He’s basically pitching the same as he was last year. Obviously he got super lucky last year. This year he’s getting super unlucky. Hitters are tattooing the fastball, which isn’t good.

He’s a 3.50-4.00 true ERA-type to me. If we can snag him for ~$10 mil a year, a win in my book

AnAngelsFan
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  H.T. Ennis

No. Last year he was very lucky, this year he is maybe a little unlucky. His career ERA is 4.68. I predict it will be closer to 5.00 when he retires.

He won’t get $10/mil per year in free agency next year and extensions should be cheaper.

Last edited 2 years ago by AnAngelsFan
H.T. Ennis
Admin
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  AnAngelsFan

Considering his xERA is 3.28, his ERA is 6.49, his xwOBA is .289, and his wOBA is .355, yeah I feel comfortable saying he is getting “super unlucky.”

It’s mainly the home runs, which I do not feel are replicable at all. Yeah obviously he will allow HRs because his fastball is not good, but not to this rate.

Last year he actually slightly underperformed both metrics.

AnAngelsFan
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  H.T. Ennis

But his FIP is 5.09 and his HR/9 rate (2.10) is far closer to his recent performance in 2018 (1.61), 2019 (2.15), and his career average (1.61) than it was last year (.69).

There is some luck involved, as his LOB% is 10% worse than typical, but I think his FIP is a much better picture of who he is (5~ ERA) than his xERA (4~ ERA).

Although I hope I’m wrong.

Last edited 2 years ago by AnAngelsFan
H.T. Ennis
Admin
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  AnAngelsFan

First of all, I consider nearly everything pre-2020 to be moot because he was pitching a totally different way. Throwing a ton of fastballs, which he is not right now.

Second, even given quality of contact, he is getting unlucky. That is what the xwOBA tells us. So, some of these balls are going out at an extremely high rate, which is why his FIP is bad.

But when he’s pitching the way he has post-2020, I don’t think the HR rate should nearly be this high. Especially having watched some of his starts this year, his stuff is still as good as ever.

$10M would be a steal and I would be very happy to have him for three-four years at that price.

Turk's Teeth
Editor
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  AnAngelsFan

In using FIP though, we need to recognize that that metric really emphasizes home run prevention – some might say overweights home runs in fact.

The formula is: (13*HR + 3*BB – 2*K)/IP + C

(C is a constant that helps calibrate FIP to an ERA scale.)

So if the premise is that Bundy is getting rather unlucky with homeruns, then using FIP as a heuristic doesn’t really clarify things. It simply says: Bundy is getting really hammered by the longball.

AnAngelsFan
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Turk's Teeth

Whether Bundy has gotten unlucky with HRs is the question. FIP is followed closely by xERA as the best in-season predictive measure for if a pitcher’s ERA is deserved. (PitcherList.)

As you suggest, FIP would blame Bundy for the HRs he’s given up, while xERA would say more of those were unlucky. Here, Bundy’s home run rates indicate to me he is a pitcher that gives up home runs. Thus, I think FIP is the better measure for what his ERA “should” be.

That said, apparently SIERA may be the best readily-available predictor of next season’s ERA, and that would put Bundy closer to 4.00. (PitcherList, Introducting Forecasted Run Average). I didn’t bother to calculate FRA.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  AnAngelsFan

$10 million per year basically is mid to back end rotation money nowadays. That’s why it is really nice to develop those guys and pay them $575k. But we don’t have that mindset here.

AnAngelsFan
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Garrett Richards – 1 year, $10 mil.
James Paxton – 1 year, $8.5 mil.
Alex Wood, 1 year, $3.5 mil.
Taijuan Walker, 2 year, $23 mil guaranteed ($7.67/yr).
J.A. Happ, 1 year, $8 mil.
Corey Kluber, 1 year, $11 mil.
Drew Smyly, 1 year, $11 mil.
Martin Perez, 1 year, $5mil + $6.25 club option.

I’d say $10 mil is what Bundy could hope for on a 1 year deal as a free agent. If the Angels are offering an extension with a multi-year deal, then there should be an extension and multi-year discount.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  AnAngelsFan

What’s sad is that we’ll be picking from that pile of meh year after year for the foreseeable future, hoping to pick the one guy who does well.

Based on recent trends and performance, 3 years of Bundy should come in south of $10 million.

AnAngelsFan
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

That is indeed sad.

Commander_Nate
Member
Trusted Member
2 years ago
Reply to  AnAngelsFan

Everyone here talking about extensions for Bundy…I’m just wondering if there’s such a thing as compressing a player. Angels should look into that for sure.

Last edited 2 years ago by Commander_Nate
AnAngelsFan
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Commander_Nate

Lol. Yes, there is. The Angels did that to Pujols this year. Basically, you pay them to play for another team instead.

tommyshalo
Trusted Member
2 years ago

Just received news that there were some new gangsters spotted in the bay area.
Stay safe.
comment image

Last edited 2 years ago by tommyshalo
red floyd
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  tommyshalo

I Canha tell y’where he is, Cap’n!!

comment image

Last edited 2 years ago by red floyd
Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  tommyshalo

Looks like a 1990’s “Boy Band” out looking for their long lost swagger……

WallyChuckChili
Legend
2 years ago

2 Japanese in a 90s Boy Band?

What country were you living in, in the 90s?

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend

Let’s just say that I’m not well informed on the cultural aspects of “boy bands”. 😋

There was just too many baby faces in that picture for me to take them seriously as “gangsters”.

WallyChuckChili
Legend
2 years ago

Gangsters don’t live to see their 30s.

Fansince1971
Legend
2 years ago

So, the Angels contacted me and informed that my 2021 season tickets were ready to use when the stadium goes to full capacity. I had voided my tickets for the 2021 season due to a my concerns about Covid, family health issues and a lack of desire by my clients to go to games this season (most don’t want to go near a crowd).

So I reminded the Angels that I had paused my tickets for 2021 with the agreement that my seats remained mine for 2022 with the full balance applied. They confirmed that but wanted to ‘make sure’ because I would be waiving my right to those seats for this season’s playoffs. I paused wanting to exclaim ‘Playoffs?!’ but I controlled myself and simply acknowledged I understood. Playoffs?!

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  Fansince1971

Maybe Arte is planning to televise the playoffs at the stadium hoping to at least sell food and drink.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

Yep. My 20 game plan is back in my Ballpark app. I’d really gotten to like the one month at a time pattern of the first few months. Now I’ll have to work around games I picked in February.

I highly doubt there will be many games that are actually at full capacity. The Angels suck and a decent portion of the population is still afraid to go out and mingle.

steelgolf
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

I just received an email offering half off tickets from The Angels as they are opening up to full capacity (I have a feeling they mean half off the inflated price I already paid for a game earlier this season, and that the “half off” price will be 12% higher than the price in 2019)

eyespy
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Are out of state fans allowed to go yet?

Last edited 2 years ago by eyespy
steelgolf
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  eyespy

I think by the 15th of June everything should be open in CA. Even Disneyland just opened ticket sales to out of state customers.

Jessica DeLine
Admin
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

That’s so cute that they think playoff seats will give them leverage to sell tickets.

Fansince1971
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Jessica DeLine

Yeah that’s what I thought too 😃

red floyd
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Jessica DeLine

comment image

AnAngelsFan
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

You totally should have called the agent on the fact the Angels aren’t a contender. If enough ticket holders make comments about that, maybe word will trickle up and Moreno will see that putting a playoff contender on the field will make more money than a (sub) .500 team.

Fansince1971
Legend
2 years ago

DeGrom is quietly the best pitcher in baseball. Lowered his ERA to .70 this season. He has given up 4 earned runs in 51 innings. It’s the lowest ERA through May for a starting pitcher since 1964. He opened the game with 10 pitches over 100 mph.

Last edited 2 years ago by Fansince1971
H.T. Ennis
Admin
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

Rather loudly, I would say =)

eyespy
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  H.T. Ennis

’71 is unable to hear anything over the sobs his team causes

Fansince1971
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  eyespy

True that!

halofansince1978
Super Member
2 years ago

Yesterday in Port Saint Lucie Mike Sciocia’s Team USA baseball squad defeated Nicaragua 7-1 in their opening game of the WBSC Olympics Qualifying Tournament.

Next game versus Dominican Republic on Sunday May 6th…USA USA USA!!!.

Highlights

https://twitter.com/i/status/1399563300417929221

Edit by CRS: Next games are at 4 PM today and 4 PM Wednesday

Last edited 2 years ago by Charles Sutton
GrandpaBaseball
Legend
2 years ago

I personally do not care for Albert Pujols for many reasons but mainly because he id more similar to Bonds, Clemens, and ARod than he is to Aaron or Mays.

pu

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
2 years ago

Good Morning to everyone as we made it through the first of 3 three day summer weekends.