Taylor Ward Grand Slam Overshadows Baddoo Baserunning

Angels 7 Tigers 5

Fresh off getting decimated by a hot Oakland team, the Angels came back to the Big A with no momentum while the Tigers visited with all of it. The kitties came into the series having also whipped out the brooms against the Kansas City Royals and looked to continue their success against a team that had just had its back broken by three consecutive come-from-ahead losses.

Shohei Ohtani was not having any of it on Angels Reopening Night. After a wobbly first, he buckled down and made it look easy. Despite having thrown 25 pitches before recording his 3rd out, Ohtani ended up completing 6 innings with 1 run allowed (a Jonathan Schoop solo shot) on an incredibly efficient 78 pitches.

The Tigers managed to help him out by making some aggressive baserunning moves that wound up backfiring on them in a big way. Two of these situations heavily involved Michigan Left Fielder Akil Baddoo.

In the top of the second, Baddoo launched a ball to the wall and tried to head for third. A perfect relay would erase the threat.

Later, with the game 2-1 in the 7th, the Tigers had a runner on third with only 1 out. Tony Watson managed to turn this Akil Baddoo grounder into a headache for Detroit fans.

This was obviously going to be the story of a close match a young MVP candidate and Matt Manning’s excellent rookie debut until both teams decided to turn to their firemen. Or perhaps a better term would be “arsonists.”

If you blinked or showered or got a phone call anytime around the middle of the 7th inning, you might have missed the final score changing. 9 pitches after the top half of the inning changed, Taylor Ward did something he’d never done before.

Please hold your applause, because we still had to see Angel pitching that was not Ohtani for two more innings. This time, it was Mike Mayers who elected to be absolutely useless. 4 consecutive baserunners reached before he was pulled in favor of closer Raisel Iglesias. The damage was limited to an additional 2 runs, marking a substantial improvement over what we had experienced the last 3 games when feces were flung at the fan.

The Angels have now won 7 straight if you’re good at make-believe and can pretend the A’s don’t exist. They are a mere 5.5 games back plus the 3 they blew in grand, heart-breaking fashion. Tomorrow, an Alex Cobb who has had pretty poor results in his last couple starts will be on the mound against a Jose UreΓ±a who has been just as bad. Look forward to taking the over.

-Photo credit to Jeff Spigner

39 Comments
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Jerseyhalofansince82
Member
3 years ago

Taylor Ward might be turning into an everyday player. He doesn’t have a natural position so I don’t know where he would be best suited. But his versatility allows you to plug him in several different positions.

admkir
Trusted Member
3 years ago

In all the years I have been with CTPG and HH, I don’t ever recall using an F- bomb but after watching last nights game and the loses in Oakland, I have to.

Fucking bullpen

Twebur
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  admkir

Cursing masks pain….it’s science.

Commander_Nate
Member
Trusted Member
3 years ago

Every now and then, it’s nice to be reWarded for our suffering.

red floyd
Legend
3 years ago

comment image

YOUknowulovetheIE
Super Member
3 years ago

LTBU.

WallyChuckChili
Legend
3 years ago

Angels Win!comment image

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
3 years ago

bullpen wrapup, June 15-17

Conbined Cishek (6/15), Watson (6/16) and Mayers (6/17)

1/3 of an inning, 9 hits, 4 walks, 11 runs. Combined ERA 297.00

eyespy
Super Member
3 years ago

Isn’t a 300.00 ERA the thing you look for in good pitching?

What about the WHIP, it good?

Twebur
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  eyespy

That’s a perfect game in bowling…..

eyespy
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Twebur

Then, they are getting close. Go Joe!

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  eyespy

the WHIP in those outings was a tidy 39.00

Last edited 3 years ago by Eric_in_Portland
Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend

I’m asking for a friend in the Angels scouting department: so just like with ERA – the higher the number, the better……correct?

eyespy
Super Member
3 years ago

Always, everything counts in large amounts

Fansince1971
Legend
3 years ago

Holy schneikes!! I can see why Joe has so much faith in them.

Last edited 3 years ago by Fansince1971
nishiogawakun
Super Member
3 years ago

Wow, that is incredible.

JackFrost
Super Member
3 years ago

I was at the game, and when Joe brought Watson in I could not watch.

That was the time for a restroom break.

I really wish we would DFA Watson. The guy is just terrible. Even his body language stinks when he is on the mound.

And there was NO excuse for totally ignoring Baddoo on 2nd when he represented the tying run!

Just idiotic!

JackFrost
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  JackFrost

Finally, who taught him how to handle a rundown? The first thing you do is run DIRECTLY at the runner to make him commit…

You want to minimize the number of throws! Also, he threw to the 3B, you want to make him run away from home plate not towards it!

JackFrost
Super Member
3 years ago

Sickening.

eyespy
Super Member
3 years ago

What the hell is this? We demand the potgame.

tommyshalo
Trusted Member
3 years ago

Is it alright to start a rant on Maddon pulling starters early 3games in a row and really not having any good consequences or should I wait another month?(asking politely…)comment image

Fansince1971
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  tommyshalo

I just did – below

tommyshalo
Trusted Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

Syncronized comment exactly at the same time .

Fansince1971
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  tommyshalo

Totally awesome. Great minds!

Fansince1971
Legend
3 years ago

A win is a win…..or is it? Wtf is Maddon thinking? After the last three games and the bullpen making a mockery of things, why would he pull Ohtani after 78 pitches? And, if he’s going to do it, where is CRod?!!

I really don’t know what to say. I mean I’m really scratching my head. Do you think this is Joe’s way of trying to show Perry that he needs to get him better bullpen arms? Is he basically pulling a reverse Hattenberg to send a message?

What I’m watching (effective pitchers being pulled after 69 and 78 pitches in favor of a taxed and mediocre bullpen) is truly beyond my comprehension. This has got to be message sending by Joe, doesn’t it?

JackFrost
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

Totally agree Fan. It made ZERO sense to pull Ohtani last night. It was a 2-1 game and Shohei was getting BETTER, not struggling. And his pitch count was low !!

And you are right in that IF you want to argue for pulling him then that you HAVE to go with a reliable BP arm; i.e.,C-Rod.

I do really wonder what the dynamics are behind the scenes. I think you may be on to something with your theory. Maybe Joe IS saying β€œyou want to set my agenda, okay here you go” or something like that…

It is the only thing that makes sense.

Fansince1971
Legend
3 years ago

The Angels bullpen reminds me of Davis’s broadcasting ability.

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
3 years ago

Tomorrow we shall return to being average. Also, Mike Trout likes sushi but hasn’t had any really wild Japanese food.

DowningDude
Legend
3 years ago

Hey Mike … Uh uh … I had a question but I forgot. Totally would be me with interviewing mike trout on tv.

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  DowningDude

One thing we lack are haha buttons and sad buttons. A haha for you and a sad for Mia’s injury comment.

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  Rick Souddress

I think Cobb will do well and we’ll once again be at .500

Cowboy26
Legend
3 years ago

Cobb will do well*

*except for inning no. _____

Twebur
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

4

ryanfea
Super Member
3 years ago

We were playing one of the worst teams in baseball. Today WAS average

...Rev Halofan
Editor
Trusted Member
3 years ago

Nothing is easy for this team. Nothing.

Mia
Legend
Mia
3 years ago
Reply to  ...Rev Halofan

Getting injured is pretty easy for them, ngl.

John Henry Weitzel
Editor
Super Member
3 years ago

comment image

Mia
Legend
Mia
3 years ago

Still gotta make us sweat πŸ˜