There’s a chance that in ten years, we look back on this weekend as incredibly fortuitous, that Rich Waltz’s Angels career overlapped with the multi-All-Star one of Brandon Marsh.
Of course, the big story of the weekend is that Marsh has been called up. He went hitless in his debut, courtesy of a Joe West strike zone and a nice defensive play by Ty France, but there’s a chance we could see him in the leadoff spot eventually.
The Athletic’s Sam Blum recounts the losses that Marsh has suffered thus far in 2021.
“His family brought the ashes of Marsh’s father and held the urn throughout the afternoon. His other best friend, Dillon Vann, fulfilled a promise that he and Cardiello had made to Marsh — that they’d be at his debut no matter where it was. Vann brought Cardiello’s football jersey as a way to fulfill the promise.”
https://theathletic.com/2714670/2021/07/18/months-after-losing-his-father-and-then-his-best-friend-angels-top-prospect-brandon-marsh-has-meaningful-mlb-debut/
David Fletcher’s hit streak snapped.
Blum, as promised, is asking the hard-hitting questions. We’ve all been wondering why the Angels have a ton of injuries and always seem to misrepresent the timeline of when players will return. Blum wrote an article on that very question.
“Biology,” Maddon said Saturday when asked why the team’s injury projections have often been incorrect. “You have to wait until the guys are up. That’s why it’s hard to say. I try to give you guys as much of an idea of when I think they’re going to be ready. But I always indicate that to give you an exact finish line is difficult. And things happen, where it’s not as quick as you thought.”
https://theathletic.com/2713275/2021/07/18/why-have-the-angels-been-so-off-on-projecting-injury-timelines-this-season/
Keith Law has somewhat favorable things to say about the recent draft in which the Angels selected 20 pitchers.
Mike Trout will at least travel to Oakland.
Shohei Ohtani donated his Home Run Derby appearance prize winnings to Angels support staff. He hit homer #34 Sunday afternoon.
Fangraphs examines how Shohei Ohtani has been used this year and the value that such usage provides. Alternate Title: “If the Angels Make the Playoffs, Joe Maddon is My AL Manager of the Year.”
Around Baseball
A scary moment occurred Saturday in Washington D.C. when gunshots broke out from just outside the stadium during the game. Wil Myers, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Manny Machado played an instrumental role in ushering fans to safety. Dave Martinez also thought of his fellow humans in the critical time of need.
A Yankees fan threw a ball during a game and hit Alex Verdugo. That fan has been rightfully banned for life from MLB parks.
Tim Locastro, who quickly endeared himself to Yankees fans by using his speed to excite, has torn his ACL. The Yankees nightmare season continues.
There will be an all-female broadcast tomorrow.
The Mets are gonna Met. They also won this game.
With Dillon Peters traded away are we Sellers?
https://twitter.com/JeffFletcherOCR/status/1417219798467956738?s=20
Suzuki and Mayfield why not?
Something changed. Over the weekend, Soggy Joe said he was going to have Stassi catch Ohtani on Monday. Maybe Ohtani changed his mind on who he wanted to catch him?
https://twitter.com/LAAngelsPR/status/1417217816592207874?s=20
Is Peters really worse than Claudio?
I doubt even the Pirates would trade cash considerations for Claudio, though
True, but The Angels could jettison Claudio far away from the team and try peters, or frankly, anyone else in his place.
yes but how will arte get his $$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$s? Like he is now, having promo give- away, and less food and beverage choices so he can rake in the mark up on hot dogs, sodas, beer, popcorn, and peanuts. They don’t even have the soft serve ice cream sundae in a helmet right now.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Mr. Moreno with the biz sav. Breaking up them give aways into multiple games creating a his very own supply and demand model.
I bet he keep some thousands of the give aways to sell on his own. 28,000 pieces total for a stadium that hold nearly 50,000.
I wonder if people are holding signs that say, “1st 14,000 fans, WTF?” But Arte won’t let it on air
Cause they want people to buy those “Dippin’ Dots” which are the biggest food (if you can call it food) rip-off in the history of the Western World.
No Helmet Sundays means the kids go for “Dippin’ Dots.” Lmao.
Exactly what happened. And yes, they are an air filled rip off.
Having options are worth at least $1.95
Diddlin’ is an Eppler guy. Still, yeah, he’s better than Claudio. 4.35 for SLC.
Cishek’s whip for the Angels this year: 1.452
Diddlin’ for SLC: 1.452 (!)
Claudio: 1.546
other exciting numbers
Mayers: 1.454
Slegers: 1.901 (wow)
Q: 1.814
https://twitter.com/jimcallisMLB/status/1417196771206483971
we know Trout has tweeted airplanes and Oakland. If he’s activated he plays CF. Marsh? Would he go to RF? Be sent back down? Joe said “blah blah blah” so I assume the opposite.
I would think they want to see Marsh, evaluate what they have, pulled the trigger on bringing him up….less Ward and Goose. Eventually, if and when Trout and Upton play again, less Gold Glove too, depending on how Marsh does.
https://twitter.com/JeffFletcherOCR/status/1416936102548578306?s=20
This is also pure speculation, but Marsh playing decently through 10-or-so games could also make Adell more available at the deadline.
so every Adell HR brings us closer to decent pitching…if your speculation is right, and it makes sense.
Unpopular opinion , but based on Turk’s write up of the minors, I don’t think they have the luxury of trading away Adell or Marsh anymore. I think if Adams, Knowles or Deveaux were lighting it up, you could survive giving up one of your two top OF prospects but that’s not the case anymore. Adell’s trade value isn’t giving you a legitimate #1 or #2 AL-quality starter, then what’s the point? If Trout descends to a 6-7 WAR player , and both Adell /Marsh sort of flop, you sign a FA bat, that still gives you 10+ WAR which is among the best in the game. They’re better off signing some pitching then dumpster diving.
I think it’s really overlooked how much of a disaster Rendon is right now. Two whole years (1 not his fault) and this year (physical problems) has taken the best years from his contract and rendered them meaningless and we will suffer with his shitty years sooner than we thought.
BTW yesterday for the Bees in his first game after Marsh’s promotion, Jo Adell walked 3 times (3!!) after walking only 3 times in a total of 14 games.
Is this a coinkeydink?
Maybe Trout is available to pinch hit but they don’t want him playing in the field yet.
edit: Or will be available – if they activate him off the DL (or if they already have and I missed it).
I believe he can fly.
Does anyone know if any of the top 20 draft picks have signed?
I saw the title “Marsh ERA” and assumed he was going to be taking to the mound. We could use a fresh arm on the hill.
Definitely could hide sticky stuff in his lion mane hair-beard. If an ump found something, easily claim it’s not his, don’t know what it is or where it came from. Must have its own ecosystem and climate.
Your description makes me think of a hippie smuggling drugs. I guess that is appropriate since Marsh looks alot like a skinny hippie.
Probably a better reliever than Claudio right now
Should we just ask who wouldn’t be a better reliever than Claudio
That was a ridiculously bad and non-satisfying answer by Joe. It’s one thing to give approximate timelines but how about updates and transparency?! Information about player injuries in this Organization is CIA-type stuff. Just keep us informed is all we ask as fans – particularly regarding things like superstars such as Trout. We fans are the customers who spend good money and time on this team – we deserve to be kept up to speed.
Well yeah, but Maddon can’t come out and say “because Carpino informed us that being vague about injuries and recovery time is a requirement for keeping our jobs.”
Carpino and Kuhl – tweedle dee and tweefle dum
So which Angel draft prospect will be forever known as 5 Blades?
I’m going with Braden Olthoff . That dude could be a bad ass.
I read somewhere, on the 20-80 scale, Braden is a 30 for athleticism. LOL. Surfs up!
I read that too. It’s not like he’s competing in the Decathlon. If he can throw nasty pitches, that’s the thing.
Braden was at the game on Saturday. I’m sure he was there hammering the final details on his contract and then on to some tasty waves and a cool buzz.
It’s all he needs
Wishing the best for him. I like him better than some of guys in the top 10 rounds.
I missed what I thought was going to be a big win for us against Jedi and his troops. Semi Annual Church Elders Meeting and it took for ever, In my absence Fletch stop hitting, Marsh debut took place and we lost another series. We are going to have a tough time finishing .500 this season if we stay out of sync with good pitching and good hitting.
Waltz is a fine fill in if that is what they are looking for. While Sutton was amped up for 7 innings Waltz has a slowed down version of PxP plus what is happening on the field seems important than just rambling on and on about nothing important at all just to show you know something about the game because your Dad played MLB. Rojas had moment like that too. I still would like the Angels to find a younger guy with the hopes of a long term marriage. Well now the march is to the Bay and take down the Green and Gold, Go Angels and let’s get ’em.
I’m glad that you’ve graciously accepted the blame. Now don’t let it happen again!
I’m fine with Waltz for as long as he wants to be here.
He just needs a bucket to stand on next to Gubi
Basically Joe gave a non answer.
https://youtu.be/wmMSoigohhs
Marsh debut: 0 for 4 with some lobsters; Fletcher’s hitting streak ends; Sandoval is nailed with a line drive. Prophetic?
So what was everyone’s opinion on Waltz? Seemed mostly fine to me, if not a little dry. WIth Gubi being loose maybe dry works though.
I’m liking Waltz. He knows when to cut off a story and tell you what’s happening in the actual game. He does well with Gubie, not sure about the process of working Jose into the mix, but I’m not really a fan of a three person booth. Not flashy, good solid broadcaster.
So what’s his nickname around here? Blue Danube? Tennessee? Anniversary?
Strauss?
4-step?
I was thinking “Poor Dance”
lol that’s antonym-synonym though =)
Christoph Waltz. Maybe…Bingo? https://youtu.be/O5s3Oj2cPgc
And I thought it was DS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ3OIYdDifw
As tough as this crowd is, by September we may be calling him The Last Waltz
So far I’ve liked him. His calls are pretty good, and his questions and filler talk are pretty decent as well.
I don’t know if I like him yet, but I already know he is a vast improvement.
I’m liking Waltz as well, his focus is more on the game than the predecessor. Delivery style is steady, low key but that is fine with me. My eyes can tell me the rest. Lower noise level allows Gubi to do his work unimpeded.
I like Johann Strauss and I like Waltz (sorry about the 19th century humor).
But seriously- nice calm demeanor and calls a game. Such a nice change from the jazz-like (and that’s being kind) all-over-the-place Sutton broadcasts.
In short – had the year started with Waltz – I would probably say his style is a bit reserved for my taste. But man do I appreciate him now!!
Nice change from, Free Form Jazz…
Woltz? Makes good films, has bad luck with horses.
I like him so far. Smooth and calm.