Today is dual wield Ohtani day. Starting on the mound and leading off. If there was one player that could single handedly win a game, it would be him. An ace pitcher and a leadoff hitter who can hit it farther than anyone. Baseball is a team sport, but making it less so is what Ohtani is trying to do. It would be nice if he didn’t need to, however. Fortunately, today, the offense did things on their own, putting a great weight off his shoulders.
Recap
Leadoff Ace
Ohtani got two outs fast but a Vlad jr hit snuck under Gosselin’s glove. He got a flyout to end the inning, however. Shohei went right back out there to lead off for the offense. Ohtani hit a double. Fletcher popped up to first, but Vlad Jr botched it. Runners on the corners for a Walsh, who popped up to the pitcher. Gosselin walked to load the bases for Upton, who popped up. Infield fly rule this time. Churches turn. He popped up. Ohtani hit a double and didn’t score thanks to 4 pop ups to the infield. No score after 1.
2nd Inning Blitz
While the first two outs were uneventful, the third took a great effort by Jo Adell.that was good for Shohei, as a quick 1-2-3 second inning meant he could finally sit down.
Adell started the inning off with a walk, then Marsh doubled, putting runners at second and 3rd with no outs. Suzuki hit a sac fly to put a run on the board! Ohtani walked to put 2 on for Fletcher.
But before that, the Angels third base coach felt ill and left the game. Or he had the runs. Or something. He left under his own power but had to leave for some reason.
Anyway, Fletcher walked to load the bases for Walsh. He hit it up the middle to drive in 2 more runs! Gosselin then got a hit as well for yet another run! 4-0 Angels after 2!
Ace with the Lead
After a leadoff walk, Ohtani got 2 groundballs to get 3 outs and send the offense back out there. Churches led off the 3rd with a single, Adell stuck out, Marsh grounded out, 2 outs, runner on second for Suzuki, who got a hit! Ohtani flied out to end the inning. 5-0 Angels after 3.
A walk and a wild pitch put a runner on second for Vlad Jr. He struck out. Unfortunately the next better didn’t, instead hitting a single to drive in a run. Then a double brought in another. 5-2 Angels. The Angels went down in order for the first time this game. 5-2 Angels after 4.
Ohtani had a much better 5th, setting the side down in order.
Churches had a one out double in the button half to chase the Jays starter from the game. Adell hit a single up the middle to drive in a run! 6-2 Angels after 5.
Besides a walk to Vlad Jr, Ohtani made quick work of the Blue Jays offense in the 6th, capping it off with a great strikeout.
He then led off the bottom half, striking out himself. Fletcher popped up for out 2. A Walsh hit and a Gosselin walk put runners on first and second. But, Gosselin got picked off to end the inning. Still 6-2 Angels after 6.
Bullpen or Blowpen?
Ohtani’s day was done. He pitched 6 innings, gave up 2 runs, while also scoring himself. It was up to the bullpen now. Warren came in to pitch the 7th, also Mayfield took over at 3B. It seemed to be the right choice with 3 quick outs. The Angels didn’t do anything in the bottom half either.
Lagares entered the game to play LF as Warren pitched in the 8th as well. It was not as quick as the 7th, giving up a walk after 2 outs. Maddon has had enough and brings in D-Cell to get the final 4 outs. He strikes out Vlad Jr to end the half inning. The Angels do not add on and go to the 9th up 6-2.
D-Cell had 3 outs to go. First out flyout. But then a solo home run to the next batter, right as Gubi jinxed it. Second out strikeout. Third out groundout. Angels win!
Upcoming
The Angels have 3 vs the Astros this weekend starting with Sandoval on Hawaiian night. This will be a not fun time most likely. But hey, anything could happen right? Please drink responsibly.
Warren is looking confident and talented. Still, I’m hoping some other guys in the minors, and the newly drafted guys can help out. I’m hoping Marsh builds off this and Addell keeps improving. Cobb should be back soon, and maybe Trout too (fingers crossed) and these guys go on a run to make it interesting in the final stretch. I don’t want Ohtani’s season to be wasted without postseason action.
Going into the Dodgers, BJs and Astros 10 games, I was hoping for 5-5. Angeks are 3-4 in the first 7 of those games. Hoping for 2-1 against the ‘Stros.
Beating the Astros in a series will feel wonderful. As much as I dislike the A’s, it’ll still feel nice (but not better) to see Houston fall behind them.
This is the first time in a while where I see the Angels have a solid foundation to build upon for next season. Of course it’s all dependent on how well their young starters continue to develop, but I really like what I see from the bunch of Sandoval, Barría, Rodriguez, Suarez, and Detmers. If 3 of the bunch can be at least average starters next season, we resign Cobb and he doesn’t turn into a pumpkin like Bundy, and Ohtani as our ace we have a solid pitching staff.
My biggest fear is Arte once again butts in and overpays for a SS like Seager or Correa. I’d rather have Perry use those resources to build a solid pen and sign another starter. Scherzer on a 2-3 year deal would be the dream but doesn’t have to be that extravagant. But overall, the future is finally bright in Anaheim.
If we sign an expensive shortstop (which I suspect we will, given past history–ugghhh), then 2022 is going to be another hard slog. I’m of the suspicion that spending lots of money on Scherzer (or Kershaw, or, God forbid, Verlander) will be a mistake since it both removes resources and they probably aren’t worth the money now that they’ll be paid–assuming they even wind up in Anaheim. Whatever pitching help that we get that’s potentially #1 esque (and I don’t think, as long as Shohei hits regularly, he can’t pitch as a normal #1 starter, not because of ability, but because of availability) has to be through trade–probably a painful one that will be quite expensive.
I’m fully expecting Arte to sign an expensive SS which I too think would be a huge mistake. One name I would be intrigued is to sign Chris Taylor to man SS (assuming he’s not going to break the bank.) Would love to add him to the team as he could play multiple positions if need be.
The only expensive pitcher I would be ok going after is mad max. I just love the way he pitches and how dominant he has been for so long. Of course his age comes risk, but out of the bunch you mentioned I think he would be worth the contract Arte would give him if it’s a 3 year deal MAX. But I would be completely ok with signing a SS like Taylor, getting decent starting pitching help, resigning Iglesias and another impact arm in the bullpen.
Taylor would be a good option because he is a very solid Major League hitter and as you say provides great flexibility. Joe would love a guy like that for double switches etc.
What Arte did with Jedi and Eppler may not be repeated with Perry. I believe Perry has more juice that either of his predecessors. Soth had Arte’s ear and ran over Jedi, and Eppler just never seemed to build gravitas within the org. Perry got Pujols out even though he was Arte’s “boy”. I do believe Perry is different and will have better outcomes
We said the same when Eppler outflanked Soth and got him out. So we shall see.
There’s always gaps in the reasoning when Arte is involved.
I too very much hope they don’t go after Correa. I would hate to see him on the Angles.
Seager I would not hate to see, but I also feel most of our resources should go towards boosting the pitching. I actually would not mind seeing Iggy come back ( I think we got less than the normal version of him defensively, don’t think that will happen two years in a row).
The thing you did not mention is that above all else HEALTH will be the key. Yes, we need to see our young pitchers continue to grow and develop. Seeing Sandoval continue on his upwards path is important. Hope he can be a real MLB number 2 or worst number 3 type of key who consistently delivers quality starts. And both Barria and Suarez have potential to be solid contributors, either as number 4 and 5 starters or else out of the pen. Actually, I am now seeing potential for Barria to be a number 3 level kind of guy, but we’ll have to see how 2022 goes…
But as stated, more than anything we have to have our core guys on the field. I think the most important thing for us is that these five guys can play at least 140 to 150 games minimum each and be something close to their established selves in terms of production:
1) Trout
2) Ohtani
3) Rendon
4) Walsh
5) Fletcher.
I would add Stassi to that list just because catcher is such an important position. But if those five guys can stay on the field and the pitching can deliver a semblance of what we have seen here in the second half of the season then we should be competing for the division and more…. Finally I will add that keeping Raisel in the fold is an important job to get done in the off-season, and should be very high on Perry’s list.
For once the shopping list isn’t exceedingly long. We need a SS, a starter (preferably a top of the rotation starter), a back up catcher, and some bull pen pieces. That is maybe half as long as usual.
Just 4 items:
1. #1 type starter, b/c as long as Shohei hits regularly, his availability suffers. We may not need a guy with the best stuff, but someone who can reliably deliver above average results on regular basis.
2. A SS, with a big NO! to the big names, but there are good “midtier” ones who ought to be more affordable. Retaining Jose Iglesias does not look bad. Im warming up to the Chris Taylor idea. I would be happy with bringing Simba back, too
3. A couple of “midtier” starters, in addition to the “number 1 type.”. While its a good thing to see younger pitchers finally maturing, i wouldnt trust more than 2 rotation spots to them, while the rest ride SLC shuttle or do BP work, presumably on mux and match basis. We should have a mid rotation type and a back of rotation type as insurance.
4. IF we bring back Raisel, BP would not look too bad. It’ll still be a mixture, with a couple of arms that are shuffled out of rotation and/or on SLC shuttle taking up a couple of spots and mix and match of dumpster diving projects rounding things out. It will still be the weak spot, but it will be more manageable and would be easiest to fix in a mid 2022 trade.
But what are the available chips to filling out these roles? How much budget would Perry have? Who are available for trade? (Does Canning still have trade value? Does Rengifo? Is Adell still a potential tradeable commodity?)
Marsh with 2 hits!..🙌🏼 didn’t think he’d recover after last night. Bravo to Joe for tossing him right back out there to continue the grind. That’s all I’ve ever asked for. If we’re gonna be mediocre let’s do it with young guys that have a future here dammit!! Win or lose I Like what I’m seeing!
“The kids are gonna be all right” … That was my takeaway last night.
good game
I’m starting to think all the Eeyore’s from this past winter and spring might have been wrong about Ohtani being washed up and/or needing to move to the OF cause he can’t pitch.
You mean, From the past 3 years?
OK, so I’ll bite.
One thing that has been fairly apparent from Ohtani’s starts this season is that, most likely, the maximum pitching that one could expect out of Ohtani is probably about 25 starts, at about 90 pitches per. I figure about 150 innings at most (probably less), and that’s at Peak Ohtani, which I reckon will last no more than 3 years, I think, as long as he remains a more or less a premier offensive player, and I think this is the most optimistic scenario.
Not too bad, I suppose–no one has done that and these are special and all that, but there are good reasons why no one really has done that–it pushes the limits of human body. Besides the fact that Shohei probably doesn’t have that many days when he can push himself this far, there are additional consequences consider for the team’s future strategy if we are to retool to compete in the short term (say, next year–very much in the realm of possibilities).
One is that Ohtani is not really a #1 starter. Yes, he has the ability to be a #1 starter, but he can’t be used like one because he is too valuable as a hitter. He can’t take the ball every 5 days because his physical condition may not allow it. He can’t be expected to reliably go to late innings (7, 8, or 9 innings), if at all, because he has to hit and run bases, and so forth. Even in the immediate term, that means we will still need an ace-like starter even for next year. The requirement may be slightly different: we don’t need the ace to be both the best pitcher and the most durable pitcher, but we do need to have a durable and reliable pitcher who is at least well above average (and under control for a few years).
Second, related to the first point, what does having Ohtani mean for the rest of the team going forward? Having two generational players (and Rendon, who, hopefully, will be back to normal next year, if we don’t have a work stoppage) is wonderful, but that also means having to make a generational financial commitments to basically 3 players. And all three are risky: Trout’s and Rendon’s extended absences this year reminds us that they are mortal, and Shohei even more so. That his good pitching days are probably numbered in even in the medium term complicates assigning value to his future value–especially if 3 years’ pitching complicates his future ability to hit on regular basis.
We probably don’t have to worry about the 2nd problem too much, yet. I do fully expect that, barring major injury (which, sadly, remains an actual possibility), Ohtani will be able to continue as a two-way elite player for a few more years. He is signed affordably for 2022 at least. But, this also adds a bit of urgency to the problem #1. We do want to do something while Trout and Ohtani are still capable (and under control, in the latter’s case), and that means we have to go all in for 2022. Now, I’m hesitant to think along this line because I don’t know if the organization is ready–we still don’t have enough depth in house, among others. We will still need to fill out roster (especially bullpen) with scrubs and castoffs and pray and hope that we get lucky (and that Minasian has better talent evaluation people than his predecessors), but it’s still the same formula that we’d been trying futilely for some time: win now despite the lack of mean, and trying to claw through this route actually sets us back in the long run.
None of this means that I don’t enjoy Ohtani’s amazing feats this year, but just pointing out that this makes things complicated going forward..
I think what I’m really saying is that Ohtani’s two way status (as a really good two way player) is causing a bit of paradoxical situation: he can pitch like a real ace, but he can’t be used like a real ace since he has to bat on regular basis. So we need to get a “real ace” that we can send to the mound every 5th day and expect to get 7 innings per start with 3 runs allowed or less, or whatever one expects from an ace these days, and because the peak Trout-Ohtani years are likely to be limited, we are forced into finding a solution quickly–perhaps too quickly–and are liable to mess up, and the FO or Arte or whoever have not exactly been the font of player signing wisdom for the past decade plus.
Good points. I was referring more to the people who intimated that Ohtani could neither hit nor stay healthy enough to pitch after watching last season. I don’t really care if he’s a #1. Even if he is we’d need more than just him to compete for post season glory in the future.
Folks emotionally declare a player the greatest or worst depending on a single season or (as in last year – 60 games). Baseball is and has always been about the longer, bigger picture as opposed to viewing things through emotional “I’m angry” or “I’m happy” eyes. Ohtani is having an incredible season. Let’s see what he follows it up with next year and the year after that etc.
It’s why I am not going to throw Rendon under the Rendone bus. Baseball requires long term vision.
RE: “Folks emotionally declare a player the greatest or worst depending on a single season ”
Sometimes it’s depending on a single play / game. 😂
Either Ohtani is a Number 1 (“Ace”) or at worst a Number 2. He certainly has Number 1 stuff, but as you state, the concern over workload etc means we need another top flight guy.
Where what you are saying makes sense is that his role of regularly being the DH is at some point likely to diminish the SP returns. Maybe that happens next season, maybe the year after. But it is very likely that one element suffers.
It is just too physically demanding to do this with this level of success long term. Ruth commented to this point many years ago. So, it may be that we will not get the same level of pitching next season. I think we can say that he surely won’t lead the league in HR’s two consecutive seasons (assuming he wins the HR title this year, and he has a good shot). It is just too hard for even position players to do. Bonds was of course a freak.
I agree that targeting an ace is a good idea. Certainly making a run at Scherzer makes sense. I would not be concerned with his age since we are in a “win now” mode and have to be looking to strike gold in 2022 or 2023 latest. Going after a middle of the rotation guy in FA will not be enough, I don’t think…
Thanks for noticing them.
I did have my doubts about Ohtani, but I have gone to confession and am reformed.
Warren looking good so far.
Just hope he is not overused this year and can continue this performance for 2022.
And it is time to try that leadoff thing with Upton again and see if something changes.
Not a Bad night for Bubba Gump!
The Goal of .500 is still alive, alive I tell you, it’s Alive…..It’s OK GPB is not all the way crazy, at least not yet. Alive I tell ya, it’s alive. 👀
I’m pleased that we’re still a .500 club this late in the season.
Particularly with the injuries
Great that we won as it was a great game to watch. A split is not bad at all. I hope that the magic continues against the Asstros. Through the years I have said that cheaters disgust me as much as liars and with Houston you get both especially with Altuve. I just do not like them so beating them in the series would be more than fun. GO ANGELS!!!!
Stuck back at 500..Again!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMAIsqvTh7g
“Arte to the left of me, Carpino to the right, here I am stuck in the middle with you..”
Nice to see Walsh have a multi-hit game
Gotta be a cool night for suzuki. He got to call a game against vlad sr and then call a game against his son as an angel.
??? Why the heck would Suzuki care about this?
Not many catchers have caught against vlad sr and jr.
I didn’t know either one of them could pitch.
Thanks for the sarcastic reply and adding zero value to the conversation. You understood what I meant.
You’re welcome. Ouch you must still be a little butt hurt about your comments being censored for being too political yesterday. ( FWIW I agreed with your point that it is important that if we are going to have zero tolerance then we need to have complete impartiality)
Now, considering that Suzuki has looked at so many opposing teams backsides do you really think he cares that they maybe related?
There. Now can you declare my comment has contributed any value?
I see where you’re coming from … When Jose interviewed Kurt post game and asked about Vladdy Jr, Kurt’s eyes lit up. Seemed excited to be on the field for this thrilling MVP battle. I had fun watching. 😎👍
Same. I probably thought it was a cooler event than Suzuki, but it still was fun to think about as a fan.
I was happy until they reminded us that Houston in up next. Ugh.
Surprise win. Didn’t think they would win tonight especially after not scoring with the bases loaded in the 1st.
Angels Win!
Oh Yeah Baybee!