Cooper Criswell debut doesn’t go as planned

Padres 5, Angels 0

As astutely pointed out by Padres beat writer Dennis Lin, San Diego entered this two-game set with the Angels slumping a bit at the plate. At the minor risk of a spoiler, that did not last tonight:

Cooper Criswell, a 13th rounder in 2018, made his Major League debut. It seemed like he was rushed for this start and wasn’t able to fully enjoy the moment, but his stuff as currently stands is not good enough to play in the big leagues, especially if his location is as bad as it was tonight. Criswell threw a sinker that basically topped out at 87 mph, a changeup at 83 mph, and a curveball at 75 mph. He was missing badly over the plate, and the Padres took advantage.

This is somehow a hanging fastball. I have no idea how that happens, but it happened. The most telling stat of all, to me, was that Criswell ended up facing ten hitters, and he didn’t strike out any of them. With a couple more ticks on the fastball and better command, Criswell has potential, but in his current state, it’s hard to get Major League hitters out. He went 1.1 innings, allowing six hits and three earned runs.

Packy Naughton entered in relief and ended up pitching a swath of innings. (Side note: unsure why Packy didn’t just start if they knew he was coming in anyway, but I digress. Not sure it mattered anyway.) Naughton went 4.1 innings, and the only blemish on the scorecard was the two unearned runs due to two errors by José Iglesias at shortstop. Naughton threw 58 pitches and has arguably earned himself another turn in the rotation, given the current state it’s in.

Jo Adell made a nice catch.

On the other side, Joe Musgrove was dealing for the Padres. As seems the case for most pitchers who face the Angels nowadays, the opposing starter threw a gem, pitching a three-hit complete game shutout, expending just 111 pitches in the effort.

Thankfully, the Angels do have a scheduled starter for tomorrow: José Suarez. Perhaps the offense will be better.

Title Image from Angels Twitter

73 Comments
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angelslogic
Super Member
2 years ago

So is Ohtani hurt or not?

LanaBanana
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  angelslogic

All I know is that it is not good.

angelslogic
Super Member
2 years ago

FIGURES!

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  angelslogic

all GameDay says is injury delay. Does this mean Ohtani is out til 2023?

angelslogic
Super Member
2 years ago

He’s sitting on the bench; didn’t exit to the locker room, so it’s hard to tell. He swung and took a pitch to his hand.

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  angelslogic

pitching hand. no doubt.

angelslogic
Super Member
2 years ago

Pinky side, right hand.

Twebur
Legend
2 years ago

Batting order tonight….flipping Sho and Fletch

1Fletcher
2Shohei
3goose
4Adell
5Walsh
8Marsh hitting 8th

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Twebur

where’s the dang game thread? El Demente is pitching well

angelslogic
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Twebur

Good move on the flip!

FungoAle
Super Member
2 years ago

So I read today the Angels now have the same 2021 WS odds as the Orioles, 1000-1. The tank is working.

WallyChuckChili
Legend
2 years ago

Kyle Tyler gets the call up

Twebur
Legend
2 years ago

NEXT !!!!!!!!!!!

FungoAle
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Twebur

I don’t think I have ever seen a such a recycle machine as the one Perry Minaisan has put together. NEXT!!! LOL.

Twebur
Legend
2 years ago

Slegers….. The gift that keeps on giving

https://twitter.com/LAAngelsPR/status/1431742343674171392?s=20

Last edited 2 years ago by Twebur
FungoAle
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Twebur

I think Perry ought to go with him. Share the pantry.

MarineLayer
Super Member
2 years ago

How unlucky for us that every team seems to pitch so well and hit so well against us. Oh wait, maybe it’s because we just suck

Brent
Super Member
2 years ago

Was hoping we’d see Ohtani vs Heaney, but looks like Heaney is going to the Bullpen.

Twebur
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Brent

Now, most starters go at least 8 stress free innings against our pathetic offense……won’t likely see him then. Even Icy Hot would have shut us down, saves us the shame involving those optics.

steelgolf
Super Member
2 years ago

Angels shut out for the 10th time this season. Home plate seems so close, and yet so far.

Brent
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  steelgolf

At least they’re not the 1908 Cards who hold the record of being shut out 33 times in a season.

Last edited 2 years ago by Brent
DowningDude
Legend
2 years ago

comment image

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend

Criswell has potential…..

…… maybe as a bartender at a Bahamian resort

A FB that tops out at 87 is what that 12 year-old from South Dakota is throwing at the LLWS.

MH252525
Trusted Member
2 years ago

yea when he threw an 87 mph fastball literally right down the middle on an 0-2 count and the the pitch trax incorrectly called it a changeup because that’s what most straight 87 mph pitches are….. I kinda knew he wasn’t going to work out. Was he throwing higher in AAA? If not how in the world did the Angels think his stuff would play?

FungoAle
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  MH252525

30th rank Angel prospect, 25-years old, 6’6’’ soft tosser. You don’t hit your spots, doomed. Margin of error is greatly diminished. Halos love those tall guys who cannot break a pane of glass. I looked at the opportunity as just falling in line with the tank strategy.

Maybe they are just rewarding the kid. He is having a a good season in the minors.

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  MH252525

He was not throwing harder in the minors, but maybe he had better movement on his pitches. Not sure how he kept the ERA below 4.

rosstrade
Trusted Member
2 years ago

That’s a good one.

But I remember Greg Maddox throwing in the high 80’s and being absolutely dominant with location and movement.

I’m not saying Criswell has that kind of potential. But, he did pitch well at two levels in the minors – I think a combined 3.76 ERA.

I was hoping for a better result for Criswell. But, it wasn’t there.

But, hey, the PACK-MAN WAS GREAT

steelgolf
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  rosstrade

I still think they should have let Criswell finish the inning. No chance for the playoffs, give the young guys some experience, including taking some lumps and learning from that.

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
2 years ago

If Seattle wins tonight, and they’re tied in the 12th, they’ll have pulled even with Oakland. The A’s are in a tailspin. Without looking I have to assume we play them soon which will give them a chance to get well.

JackFrost
Super Member
2 years ago

Yep. Just like the Orioles got well against us.

We are the “get well” opponent.

Twebur
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  JackFrost

Add to the list……Last night might have been Padres best game in two weeks.

Angels2020Champs
Legend
2 years ago

Well I still had fun.

Fansince1971
Legend
2 years ago

I respect that. I deferred my season tickets again this season due to Covid concerns because my wife is highest risk and on immunosuppressants. I think I would feel exactly as you describe – just happy to be at the ballpark.

JackFrost
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

I hate to say it, but I simply can’t enjoy myself at the park if the Angels lose.

Yeah, for the first 30 minutes after arriving I breath in the air and see the freshly cut grass and state of the art flashy scoreboard and do feel enjoyment….but when the Angels are down 3-0 in the 2nd inning my mood has totally soured.

Angels2020Champs
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  JackFrost

That’s unfortunate

JackFrost
Super Member
2 years ago

On the flip side however, if the Angels are playing well and leading there is nobody who enjoys the game experience more than me.

Angels2020Champs
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  JackFrost

That’s cool! Sure hope they can do some more winning for all of us

Angels2020Champs
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

Can’t wait til you guys can go back!

tommyshalo
Trusted Member
2 years ago

I’m glad that I’ve stopped to try to follow everything since last week, but really hope the team shows some fight and highlights for the loyal die-hards and kids who show up at the stadium.

Angels2020Champs
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  tommyshalo

Me too buddy!!

Twebur
Legend
2 years ago

It’s good for your young kids to follow a shitty, losing baseball team. Keeps them humble and builds character.

And if we eventually become a winner again in the coming decades, they can look back and appreciate it more.

Angels2020Champs
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Twebur

Plus it must be way more affordable/you can get better seats for less than going to LA or SD. Fireworks nights are always great too

max
Trusted Member
max
2 years ago

Good on Adell for that catch. When it was hit it looked like a hit.

Cowboy26
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  max

Meh it was a Can o corn. Kole would have ran in and got it standing up basket catch style. After a bad read, Adell making the expected look semi highlight reelish. Of course on a night like this anything semi positive is a highlight reel moment.

His play in the corner turned Profar’s double into a triple and his throwing arm has been wanting although this maybe something he can improve on.

Is he better than last years debacle? Sure. But the dude at this point is a long way from playing any spot other than Left field or left out.

FungoAle
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Spot on. I’m not a fan of his after catch swag on that simple popup.

DowningDude
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

But that’s Rich Waltz’s favorite part of Adell’s game. 😐

max
Trusted Member
max
2 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Assuming you know what a Can o Corn is, that it wasn’t. Don’t know about the misread at the beginning, tv showed the ball looking like it would split the gap

rosstrade
Trusted Member
2 years ago

I don’t think Jose Inglesias is the answer at SS for next year.

No.

Too many unforced errors. Yes, he can make highlight reel plays but if he can’t make most of the conventional, routine plays the Angels need someone who is more solid.

rosstrade
Trusted Member
2 years ago

You have to really start wondering who in the hell is making the recent decisions to call up Petricka and Elvis and to start Cowell over Packy in tonight’s game.

It’s got to be Perry.

And, Joe using Petricka in back to back games recently is bizarre.

Hopefully, we see Packy start a game in the future. He deserves it. Let’s see what he’s got. It can’t get any worse.

And, maybe we get to see Janson Junk get a MLB start or Sam Bachmann. Bring it….!

Definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. DON’T WANT TO SEE BUNDY START ANOTHER GAME, OR QUINTANA OR JUNIOR OR SLEGERS IN RELIEF ever again

Bring in some new blood. I’d rather lose trying something different.

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

Except he’s 33 so he’s not that new. Been around 9 years or so.

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

And that’s no Dixie whistling!

2002heaven
Trusted Member
2 years ago
Reply to  rosstrade

But we need the higher draft pick position
Lose one for a ping pong ball.
Dylan Bundy, Patricka, Cishek , and now Criswell have value as cannon fodder.

Last edited 2 years ago by 2002heaven
JackFrost
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  2002heaven

Baseball is not like the NBA or even the NFL.

There are very few “sure things” in the draft. Maybe we see 1 every three years…
That being the case, I generally don’t believe in “tanking” in baseball, though it can definitely provide dividends in the NBA or NFL (see Joel Embiid to the 76ers).

I do not want the Angels to tank. The couple of places in the draft it would represent would not be worth the downside of more built in “losing mentality.”

I think this teams need to do everything it can to finish .500. There is value in not having another losing season.

FungoAle
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  JackFrost

But they are tanking, that’s the beauty of it. Activating all the arms up from the farm to try their luck is indicative of
a white flag. In essence, Joe Perry is hosting open tryouts during the regular season. Glad I don’t pay ticket prices but in the process we get to watch the new kids. We will lose more than win with this approach. And I’m good with it.

JackFrost
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

I am not saying you don’t try to utilize the games left and take the opportunity to see Marsh and Adell everyday etc.. I am fine with that because we do actually have plans of potentially seeing those guys as regulars…

Better for them to go through growing pains in semi-meaningless games instead of next April or May. That part I like. We need to see what we have in them… but I still think we should be trying to win. I do not want to see Slegers in high leverage or see Criswell starting or Bundy etc.

If the injuries force us to play subpar players that is one thing but we should not be playing them just for the fun of it…. We should still field the best lineup we can is what I am saying.

MikeSalmon
Super Member
2 years ago

Whatever the hell that was that the Angels put out there today, it seems a stretch to call it a Major League team.

Man, if it’s August and you’re an Angels fan: this is the month that all hopes die a gruesome death. Seems like it’s been like this for 20 years. It hasn’t always been this bad. It just SEEMS like it.

Every. Damned. August.

max
Trusted Member
max
2 years ago
Reply to  MikeSalmon

Sigh…I remember when we routinely melted down in September several seasons ago, the Good Ole Days

Cowboy26
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  max

Hell I remember when we got to meltdown in October. How I yearn for those moments now.

steelgolf
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  MikeSalmon

I came to the realization that they wouldn’t make the playoffs in May, since that was the earliest in recent memory that the bullpen was burned out from over use.

Twebur
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  MikeSalmon

I’m not even sure what a healthy Trout, Rendon, Sandoval does for this team?

If they played a full season, maybe a decent .500 team?
We have no depth. Not a good defensive team. They really aren’t close.
Not to mention our pitching.

Last edited 2 years ago by Twebur
JackFrost
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Twebur

Disagree that we are not close. Totally disagree in fact.

As usual people here overreact with negativity when we lose (saying we totally suck and are “years away” etc) and overreact with wild optimism when we are winning (saying “playoffs here we come!”). Both of these perspectives are flawed and off.

This year was killed by a combination of two things a) devastating injuries to key players/inability of players to stay on the field (Sandoval recently) and b) lack of both quality SP and relievers.

I think in 2022 we have the prospect of much improved pitching even if just Sandoval, Suarez, Barria are supported in continued growth and we have addition by subtraction with no Bundy, no Heaney, no Q. I DO also expect us to sign a quality FA arm (perhaps I am being naiive there, we’ll see…) to add to Ohtani and Sandoval…

The two key questions for 2022 are of course can we rebuild/remake the bullpen into something solid, and can we freakin stay healthy?

That last question is of course the biggest one of all since it is something we have been unable to do for several seasons running.

Last edited 2 years ago by JackFrost
rosstrade
Trusted Member
2 years ago
Reply to  JackFrost

I hope you’re right.

You make some good points.

I tend to agree with you. And I am hoping for a much better next season.

But, I get Twebur’s frustration. It seems the Angels – except for the hot start to the season – haven’t played well as a team. Sure, losing key players screws up the chemistry. But sometimes a team that’s struggling for a few years can just turn it around and play amazing team baseball – like the Amazing Mets of 69′.

For me the key for the Angels next year is the pitching and the defense.

If the pitching and defense is there, they won’t need to score 7 runs every game to win.

Twebur
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  JackFrost

agree to disagree…..
https://youtu.be/NpVTP41Tpqc?t=69

Last edited 2 years ago by Twebur
gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  JackFrost

Just to back Jack’s point, if you want to feel a little better and are willing to do a little clicking to get it, take a look at the teams that are about 1 level above us for results this year. By this I mean after the ass kicking we will probably take over the next couple weeks which will land us under .500.

But I encourage you to B Ref the Reds, the Athletics, The Mariners, The Cardinals, the Blue Jays, the Phillies even the White Sox and Braves. With the way B Ref lists player stats it’s easy to see a team’s most used players, etc. Take a look at what these teams have past their top 3 hitters and pitchers.

Look at them. How much deeper is their pitching REALLY? How many extra good arms do they have beyond ours, especially baring injury? How much deeper are they really? How do their line ups stack up to ours sans huge injuries really?

Look at the Brewers. Their pitching is deep and they are a far better team than us. How much deeper though, REALLY. Look at the players. Look at their line up and bench. Honestly, I think our team is deeper than a lot of the teams on this list and has had to play a ton of innings with 2nd and 3rd stringers. Look at how many of these teams are living with pitchers similar to Suarez and Barria. How much more pitching depth do we really need to compete as apposed to just better health and some upticks in performance? It’s not 7 arms.

I have seen Angels teams that are “years away” and “dumpster fires”, and while the depleted AAAA team we’ve had to field for the last 2 months of the season will surely effect our record this year, why not educate yourself and LOOK at the Braves roster, or the Reds… you’ll see how much some health, a couple solid pick ups, and some actual good luck can do for this team cause in a lot of cases we have more talent than a simple .500 team, much less a raise the flag, grab your ankles and cry on your keyboard embarrassment.

AL West Champs 2022!

Well, maybe.

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
2 years ago

4 under? New goal, 75 wins

Mia
Legend
Mia
2 years ago

comment image

James
Trusted Member
2 years ago

Packy is a cool name. Kind of derogatory in England though. Not much fight in em here. Major bummer as they are 3 games under 500 now also.

Cowboy26
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  James

Only if he likes Fudge.

JackFrost
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  James

yes, in England isn’t “Packy” a derogatory term for someone from Pakistan ?

DowningDude
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  JackFrost

More Pakistan humour: “your mother’s a Lahore”