I guess the big news over the weekend was the Angels re-signing Kurt Suzuki. According to Bleacher Report the Angels actually have a pretty good chance of making the postseason this year. Everything has to go right, of course. You can now filter Fangraphs data by a variety of weather factors.
Shortstops
Here is the MLBTR free agent tracker if anybody wants to look at the various players Arte probably won’t want to hire. Set the filter for shortstops. There are not very many left available. Jonathan Villar turned down a one year $6.5 Million deal with the Blue Jays. Jose Iglesias signed with the Rockies. The Twins traded for Isiah Kiner-Falefa. The Cubs signed Andrelton Simmons for one year at $4 Million.
Pitchers
Cincinnati traded Sonny Gray to the Twins. The Mets acquired Adam Ottavino. Alex Colome went to the Rockies. Jeurys Familia is now with the Phillies. Joe Kelly got a two year deal with the White Sox. Yusei Kikuchi got a three year deal with the Blue Jays. The Athletics traded Chris Bassitt to the Mets. Clayton Kershaw has re-signed with the Dodgers.
Photo credit: Rex Fregosi
Twins got taken, Seattle won their trade hands down, and nothing different with the Halos. Angels still could sign Correa although he just might stay with Asstros. There is a big hit outfielder and another SS still available as Free Agents. Reds still have Castillo to trade along with Moose.
So it is official now, Fat Boy stays in CF even though Marsh is better, who said G.O.A.T.’ don’t have a say?
Went to ESPN to see a basketball score. My local team just lost. More importantly, because I’ve told them what teams I follow, I saw this:
Fri, 1:05 PST
LAA (0-0)
Oak (0-0)
Spring getting sprung!
We’re in 1st place!
Seemed like a lot more people today for the first day than nomal, but thats also because the setup condensed them to a much smaller area. Its also mid March and Spring Break, not mid February.
The set up today at Tempe Diablo before the games start wasn’t all that fan friendly especially if you were looking for autographs. Players don’t have to have any fan interaction at all if they chose not – there’s a bit of separation between the fan fence and the MILB clubhouse and those BP cages/bullpen area where players pass back and forth. Maybe later this week they’ll use the upper fields or. At least the small one for infield practice tomorrow?
The work at the stadium is on the 3B Clubhouse from what i can see – looks like its about to be excavated – but minimal impact to the stadium or field. And the upper fields look ready to go to – it’s just a matter of when they use them – maybe only before games this year (?)
Today’s set up was great for pictures of pre-practice stretching and pitchers playing catch (no more looking through the fence for that haha), but thats about it. There’s some access to one of the lower fields, but that was the field for the second string infield. There is BP on this field so thats a plus, and there’ll be plenty of HR balls for fans from that field.
On the bright side, there’s a BUNCH of new pitchers so i look forward of seeing them some more.
First string infield, and OF practice is on the field directly west of the clubhouse and fans dont really have a view of that. This is the biggest downside, but hey i’m just happy to have some access and a few days – i definitely wasn’t expecting any ST this year, and if there was, thought COVID would limit access. Turns out the biggest detriment was the clubhouse improvements.
Looking more at pics, i see Packy got his haircut. And J-Up looks slimmed down.
Does Shohei still have a large contingent of Japanese media following him around?
Not as nearly as much as that first year, but i think much more than last year.
I’m guessing COVID is limitting the contingent because from what i remember, he did well last year
You know, my memory is a little fuzzy, but I think you might be right!
Thanks, Rex.
Put the Bong down.
So what you’re saying is J-Up is in the best shape of his career.
I’m not down with J-Up even if he got a personal trainer
An interesting little nugget from The Athletic’s Sam Blum in todays piece:
• Angels pitcher Chris Rodriguez said he feels great as he rehabs from shoulder surgery. He said there’s no timeline on his return — which club officials have said could be after the 2022 season — but Rodriguez believes it’s possible to pitch this year. “As of now, everything has been going really well. Mobility’s there. Strength is there. I feel stronger than I did pre-surgery. I’m starting to throw now. It doesn’t feel like I’ve had surgery.”
yeah i saw that – he should be around throwing somewhere
Dude is made of glass. Would be great to see him bolster the pen at the halfway point, if not sooner.
We’ll see if he can remain healthy long enough to have an impact.
He just needs to be full tilt for the playoffs
I’d actually be fine going into April if the Angels signed Tyler Anderson and Colin McHugh, or even a guy like John Curtiss, Heath Hembree, Mycal Givens, Hansel Robles, Chris Martin, Richard Rodriguez, Edgar Santana or Ryan Tepera.
Even if they have to do the SS free for all for a little while I’d be OK. If they need to trade for a SS because they are in contention but SS sucks they can. See what we have in Adell/Marsh. If we need to we can trade for a LF.
It’s not like this year’s really “MAKE OR BREAK!!!”. It just isn’t. The Astros haven’t fallen off, the Mariners will be tough. It’s a year where we definitely have to get better, but if it’s a year where we don’t make the playoffs but figure out that Detmers, Thaiss, Bachman, Canning, Rengifo, Marsh and Adell (for example) are actually solid I’ll take it. Say we win 83 games but a bunch of young cheap players break out, I’ll take it because it puts us in a position to actually match Seattle and Houston long term.
BUT, man they gotta just add a little more pitching so we can get to that “almost there” testing phase.
I’m not as high on John Curtiss as you. But, he would fit right in with TrAdition!
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/09/john-curtiss-undergoes-tommy-john-surgery.html
Oh yeah. I forgot he’s hurt. Bummer.
If you don’t make the playoffs, the season is a failure, bottom line
Um, yeah. Totally. (Gitch flexes biceps while typing)
No emojis… it didn’t happen.
Will be interesting to see who doesn’t play in Toronto later in the year…
Many thanks for the pictures Rex. Nice to see Mike Trout looking like a ball player again.
Nah, didn’t you hear? We SUCK, Trent!
https://twitter.com/TrentRushSports/status/1503497895961522178?s=20&t=xWoecccqiccV1Oh_K5TzqQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0K3LJq9KnU
Increasing the wealth of defense contractors!
But that doesn’t sound as good in a song.
Ummmm, “Masters of War” says hello.
Trent, you must be smoking a doobie.
Remember back when you were bitching about the idea of bringing Cobb back?
I know I do.
Strongest team we have had in YEARS, and it seems like people think we are going backwards. Crazy times.
Official diagnosis I got, straight from the DSM-V:
PTSD:
(a bunch of technical stuff about subclasses)
…skipping down…
Ah! Here it is:
“Baseball Fan PTSD: When a lifelong fan has seen his team perennially lose since the 1960s.” (p.731)
That’s me. I had it in 2000, by 2003 I started feeling it come back. I took Dammitol and it worked for awhile. Now, I’m resigned to:
Things Looking Good In April
to
Team Falling Apart, Big-Time, by June.
Some pictures from today.
Great to see Ty Buttery back out there!!! Thankd Rex for these awesome shots
Trout! Marsh! Thor! Shohei! Thanks Rex!
Syndergaard is jacked holy shit.
Ohtani looks bigger as well. 500ft bombs incoming.
As always, outstanding work, Rex! Too bad the players and owners kept you from your appointed rounds for a month.
Great. Thank you.
I’ll email you my trip dates.
The games hear should be worth the trip!
heart pumping action after everything so far to come down is exciting to see. Beast of the 2022 season by far and away the best, thank you for all your work to bring us being us closer to the boys in Red.
Oh, man, that does my heart good. Thanks, Rex!
They should’ve blown up the roster in 2016… it’s safe to say they should just blow it up this season. If they’re not in playoff position by July, just tear it down; yes Trout and Ohtani and deadweight Rendon. I’d rather wait for Arte to die of old age, and Perry just look at trading them for random minor leaguers than this crap he’s putting out
Your mascara’s gonna run.
Nice trade by Seattle getting Winker
And taking on Suarez…. Reds fans is pissed.
This is something we Angels fans will have to look forward to when Arte sells the team to an actual cheap bastard. Trading your best young player to get a busted contract off your books and avoid paying said best player in future years.
Well Reds fans, you’ll be semi-good again in 3 years.
4:01pm: Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic reports (on Twitter) that the deal also contains a player to be named later. He adds that Cincinnati believes that still-unknown player “enhances” the quality of their return.
Huzzah. Actually, they got an OK return plus salary relief. It’s just a bummer trade.
This is a good sign for us.The Reds are definitely in a rebuild. Lets Take on Moose’s remaining Bloated contract (2 years 38 million -(gulp)) and ship a package of Detmers & Marsh or Adell (Mardell?) that gets us a real starting pitcher in Castillo
Unfortunately, the garage sale sign comes down anytime an Angels GM comes near good players. It would take us Adell, Marsh and Detmers to get Castillo….and a bloated contract.
Whoa, thought you were mister Farm. Are you ok?
I’m fine. Just don’t ask my wife. I’m Mr farm as a primary way to develop your core players. But I am also Mr farm if it allows you improve your roster to acquire better more seasoned assets where you are deficient.
Yep. Seattle looking better than us both short and long term.
HUGE move by the Mariners. Love Jesse Winker and I was hoping last year we could have gotten him before his surge. We got Dexter so that was that.
Fletch is moving over for the Plumber
https://twitter.com/JeffFletcherOCR/status/1503440445510090754
Wouldn’t be surprised if the Angels haven’t heard about the shift rule change…trAdition
Surprised ATL didn’t pay their fan fave golden boy Freeman. Olson’ll win ’em over, though.
Glad Olson isn’t in our division anymore; and I do feel bad for the A’s’s fans. They’re down to ONE Matt. (“Chappie”, is what the OAK broadcasters call him.) An injury to their 3rd baseman and they’re in deep, Matt-less, without a paddle.
Josh “I’m Mentally a 9 Year Old Boy” Donaldson on MFY makes sooo much sense. Day 3 of Spring Training: sucker-punches Aaron Judge for “givin’ me side-eye.”
A’s did pretty well in that deal, in my opinion. Sold high.
https://twitter.com/JeffFletcherOCR/status/1503461465113563138?s=20&t=d-QF9dWnpVW_D4d9LV5Fswhttps://twitter.com/JeffFletcherOCR/status/1503461465113563138?s=20&t=d-QF9dWnpVW_D4d9LV5Fsw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIAYtHiCjN8
I hate the Ghost Runner…
…and any other tweak to make the game “move faster.”
However, I will be paying attn. to the minors this year and what the players think of Robo-Umps.
I dislike the Roto Ump. For me I will be watching what the clock rule does in Rancho and San Berdo. As for Ghost Runner, there is no way to sell something that stupid to me. Unearned wins cannot be justified.
I’m actually with Fletcher here. Don’t know what has gotten into me lately, but the ghost runner brought immediate drama to extra innings games. You were invested from the first pitch. That wasn’t always the case, especially in games that were already kind of snoozers anyway.
I understand all the arguments against it, but it creates must watch TV and ends games quicker.
Jeff: you’re a hip, with-it, groovy kinda 21st century man.
Me? More 19th c. Luddite.
Other than that, are we cool?
It’s always good for a team to win on 1 base hit after 9 hard fought innings.
10th inning
0 walks
5 up, 5 down and then 1 lame duck hit…
BALLGAME!!!
Boras using his lap dog to run up the price on Kris Bryant
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/03/rockies-aggressively-pursuing-kris-bryant.html
Tyler Anderson, anyone?
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/03/angels-interested-in-tyler-anderson.html
Doesn’t go deep into games . – Check
4.81 ERA with The Mariners . – Check
Can get a one year contract . – Check
Yep, he checks their boxes.
Lol.. it’s funny because it’s true 🙃
those stats are a bit skewed… he had 1 terrible game (against the Angels no less), other than that he was pretty solid.
Ditto when he was on the Bucs.. one game he was beat up (against the braves), he had a ton of games where he gave up 1 run
Gave up one run in how many innings? When I read the a report stating “He doesn’t go deep into games, the tradition of a starter only going 4 1/3 innings, and then taxing the bullpen further, comes to mind. The exact opposite type of pitcher this team needs.
His game logs show him getting to 5 or 6 innings with a few 7s. Overall that’s better than most of the Angels staff. Also, the article mentions among free agents, only Greinke pitched more innings.
That said, his 4.53 ERA last year also came with his best K/BB ratio ever. Any regression and he’ll be closer to 5.00 ERA than 4.5. He’s 32, so you have to figure he’s going to go from bad to worse, rather than getting better.
Without the 2 starts against the Angels last year his ERA would have been 4.01.
His career stats are not real good. However, he fits perfectly in the “Land of Misfit Toys” pitching staff approach the Halos have used over the past 5 years.
I’ve already resigned myself to a 75 win season.
I found that if you buttercup the buildup to the buttercup you can never get Buttercupped.
TrAdition!
Seriously: are we going to be better than 70-92?
Asking for a fiend.
Why would we sign one of the very few pitchers we own?
In 4 career starts against us he’s 0-4 with a 13.83 ERA & a WHIP of 2.41. Its by far the worst career numbers he has against any team .
TrAdition!
So The Angels can gift wins to other teams in our division.
I want him.
Is Tyler Anderson better than the current options of Sandoval, Suarez, Canning, Detmers, Barria?
Probably not. But we do need a couple of them in AAA, one in the bullpen for long relief, and if there’s anything we can count on in this life it is Angels pitching injuries.
The Angels owe it to Lorenzen to give him a legitimate chance at starting. But if Anderson or Pineda pushes him to the bullpen where he’s been effective, that’s a plus in my book.
Can truly never have enough depth. And we have ran guys out there with much worse numbers.
I don’t hate this. We need guys who will stay healthy and besides the terrible game he had against us, he wasn’t THAT bad. It gives us more time to get Detmers down in the minors and buy another year. I still think Angels will be very active at the trade dealine and go all in there.
Why, they rarely have been in contention at the deadline over the past decade.
Because, and I know this sounds crazy, some of us actually believe we will be better this year.
Agreed.
Nothing to see here. Perfectly normal, perfectly natural.
-Brought to you by, the same team that just 24 hours ago told the world that their GOAT CF might change positions…….. before they talked with him. trAdition
https://twitter.com/RhettBollinger/status/1503436046465347585?s=20&t=J2fAa0zNsEABW3GUUWi0Bg
So are these 2 family problems related? is this like some Jets vs Sharks rumble shit?
Who knows? Maybe it’s a Fritz Petersen/Mike Kekich kinda thing.
(Not that there’s anything wrong with that:)
Not at all!
As long as the wives are on board. It’s none of our biz then.
Trouty taking BP! The Return of the King!
https://twitter.com/jefffletcherocr/status/1503450522900041728?s=21
https://twitter.com/JeffFletcherOCR/status/1503456876595318784?s=20&t=GRPiSImhNIhvMwiVD0P3mQ
Some folks work for a living and some folks play baseball. #jealous
https://twitter.com/JeffFletcherOCR/status/1503432462159863813
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjYoNL4g5Vg
https://twitter.com/jefffletcherocr/status/1503397874964451336?
That really is kind of a dick move on Joe’s part to let Mike find out he was thinking about it on Twitter. I bet this doesn’t help our chances of re-signing him when he’s 40.
Rumors had it that Mike was playing pitter patter on Joe’s noggin. Joe relented to the GOAT.