In fact, I think Cleveland will win tonight. They will go up 3-0 early by hitting either a 2run or 3 run HR in the 1st. I see Ramirez, Reyes or Owen Miller as being the player to get the big hit.
Sandy will settle down but it will be too late. Cleveland will go on to win 5-3.
Good to see Ward get some love. I was definitely in the “WTH another catcher” camp when he was drafted but had come to really like him and thought Ward, Marsh & Trout outfield was the best option before the season. Still a work in process on so many levels with this team but last nights game was a pleasure to watch.
Avoided the last few game threads because of the negativity and know-it-all-should-be-managing-the-team types.
With that said, you are spot-on about the umpires, holy hell they bare TERRIBLE this year. And I understand that is probably said ever year but man they are even worse this year. Of course, I’m sure that is said every year as well.
Great game tonight, need a larger sample size but Lorenzen holding his own and Ward making a case to get ABs. Contributions from guys like this are needed.
It warms my cold steel heart that the Angels are 10-7 but have only looked really truly good in a handful of games. It either means that our roll players are fairly strong and the whole team is mentally fairly tough…. or we’ve just been lucking out. If only we had another teams owner, a POBO, and another GM…. and a bunch of players from other teams, then I’d feel more certain. When are we going to stop wasting at bats on Ohtani and Rendon and start giving them to Matt Duffy, that’s what I need to know.
Also, Taylor Ward. Sheesh, someone must really be sick of SLC.
I think it is because most of the players realize they are expendable and are putting full effort in constantly. Walsh has a platoon, Adell and Marsh aren’t guaranteed playing time, SS and 2B are whatever Maddon feels like that day, even Kurt Suzuki plays over Stassi more than Max would like. And with Rendon needing plenty of rest time, it seems like Troutani is the only every day players.
There are no old vets with a sense of entitlement. Pujols and Upton are gone. Young, hungry, speedy guys are all over the diamond and the best players on the team are just as fast, young, and speedy. No jogging to first, your two best players hustle constantly.
Was mentioning that to my wife. In the recent past, with the veterans that were around, I would not be surprised if the rest of the team deferred to them for leadership/guidance; whether that was right or wrong is up for debate.
This season, coming into ST, this is clearly Trout’s team. Perhaps the clear indication of who the leader of the team is has made things somewhat easier. From the outside looking in, based only on what I see on TV, this team looks to be having fun and getting along. That goes a long way in the daily grind of the baseball season.
I believe Joe has all the confidence in the world in his Bullpen, but for us it’s still a don’t want to watch deal, but we still watch and think whew when the team comes back to the dugout. Genius or not, I don’t know but I think he is doing some good work of late.
But this is the parable about Jedi and the blind squirrel. Blake was drafted as a no stick “premium” defensive catcher who was on nobody’s top 100 prospect lists except for the Angels.
Makes sense. Last year in Spring Training, Maddon had him getting reps behind the plate and Ward was enthused about it. So it was not Taylor’s doing. Be great to have Ward catch a couple games a week and make sure Adell’s bat is in the lineup. I think Marsh, needs to play all the time for his all around skills.
Yeah, they moved him and he started to mash in the MiLB starting in 2018.
And we all said it was because of the SLC ball park because his name isn’t like a plumber. Then he sucked on the big club. The next year he mashed AAA and had an OK OPS+ for a bench player in the MLB. In 2021 he had an above average OPS+. He’s actually had small yet positive WAR for a couple years now in semi-long stints on the Angels.
We hate that.
Now he seems to be even more comfortable. It’s nice to see, but there’s still plenty of time left for him to turn into a pumpkin, get released, and move on to the A’s where he’ll win a batting title.
Yes. And Fernando Tatis Jr was a meh armature signing while Craig Biggio and Kenley Jansen ( as well as St Troy P) were catchers. Max Muncy was meh. There are a lot of blind squirrels out there finding nuts. But this is a possible nut that’s on the Angels, who we have bitched about for years even if he’s been fairly useful the last couple…. so deep down we kinda need this to not be that big a bloom. I mean, can you imagine if it turns out our crap system produces a good Ward, Adell, Fletcher, Walsh and Marsh?
There are squirrels. Real squirrels. There are thousands.
Sweeping Cleveland is extremely unlikely. Winning 3 out of 4 would be great. Even a split would be decent..
Agree , the sweep is very unlikely.
In fact, I think Cleveland will win tonight. They will go up 3-0 early by hitting either a 2run or 3 run HR in the 1st. I see Ramirez, Reyes or Owen Miller as being the player to get the big hit.
Sandy will settle down but it will be too late. Cleveland will go on to win 5-3.
Cleveland has been very streaky so far. Hopefully they don’t win 5 in a row. Because that would involve taking 3 out of 4..
We only won 3-0? Really? How much more ineptitude can fans endure?
Good to see Ward get some love. I was definitely in the “WTH another catcher” camp when he was drafted but had come to really like him and thought Ward, Marsh & Trout outfield was the best option before the season. Still a work in process on so many levels with this team but last nights game was a pleasure to watch.
His strike zone discernment seems elite.
Ward can feed me crow all season long, I’ll gladly eat it!
Correction in the final score, it was Cleveland 0, Taylor Ward 3
Where are the scream queens telling us how horrible we are?
To GA to look it up but there was an article once upon a time comparing Ward to Donaldson….. not sure I believe it yet but what if….
Great game against a great pitcher
Well, at age 27 Donaldson hit .301 .384 .499 .883, and at age 28 hit .255 .342 .456 .798
Taylor Ward this year (age 28) .367 .525 .700 1.225 so if he keeps it up ….
Also Ward has improved at the plate every year for the last four, and hit the majors sooner than Donaldson. Who knows?
Ok, thinking Taylor Ward has a job for a while, at least. Lorenzen looked pretty excellent. OMG do umpires stink on ice!
Robo! Robo! Robo!
Avoided the last few game threads because of the negativity and know-it-all-should-be-managing-the-team types.
With that said, you are spot-on about the umpires, holy hell they bare TERRIBLE this year. And I understand that is probably said ever year but man they are even worse this year. Of course, I’m sure that is said every year as well.
Yes, felt bad for Lorenzen as he didn’t get hardly any borderline calls while their guy got a bunch. Some of them were just awful.
Great game tonight, need a larger sample size but Lorenzen holding his own and Ward making a case to get ABs. Contributions from guys like this are needed.
It warms my cold steel heart that the Angels are 10-7 but have only looked really truly good in a handful of games. It either means that our roll players are fairly strong and the whole team is mentally fairly tough…. or we’ve just been lucking out. If only we had another teams owner, a POBO, and another GM…. and a bunch of players from other teams, then I’d feel more certain. When are we going to stop wasting at bats on Ohtani and Rendon and start giving them to Matt Duffy, that’s what I need to know.
Also, Taylor Ward. Sheesh, someone must really be sick of SLC.
It’s the Grit….we have Grit.
True.
I’m certain it’s why we have “Rooster Cogburn” coaching 1st base.
Benji from T.J. sure looks like he’s eaten a few Rooster Cogburns since his playing days. Someone should get him the eye patch.
Grit? Impossible. We didn’t sign Max. Ersty, Percival and Weaver aren’t on the coaching staff. Unpossible.
Just ask tooty
I think it is because most of the players realize they are expendable and are putting full effort in constantly. Walsh has a platoon, Adell and Marsh aren’t guaranteed playing time, SS and 2B are whatever Maddon feels like that day, even Kurt Suzuki plays over Stassi more than Max would like. And with Rendon needing plenty of rest time, it seems like Troutani is the only every day players.
There are no old vets with a sense of entitlement. Pujols and Upton are gone. Young, hungry, speedy guys are all over the diamond and the best players on the team are just as fast, young, and speedy. No jogging to first, your two best players hustle constantly.
Mindset change may be just what this team needed.
Was mentioning that to my wife. In the recent past, with the veterans that were around, I would not be surprised if the rest of the team deferred to them for leadership/guidance; whether that was right or wrong is up for debate.
This season, coming into ST, this is clearly Trout’s team. Perhaps the clear indication of who the leader of the team is has made things somewhat easier. From the outside looking in, based only on what I see on TV, this team looks to be having fun and getting along. That goes a long way in the daily grind of the baseball season.
That’s a good point. It doesn’t matter if you’re Pujols or Upton… you either produce or the GM lets you go…?
Anyone have that draft room gif from 2015?
Curiosity Double D.
I believe Joe has all the confidence in the world in his Bullpen, but for us it’s still a don’t want to watch deal, but we still watch and think whew when the team comes back to the dugout. Genius or not, I don’t know but I think he is doing some good work of late.
I would like to apologize for any Taylor Ward slander that has ever left my mouth
Yeah, he’s developing nicely. And the draft room celebration wasn’t his fault.
He keeps this up and Adell might start looking mighty expendable
It’s still early, but I’ll take all Ward can give!
But this is the parable about Jedi and the blind squirrel. Blake was drafted as a no stick “premium” defensive catcher who was on nobody’s top 100 prospect lists except for the Angels.
I don’t think I heard the reason why the Angels moved him out from behind the plate. As you said, nonstick, defensive stalwart.
I thought it was because his bat suffered so much (mental energy from catching?) that he wasn’t going to be able to stick with D alone.
But that might just be foggy memory.
Makes sense. Last year in Spring Training, Maddon had him getting reps behind the plate and Ward was enthused about it. So it was not Taylor’s doing. Be great to have Ward catch a couple games a week and make sure Adell’s bat is in the lineup. I think Marsh, needs to play all the time for his all around skills.
Have Ward be the backup catcher.
*Emergency backup catcher.
That and 19 passed balls in 90 games at single A in 2016. I’m not sure what his CERA was that year though..
Yikes, no wonder what made Eppler move him out from behind the plate. Another failed scouting report.
Yeah, they moved him and he started to mash in the MiLB starting in 2018.
And we all said it was because of the SLC ball park because his name isn’t like a plumber. Then he sucked on the big club. The next year he mashed AAA and had an OK OPS+ for a bench player in the MLB. In 2021 he had an above average OPS+. He’s actually had small yet positive WAR for a couple years now in semi-long stints on the Angels.
We hate that.
Now he seems to be even more comfortable. It’s nice to see, but there’s still plenty of time left for him to turn into a pumpkin, get released, and move on to the A’s where he’ll win a batting title.
Yes. And Fernando Tatis Jr was a meh armature signing while Craig Biggio and Kenley Jansen ( as well as St Troy P) were catchers. Max Muncy was meh. There are a lot of blind squirrels out there finding nuts. But this is a possible nut that’s on the Angels, who we have bitched about for years even if he’s been fairly useful the last couple…. so deep down we kinda need this to not be that big a bloom. I mean, can you imagine if it turns out our crap system produces a good Ward, Adell, Fletcher, Walsh and Marsh?
There are squirrels. Real squirrels. There are thousands.
he’s 3rd on the team in WAR and he’s played in much less games. love him at leadoff and Sam Blum just wrote about questioning Ohtani at leadoff.
Ohtani still looks mostly lost to me at the plate. Way too much inconsistency to hit leadoff IMO.
Angels Win!
