If I told you last week the Angels would have a 5-2 homestand, you’d probably think sweep Baltimore and split with Cleveland. Looking at the pitching match ups, I thought every Cleveland game would be tough to win.
The Baltimore series definitely didn’t go as planned. Losing 2 of 3 was an ominous start to the home stand.
Then the Halos went out and laid a beat down on Cleveland. A four game sweep that puts the team at 13-7 and increased our playoff odds to 65%.
How dominant were the Angels? In four games, the Guardians held only one lead, 2-0 on Wednesday, and they held it for only half an inning.
The talk around baseball the last several years has been the lack of pitching for the Angels. This was prior to Ohtani’s start on Wednesday.
It is early, but taking a look around MLB at all the big acquisitions the Angels are doing quite well. And that’s just Thor. Lorenzen, Loup, and Tepera have also been great.
We expected Reid Detmers to be good but need some type to fully develop. It looks like we’re watching that development at the big league level. He had a really nice outing Thursday and had this to say about it:
As far as the offense, the Angels have my favorite type: one capable of producing a different hero each night.
Anthony Rendon is off to a slow start but says he still hasn’t fully regained his lower body strength.
One guy who has been the hero quite a bit is Taylor Ward. This is cool:
And let’s not forget the GOAT. Every year it seems Mike Trout gets better at something. Is he doing it again?
What we’re not covering enough are the arms on the farm. Really. We have pitching talent on the farm. 2021 draftee Chase Silseth is absolutely dealing in AA right now.
Giving credit where it is due, Baseball America pegged Silseth as the Angels draft sleeper before the season began. And he’s gone on to exceed their expectations. With high 90s heat and command of four pitches, he could be the first 2021 Angels draftee to make it to The Show.
Silseth is not alone, either. Bees pitcher Cesar Valdez was named the PCL Pitcher of the Week. Friend of the site Davis Daniel is looking good through his first three AAA starts.
What should be the biggest story around baseball is the baseball itself. MLB changed them again, kind of. Remember, they used two different balls last year.
The balls this year are traveling less, pitchers are saying they are also more slippery. Dudes are getting hit more often. Yes, MLB has reached critical stupidity with the baseball.
The fact each of those phrases leads to a different link shows just how bad this is. I try to not blow hyperbole, but Manfred is truly a massive douche and the worst Commissioner of my lifetime. Thus far. Remember when all thought it couldn’t get worse than Selig?
The only issues with balls under Selig was the steroid guys didn’t actually have any.
Next up are all the Sox. First Chicago then bahstun. Everybody predicted the White Sox to run away with the Central. After an injury filled, disappointing start to the year are they still the favorites?
I say yes. And I’d rather play them now that they are scuffling and facing injuries than later in the year when they are full strength and full bore.
As far as the Roid Sux. Well, we all know how I feel about them. I’d love nothing more than to write next week’s links following another sweep.
Have a great weekend, all.
Washington Post is reporting a third Bauer accuser.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/04/29/trevor-bauer-abuse-accusations/
Fletcher has returned to tonight’s lineup!
IBS I assume…
https://twitter.com/JeffFletcherOCR/status/1520152551315972096?s=20&t=3_WdTPzNDuA34wkM4QhgMQ
Crap
They all say that.
Haha, I see what you did there.
That is one of the main symptoms, yea.
That stomach bug just wont let up.
Who will be next?
-125 Walsh or Marsh…..virus residue in beards.
-150 Trout again….big eater, fat.
-250 Benji Gil, eating meals with Trout
I’m starting to believe that IBS is code for Covid.
I don’t know if it was IBS…..Its kind of the new Tommy John, just assuming, new trAdition.
Either all these “stomach bugs” is code for COVID or there’s something really tearing through the clubhouse…one guy at a time.
So weird.
Ha! Great minds and all
The greatest!
Bad cheese sauce in the Helmet Nachos?
This is a real bummer. It has gone from a game that was a coinflip for us to win to one I now expect us to lose. In fact, the betting odds jumped from (-125) to (-160) for the White Sox with this move. It is understandable.
I saw “Herget” and thought it was arm trouble for Thor, which would put a real damper on the season.
Tummy trouble is code for forearm soreness which is code for elbow byebye
And it’s quite an interesting lineup!
https://twitter.com/jefffletcherocr/status/1520153928259846144?s=21&t=S4YzJG7xRMWo_M5MiaBu6g
Right? Very interesting
I like the lineup.
Play Ball! Welcome back Fletcher. Time to spray the field with line drives.
Get your popcorn ready..
https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/1520116413133996039?s=20&t=2trpKK7M0G5BpF3gz38VWA
He’s already announced an appeal. Lawsuits Ho!!!!
WOW!!!
That is a substantially longer suspension for bedroom behavior than previous players got for non-bedroom related violence.
As disgusting as Bauer may be, this reeks of the MLB helping the Dodgers avoid the consequences of their large contract rather than fairly enforcing the domestic violence rules.
Oh, this is definitely going to a court room.
MLB doing LA a favor here. Without the sticky, there’s no way Bauer is worth anywhere close to that contract. And now the Dodgers are out of it.
………for now the Doyers are out of it.
Too bad they didn’t do that for Hamilton.
Hamilton tattling on himself and getting virtually no punishment was the weirdest thing.
I don’t remember all the details but didn’t the Angels have drugs of abuse clauses in the contract but then the MLBPA said they didn’t…?
No free outs for the Angels
Gary Matthews, Jr, Zack Cozart, Mo Vaughn, Vernon Wells, Albert: all stupendously bad FA signings. But nothing – NOTHING – touches the Hamilton signing, his performance for us, his “character”, etc. I wish that asshole nothing but the very worst.
He self reported to circumvent that SANTA clause.
I don’t even know what to think about this whole situation anymore.
All the takes were wrong when this started, and now everyone is rushing to accuse MLB of working on behalf of the Dodgers…
He seems like a piece of shit, the woman who accused him doesn’t look very good either.
I guess this is why we have a court system.
Does it start now or when he was suspended?
His 324 game suspension BEGINS this Friday. He gets no “time served.” Which I’m cool with. Let’s see how it shakes out in court. I don’t know about the gal he got involved with, but she sounds sketchy. I’d get kicked off the jury panel because they’d ask me if I knew anything about Trevor Bauer, I’d reply, Yea, I think he’s a POS, and then I’m done for the day.
I don’t even reach the panel….In my best “tourette syndrome” impression I start saying guilty over and over while pointing at people.
Smart! Saves time. Once you see a judge, stand up, point, and yell, “Guilty as sin!”
Voila! Rest of the day off!
Feels to me like Manfred is showboating here trying to show everyone he’s on top of it.
Total bailout for the Dodgers.
Dodgers are getting Yankees treatment here. In fact they are the new Yankees. Have been for several years now…
Don’t be worried about the White Sox series, one game at a time and we will win the series. 4 game series, pulling a rabbit out of the hat will happen. Are best in the first 2 and We Have the Hitting! Oh, and we have Thor.
Have you noticed that team’s mistakes are piling up? That is the speed factor we bring to the table. Teams will make mistakes in rushing a throw, lifting their heads to see the runner and you have “Oops” and even OFer’s holding the ball a few seconds to see where the play should be when multiple runners are on the bases. While we joke speed kills, in baseball that is certainly evident. But in addition to speed is getting on base. Give them to many choices gives us more time for our speed.
The Angels are easy to get excited about so far for me, and here are some reasons.
We league the American League in: Runs Scored with 99. Normal top 2/3 of the league.
Hits, we are #1. Normal top two thirds of the league.
HRs, we are tied for second w/ Yankees at 25, Toronto is at #1 with 26. Norm top 2/3.
RBI, #1. We have been running middle of the pack for last 6 yrs.
BB (Base on Balls) #2, M’s are #1, When Trout plays we rate top 1/3rd. now Ohtani and Trout and Tony 2 bags are pulling the wagon together.
SB #1…..BA #1…..OBP #1…..SLG #1…..OPS #1,
Now for the down side. We strikeout to much, as we rate #12 of 15 teams.
We are caught stealing to much as we are far and away #1 caught team. That means three things. One is we are not reading the pitcher correctly. Second we a not getting a faster lead and take off. Thirdly which I have observed more than once is the opposing team catcher is always making great throws. Keeping up the pressure is a key as the catcher focuses on the runner more that the batter which will lead to a lot of mistakes going our way.
Remember, to get caught stealing, you have to attempt steals. To my untrained Lyle Eyes, it looks like we’ve been making a lot more attempts, so we’ll get caught more.
Let’s hope that today proves to be a good chance for Thor to up his WAR.
Thor is the most pleasant surprise of the season. I posted that I thought PTP was crazy for signing that deal for that much money, now I wish it had been for 2 or three seasons.
Did you hear the news Grandpa? Thor has been scratched for tonight. Jimmy Herget is starting. With that one change the odds shifted from White Sox (-125) to White Sox (-160) !!
Are you still picking the Angels to win tonight GP?
Never mind.
https://twitter.com/JeffFletcherOCR/status/1520102559935090694?s=20&t=K1PLEtLnvBWkY42qISjUbw
https://twitter.com/TaylorBlakeWard/status/1520097871676116992?s=20&t=KoWTPbEEUPKOGV_eBRZglQ
1.021 SLG! Even in the minors that just other worldly.
And remember he did an off season interview with us. Cool due.
https://twitter.com/sis_baseball/status/1520077717244465156?s=20&t=XpmcaOtBRXqlpXnoiqsEIQ
The Chicago trip scares me. I hate playing teams on a significant slide. Baseball is a game of breaks. Right now they are all going for us and against the Sox.
At some point those are both bound to change.
Yep. It’s a measure of how much better the team looks that I am excited to see them face a team like the Yankees. But I also expect them to take some lumps at some point. How they handle that will show us if they are really a contender…. which is good in the end.
Tampa Bay is looking kind of strong but the real test will probably come in that Toronto series in Late May. Then, of course, come the away games against the Yankees.
It would be fun to punch the Doyers in the mouth.
Yep. Those two series will show how good our pitching really is.
One positive, I don’t think the High Octane offense is clicking yet. When we get that monster up and mashing, that will carry us for some time.
I think the pitching is hot and will obviously come back to a more normal orbit, but a crash is way less likely. Way better than last year, we aren’t used to having nice things. We are still burning off the residue of dysfunction from years past. The law firm of Cishek, Claudio and Sledgers are just a bad memory.
With that said, don’t blow it.
Exactly my thinking Jeff. I don’t like getting a talented team like the White Sox coming off an 8 game losing streak. In short, they are due. I was hoping to get them while they were still down. I guess we’ll see. Hopefully we can extend their slide another few games…But in MLB streaks can flip pretty quickly. That is one reason I was recommending restraint yesterday…
Great minds. I really get that from my dad. He has the same philosophy. Never likes to play a team on a losing streak in any sport.
This is why I think even keel is the best plan. If the team keeps playing .600+ baseball and we are in June – I will start getting excited.
The only issues with balls under Selig was the steroid guys didn’t actually have any.
Another laugh out loud moment from you. Thanks 😂
Amazing that we didn’t hear about more clubhouse violence back then with so many guys juicing. I played with a few steroid abusers in the 80s and they were seriously agro.
Watching the relief pitchers last night for the most part (Tepera had me a little tense) was a very refreshing change from the last few years. It did remind me of the 2002 team relief corps.
It was all so smooth and stressless.
Perry looks very good for that solid pen. Just hope we can avoid overusing them and carry this mojo to summer and autmn.
I echo that with the bullpen usage and it’s good to see the starters going a little deeper into games. Hopefully we get a solid start today as our better BP guys were in play a lot versus the Guardians. Having said that, I am really impressed with how quality the at bats have been lately and that tends to bring on good results. I’ve always loved Fletch but I’m hoping he’s fully ready before he comes back as this apple cart is pretty much on track.
I’m happy now, but I fully expect some of these starters who threw hardly any innings last year to hit some bumps. I’m glad some of the MiLB arms are looking good, we may need one or two of them in a few weeks.
I will keep my expectations on the planet for this road trip. Hoping for 4-3 over the next 7 but would be overjoyed with 5-2 etc.
The pitching story line is getting me excited. Just going to keep that tempered for now.
Most importantly- I enjoy watching this team play hard and compete daily. My favorite type of player is a gamer who always plays hard, grinds out at-bats and steals bases. So I’m pretty smitten with Marsh.
Agree with everything you say here Fan. I too think 4-3 is a realistic expectation for this road trip and believe it to be the most likely outcome.
Even if it ends up being a 3-4 trip, I’ll take it. More concerned/interested in how well we play, what we do in those loses than the loss itself.
Love Marsh’s approach, just a really fundamentally solid ball player. Also love that the overly entitled veterans are gone and it seems like everyone understands that the gig comes with performance expectations. If you can’t produce, you probably either won’t stick or play much.
We have no divas on the roster right now and Rendon is trending the right way. It feels really really REALLY refreshing.
Totally, every time that Lord Albert talked about how good he WAS in the present tense I got a little sick. I genuinely think he’s a good dude but the great ones tend to share a blind spot for their own declines. Plus he’s 50ish years old 🙂
Walsh should be in the lineup, every game. His hustle, speed and defense are obvious reason. Someone needs to pry Maddens platoon crib notes from his hands.
I agree, even against LH pitching last season he drove in the runs. I do not know what his BA avg was with runner on base was, but it must have been decent against all pitching as 98 RBI would attest to.
Super fun team to watch. Lots of speed and athleticism. And enthusiasm.
I know I mentioned getting breaks above, but some of them are definitely earned.
That bunt by Wade on Wednesday night wasn’t quite perfect but he beat it out because the pitcher took half a second to look for the out at third. Most guys are out there, Wade’s speed earned it.
Velasquez dropped a bunt yesterday that was going to be a tough play. Quantrill rushed the throw, it was low, and it was what I’d call an earned error. If that’s a normal runner, it is a routine play.
Of course, speed only matters if you hustle straight out of the box, and both guys did.
Yeah. I’ll take 4-3
Let’s move on to the important and fun stuff now, how about the game yesterday. Marsh stole a base, don’t you just love good old fashioned baseball. Marsh batting second was a one time thing for now, but having Trout batting third being able to bring in the table setters is cool.
Detmers pitches #6 in the rotation, and he had his best game so far. Our starters are just other worldly right now. Each one trying to out do the others. It is hard to envision having any long losing streaks with this group. The new breed goes 5-7 innings and our guys can do that. Eric said Deputy Dog Detmers would go 5 and he did, even with early high pitch counts, but that’s learning for you.
Today we will face a tough but injured team with a very good pitcher. The Pale Hose hav average defense but their SS can hit the cover off a baseball and a first baseman that is a RBI machine Fast outfielder to.
Coming off flying in last night, combined with being on the road really makes for a tough game, but we will prevail 4-3 today. HR today will be Walsh. Gulp.
Too my mind, Ward, Marsh (or flip them), Trout, Ohtani, Walsh is best. I like Marsh here as he will see more good pitches and will be able to use his speed. I also like sliding Rendon further down further as he attempts to recover from his hip surgery and compromised “lower half.” Joe can flip the final four whoever gets wants based on matchups.
Health permitting its crazy to think this lineup has another gear to it with Rendon, Adell and Fletcher all capable or even expected to improve.
Don’t forget Ohtani and Walsh. They actually have worse wOBA than Rendon and Adell right now.
Boy oh boy, was it frosty and cool around here yesterday evening. Seems my enthusiasm for the 2022 Angels has rather than enjoined us, has caused some ripples in the CTPG regulars. I have inadvertently rubbed some the wrong way with my enthusiasm & optimism
when it comes to the spectacular start. Some feel that it is a lot of fun and we’ve had many posters, regulars along with newbies and everybody in between get caught up in excitement. Some are MOR (Middle of the road) and are with holding a bit as they fear the sudden come down and don’t want to feel let down. Understandable. Some expect the Doom and Gloom ant second now and consider those with positive excitement about the team to be close as you can get, to be Lunatics of Major order and to seek help.
Nonsense to those who want to condemn GPB to the fringes. Yes maybe down the road those “Nice young men in their clean white coats will be coming to take me away. Ha-ha, he-he to the funny farm”. Putting this all in perspective, when was the last time you felt this good about your favorite team? Why not celebrate right now, it’s never to early is it? Angels baseball deserves all of us to enjoy these moments to the fullest, now, not after the letdowns. We are on pace to win 101 games according to Eric, no one believes we really will do that, do they? Me, I think 90 to 92 wins. So a little come down is expected, so enjoy the moment and “Jump on board the Win Train” and have fun. We have overanalyzed this team and many have become unbearably pessimistic.
I’m not the enemy here, I just want to have some fun and while I’m at it bring that fun to you here. I was asked when will I predict that the Angels will lose? I never have and don’t see why I should. I believe truly every day we will win, otherwise I become defeated in my outlook of my team. When I say we will win and we do it is elation, when I pick the HR hitters and they come through it is just fun. Try it out for yourself, silently if you must, and see how much more fun it is than thinking we will lose every game. There is no come down if we lose, you just think about winning the next day or about our players who had a good day in the loss.
Enjoy having the GOST, Ohtani doing to Baseball what no one has ever done, enjoy seeing Marsh develop right in front of us and Trouty did.
Make fun of me if you care to, I find that stuff funny too. I awake every day in a good mood and try to bring pleasure to those I love and respect, To my neighbors, and as is said I can meet and talk to everyone and anyone. Have fun today and everyday my friends, that includes you Frost also.
I have never disliked you Grandpa. I think you are a decent guy. You don’t make it a practice to provoke people and you don’t make a habit of insulting others. I don’t always agree with your perspective, but I appreciate your genuine passion. You can go on predicting wins every game and I will not judge you harshly for that. You are after all a “fan.”
Thanks Jack, I don’t have any issues to address with as I do read all you post, I was just having a little fun there at the end.
I like to mention the pace we’re on but I don’t actually believe we’ll win 105. 90 would be wonderful.
Neither one of us believe we will hit over a hundred, but 90-92 would be fun though. We all will be ecstatic is we can win the division and very happy to be a wild card. By the Memorial Day we will know how good this team really is. I add here that injuries will be the biggest issue, or even the lack of injuries.
I think any of us would take a 92 to 94 win season and a division title. Of course just making the playoffs would not be enough since Mikey has yet to win a game in the postseason. It would be nice to see that change this year… Still a long way to go though.
You keep being you Grampa.
That is what I’m doing to do!
Too bad too sad if they whine.
Good morning to all. What a great day for Baseball in the South side of Chicago. 4 game set here and taking 3 out of 4, never mind a sweep, may be difficult at best. The Angels do though have a winning record on the road so far. Prediction is 3 out of 4 then. Go Halos!
I hear the South side of Chicago is the baddest part of town.
And I bet your bottom dollar you’ll lose the blues in Chicago.
Well then, take me back, to Chicago.
Hey me, quit responding to myself! TGIF!
I also hear it’s a toddlin’ town.
Hog butcher for the world.
Little cats feet?
If I go downtown is there anyone I should beware of, besides the crack dealing gangs? I mean…like gimme a name.
Big bad Leroy Brown
(Writing down name) Thanks!
Err…just a follow-up: how bad is this guy? Is he mean? Are there any stories about him that stand out?
I’d have to check with Doris
He’s the baddest man in the whole damn town!
He’s a gambler, and he stands around six foot four.
He’s got a custom Continental, and an El Dorado too
He’s got a .32 gun in his pocket for fun, and a razor in his shoe.
Corn Pop is a bad dude……watch out.
Sez who? Yer daddy? The President?
Pfffft!
Does Corn Pop drive a Custom Continental, carry a .32 AND a razor in his shoe?
Don’t forget the El Dorado
6’4″, fancy clothes, flashing bling like diamond rings. I think I’m talking to the same people you’ve been talkin’ to. Did anyone you interview give you the story of Leroy messin’ with the wife of a jealous man? I didn’t expect that. Wonder if it checks out. (Over)
Can’t say for sure, the guy that told me passed away close to 50 years ago
Adds up. Someone I talked to – under condition of anonymity – said one night Leroy lost a fight with some dude, and, I quote, “Looked like a jigsaw puzzle with a couple of pieces gone.” Probably died around 50 years ago from blunt force trauma, from that fight. How “bad” could this guy have been? I’m gonna close this case. Thanks for all your help!
That’s strange, because I had heard he was “badder than old King Kong, and meaner than a junkyard dog”!