The Angels were in a pitching duel from hell early. Shohei Ohtani only allowed one run over six innings, but Shane McClanahan struck out eleven Halos in 7 IP, allowing no runs on only three hits and a walk.
Shoehei threw 35 balls and 57 strikes in his 92 pitches. 5 Rays K’d while two walked.
Taylor Ward entered the game as a pinch hitter with a man on and two outs in the bottom of the eighth down 2-0 and hit a game-tying home run. Props to Tyler Wade for getting a single prior to the Ward appearance.
Raisel Iglesias took the mound in the top of the ninth and despite walking one Ray got out of it clean. But the Angels couldn’t do anything in the bottom of the frame and we went to extras.
Then we lost. Whatever. It was sort of set up to be the game that we gave to them after taking the first two of the series and not starting Trout or Ward, both of whom entered the game late late late but for naught.
While I understand the importance of resting key players, I do wonder if resting Trout and Ward would have been better on Friday when we play the A’s or even Saturday with a double header instead off yesterday against the Rays
Now that is an argument that is somewhat logical and makes sense. Not like these other people crying that Joe is trying to lose or just trying to have fun.
Given how weak the rest of the lineup is, there should never be a game when more than one of Trout, Ohtani, Walsh, Ward is missing.
The other thing people forget is that Maddon wants everyone on the active roster to feel like part of the team, and to actually play from time to time. This is no small thing and contributes to team chemistry in the dugout and clubhouse.
Resting guys before a day off only to bring them in. Mhmm.
By the 6th inning Ohtani’s fastball had tailed off considerably down to 80-90. 5 Ks but not his best outing..
I just absolutely abhor losing an afternoon game right before an off day
Wonder how many of those we lose? Maddon usually does throw away lineups on days like these.
I agree completely with Grandpa.
What was Joe thinking?
Sometimes he just gets too cute with his quirkiness – like walking Cory Seager with the bases loaded….
Sitting BOTH Trout and Ward in a game against a really good team makes no sense to me.
It doesn’t matter if a lefty or a righty in on the mound, I’d want to give Ward, Trout, AND Walsh plenty of AB’s to play to win.
Even with the Sho pitching.
Playing, instead, Mayfield and Whitfield – just called up from AA – in the outfield when the Astros are knocking on the door is a head scratcher.
It’s fairly common to give players who will see heavy usage all year a “long weekend” by resting them before a travel day. Especially if they are a little banged up early like Trout and Ward have been. The Astros will likely be banging for months to come so it’s not much of a factor, not as important as avoiding Trout’s swoons in Aug/Sept. If the manager’s gonna do that he just has to do it, can’t wait for a get away game that also has a scrub pitcher starting.
Resting players before the dog days, even the youngins is Soggy Joe’s big mantra. He talks about it ad naseum in his Biography that was written after the Cubby curse was lifted.
https://www.amazon.com/Try-Not-Suck-Exceptional-Extraordinary/dp/1629374768
I really wonder what has changed when it comes to the game. Players used to play 145-150 games a season and somehow survived to play 15-20 years, pitchers hammered out 36 starts and 200+ innings was not some crazy number. Even a few (gasp!) complete games wasn’t out of the realm of possibility.
Could it be that they start wearing kids down from the get go? Little leaguers are taught how to throw curveballs, sliders etc, fielders practice firing throws all over the field and this is all before hi skool, college etc. throw in the “supplements” they use to stay competitive and all of a sudden that guy who’s been throwing 99 since his junior year is going through TJ surgery #2.
I guess modern medicine can keep up w/certain things but very long term damage that doesn’t tear it’s ugly head for years may be forcing teams to baby players a lot more than what the norm used to be.
I do remember days when being a platoon player meant you played 115-130 games a year. That’s borderline an “everyday” player now.
Humans are not evolving … we are devolving. Right before our very eyes! Soon we will be monkeys!
Jo doing Jo AAA things…no Twitter reports on his defense, that would be interesting
https://twitter.com/slbeesradio/status/1524573203560951808?s=20&t=UNM2Dfcj5_b7sCBDiyFAvQ
SLC is a bloody launching pad, anyways.
Trade him for pitching while he still might have a little value left.
F%^K! I spent all game thinking of how I was gonna drop a sweet Rue McClanahan ref and you had it all cooked and ready to eat….
Meh. We lost. We still fought back and almost won. If this is what losing to a good team looks like I’ll take it.
Laguna Niguel fire is bad…be safe out there.
Astros was delayed so we hold a .5 game lead for now
Now would definitely be the time to apply a couple of the half dozen wins we are supposed to have received for getting rid of Soth. I understand why we haven’t applied them to this point, but maybe we could use a couple now and save a few for the end of the season?
Those wins were promised to me on Halo’s Heaven as a FACT that only an asshole would argue against, so I assume they are still stored in a block chain someplace.
We lost the hard drive those wins were stored on so I guess we are fu*ked
Now a wild carder
Joe could have had a winning line-up against a good pitcher. We made him look better than he is, McClanahan is good and took advantage. Good news Shohei does not take the loss.
Disappointed that Joe really thought that his line up would win that game against a Rays team. This season every won game is important to us, better seeding with taking the Division and having the best or second-best record.
Slumping Rendon and Ohtani the only seasoned pro players. Marsh a rookie, all the rest are cast offs, makes no sense if you believe we need the win. He did not give Shohei an even chance to win today.
Every game has to be approached as a win with the best we have, June is going to be very tough, maybe even brutal. Everybody gets to rest or recover tomorrow including us.
I have to remind myself that everyone has a difference of opinion and with that said there is no reason for personal attacks. I hope I made the point here.
Your view is very short-sighted Grandpa. This is why Joe Maddon is a Major League manager and you are not.
Nuff said.
Let’s not forget we are playing shorthanded with the Aussie ironsides guy, the Venezuelan runaway and the rotten lettuce head. We just need to get past the COVID and we will be better with the return of the Secret Police, the Duffman and Mr Gold Glover . The offense and defense will be fine.
I’m more concerned about the bullpen depth in the long run.
Agree. I think Grandpa is barking up the wrong tree. These get away games are typically one’s where managers from both sides rest players. It happens all the time and it is not just Joe who is doing it.
This makes absolutely no sense at all…
What makes no sense?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCXT5Fs-V10
Fight fight fight! 3pm. By the flag pole!
Corn Pop was a bad dude.
I stand with Corn Pop.
Does he roll your golden leg hair up into a ball when he’s sitting in your lap?
😂 😂
I am trying really hard not to bring up President Joe and his social habits and special way with kids. That’s for a different website.
You could bring up how former prez chee tos called his own daughter a hot piece of a$$ if you want to keep things fair and balanced.
Problem solved.
JackFrost…. Grandpa may not be a major league manager. But, he is entitled to his opinion.
And, Grandpa is right.
The Astros are now a half game behind the Angels. and knocking on the door.
The Angels were playing a very good team, the Rays,
Why would Joe start Captain Jack and a AA player who just got called up who is batting .000 in place of the Angels two best hitters this season? in the outfield?
This makes no fucking sense at all.
Damn it, you don’t sit BOTH Trout and Ward when you are playing a good team and battling for the AL West league lead.
And, on top of this, Joe started Renifo and The Squid and Romine which gave us very little offensive firepower.
Even if we get a season that I hope and dream happens we will likely trade off the AL West lead with the Astros a couple times. I don’t think we’re gonna 1990 Reds this season.
We cannot win every game and some games will have to be encountered with roll the dice AAAA lineups.
That said, facing one of the toughest lefties in the league with one of your best pitchers on mound, apparently did not look like the ideal day to rest your best RHHs.
Maybe there is something behind the scenes, and maybe they are just aiming to crush the A’s after the offday, but seeing Rengifo batting second instead of Trout for this game was certainly underwhelming.
Absolutely right, and well said.
Not just sitting both Trout and Ward but adding both Rengifo and the Squid to the lineup with Romine was tough to see.
Can’t win them all.
But, sometimes Joe gets in the way of his own team’s success
I don’t know, I’ve been thinking on both sides of this argument since last night too… we need to have the rest day, but then again every win is a win. If we miss the playoffs by 1 game, then it hurts. One thing I did decide to factor in, is that perhaps Joe figures wins versus OAK are more important than wins against the Rays, because it is against a division opponent. (Assuming the logic that if he played all the regulars versus the Rays, then they would get tired with all the OAK games coming up and have to miss one.)
We won the series. We suck!
Good teams sweep EVERYONE
Exactly. And we need perfect games people, none of these candy assed no-hitters.
The fact that we didn’t send Detmers down after his pitiful performance last night just shows me this is the same Angels team it’s always been. No dedication to winning.
Still a fun watch.
Get the feeling we can win every game.
Can get used to this
2 out of 3 against the Rays is very good.
Are you going to make up your mind?
You do realize that your comment directly above this one of mine totally contradicts the long diatribe you went on above, don’t you?
Maybe he’s doing this for comments
You may be right about that.
I think he just likes to party. I also like to party.
Dude, do you realize there is no contradiction to what Grandpa said,
Both statements are consistent with each other AND true.
1) Winning 2 out of 3 against the Rays is a great thing
2) Sitting Ward and Trout in Game 3 – and the line-up in general in terms of offensive capability – was a damn weak move against a good team and pitcher.
Where is the inconsistency?
There is none.
Stop being a Grandpa hater.
And, learn to respect your elders, who are obviously smarter and wiser than you are….
I know Jack Frost personally (went to a game with him in 2004 where we saw Dallas McPherson’s first ever home run) and would bet good money he is older that GPBB
So we’re being fooled by that cryogenic thing then.
I do not know Grandpa nor have ever met him, but I am pretty sure Rev is just clowning me here…
Oh man. I remember when you guys did that. Fugging McPherson. Dude had a beautiful swing. That was 18 years ago?
Shit, he’s just a few years from Cooperatown, then. Amazing. 🙂
If only DMac wasn’t made out of glass.
Glass hips.
You’re wrong! The inconsistency is in complaining about resting key players when the team had the series locked up, and then saying 2 out of 3 is great. If he really felt 2out of 3 was great then why complain about resting Trout etc???