Good morning Angels fans! How are you today? Have done links.
Angels News
Archie Bradley is on the IL for a broken elbow. He hurt it when he was trying to get to the fight on Sunday.
This is a reason why the Angels lost yesterday. If Archie could pitch, he could have stopped the 11 runs from being scored. Or he could be just as bad, who knows?
Uh oh, turns out Japan has been noticing how bad the Angels have been. Japan may in fact hate the Angels.
In the game yesterday, Joe Kelly threw near Mike Trout’s head. The irony is laughable.
Around Baseball
Freddie Freeman has been in some drama lately with how it seems he is bitter on how his time with the Braves ended. He fired his agent and will represent himself.
All Star Game is soon, and Nats manager Dave Martinez will be there. How sweet, he didn’t get to go to the cancelled one in 2020 due to COVID.
There was a rabbit in SF. Seriously, an actual live rabbit was caught at Oracle park.
ST. Pete Mayor in Florida has some news today about the Trop. Will the Rays get a new stadium? Find out sometime today maybe!
The 2022 ESPYS nominations are out! Ohtani is up vs Harper, Judge and Soler for best MLB player.
Speaking of, Harper requires surgery. Ow.
Sneks pitcher Zach Davies to the 15 day IL. Pitcher injuries are a plenty this year.
Someone flew a drone over a AAA stadium, delaying the game. Don’t do that.
The US Senate is going after MLB’s antitrust exception. Again.
Betts and Machado are maybe close to return soon. So many stars that are injured right now.
Anything I missed? Post below for upvotes!
Fielders can’t field, pitchers can’t pitch, hitters can’t hit, coaches can’t coach and owners can’t…own?
Whatever. Top to bottom this team is bad, not fun to watch and is a long way from being a favorite to win anything.
“Fanbase” is rife with dickheads too. All things Angels should just go full Thanos.
Completely agree. The “snap” could do wonders for this franchise.
Of course w/our luck Trout and Ohtani would be gone and Arte and his brain trust would survive.
Villar just released. DadGM MarineLayer says we must claim him.
“Cubs released INF Jonathan Villar.Villar was designated for assignment by Chicago last week and ultimately passed through waivers unclaimed. He had slashed just .222/.271/.327 through 46 games (166 plate appearances) this year”.
Grade-A, waiver-wire trash. Sadly, maybe better than what the Angels have now.
The guy playing third the last few nights hadn’t played there since since college and I still liked him better than their other options.
I wanted to sign Villar. I have no clue why he’s fallen off a cliff. I’d gamble on him.
I was also in the sign Villar camp, especially as the off season wore on and he continued to be available.
I haven’t watched enough of him to see why he’s fallen off a cliff. If it is a bad speed issue and he simply can’t catch up to heat any more, then pass. He’s never been really good with the glove.
Well, we did sign the people that I wanted to see signed, and they fell off the cliff, so go fig….
Great move Freeman. Like you even need an agent after he secured you that great over the market deal.
The agent will get his cut during the entirety of the contract, regardless if he is still his agent.
I know. I was thinking that as well. That agency does pretty well for some pretty big players. I doubt Freeman said “Just get me a pretty big contract with the Braves, I don’t want to test the market” and then Excel was like “nah, he doesn’t mean that, let’s play hardball with Anthropolous.” Excel’s probably not gonna lose out on a lot of clients over this.
So they’ll collect their cut of Freeman’s money they got for him to this point, but they don’t have to hold Freeman’s hand the whole time while Freddy has the sads because he pulled out his business big balls and got them slapped? I’ll take that deal.
I actually like Freeman, but right now he reminds me of a high maintenance woman who you date, but she declares she doesn’t want a relationship. You act a little sad while she can still see your face, and then go home, relax and call her up in three weeks. Bummer.
Wait, one of the four guys up for best baseball player is… Jorge Soler?
‘splain it pleeze, As a long-time suffering fan of the Angels it would appear that I’m having a difficult time dealing with my usual visual of seeing the team with rose colored glasses. I have always believed that at some point during a season that there was a possibility for a miracle to magically transform the team into winners in any given season. Sadly, here in 2022 I don’t see this happening, at least not any time soon. Does “Magic” happen to a team? Just look at the 2002 team catching lightning in a bottle as becoming World Champions.
Last night loss is very painful for me because we were again given brief giddiest with the HR outbreak only to suffer because of the rash of yearly injuries and lack of depth. Do you know like I do, that the only 3 ways this team will ever win the World Series again is to dismantle the current team for youth and talent and cry a bit because watching Trout play for the Phillies would break our hearts. Watching Shohei play on the Dodgers or Yankees would send the preverbal daggers through our hearts. Oh, maybe some few players may remain, but without the heart and soul of the team left behind. The outcome down the road would as always hold promise and maybe winning a World Series.
OR
We kept what we have, and Arte goes to the bank and takes out millions in loans and the team buys enough players to win a World Series. We have seen that done firsthand living here in the SoCal. But that is risky also.
OR
Arte sells the team to a Billionaire with tons of cash to buy a World Series team.
So, it’s a pick your poison, but in truth this group is not going to make it to the playoffs, much less so to the World Series and again even less to winning a World Series.
Having favorite players is fun to when they do well. Reminds me of the 1960’2 Cubs. Every year you would see Banks, Williams and Santo get close to winning the National league only to finish way behind. When MLB switched to the East/West Divion’s, the Cubs under the direction of Leo the Lip on or about the 21st of August with Jenkins and Hands and Holtzman leading the pitching and Banks (Old), Williams (Prime), Santo (Prime), Hickman (Career Year), Beckett (Career Year), Kissenger (Prime), Hundley (Prime) go into a slump to only watch the Mets who had sensational pitching and defense, but no hitting, pass the Cubbies and deny the Cubs a chance at the Playoffs and World Series was sad really. Banks never did make a World Series or even the Playoffs in a career that included 2 MVPs and the Hall of Fame. Williams went on to play for the A’s and Santo due mostly to age and health would like Banks soon retire.
Which direction the team goes in is up to Arte of course, but that is how I see it. I’m a bit disappointed, just like I was under Gene, who did everything he could to win. I always stayed with the team as a fan hoping that in any given season that this would be it and finally in 2002 it was just awesome. Maybe before I check out, as I have one foot in the “End Zone”, we will win it all again, and next season I’m sure we will ⚾ 😎 ⚾ 🏆
Arturo will cheap out, while watching the value of his asset grow on its own due to external forces. He does not care about the fans like you and me at all. I am close to the end zone as well so I feel your pain. My rose colored glasses broke years ago so I must operate with clear vision.
Yep. That’s Arte. He just rolls out of bed every morning, stares out his panoramic bedroom window, and thinks to himself “F**k. Why did I buy a baseball team? I’ve never been interested in baseball. I love billboards…. but billboards don’t run or jump or anything. But still, baseball? I don’t even care if we win or lose, and I sure as hell don’t like baseball fans, they’re poor and gross. I could have just bought land and built mixed use rabbit warrens to suck money out of the Laptop Class in Irvine. Hell, I could have just bought a shit ton of stocks. I mean, all I really care about is money, not having to listen to real baseball people, and of course keeping down the poors. I could have owned a minority share in an NBA team and done that. What the f**k am I doing? Ah well. At least I know I’ll never try to build my own stadium to keep the team here or pay for a payroll over 90M. Per caps baby. per caps.“
While I do believe that Arte does not question his purchase of the Angels, he does question several things.
First, why should I spend more if the fans pay to see what the team has now?
Second, why when I sign a Free Agent I want, does it always turn into a bust?
Third, why do we have to support the minor leagues?
Fourth, is it time for me to retire here in Arizona and walk away w/ billons?
Fifth, what is wrong with the Anaheim City Council?
I do believe that his business model works for what his needs are. He will never consider doing things different as he does not see the need. So as long as he sees things working, Trout, Ohtani and the others will always play with a weak roster. Keeping worthless Presidents and Vice Presidents and others around. Check. Saving money by not filling up all the decks in the front office. Check. Not fully staffing a scouting dept. Check. Not paying all employees from the top down in the Angels employ. Check. Always hiring unproven General Managers. Check. Always hiring the cheapest Employees and understaffing every Dept. including the coaching staff from top down. Check.
Getting to the Playoffs. Nope. Getting to the World Series. Nope. Finishing in first place. Not lately. So now as fans we need to decide if we want to hang around, I don’t plan to go anywhere, but I may not attend many games.
I agree. Managing our expectations is probably the wisest path as this isn’t likely to change. Arte is likely to continue doing what he always has. Spending on window dressing fan draws like Trout, Pujols and Rendon while never addressing the complete roster as the franchise value continues to skyrocket. My minor protest has only involved spending zero dollars on them this season.
I’ve told my kids to define their non-negotiables in any relationship but I’m still somehow blindly devoted despite knowing better in this situation. I keep on joking about liking the Padres but don’t watch their games.
In my case, it’s genetic. My dad was a die hard Cubs fan (we buried his cap with him).
That’s the worst of the Cub’s curses.
I was watching Squid hit carefully the other night at the game. I noticed on several pitches he didn’t fully get his belly button around and block his hip so he was just swinging with his arms. His back foot never pivoted to turn and generate bat speed. Just an observation but he really has to work on basic mechanics and he’d be a decent hitter. Just my 2 cents. That’s the hitting coaches and Squid’s job
ah but are you a bona-fide CoachDad?
I listen to CoachMom, Shohei’s mom….She said that “Squid couldn’t hit water if fell out of a F’ing boat and that he should try swinging an F’ing boat oar”.
bev-boat.wav – Tommy Lasorda on Padre outfielder Kurt Bevacqua: “Or f***ing Bevacqua, who couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a f***ing boat.”
Reminded me of this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEboSkPUgUo&ab_channel=CourtsideTweets
Eh. I also see Ohtani do that all the time. I think it’s shit swinging when the hitter knows he’s guessed wrong but isn’t gonna be able to hold up his swing… a surrender swing.
This happens a lot with Squid because he’s not a very good hitter. I’m sure he has seen it on film, problem is there are just not a lot of human beings that can just up and fix those issues against MLB pitching. Squid’s not one of them. But maybe he’ll improve, I mean, he still doesn’t have 400 ABs in his career yet, so we can still dream on him hitting .230 someday.
It’s a good observation. “CoachDad” is the guy who thinks the professional baseball player and coaching staff are not aware of something that he can see on TV for 4 seconds and gets angry about it.
The problem is the team is paying too much to 2 or 3 players. Can someone name one superstar player from 2002? When you pay too much for a couple of superstars you have an imbalanced roster. This is why we end up with players like Wade. At this point I don’t care if Ohtani gets traded this off season if we end up with 4 good players for him. That will help balance the roster. I understand Ohtani wanting to win a World Championship I am sure all players do. Anyone remember Nolan Ryan. The guy was the greatest pitcher of our time and never made it to a W.S. In fact he barely made it to the playoffs.
I keep saying, the problem was the dumb Rendon contract. Imagine how much better the team could be without his $37 plus every year for the next four years. Upton’s crappy contract comes off at the end of this year. Is Minasian able to use the Upton money wisely will be an open question. No answer for the Rendon money.
The big pooper is… is paying Ohtani a wise use of Upton’s + big future money?
Though, if Ohtani wants to stay, I think he will be less worried about paying Ohtani, like Trout, a ton of money because they truly are human billboards, in a good way, and they generate a fair amount of their own paycheck.
Unlike a guy like Kyle Schwarber… just as an example.
I actually think the Angel’s payroll will cross 220-230 if he signs Ohtani, depending on how much cheap pitching he can get off the farm. There’s no way the accountants haven’t broken that down as a likely outcome. But I’, still not sure I’d tie up 45M in even a great player like Shohei.
I really hope that Shohei’s mom won’t let him sign here unless Arte proves that he’s going to buy her son some good buddies who can play even more gooder baseball around him.
But the evil…. she knows about the evil. Our only hope is to kill Mom Ohtani in an “accident” and then blow some mystery powder into Shohei’s face that allows us to control him and guide him in our nefarious schemes. Plus, my past plan of using MS13 fellas to visit the homes of free agents we want to sign and let them extol the benefits of signing to play here.
Rendon is a continuation of the problem. We are built like an NBA team not an MLB team. In the NBA you need 2 or 3 stars then some role players. Somebody else compared us to the cast of a play with 2 stars then a bunch of scrubs. Both apply.
We know the Angels payroll will be about $190 million. Before Rendon took $38 million of that Pujols took $32 million of it and before him Vernon Wells. Over that time span we’ve seen luminaries such as Josh Hamilton, Justin Upton, Matt Harvey, Cody Allen, etc. take big chunks.
Yes, the process could have ended with Upton and Pujols off the books, but it won’t due to Rendon. However, to always harp on Rendon when this has been Arte’s MO for 15 years isn’t accurate.
Arte: “I paid $180MM for this club. I’ll be damned if I have a payroll bigger than that!”
The trouble with Rendon is, unlike Pujols etc he hadn’t had a downturn, unlike Hamilton he wasn’t a junkie, he wasn’t streaky like Upton season to season, we’re pretty sure we knew his real age when we signed him, he was 28-29, like pretty much every FA that’s any good. He was also seen as a leader on a WS team, was a gold glover at a position where we had a long long term need, and seems like a character guy.
Anyone who’s saying “I knew this contract would work out like this back when we signed him.” is a shit stuffed shit. People were just butt hurt because we’d “failed” to sign two pitchers who didn’t want to sign here, so the FO dropped down to the 2nd biggest need, 3B.
If we want to move forward hoping the policy is NEVER MAKE A SIGNING LIKE THIS AGAIN then we yall should just follow me on over to Redleg Nation.
It reminds me more of Cozart’s contract, though he at least had a history of missing 20-30 games a year.
Now days it’s “Hurr Dee Durrr! Contract!” When really we didn’t pay for his huge contract year at all. We paid him 12.7M a year when a WAR was worth 8M a year and he average 2 WAR per season for years before we signed him. It wasn’t an overpay at all.
Then he got off to a crap start because that’s what Angels fans deserve, then he permanently destroyed his left shoulder diving for a baseball… probably because he has no grit, even though when he was on the Reds he was pretty much beloved as an Eckstein with more ability…. and a donkey.
I think Rendon was a good move at the time and I think it is only hindsight that can counter that.
A while back I saw someone post something on the Reddit that perfectly summed up the logic.
We didn’t get a big pitcher, we had money available, and a hole at 3rd since Glaus left, and one of the best 3B in baseball available.
I would much rather have an owner willing to grab an exciting player, than go back to the days of my childhood when the Angels were a small market team vying for the 2nd tier leftovers to fill out the roster.
It’s really hard to follow or even verify that ohtani reddit link.
It appears several posts have been deleted. I’m not sure
Thoughts on arol vera vs denzer guzman? Who reaches the majors first?
we get burned so frequently, seems some Aloe Vera would help soothe the burning sensations.
Lol… the amount I paid for denzer rc autos last night, I need some aloe vera my damn self.
Not sure Kelly was actually throwing at Trout intentionally. When you are a hitter like Trout and your ‘cold’ zone is up and in – those kinds of mistakes are made. Doesn’t make it any less scary but I don’t think it was intentional.
I would agree with you if it wasn’t a guy like Kelly who is known for intentionally throwing at batters.
But why in that situation? With the M’s Trout had hit like 6 HRs in 5 games. Trout only homered once in that game and had struck out a bunch the night before.
I had assumed it was retaliation for the high-and-tight pitch to Anderson
I guess that’s a possibility.
Because Kelly is a jackass?
Ohtani v. Kooech tonight. Please keep Elvis and Loup off the field tonight, my life doesn’t need anymore heartbreak.
Pretty sad when your cf can see pitches being tipped and your coaching staff 80 feet away can’t.
Are we really this bad?
https://www.bleachernation.com/baseballisfun/2022/06/29/frustrated-mike-trout-spots-his-own-pitcher-tipping-pitches-while-standing-in-center-field/
Yes, yes we are.
https://youtu.be/4fWyzwo1xg0
Hell, it’s been a problem for years. I remember reading that book “Odd Man Out” (the “rally dildo” book), where the guy was a pitcher in our minor league system, and it took Kotch and HK47 (who at the time were in AAA) to tell the dude he was tipping.
Are the “rally dildoes” in the team store next to the thunder sticks?
They’re in Orem.
Yes.
I’m certain that Ohtani is feeling pressure from home to be on a winning team and “bring” a championship to Japan. One thing I learned in Japan was that they are a very proud people and aren’t interested in supporting mediocrity.The Japanese support of the Angels is completely tied to him and not the team itself, which is completely understandable. I would be beyond surprised if he even considers signing a long term contract to stay. He will play hard and be a team guy right up until he has a chance to cut strings.
Because the Japanese support of the Angels is completely tied to him and not the team itself, there’s probably not much pressure to win the championship from home and people are more interested in individual stats.
But he himself is definitely seeking a winning team as you refer on the latter half and the current state of the Angels historical mediocrity doesn’t look like a good fit for that.
That Trout and Ohtani great while they lose to the Tigers tweet kind of thing seems to be trending towards reality rather than the joke it first was…
My experience in Japan leads me to the opposite conclusion. The Japanese people are not nearly as individual minded as we are in the US. Obviously they celebrate his individual accomplishments, but for them the success of the team (or family, business, etc.) is the more important goal.
When I lived in Japan briefly, the Angels were popular. And of course it was due to Godzilla Matsui being on the team. Pics of him in Angels red were everywhere!
I would believe this .. but then I remember Ichiro.
So, my take away is Japan = Racist. That’s what you were going for right?
Uhm, what?
No? Am I wrong?
I never said the Japanese people are racist nor do I believe they are racist. I’m completely confused as to how you got that from my two posts.
That’s it. Now I’m in favor of abolishing the DH entirely. Both leagues. Make them stand up there and take one themselves. Then maybe they’ll think twice about casting stones.
the DH has definitely made pitchers a lot bolder. Look at how often little Pedro Martinez would go bean ball and head hunt. That wouldn’t happen if his tiny ass had to step in the box.
Kelly was crazy when he was on the Dodgers, and he’s still crazy now. Unless the Angels are willing to go “full Bob Gibson” on those who throw near Trout’s head, MNT better have quick reflexes.
Well, that one hurt. Three HRs and we were not even close. Why is Elvis on the team? Shohei is turning his season around. Can Trout ever hit .300 + again? Difficult to see the offense tank and the pitching excel and the next night the offense does well, and then the pitching goes into melt down phase.
We find different players to perform suckage every night, last night was Elvis’ turn in the barrel. Back-to-back HRs by Trout and Shohei was exciting. Anyone who ever wondered what a buttercup game and outcome is, just read about last night’s game. No one promised us a rose garden.
Let’s smack the W/S around tonight if for no other reason than I don’t like LaRussa. GO ANGELS.
Hey hey hey…that negative talk about Elvis will not stand around here! Support all our Halos or get out of here!..this is a sanctuary for positivity. 🤭 feels good to vent huh??
Elvis needs to get fatter?
I think Trout has changed his approach and bit and sold out for power. Unless it goes over the fence, he’s not scoring anyway.
I thought I was the only one who feels the same way. It has become all or nothing for Trout – HR or K/out. While that HR surge during the Seattle series was nice to see, it seems he’s also been striking out 3x/game regularly lately. And for someone who’s speed is no longer a factor in his game, his BA doesn’t look like it will reach .300 or stay consistently in the 300s (although OPS has been off the charts because of walks and HRs), I fear we may be seeing another Pujols in the making, albeit this one is home grown.
😕
Asking cause I don’t know, has Trout’s OBP gone down a bunch? That’s usually how you know the “sell out” is on.
Yes it has, but just from Super-Super Ted Williams height to a human level of a Willie McCovey type. 😂
Interestingly, yes it has. 0.389. It’s his lowest OBP since 2014 (close to 2020 mark, which was a screwed up year anyways).
Last year he was just walking a hell of a lot more and striking out less. His OBP was near .500 for a good part of last season before he got hurt. That’s probably unsustainable though. Fricking .500 OBP.
I agree that the HR hat has had something to do with the HR approach team wide. Perhaps we could add a strikeout dunce hat to counteract the HR hat. Ant ideas what the dunce hat should look like?
Elvis, Wade and Squid are Perry acquisitions from the Skankee system. Perry loves those. He got ’em. The Skanks had ’em so they must be good!
Just enjoy the time that Ohtani is in Angels red while we can.
The Rays should simply move to Tampa.
And Over/Under +1.5 seasons on Freeman staying with the Dodgers?
And by Tampa I mean Nashville. Or Charlotte.
The Rays and A’s just piss me off. Those orgs do a great job and no one goes to their games because they have crap stadiums and actual cheap owners.
It’s called having a good front office with owners that don’t meddle.
Yep, having an owner that has you maintain a total adjusted salary under 85M isn’t meddling at all. And, as long as we’re on the subject and I have a lead wank to ask about it, I am still trying to figure out who this mythical unicorn owner is that’s signing players for 30+ M a year but isn’t personally involved with those signings. Who is that guy?
As for the Rays, the way their owner stays uninvolved is by, when their GM says he’s looking at extending a pitcher for 20M a year, he tells him that the team will not be getting involved with that.
My heart cramps with envy.