I was initially going to title today’s links “stretch run” but that doesn’t kick in until September. No, these are the dog days of summer. At least in most of the country where they have actual heat and/or humidity.
The festivities of the All Star Game are over. This being LA there was extensive coverage of the red carpet fashion show. Outside of Shohei Ohtani lacing a first pitch single, the highlight was Giancarlo Stanton absolutely destroying a baseball and winning game MVP honors. The largest stars of the game were Kershaw, Ohtani, and Stanton, all guys with LA area ties.
Nestor Cortes went full Boise State and proposed to his girlfriend after the game. About the only inning or so I watched was with Cortes on the mound and I enjoyed the conversation with his catcher.
Didn’t watch the game? Or at least not much? You weren’t alone. It was the least watched MLB All Star game on record. However, as a sign of how many viewing options we now have, it was still the most watched show of Tuesday night by a good measure and the most watched All Star game in sports.
As of the unofficial midway point of the season, Ohtani is the odds on favorite to win a second AL MVP. Seattle super prospect Julio Rodriguez made a name for himself at the Home Run Derby and is the favorite for ROY.
Speaking of Ohtani, I’ve ordered my copy of Jeff Fletcher’s book on Shohei Ohtani. And one for a winner. Check out our interview and my unofficial entrant into the contest. Please start firing up your Ohtani memories and share them with us. Jeff and I will pick a winner after the Angels road trip.
He also won an ESPY for Best Male Athlete.
The Dodgers did a first class job of hosting the All Star Game. I saw the FanFest activities at LA Live and know people who attended most of the events at Dodgers Stadium. The most important activity of note was the 2022 MLB Draft. We can thank AngelsChamps for the cover pic.
Your new Angels prospects:
Yes, you see that correctly. The Angels drafted brothers Casey Dana and Caden Dana. Pretty cool story that will be fun to follow as they progress through the minors.
First round pick Zach Neto took a tour of the Big A. Here’s what he looks like wearing Halo Red.
Last year the Angels took all pitchers. This year they mixed in pitching with power with an obvious emphasis on slugging.
That’s a lot of pop. Can’t say there’s a ton of athleticism in most of those picks, but you don’t need to run all that fast when the ball is travelling to the seats.
I’m definitely not a prospect guru but I do watch a decent amount of college ball and read a decent amount of rankings/scouting stuff leading up to the draft. I can see DiChiaria up pretty quickly. He demolished pitches in the SEC, which is clearly the best division in baseball. The glove needs the work here, not the bat.
With a young core, highly rated farm system, and payroll flexibility, the future of the Mariners looks bright. And a 22-3 run has moved them right into playoff contention. They are on a 14 game winning streak, let’s see if the break helps or hurts them.
All Star games are often full of future Hall of Famers. Who is currently on track to end up in the Hall? FanGraphs is the best.
So, let’s get to the unofficial second half of the season. Here’s a second half preview and list of all the storylines to follow as we head towards October.
Enjoy your weekend and link anything I didn’t. There was a lot to get to this week so I know I didn’t cover everything.
Highlights of Caden Dana:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8291qqKt1kY
Would be nice to have a HS arm in the system worth getting excited about. Albright not exactly mowing ’em down this year.
Cant wait to turn up the heat. This is going to be awesome to watch. I wonder if they’ll send him to Alabama.
https://twitter.com/jimcallisMLB/status/1550607498889011204
This is good. I like this. Arte n PTP’s truly evil plan for the draft has worked…. but now it is even more cheap n evil…..
https://twitter.com/jimcallisMLB/status/1550620755049725952?s=20&t=CGiEFNfNBWkmYdyiuEyiLg
This is good. I like this. Arte n PTP’s truly evil plan for the draft has worked….
How long until HE’S BACK with us?
we just got Goose back – yeah, lets get the band back together.
He just refused an assignment to the minor leagues so why do you think he would want to be back with us?
π π
Upton and Maddon return, return team to glory of playing .500 ball from here on out
7/22/22
Complaint
Same
I’ve read one article today having the Halos last in minor league ratings with Jackson, Paris not even very good in the individual player ratings. Another was a rating of where we stand today in the Major league team ratings as an embarrassment.
How can PTP do a decent job of overseeing a draft when we don’t have a decent scouting staff run by competent people. On draft day on national TV the Angels were cited as not having a decent development system.
Pundits and commentators have all conceited that Shohei is gone. Trout has become a head case and looking at his strikeouts this year and him not making adjustments like usual I am led to believe he just doesn’t care.
We have dropped so low as to being the laughingstock of the major leagues for Pete sakes. If I see this stuff, is Arte insulated so far from the truth that he is immune from the reality of what is happening?
This has nothing to do with being cheap and everything to do with being stupid. I posted when we signed Rendon that signing him made no sense, and well it didn’t. Ohtani should have been signed to an extension last November, not waited to see what he would do this year.
Our draft this year was rated a C minus! It was the lowest ranking that was given on that site. I am just not forgiving Arte Moreno much more, lose out on retaining Shohei and a whole lot of fans are gone, just flat-out history. If you can’t run the MLB team you own, how were you believing that you would be capable of overseeing the giant Condo-Apartment-Retail-New Stadium complex you proposed?
Am I angry, dang tootin’ I’m peeved. I can only hope that he does the right things this off season. Jeez, we are ranked lower than Miami for God sakes, yikes!
Now back to News and Weather…….ο»Ώ π‘ ο»Ώ
The team is primed to win in the 2030 season…..
If by win you mean finish over .500 then I say there’s definitely a chance! π
4:20 PST start time tonight
And tomorrow.
Itβs gonna be a green weekend, boys!
LOL now this is a second half of baseball we can get behind!
we will skunk them
(and why do the Braves have an upside down pipe in their logo?)
Peace pipe.
Looks like Gubi before getting in the booth with PattyβO
Dillion DFA over/under 5 days.
https://twitter.com/LAAngelsPR/status/1550563362387374080?s=20&t=231VvQDuuhuO6xduxUbCTQ
Needed 4th OF’er to replace Trout.
Trout id elegible to return tomorrow but unlikely as why would you put him on the IL just for 1 day?
UNDER. Does it qualify as dumpster diving when the GM grabs anyone with a glove to join the big club?
Sitting here watching MLB Now while pretending to be following a Zoom meeting that could have bee an email and the collective amnesia baseball media has around David Ortiz is truly astounding.
They are just going out of their way to suck him off for how great he was at the end of his career, talking about how he never dropped off and how the moment was never too big for him. How he didn’t retire because his skills dropped off, just because he was “tired”.
This is the sport that wants you to believe they care about PED use among stars.
Yeah, no.
Just one more thing to taint the Hall of Fame. Bonds and Clemens say hi, guys!
It really is a new low point in baseball history. Kind of ruins the entire HOF for me.
Now when I someday visit with my son Iβll have walk past his ill gotten plaque.
Bonds and Clemens actually have careers without PEDs Ortiz doesnβt.
Yep. It has definitely dealt a big blow to how much stock I put in the hall anymore.
I stopped respecting the HOF a few years ago when all this happened. I no longer really care about it, nor have interest in visiting. Which is sad, because I’ve been a fan all my life.
I feel similar about the ASG too.
It became clear that it was a lot of popularity contests about who likes who… not about baseball skills.
Watched it. The hosts detailing (no PED mention) how he got so good after being released by the Twins. Jee-cry
But wait! Bob Manfred has disavowed the report that showed Poopi was a juicer. So he’s totally cool now.
So then big Poopi should just be banned for being a jack ass.
Look at that Fangraphs article where, as they beg fate for a plausible way to have Yankee Giancarlo Stanton get into the HOF they show Ortiz’s “stellar” numbers compared to similar low tier players (who all kicked his ass) and say maybe Stanton can get in too. Even with the help of roids Ortiz isn’t in the HOF if he plays for the Twins.
Would be better if it was amnesia. Straight up denial. Paid lies.
Definitely
https://twitter.com/TaylorBlakeWard/status/1550532870703157248?s=20&t=oBg5-Fnr5U1CfrxkgQ7DuA
Have to think most of that is headed towards Caden.
So Arte is still cheap?
Yep. He’s totally gonna take the money he should have spent on draft picks and spend it on evil items.
Would evil items entail his wife’s luxurious lifestyle?
Shades of Madame Ram
No. No man can actually describe the evil. He can only declare it exists and then complain about it every fkn day as his balls slowly dip into the toilet water.
https://twitter.com/jimcallisMLB/status/1550511818900119552?s=20&t=oBg5-Fnr5U1CfrxkgQ7DuA
Bullpen arm at best. Cannot throw strikes as a collegiate.
Given that he threw from the pen all through college… um, yeah.
Cuz they needed to limit the damage.
It’s OK to just let go. You declared that a guy who has only pitched in the bullpen is a bullpen arm at best. Why not just leave that thought balloon caught in the tree instead of building a hill, climbing it, then dying on it?
https://twitter.com/jimcallisMLB/status/1550504504960901120?s=20&t=qHEdgBqgOmNiKs35yE7Ysg
Straight to AA. Honestly not a huge jump from the SEC.
Curious if an aggressive placement like that has something to do with him taking under-slot. Like hey, we’re cutting your bonus but you will be closer to the bigs than any of our picks in return.
They just sat him down in a room, didn’t feed him for 90 minutes, then put a sandwich in front of him…. signed.
The literal “make him sweat” approach to negotiation
Not a huge jump from his hometown (Hoover 2 hrs) nor Auburn (3.5 hrs) to Rocket City (Huntsville) either.
Already a local hero, he’ll soon be rivaling Bo as the most famous Auburn grad.
Sonny D is the thicc King
And now a Thicc Trash Panda.
Great points. Davis Daniel had family close to Huntsville and loved it.
Do we really think this guy can contribute when not in the batters box?
Well, he played the field in college. He’s also in his early 20s, an “athlete” and is at least scientifically capable of losing some weight.. So yeah, he could be a 1B by the time we have to decide to pay Walsh or not.
https://twitter.com/jimcallisMLB/status/1550503026397429763?s=20&t=qHEdgBqgOmNiKs35yE7Ysg
Cheap n Evil!
SMH.
Yes, it’s only Bleacher Report – but they came out with their post-draft rankings of farm systems. Guess who’s number 30?
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10042595-updated-mlb-farm-system-rankings-after-2022-mlb-draft
But wait! Perry is doing a great job. How can this be?
So bad they’ll probably be 31st next time
Just hold your finger over the 3.
1st!
No, you mean…..
Not surprising and probably deserved. I think Minasian has *some* say over how much money the spend down there? Maybe take your savings from trading Thor, insurance on Rendon and re-build the scouting, development etc?
After some further thought on the subject, I have come to the conclusion that I personally would rather watch a team full of young prospect/talent play hard and lose than a team of overpaid “superstars” lose. It is just more interesting to me as a baseball fan. The idea of young players working hard to stick at the MLB level – and maybe a few of them excelling and becoming our next homegrown superstars. I mean if the team is going to lose, it would be more fun for me to watch the new generation.
I believe I would be less frustrated in a 70-92 team that was made up of young developing players than a 70-92 team that has Trout and Ohtani. Dont get me wrong, I would rather the team be 92-70 – but maybe with young players and revamping the farm system, they get there eventually.
The frustration of a nearly $200 million team that consistently loses is much, MUCH higher to me.
It was what I liked about them as a youth in the 90s. Felt like you were closer to the action and players made themselves available (for the most part) to enhance the experience.
Correct. You got to watch players develop and become better. You were able to go along on the journey – both good and bad. That to me is way more fun that this bloated, unsuccessful roster.
This is true. For a more than casual baseball fan it’s actually kind of fun to watch prospects fail over all, but improve…. like watching Luke Skywalker try to lift his X-Wing. You can dream on young players…. you can’t do that with overpaid stars. A team with a strong farm is also just plain a better long term contender than a team with a strong revenue stream and that’s fun to watch develop… it’s the actual reason the Astros are good.
This is actually why I semi-follow the Tigers. I really like Spencer Torkelson (just demoted), Riley Greene, all their pitching prospects, etc and I love the idea of them all coming up together and beating on AL East teams.
Prospect team > Failed FA team for sure. Though, uh…. you do have to put up with some 2022 Tigers action.
The Rockies and Zack Veen…. they are building from the bottom up in an attempt to take on the heavies in that division. So are the D-Bags for that matter, though not as well I think. But yeah, I wouldn’t mind if the Angels did this at all.
Also, it will drive away “I demand a winner” and “Trout window” guy. Love that.
Yep. Part of what made 2002 so special was watching Salmon, Anderson, Glaus and Ersty all come through the system and develop. It took about 7 years but throughout that time you got to connect with the young players and form bonds that are impossible by just hiring a FA and having them wear your team’s laundry over another team’s laundry. Because that is what it is after all – just different laundry. We hate some dude hitting a HR wearing Yankees’ laundry but love him if he is wearing Angels’ laundry when that same guy hits a HR after coming to the Angels by way of FA. As an example, I still loved and rooted for Figgins when he went to Seattle. But Teixera was just a dude who played some games in Angels’ laundry and then left – never felt any connection with him.
It also makes you enjoy lesser players more. Like Todd Frazier on the Reds back in the day. Best player? Nope, not at all. But holy crap did Reds fans love “the Mayor of The Nati”.Or the way my older friend from Pitt still loves Manny Sanguillen.
If we learn to love a bunch of guys while they grow and develop, instead of just shitwhipping anything that has to do with a GM that Arte has hired, then you enjoy the game both before and after the team succeeds.
I actually WANT to keep Shohei. But this is why I’ll be OK if, for some reason, the Angels go full sell off instead.
I completely agree. A young team that loses together also tends to grow together. Look at Baltimore right now and what they have done. They look like they are on their way to being a very strong team in the coming years. As much as I dislike the Astros they have done a phenomenal job of not only drafting the right players but also developing them. These teams were bottom feeders for a handful of years but made excellent draft picks and here we are watching them flourish while we stink.
I truly believe we will continue to underachieve as long as we try to piece things together the way we have. The winning formula has been shown over and over again yet this franchise completely ignores it and continues to try and do things in a way that never works. Hopefully one day the Angels brass (honestly just Arte) will see that the way to winning is drafting smart, developing the farm system, and infusing the young talent with a few solid veterans. That formula leads to success, there’s just no way around it.
So Neto signed for almost $1M under slot and DiCiara signed for 150k under slot.
Who is the over-slot pick we’re trying to lure into signing?
Ah, I see Madden was 450k over slot. So there’s one.
The high schooler Caden Dana will want a big over pay . Heβs already committed to Kentucky
Caden Dana. Heβll get paid handsomely and then play a year with his brother.
The Rangers signed Brock Porter. So their draft was basically Rocker, Porter, and some chaff. Plus Leiter last year, that makes for some pretty good gambling on top of the rotation arms.
Texas putting on their big boy pants. Got to admire it.
Man… they better have at least one of those guys turn out to be good though….
I was really surprised they managed to knock Neto down by a whole million since he was taken at his general slot prediction.
Iβd assume the Angels reached out and knew his number before drafting him.
Stupid Arte.
Cheap. Evil. No plan. All plan. Evil plan.
I blame Andrew
Andrew plan.
Statues?
interesting article in the NYT (paywall) today about ball players statues, and mainly to the point that Dave Winfield doesn’t have one and gets razzed by his fellow HOFers about it. (Obvious why, he moved around too much).
Seems like about half the teams have statues to honor players. Lots of players have statues too.
IIRC, Angels don’t (one of Gene though – inside the gate).
Still waiting for them to retire Salmon’s # let alone a statue but he’d be a great choice for the first one. Fregosi/Ryan too. Maybe Vlad is the priority since he’s the first with the Halo in HOF.
do we need some statues?
Yesβ¦Maybe GA and Salmon kick it off. Too bad we wonβt have a new stadium to put them in.
Right now, SF, LA, SD have statues in California.
A’s don’t but they are planning them for their new park.
Love them but not Statue type careers.
The Ryan one in TX is lame – he’s just doffing his cap lol
I’m sure Angels could do much better.
Fregosi & Ryan to start, plus you get the synergy of them being traded for one another. Bobby Grich (be nice to do it while he is still around).
Dave Winfield was at the ASG and was approachable and great ambassador for the game⦠which of the teams he played on would be most likely to have a statue.
Similar note, interesting with Trout wearing Guerreroβs number and heβs our only HoF representative. So are they going to retire both players jerseys? Ohtani/Erstad?
You want to know why I’m glad we extended Trout? This statue conversation.
You know your team’s got a pretty pathetic history if you’re building statues of Tim Salmon, Jim Fregosi and Nolan “He Played 8 out of 27 Years Here” Ryan in front of your stadium.
Ryan played only 5 seasons in TX.
Here is a comprehensive list of baseball team statues though its a bit dated
Angels have one of Michelle Carew (RIP) too
Yes. The Rangers are pathetic.
this would make a good statue for them
http://media.nj.com/yankees_main/photo/10192400-large.jpg
Agree,, pathetic history of HOFers. But Trout will need one. Thatβs it.
A 50′ Rally Monkey Statue, holding 10 ft long thundersticks would work for me.
I canβt get behind a Ryan statue – seems a bit humiliating to build him a statue after donning a Rangers cap for the HOF. Building one for Salmon or GA seems humbling, as weβd probably be the only team with a statue for our best player – who isnβt even in the HOF.
However, a statue with GA AND Salmon might make sense – honoring them together, noting the WS season.
Or we just wait for the obvious Trout statue.
Salmon was good but not great. Not statue worthy in my opinion. Same goes for GA. Do we really need statues? A beer stand would suit me better until a HOFer comes along.
I want Arte to build a giant statue of Arte. Holy F888 would I enjoy that. Which one of the daddy issue folks on this site would be the first to light themselves on fire in front of it? We could start a deadpool….
How about just some busts instead ?
Statue? We don’t need a Statue.
Trout giant Bobblehead for the Win!
I would definitely do without any statues.
Neto also came by the Big A to sign his contract. From MLB reporter Jim Callis:
1st-rder Zach Neto signs with @Angels
for $3.5 million (pick 13 slot = $4,412,500). @GoCamelsBSB
SS, first 1st-rder in Campbell history, career .403 hitter, outstanding bat-to-ball skills, strong arm (up to 93 mph as a reliever). @MLBDraft
I tried to post the tweet but I guess the site administrators still have me on restriction.
But this is huge. PTP and cheap Arte now have at least $912,000 in additional dollars along with about $350,000 in buffer overage to go over slot to sign the high schooler Dana and his big brother.
Sorry. WordPress does this to comments with tweets but too few words, or comments with multiple links. Then you are stuck until the next time one of us logs in to correct it. You are not restricted personally Cowboy. The machine thought you were a spambot.
Thanks for the explanation Charles. I guess Iβve been called worse
You and twebur often post quick hits with tweets that have to be approved before they appear on the thread.
Depending on how busy we are, that time varies.
“What savings?” – you, July 18.
I know this is petty, but I need to remind you of that enormous, self-assured leak you took on my post on Day 2 of the draft last week, when I floated precisely this scenario. You even pooh-pooh’d the concept of the Halos signing some of those college seniors to $10K contracts to create buffer, which any draft follower knows is routine. (They signed two at $7.5K, as you know now).
But hey you’re obviously very confident and well-informed, so keep it up.
Not sure why you’re taking a victory lap. Am I shocked that some of the day 2 signings took pennies below their slot value? Yes. But if you looked at all of my posts**, my main point was that without a round 2 selection , the only way the Angels were going to sign their chosen High school pitcher that they took in the 11th round (Caden Dana who got $1,497,500) was to get a significant discount from their #1 pick Neto. And SHAZAAM! look what happened Zach Neto signed for $912,000 waaaay below slot when no-one else picked around him agreed to that kind of discount ( other than Rocker of course)
Actually if you look at the signing breakdowns the college senior savings were really needed for the Joyce & Madden Signings who commanded a combined $815,000 (which was unbeknownst to me but certainly not for you Grichadamus) But unfortunately it will probably not leave any room at the Inn for our 15th round pick Bryce Osmond.
If you want to still pat yourself on the back by all means go for it. But with our medical staff, it would be wise not to tear that rotator cuff.
**vvvvv See post right below this one vvvvv***
This is huge.
https://twitter.com/jimcallisMLB/status/1550481500725968896
Congratulations to PTP and Cheap Arte for getting this done. The slot savings of $912,000 plus the 5% overage will allow the Angels to go way over slot to sign the High Schooler Dana and is big brother.
Looks like one team actually did get a boost from the brawl.
DiPoto is laughing at the Angels for sure!
He who laughs last laughs best .. weβll be laughing in October when the Mariners shit the bed again .
Yeah – its hard to get too much of a laugh on that subject when the Angels suck so badly. But I get what you are saying. Rumor is M’s are pursuing Soto. Part of me hopes they get him but have to severely weaken their strong farm system to do so.
They’ve already graduated a bunch of the strong farm. They’ll still probably be top 10, but not super great now. I was shocked how bad the Astros farm is thought to be now….
Ah, but the servant waits while the master baits…..
Everyone laughs at the Angels……
Here’s my laugh back at the Quitter
Sho-ho-ho-ho-ho-hei!!
You mean getting players suspended and injured isnβt the best way to win?
Yeah, probably not the best of strategies.