Sandoval Shuts Out Tigers. Angels win 1-0.

Slow down, guys. It is a Friday afternoon. No need to breeze through half the game before most of us get off work.

But that is exactly what happened. Patrick Sandoval was looking like the young gun we’d hoped he’d be, cruising through 5 innings on 54 pitches with worm burners galore. He allowed a couple of base runners over that time but did induce two double plays and nearly a third.

This game started as being all about the return of Trout and he delivered a knock early.

But the night would end with Sandoval as the hero and Manning as a tough luck loser as he also dealt.


Matt Manning was the guy I wanted to trade Adell for in every off season piece for the last few years, mowing through the Angels lineup early. Of course it helps when that lineup features Adell, Rojas, Suzuki as a bottom third.

Offense? Yeah there was one play.

That was it until the late stages of the game. One run on one swing of the bat to make it 1-0 Angels in the second and that run held for the rest of the game.

Manning left after seven with the solo shot to Walsh as his only blemish. Be only gave up 3 hits total.

But the man of the night was clearly Patrick Sandoval. He was mixing his pitches well, throwing strikes, and getting agead of nearly every hitter.

Normally the change up is Sandoval’s best pitch. Tonight the slider was nearly unhittable. And he used it nearly a third of the time.

Hats of to the trio of Tigers who combined for 9 innings of 3 hit ball. But the three of them combined were no match for Sandoval tonight.

Complete game shutout. 4 hits with 3 of those base runners erased by double plays. 10 times he got ahead 0-2.

Dominance.

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Angels2020Champs
Legend
1 year ago

Is this the Saturday day game thread?

smithy610
Super Member
1 year ago

I’ve been really impressed with Sandy this season. Even on those games where he didn’t have his best stuff, if the offense had some semblance of competence in them, he could have easily won those games, or at least take a no-decision.

YOUknowulovetheIE
Trusted Member
1 year ago

If reid and sandoval continue to pitch well, shouldn’t they pitch every 5 days next season? Less games pitched = less opportunity for wins. Just a thought.

Fansince1971
Legend
1 year ago

Sandoval fits in very nicely as a #3 or #4 starter. Detmers projects as a #3. Ohtani is a solid #2. Lorenzen is a #5. Suarez is a #5.

From a pitching perspective I think the team is pretty well set in the #3-#5 spots.

What is missing from a playoff team perspective is a true #1 and a #2 (unless Ohtani stays).

And of course the bullpen is somewhat of a mess.

Hopefully some of that young pitching in AA can fill the bullpen holes and Perry can focus on finding one FA pitcher who will make a significant difference.

Team just needs to get a little luckily and have some of these kids in the system evolve into productive major leaguers.

h27kim
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

Sandoval and Detmers probably have higher upside than #3, but yes, it’s not wise to get carried away on “upsides.”

The bullpen picture is depressing. We’ve gotten burned by dumpster diving, free agency, and, at least some of the in house candidates. But what else is there to do?

JackFrost
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

Ummm, I don’t know what you have been smoking but Ohtani is a # 1.

He is an Ace my friend. He is in the top tier of SP in MLB. Have you been watching this season at all ??

smithy610
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  JackFrost

Yeah, that was some take. Maybe if Ohtani was exclusively a pitcher, then some people would appreciate the ace #1 pitcher that he is more?

h27kim
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  JackFrost

Ohtani is #1 ability wise (and results, too, actually for this year) but can he reliably stay there if he is also a full time hitter? I think that’s really where all “Ohtani’s not really #1” takes come from, I think. If he’s one thing or the other, he is either one of top five premiere power hitters (or even 3) today OR one of top five (or even 3…this is a bit tougher call) starters today. But one can’t really say he is definitely one in either dimension knowing that he is “distracted” by the other.

Last edited 1 year ago by h27kim
GrandpaBaseball
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  JackFrost

ACE yes, Top Tier needs a check in with the Hulu Girls to verify.

Fansince1971
Legend
1 year ago

Again – maybe we just need a definition comparison. I don’t consider a pitcher an Ace until they have shut down a team in the playoffs such as Verlander or Scherzer.

Until then my maximum is 1-2 which I’m willing to bend to give Ohtani.

Kershaw was not an Ace to my definition until he started winning in the playoffs and put the team on his back.

Last edited 1 year ago by Fansince1971
JackFrost
Super Member
1 year ago

It depends upon how many pitchers you would put in your Top Tier. For me that constitutes the top 5 or 6 starters in baseball. Ohtani is definitely in that group. Top 3 would be a different story…

WallyChuckChili
Legend
1 year ago

Hannah here

Fansince1971
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  JackFrost

I’m not sure Ohtani is quite there – I’m willing to say a 1-2.. until I see him pitch in a playoff game and shut down a team for 7 or 8 innings in that setting, I can’t give him the ‘Ace’ designation.

But yes he’s been impressive this season. And add in his bat and new words have to be considered to describe him.

Last edited 1 year ago by Fansince1971
smithy610
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

But being in the playoffs isn’t quite in his control. All Ohtani could control is how he pitches. And he’s pitched so well this year. If that run of 5 games of 10+ Ks and sub 1.00 ERA in June-July wasn’t ace-like, I don’t know what is.

He could have had 2-3 more wins if the offense was competent enough in some games.

But yes, that’s your take.

Fansince1971
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  smithy610

I get what you’re saying. My definition is just a little bit different. To be a true ACE pitcher to me, you have to have put your team on your back and win a playoff game. Again though, everybody’s entitled to their own definition.

I have a different definition for a #1 than I have for an “ACE”.

As I said, I’m willing to designate him as a 1-2, which is calling him the lead of the staff. But I’m not willing to use the “A” word unless he single-handedly put a team on his shoulders and wins a playoff game.

As an example, a pitcher who goes 18-2 with a 1.2 ERA who chokes in the playoffs might be a #1 but is not an ACE in my book.

JackFrost
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

If you are using that as your definition of ace then there would not be many guys in that group. For example, what about guys who have been dominant at times in the last few years, but have dropped off? I mean what would you say about a guy like Blake Snell of the Padres ? Is he still an ace?

Stuff-wise Ohtani is Top 3 in ALL MLB. The problem with requiring that he have “proved” it in a playoff game is that he would be punished for the organization and the team around him being bad. That is not a fair way to assess his status as a starting pitcher.

Last edited 1 year ago by JackFrost
AllenB
Super Member
1 year ago

It’s a good thing we were playing one the worst teams in MLB. Crappy tigers and we could only manage 3 hits!! This offense is as bad as I’ve ever seen.

JackFrost
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  AllenB

Okay, so you will completely ignore the dominant pitching of Sandoval ????

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago

The Angels now tied for the team lead in the AL with the completion of their 14th shutout of the Season.

If only we could hit the ball.

2002heaven
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

So that’s supposed to mean where not as bad as we think.
Once again to quote Bill Parcells “You are what your record says you are” We don’t field, hit or pitch well, other than that, were pretty good…….LOL!!!

Last edited 1 year ago by 2002heaven
WallyChuckChili
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  2002heaven

*we’re

Twebur
Legend
1 year ago

Another 2 way player finding his way on the mound…
https://www.milb.com/player/kenyon-yovan-668719

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Twebur

I think hes done with hitting.

2002heaven
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Twebur

A 27th Rd pick………By Us No Less!!!
Not the Dodgers, Guardians, Astros, Rays or A’s.
Sorry, but I’m not his Mom and Dad.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
1 year ago

Sandy decided keeping the BP away from the game was for the best.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
1 year ago

St. Patty’s dealin’!!!!!

Fansince1971
Legend
1 year ago

Angels starting pitching is pretty decent.

That is all.

2002heaven
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

Yes, against the A’s, Tigers
The Mariners really liked our pitching too.

JackFrost
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  2002heaven

Yes, and the umpires had nothing to do with the outcome of that Mariners series, especially the number of runs they scored, lol.

Last edited 1 year ago by JackFrost
Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  2002heaven

Really? Because the last time Detmers & sandy faced the vaunted Mariners offense they only gave up only 1 ER in 12-1/3 innings. If that’s loving a pitcher they’re in for for a lot of broken hearts.

Last edited 1 year ago by Cowboy26
red floyd
Legend
1 year ago

I suspect that Sandy said, “No F***ING way am I going to let Loup or Tepera throw this away. I am going the distance!”

steelgolf
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  red floyd

Don’t leave out our Tank Commander closer, Jesse Chavez!

red floyd
Legend
1 year ago

Oh a CGSO, well, there’s always tomorrow… wait, WHAT? WE did the shutting out????? Is that allowed?

red floyd
Legend
1 year ago

comment image

JackFrost
Super Member
1 year ago

Other than a comeback win when scoring 3 or more runs in the 9th inning to win it, this kind of game, namely a 1-0 pitchers duel is the best way to win. You cannot be sloppy and win 1-0. You have to play clean and obviously you have to pitch great. The Angels did both of those things.

Here’s to those wonderful 1-0 wins !!!

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago

After going nearly 4 years without one, the Angels now have 2 complete game shutouts this season. In some ways I think Sandy’s game tonight was more impressive than Reids no no back in May. Sandy was on the road and he had to know that he had absolutely no margin for error just to get a win. Reid only had 2 strikeouts while Sandy struck out 9 including a stretch where he struck out 5 in a row.

Our pitching future is very bright. When was the last time we could say that? But we got a lot of work to do with this offense.

Last edited 1 year ago by Cowboy26
VladimirTrout27
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Crazy to think Sandoval was obtained by dealing Maldonado around deadline. But shrewd moves like that make you feel better during tough times

Last edited 1 year ago by VladimirTrout27
Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago

Maybe Billy didn’t get enough credit for parlaying suspects and lessor talent into quality acquisitions. I show Andrelton, Yunel Escobar, Machete, Rengifo, Stassi, Tommy LaStella and of course Sandy were all really good trades for us.

I know I sound like a broken record but his downfall was free agent signings and drafting/player development.

VladimirTrout27
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

calculated moves definitely. Looking back you’re talking about hitters, when the Angels lacked pitchers. Now they have pitchers and lack hitters. The org has done a terrible job at stabilizing both sides and investing their payroll appropriately. This year they were a team that resembles, death by a thousand papercuts. Losing games by little here and little there. Consider that had borderline major league players and went through huge offensive dips, and were still in games. So go back and consider if they tinkered here and there and brought in er scouted properly like players you mentioned who could factor then yeah. But that’s the mess that this org is in.

Last edited 1 year ago by VladimirTrout27
Fansince1971
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

That is why the mob/torch mentality rarely makes sense. Moves require hindsight for meaningful evaluation. .

Last edited 1 year ago by Fansince1971
2002heaven
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

We never had a winning season on his watch, besides we’re down to Reid Detmers and Shohei Ohtani as the only players of substance.

h27kim
Trusted Member
1 year ago

Where’s 2002 when we pull a steal?

WallyChuckChili
Legend
1 year ago

Angels Win!
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steelgolf
Super Member
1 year ago

Wait…….. what??????? An Angels pitcher pitched more than 4 1/3 innings?

John Henry Weitzel
Editor
Super Member
1 year ago

A great birthday present

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steelgolf
Super Member
1 year ago

Happy Birthday JHW!

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
1 year ago

The future is not completely bleak for the starting core next season, Shohei (May be?), Sandy, and Detmers and Suarez along with Lorenez.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago

And Davidson

FungoAle
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Best suited as a low leverage RP. But we’ll see soon enough. Will need to bring on one more talented FA SP not named Syndergaard.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  FungoAle

Yes we will.

FungoAle
Super Member
1 year ago

Would we even want Lorenzen next season? Pretty underwhelming stats. Pass.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  FungoAle

When he went down, he had most innings pitched and wins, so do we want him? We have him signed and do we ever have our selves enough quality starters? Thor for 8-9 mil would be a great addition.

tommyshalo
Trusted Member
1 year ago

Great outing again!
He’s been really effective despite that 4-8 record that doesn’t look so neat.
We really need the bats to provide more support especially for him so that he doesn’t need a CGSO to finally get the first W in three months.
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JackFrost
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  tommyshalo

That 4-8 record is due primarly to the fact that the offense has done practically nothing for him in games he starts. He did have a couple of bad games, but over the course of the whole season having only two or three bad games is really excellent pitching.