Quintessentially, the Blowpen Blows it Badly

The Angels were going for the sweep against the Tigers. It didn’t mean much in the larger picture, the Angels still sucked after all. But, it would mean something for the players, they are human after all.

One of those said humans was the Sandy man himself. Patrick Sandoval went 5 innings, giving up just 1 run on 6 hits, striking out 4 and walking 1. However, per usual, it ended with a no decision for him.

One of the reasons for that no decision was the offense. While they did score, 3 runs in the first 6 innings isn’t amazing against this pathetic Tigers team. Still, Thaiss and Trout hit home runs, which was rather exciting on a hot day like today. And Ohtani got in for the action late too!

However, the real reason for the loss was the blowpen, with 3/4 of the arms out of it today giving up a run. Quijada in particular being horrible.

Highlighted Recap

Defense set the tone immediately, when, in the first, Squid made a great play.

Defense!

It was pitching and defense until the 4th, when Sandy gave up a solo shot.

1-0 Tigers

That was fine, as Thaiss responded in the bottom half with a 2 run blast.

Catchers who rake?

More defense in the 5th, as Rengifo has been doing a great job there at 3B as of late.

Been more valuable than Rendon…

Trout extended the lead, tying Ohtani for the HR lead of the team!

3-1 Angels!

It was needed, as the bullpen was in the game now and Wantz gave up a run.

Wantz…

Barria came in for the 7th, and blew it.

Tied game, sorry Sandy

Luckily, Ohtani was up first in the bottom half and got the lead right back!

4-3 Angels!

Herget had a shutdown 8th, setting up Quijada to save the game.

Aaaaand he blew it. He blew it. Quijada immediately blew it, giving up a home run to the leadoff man in the 9th.

Tied game

Then the NEXT guy hits one too.

5-4 Tigers

What the hell?! Thanks a lot, Q!

He couldn’t even finish the inning, and Weiss had to come in and keep it close. And he almost blew THAT.

Angels just had to come back to walk it off… again.

Despite Troutani going deep for the 22nd time (8th this year alone), the Angels were about to lose unless they could do even more. Like I said this morning, this team is top heavy.

However, Troutani struck out, leaving Rengifo as the last hope. He singled. Then, Ward walked. Maybe there was hope after all? Duffy pinch hit and nope, he struck out.

Angels lose, fail to sweep the Tigers. All because the Blowpen Blew it. Especially Q.

39 Comments
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tommyshalo
Trusted Member
2 years ago

With Gramps and the link below, Perry certainly needs to bring in even more ex-Cardinals guys to our club.
Or is it POBO or the fact that they don’t have an Oligarch…

https://twitter.com/MLBNetwork/status/1567511000974245888?t=cGZOYgT2wdef4icQhCOfAQ&s=19

Fansince1971
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  tommyshalo

Wait a second. You mean a former Angel is doing better in a Cardinals uniform? Like – the Cards have a way of getting the most of their players? I have never heard such analysis before. Sarcasm of course. Yes – we have all come to expect former Angels to have a much better go of things as a Cardinal.

Brent
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

And shitty when they go from the Cards to the Angels.

WallyChuckChili
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Brent

Adam Kennedy?

JackFrost
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

Remember Andrew Heaney ?

He spent years with us trying to find himself. Now, in half a season with the Dodgers he has discovered himself to be an All Star caliber pitcher.

Hmmmm…………

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  JackFrost

But still a completely broken man

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
2 years ago

If you have a reason to deny Shohei Ohtani, the MVP imho the MVP, because you are clueless as to what a two-way player is in MLB, then just shut the fuck up. Karros was Tommy’s boy, the same evaluator of talent that thought Pedro was too small. OK, the West Coast is never considered as good as the East Coast, LA is not better the East Coast NYC, and an Angel cannot be as good as a Yankee, well then you do not know how hard it is to play baseball. The evaluation of Karros talent is very welcomed in Chicago’s South side. Point is no one in history has done what Shohei has accomplished. not even the greatest MLB player ever, BABE RUTH.

DowningDude
Legend
2 years ago

Goddammit Eric Karros puts me into a rage. Listening to his diatribe during Padres / D-Backs and I nearly put my fist thru the television.

“I’m picking Judge for MVP – If Ohtani hadn’t done what he did last year and this was the first year doing it – then he is MVP, but he’s done it already … he did all this already last year, so the novelty has worn off”

Other announcer: “Are you penalizing Ohtani?”

“yes the novelty has worn off”

More from Karros:
“Forget the performance … Judge turned down $200M before the season and has gone out and played at a level he hasn’t done before”

Gawd the man has terrible takes.

FungoAle
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  DowningDude

I won’t watch a game Karros calls. Smug SOB.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  DowningDude

I bet when Karros comments on online boards he just mentions the five players that currently squat in his mind and then throws some emojis down. So his logic is that Ohtani is doing exactly what earned him the MVP last year, only maybe better by the end of the year, thus making him not the MVP…. great.

I get it. I’m not a total homer. Judge is on a winner AND he is as good or better than Ohtani. I can blubber about amazing uniqueness and sexy thighs all I want, but Judge has a friggin OPS+ over 200 right now… that’s shit you see from a guy with 40 ABs. He’s got 8+ total WAR and is more than a point ahead of Ohtani right now. If a douche like Karros just said that Ohtani’s awesome but he just thinks Judge is a little better this year fine, I can live with that. But instead he has to say something stupid.

Fansince1971
Legend
2 years ago

So, Karros’ logic is Ohtani is not the MVP because he was the MVP last year and he is basically doing the same unbelievable and historic thing this year? That is a really weak ass take.

If a player is a 12 WAR player one season and wins the MVP and is a 12.5 WAR player the next season, is he not the MVP because he did it the season before?

Look – I can understand someone saying that Judge should be MVP this season. But base that on what Judge has done, not Ohtani having another unbelievable season but, ho hum, he did it last year.

Very weak take from a very feeble mind.

Last edited 2 years ago by Fansince1971
FungoAle
Legend
2 years ago

Judge is having a great season, he gets to 60+ homers and 400 total bases, he’s MVP. No player has reached 400 total bases since Sammy Sosa (425), Luis Gonzalez (419), Barry Bonds (411) and Todd Helton (402) each did it in 2001. LOL…2001 Season of the Roids There will be some voters who will select Judge just on the simple fact they voted Shohei last year.

2GA2Join
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

Ohtani is hands down the MVP for me. I agree that the “novelty” stuff or “Ohtani fatigue” is a horrible way to vote.

If you take Judge off the Yankees, sure, they aren’t as dominant this year, but they still do well.

If you take Ohtani off the Angels this year, can you imagine how incredibly bad this team would have been? Perhaps #30.

Plus just looking at his performance vs Judge. Ohtani is doing something that is super-unicorn, never been done. Judge is another power outfielder. There have been tons of those.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  2GA2Join

See, this is why I don’t bag on Tigers fans and their MVP award to Cabrerra for winning the 3Crown. Many of us are doing the same thing they did re Trout that year…. namely, ignoring the numbers and coming up with “intangible” reasons he was the MVP.

If everybody continues along as is Judge is just plain better than Ohtani this year and that’s by more than one WAR. That’s not a small amount. I’m OK with that. Judge FINALLY lived up to the hype for a season. Good for him. Ohtani will still likely have a 9+ WAR season, that’s fantastic and I’d rather watch him pitch but that’s just my personal preference.

FungoAle
Legend
2 years ago

The current Vegas odds have dropped a bit on Judge getting MVP but still has a margin; -1000 and +550 for Ohtani. Down from -1200 a week ago or so. Trout is +50000. It’s a two man race.

If you guys are so sure Ohtani is in the lead and will win, drop some dimes on him. Decent odds at this late juncture.

Fansince1971
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

6 to 1 on Ohtani is pretty decent!

matthiasstephan
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

I am watching the numbers, hoping Trout finishes top 5 in the MVP race. Possible?

DaveChalk
Trusted Member
2 years ago

Can I request that Thaiss start every day at C? Ive seen enough compared to the alternative. Lol

FungoAle
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  DaveChalk

Wallach < Max Mendoza < Thaiss

Cowboy26
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

Wallach < Max Mendoza < Thaiss< O’Hoppe

FungoAle
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

I’ll see your Wallach < Max Mendoza < Thaiss < O’Hoppe and raise you ….< Quero

WallyChuckChili
Legend
2 years ago

We will not lose tomorrow!

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
2 years ago

So close to seeing the shufflebot. Still, the drive to 85 is still alive!

Fansince1971
Legend
2 years ago

The drive to 85 will end in Houston, I am afraid. As will the more to 84 and the flee to 83 and the shoo to 82.

Then the shun to 81 and the crater to 80-er in Cleveland.

Fansince1971
Legend
2 years ago

All that matters to social media is that Trout and Ohtani homered.

WallyChuckChili
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

And the joke that those two did good while the Angels lost.

Fumid346
Member
2 years ago

Go get Hader. At least show you’re trying

steelgolf
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Fumid346

Header has had some clunkers too.

steelgolf
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  steelgolf

Hader

James
Trusted Member
2 years ago

Very sparse looking crowd there. Decent closer added to the list for next year I reckon.

JackFrost
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  James

Yeah, the day after we traded Raisel I made the point that Quijada was not Closer material.

Today pretty much showed why. We DO need a legitimate Closer.

Charles Sutton
Editor
Super Member
2 years ago

It’s nice to see Thaiss turning into a useful ball player.

smithy610
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Charles Sutton

I know he was never a blue chip prospect, but the Angels also did him no favors by moving him all around the field, not knowing or firmly deciding where to stick him. Plus not really enough, continuous ABs over the years to really show whether he can make it or not.

I won’t mind if he’s the main back-up catcher next season and O’Hoppe has an otherwordly spring training and gets the starting job and Stassi gets cut. It looks like they’re finally decided he should be average enough at catcher with the occasional 1st or 3rd base relief.

Last edited 2 years ago by smithy610
JackFrost
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  smithy610

I don’t get it : Thaiss hits one HR and people are ready to dump Stassi.

Most people place waaaay too much emphasis on offensive production from the catcher position and not enough on defense and how he handles the pitchers. How did Thaiss do with that? I would say not so well considering the worst offensive team in MLB scored 5 runs against our staff with Thaiss at the dish.

Having a very good defensive catcher is more important than a guy who is comparatively poor on D but better offensively. This is why the first place Astros have had Maldonado catching most of their games this season despite his sub .200 batting average.

Last edited 2 years ago by JackFrost
FungoAle
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  JackFrost

Stassi should be dumped. Overweighted contract, thanks Minasian. .

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  JackFrost

I’m with you on this. Stassi’s had a pretty bad case of the sads this year. I think he’d still be fine, better defense and offense than he’s had this year, if he were just in a deeper line up and the team was less of a bummer.

May as well let o’hoppe develop at AAA next year a little, let Stassi get a fresh start, see if he can round into form with Thaiss as back up.

Speaking of O’Hoppe, I was watching some defensive footage of him and listening to a scout guy on YouTube. Turns out he’s kind of a defensive stud, so that’s a bonus, said of the top 10 catching prospects (Logans #7) O’Hoppe and Langoliers are pretty much neck and neck for big boy defense polish. That’s nice.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Charles Sutton

Yeah. That’s a nice bonus. How is his actual catching? I have yet to see him do it with my Lylin Eyes.

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend

Herget should stayed in to close it