LA Angels Wednesday News Crash: One last Week

Good morning Angels fans, one last week left in the season. Have some links.

Angels News

Angels won last night. Yay~

Bob “Boob” Nightengale writes about Ben Verlander’s Fox Sports show about Shohei Ohtani coming out OCT 18th. An awkward attempt to get Angels fans to watch the playoffs.

Neto is in the Top 100 prospects! That is now 2 for the Angels.

O’Hoppe is now at AAA! For a few games…

Jose Suarez has change his pitch mixup in the second half and looks much better. THROW MORE SLIDERS WORKED.

Sam Blum wrote an $$Athletic Article$$ on the 10 moments for the 2022 Angels. They are all bad, from firings, to corruption, to injury.

Arte Moreno still hasn’t sold the Angels yet, but he has 10/1 odds on buying the Phoenix Suns.

Around Baseball

Hurricane Ian is causing issues down south. Baltimore has a minor leauge team there and have evacuated their players.

Twins won’t make the playoffs, but will get a new scoreboard and uniforms. Still needs a roof.

Ohtani and Judge will finish 1 and 2 in AL MVP in some fashion, angering a ton of fans no matter what, but who is 3rd? Trout would be a funny pick considering how much time he lost.

Fangraphs takes a dig at the Oakland Coliseum. When will their new stadium get made anyway?

Anything I missed? Post below for upvotes.

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Rahul Setty
Admin
Trusted Member
2GA2Join
Super Member
2 years ago

Our starting lineup includes Rengifo, O’Hoppe, Thaiss, Moniak and Soto.

Put that in a time machine and send it back to CtPG in early May 2022.
We’d all be “What …!”

BannedInLA
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  2GA2Join

CtPG ???

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  BannedInLA

once I was in a usenet group called “insults” and somebody said something rude to me and I got angry and then somebody asked me if I knew where I was.

Charles Sutton
Editor
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  BannedInLA

Acronym- Crashing the Pearly Gates

BannedInLA
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Charles Sutton

Geez, I’m a dip sh*t for missing that one. There goes my career in cryptology.

Angels2020Champs
Legend
2 years ago

O’Hoppe on debut!!

Mia
Legend
Mia
2 years ago

Watch out, MLB. We’re gonna have our big three healthy to end the season. Lmao.

https://twitter.com/JeffFletcherOCR/status/1575250361039802368?s=20&t=mXInhpkGB-eP4gWPfEuNdA

WallyChuckChili
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Mia

We have to play one man short during the suspension?

There goes the Season!

red floyd
Legend
2 years ago

I’d send someone down from the pen.

Cowboy26
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  red floyd

Whose going to play first? Stassi?

Charles Sutton
Editor
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

I reckon it will be Thaiss, although Duffy or Fletcher could probably do it in a pinch. First Base Legend Justin Upton has ridden off into the sunset.

Last edited 2 years ago by Charles Sutton
Eric_in_Portland
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

well for a major league player he’s kind of short.

FungoAle
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Mia

Let’s hope those 3-games show us something to salivate on until pitchers and catchers report

Mia
Legend
Mia
2 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

I won’t be holding my breath!

2002heaven
Super Member
2 years ago

comment image
Nice job Mikey (Mike Elias Baltimore Orioles GM HIRED AWAY FROM THOSE EVIL PUPPY & KITTEN EATING HOUSTON ASTROS!!!!) BTW also a Yale grad NOT A UNIV OF ARIZONA OR TEXAS AT AUSTIN GRAD…………
2021 Orioles record 52-110———-> current record 2022 80-74……..A 30 GAME IMPROVEMENT!!!!!!
 😡  😡  😡  😢  😢  💩  💩 

Last edited 2 years ago by 2002heaven
gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  2002heaven

And still, Arte is just plain a better person than you in pretty much every way. It must drive you nuts.

FungoAle
Legend
2 years ago

LOL

Cowboy26
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  2002heaven

Now if only your new BFF’s young dirty Bards can overtake Jerry kids this season would be complete.

Come on Baltimore all you got to do is win these last 8 games and the M’s will fold like a cheap suit.

BannedInLA
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  2002heaven

He looks like the dude that Skylar was briefly banging in Breaking Bad.

smithy610
Super Member
2 years ago

Even though the Angels farm system hasn’t been great according to experts, I’m really excited for the pipeline:

O’Hoppe, Nieto, Quero, Murphy, and others

Maybe not blue-chip prospects but if they play well for the team that’s all that matters.

Maybe not all is lost for next season.

FungoAle
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  smithy610

Attach some of these to get rid of Rendon. Thinking the Giants would jump in, ala Zack Cozart.

I was a large fan of the Rendon signing but I was wrong. A man has got to know his limitations.

AnAngelsFan
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

Giving away prospects to dump Rendon might benefit Arte’s pocketbook, but how would that be good for the fans or the team’s playoff chances? The team already has too many holes to fill and not enough money to do it. Ditching prospects that may eventually fill some holes would just make the team more dependent on overpriced free agents.

2002heaven
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  AnAngelsFan

We need to accept reality.
A rebuild will in fact probably be a very painful rebuild, because of the bad decisions concerning draft strategy and financial constraints (ask the two Gods of CTPG since they they think they know everything). We can have a very good farm system again just as we once did during the 2000’s decade, it just won’t happen in one year however.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  2002heaven

Can I be a god? I want that. Can I wear a cool headdress?

And yes. We need a painful rebuild… or we can go with all the unicorn ranchers that think we can just always get a new owner who will show us his committballs by infusing MOAR CASH every winter until he doesn’t.

Cowboy26
Legend
2002heaven
Super Member
2 years ago

Sure in your own mind.
Ask Markatorr………but you and Kowboi don’t have a excuse for why and how a team that lost 110 games last year zoomed right past us like we were standing still………PED’s, trash cans, hidden cameras? 😜  😜 
$65M>>>>>>>ours $180M 💩  💩  😩 
 💪  💪  💪  💪 

Marcotor
Trusted Member
2 years ago
Reply to  2002heaven

IF ONLY WE HAZ A POBO, WE WOULD WIN THE WORLD SERIES 3X A YEAR!

Cowboy26
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  2002heaven

You need to accept your diagnosis.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  AnAngelsFan

We’d likely only do that if it’s a full on reset. It would be part of a mass exodus that sees us get prospects for Ohtani, Sandoval, Ward, Rengifo and other players with value. Trade prospects or receive far less value in trades of Trout and Rendon. Probably even see Walsh, Fletcher and Stassi become deadline trades if they come back from injury and slump.

There wouldn’t/shouldn’t be any half measure BS where we trade one really expensive guy but carry on with Trout n Ohtani…. then you really are just sailing a yacht with holes.

I myself would actually enjoy watching a team build up from guys like Detmers and O’Hoppe even if the team sucks for a couple years. I’ll also enjoy watching CtPG watch that. Pain is weakness leaving the fan base.

2GA2Join
Super Member
2 years ago

“I’ll also enjoy watching CtPG watch that.”

I think I see you state that every single day now.

But then again, we all say the exact same things every day…

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  2GA2Join

not me. I say different stuff. Like I used to say the dream was alive for a winning season, then I said the dream was alive for a .500 season, and then I said…

FungoAle
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  AnAngelsFan

The key is to have a constant pipeline. I like the prospects but in the end, they really are only assets. None of these guys are 60+ grades (which is kind of low). Maybe the catcher Quero will turn into a nugget. I’d hold him as well as Silseth. Huge fan of Neto, I promoted him to be selected in the draft, I’d keep him but not likely to become a Bobby Witt Jr. I cannot get excited about a bullpen arm prospects; Murphy, Bachman, Kay…Torres.

Good GMs never fall in love with their prospects (aka Dombrowski). Dave was brought on to GM the Red Sox cuz Ben Cherrington was in love with his minors, did not have the stomach to go big. Dombrowski comes in and gives up 3-4 top prospects to get Chris Sale. Next year, World Series. Note: White Sox got no long term value out of Moncada or Kopech. Checkered career thus far. Prospects are assets to position the club for excellence.

I’d rather trade prospects and hang on to Trout and Ohtani.

2GA2Join
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

I think that if the front office knows that Ohtani wants to go to free agency in 2023 (like if they ask him behind closed doors), then the only move is to trade him now.

You only are giving up 2023 with him on the team. There is no way I’ll believe that having him on the team just for 2023 is worth more than the haul we’d receive, no matter how much you want to debate how good young players turn out to be. For every bust, there is a Clevenger too.

The only case where Ohtani on our team for 2023 contain enough value, is if we were a team in playoff contention, and he could put us over the top. Then you keep him. Seeing our performance for the past few years, that doesn’t look so likely. It would be too much of a risk to say “well THIS year I think it will happen all right…”.

Of course, if we get a new owner who comes in and is willing to shell out $300MM to make the team competitive instantly, then at the same time I’d venture to think that possibly Ohtani may choose to stay, which renders my original condition at the top moot.

Marcotor
Trusted Member
2 years ago
Reply to  2GA2Join

The Ohtani paradox is a question for the ages. How serious is Arte in “exploring” an Angel sale? And since it likely doesn’t close until sometime in 2023, would he saddle the new owner with a $150-160 millionish commitment to 4 players? And while anything can happen, the Angels don’t have quite the revenue streams of the big boys, so unless we get CohenBoner 2, a $300MM payroll is wishful thinking.

smithy610
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

I’m probably a fool, but I’m still hoping for a major bounce back from Rendon. Unlike Pujols, he’s never relied on power to hit. I think that type of hitting ages well. And he’s never played a full season of yet. But I kind of understand that everyone’s most likely done with him.

YOUknowulovetheIE
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  smithy610

He wasn’t playing the best, but the angels definitely started losing once he got injured.

RexFregosi
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  smithy610

Trading Rendon for prospects would severely hamper Trout’s playoff odds in the immediate future – bad idea.

h27kim
Trusted Member
2 years ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

Trading Rendon WITH prospects. Doubleplusungood.

FungoAle
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

I would be thrilled with prospects for Rendon but nobody will take him straight out. He is not exactly Nolan Arenado.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  smithy610

I agree. If he’s ever healthy I still think Rendon will be solid…. but even then we can bitch that he’s not Austin Riley.

FungoAle
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  smithy610

I’m a fan of Rendon but $38M for 4-more years? He better bounce back strong next year, when player misses significant time 2-years in a row, it is an extra large hill to climb or his career is in doubt. Look at all the prospects the Padres have traded, only 1 has become an all star.

Giants need a 3rd baseman and have payroll, go make it happen.

MarineLayer
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

Arturo knowing Rendon’s limitations?

2002heaven
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  MarineLayer

Rendon’s best days are probably behind him (2017-2019).
He’s over 30 and seems very brittle now, plus what other team is gonna take on his salary?

Cowboy26
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

Dumping cost controlled emerging prospects to get rid of an underperforming contract is idiotic. I have to believe that a new owner wont be into teardown mode and will spend the needed assets.

Besides Its not like Rendon is a serial killer and seems to be all liked by the team. hes been productive when healthy They need to try to continue to ride that horse warts and all.

2002heaven
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

comment image
 😆  😆  😆  😜  😜 

Cowboy26
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  2002heaven

Dillon Peters?

FungoAle
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Rendon is a boat anchor, disabling the longevity of the guys who do contribute Look at the great Will Wilson. If I could clear up $35M and attach Bachman and some other reliever, heartbeat.

Last edited 2 years ago by FungoAle
Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
2 years ago

Had a great night at the ballpark with AngelsChamps last night. Weather was perfect, we sat in the Brewery X area and had dinner. Fun game to watch. Rallies, defense. Angels win.

I’m going to really miss going to the ballpark after this week.

steelgolf
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Awesome! I will be at tonight’s game with my kid, his friend, and my nephew in the nosebleed 528 section. I think a warm night like tonight, calls for hot dog print shorts! 😁

Cowboy26
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  steelgolf

Or no shorts at all.

steelgolf
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Well, since I’m not Designer Guy, and I’ll only go so far in embarrassing my son, I’ll stick with the shorts!😆

red floyd
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  steelgolf

Oh, come on. Everyone knows that games are pants optional!

Or wear a kilt!

WallyChuckChili
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  red floyd

But a Sarong is so Right!

Charles Sutton
Editor
Super Member
2 years ago

Sari, not sari.

red floyd
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Charles Sutton

Way to skirt the issue.

ihearhowie3.0
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Going from Saint Archer to Brewery X was honestly the biggest Win the Angels put up all season.

FungoAle
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Win or lose…we booze!

Cowboy26
Legend
2 years ago

You’re right JHW. Especially after this tweet , Nightingale is a Boob.

https://twitter.com/BNightengale/status/1573517893915922438

Last edited 2 years ago by Cowboy26
Charles Sutton
Editor
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

If a frog had wings he wouldn’t bump his ass a’hoppin.

Cowboy26
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Charles Sutton

…..Or my name ain’t Nathan Arizona.

red floyd
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

And if my aunt had balls, she’d have been my uncle.

RexFregosi
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

if MLB had effectively stopped steroids in 2000, Casey Kotchman would have been a better 1B the next two decades than David Ortiz and Albert Pujols.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Injuries happen a lot more often in your 40s and 50s.

MarineLayer
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Hilarious comment, but where were the injuries this year?

smithy610
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  MarineLayer

If you’re strictly a platoon player, not playing everyday and not playing defense, it’s very hard to have injuries.

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

you know I love playing with stats. If Mike Trout played 162 games a year (except for his short call-up in 2011…make that the 40 he did play in), assuming no short covid season, at the rate he hits ’em he’d now have 450 HRs. If we give him a few days off per year so he played 155 he’d have 430. Also, if Squid hit a HR every other at-bat he’d now be over 240 for his career. Instead he has 10.

smithy610
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

If Albert had just hit more home runs in Anaheim, he would have been the HR king.

So simple! Why didn’t we think of that?!

steelgolf
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  smithy610

Remember how many games it took, with The Angels, to get his first home run?

smithy610
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  steelgolf

Shoot, even his first RBI was a measly groundout.

steelgolf
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  smithy610

A prophecy of the hundreds of rally killers to follow, during his time here.

red floyd
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  steelgolf

The GIDP (Grandpa into double play) king.

FungoAle
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Albert is right up there with Big Papi. Inflated with juice, just have not failed an official test post the Mitchell Report.

RexFregosi
Super Member
2 years ago

Third in AL MVP?

Giminez (CLE) my best choice after extensive research on my part for 10 minutes this morning.

But it could be TROUT.
The lineup hurts much more when Mike is out than when Shohei is out.

Altuve and Alvarez will get votes for HOU and also Ramirez (CLE), and the three pitchers (Verlander, Cease, Manoah).

BannedInLA
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

I’ve been kicking this around, too.

It would be quite an accomplishment for a player that might not have enough plate appearances to qualify.

As great as Trout is, he’s pretty much become a somewhat streaky, 1B/Groundout or HR/SO kind of player. I miss the the .300+ hitting, OBP terror that could still be counted on to rake 30-35 HR’s along the way.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
2 years ago

Soto may be just having beginner’s luck but is just so exciting to watch play. On the other hand, it would be something special to see him as the next Derek Jeter. Not all is upside down with the Halos the season. Soto joins in with Detmers, Sandoval, Adell, and Rengifo plus Ward’s arrival in showing us that there is hope in our future yet. 😀  😃  🙂 Oh Happy Days.

RexFregosi
Super Member
2 years ago

I think you meant “OHoppe Days!”

red floyd
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

Aaaiiiiiiiiiyyyy!

comment image

JackFrost
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26
Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
2 years ago

Had the chance to watch him live last night. And again he doesn’t look overmatched or overwhelmed at the plate at this level.

His slash lines in the minors had me thinking he’d be all glove and no bat. I’m happy to be wrong so far.

BannedInLA
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

We currently have the market cornered on .220 or lower hitters, hopefully we actually have something here.

Our infield would look quite nice with (a healthy) Rendon, Fletcher, Rengifo & Soto. If Soto could actually hold down the starters job at SS, Fletcher could revert to the “Super Sub” for multiple positions.

JackFrost
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  BannedInLA

Not really. If you actually take a look you’d find that alot of teams have .220 or lower hitters in their lineups…

Just for starters, the A’s have three such players in their lineup tonight.

Last edited 2 years ago by JackFrost
2002heaven
Super Member
2 years ago

comment image
Arthur Fonzarelli today

Last edited 2 years ago by 2002heaven
red floyd
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  2002heaven

And still one of the nicest guys around.

Mrs. red literally ran him over with a stroller at SJC, and he was so kind to her.

BannedInLA
Super Member
2 years ago

I agree with most of that, though the jury on Adell is very much out. It was nice to see him have a nice game last night and by all accounts I’ve read, he works hard and has a good attitude.

All that being said, if the Angels are holding on to Trout/Ohtani for 2023, we have to swing for the fences and sign multiple proven veterans – C, OF and 1B would be my priorities, along with significant BP pieces.

WallyChuckChili
Legend
2 years ago

So Soto will be giving out Gift Baskets?

steelgolf
Legend
2 years ago

I’d like to wish a Happy Birthday to a masthead member, the man, the myth, the legend, the blogger of many different things ……… Rev Halofan!!!!!!!!

Brent
Super Member
2 years ago

O’hoope is starting at catcher today. For the Angels.

Last edited 2 years ago by Brent
Charles Sutton
Editor
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Brent

It looks like they are going to actually take a look at what the guy can do.

RexFregosi
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Brent

Yes they said last night he was at the Big A and was on the Taxi Squad.

Said he’d been talking a lot already to Stassi and Suzuki.

Cowboy26
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

After watching those 2 clowns behind the plate, Is that wise?

RexFregosi
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

without a doubt, Suzuki and his 16 yrs pedigreed MLB career will be an asset.

red floyd
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

We have Pennywise and Krusty behind the plate???

WallyChuckChili
Legend
2 years ago
Reply to  red floyd

Bozo and Ronald McDonald?

red floyd
Legend
2 years ago

Nah, Bozo used to pitch for us.

Charles Sutton
Editor
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

Someone has to tell the kid how to work with today’s pitcher.

ihearhowie3.0
Super Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Brent

Not a bad idea to let him go through a big league prep, going over a gameplan with one of our guys.

Maybe its a debacle but a cool way to send him into the offseason with the jitters gone.