LA Angels Monday News Crash: WBC Final

Team USA defeated Cuba 14-2 to reach the final of the World Baseball Classic. Ben Joyce reached 104 MPH on his last pitch on Friday.

WBC Injuries

Let’s see. There’s Yoan Moncada and Nolan Arenado. Jose Altuve got his thumb smashed on a hit by pitch and won’t even be available on opening day. There is no timeline for his return. He’ll be having surgery.

Facial Pitch of the Day

Austin Nola got zapped by Michael Fulmer. There’s been a lot of that going around lately.

Other Injuries

Juan Soto has a mild oblique strain. He just got back from the World Baseball Classic and was injured in a spring training game. Corbin Martin of the Diamondbacks will undergo surgery for a torn lat tendon.

Transactions

The Braves outrighted Jackson Stephens. The Mariners signed Delino DeShields to a minor league contract. The Red Sox acquired Angel Pierre from the Royals. The Rockies signed Jurickson Profar.

Photo credit: Rex Fregosi

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2002heaven
Trusted Member
1 year ago

Uh Oh!!
Any time 80%er Nation thinks we have a alleged team strength run the other way!!!
See May 2022 season (Aaron Loup, Ryan Tepura, Raisal Iglesial) unless you’re Joseph Maddon. BTW 4th place in the AL West in 2023.

halofansince1978
Super Member
1 year ago

As of late our pitching staff has been showing it’s true colors.

Sandoval, Dietmers, and Canning appear solid…then it’s ???.

I’m not even including Ohtani because he is a freak of nature

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

I know. 4/5 of our starters look pretty dang good. I’m so angry. Who do I blame? All the ones I don’t like!

DowningDude
Legend
1 year ago

Is that 80% of our starters?

Twebur
Legend
1 year ago

Edgar Quero Cuban WBC Catcher next time? They have him starting the season at A+ Tri-City…Perry is pretty aggressive, maybe start off with the AA Raccoon Dogs?

https://halohangout.com/posts/la-angels-when-will-prospect-edgar-quero-make-mlb-debut

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Twebur

Hopefully he wont get discouraged playing in the dust bowl. Both Paris and Neto ‘s offense seemed to get repressed playing for Tri City before their AA promotion.

I’m also curious how our young pitchers do at The Salt Lake. With the talent there this year, Our offense should be dominant but hopefully those 2021 draft pitchers wont get discouraged from the thin air and band boxes when they face journeyman AAAA players.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Cowboy26

From what I’ve heard from scouts and prospect heads Tony Gwynn would hit .230 in TriC. It’s the anti-SLC/IE stat inflation stop. I think Madison may be our only “normal” farm stop. But those two A Ball stops are really important developmental spots if you want to develop players who know how to fend off a knife attack, just say no to street walkers who look like they just tangled with a chimp, or know what to do when your car gets broken into for stuff to sell for pill money.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago

Well he wouldn’t hit over .230 now.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Cowboy26

AyYoooooo!

2002heaven
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

 😂 

MarineLayer
Super Member
1 year ago

As long as Trout and Ohtani avoid injury, I have no opinion about the WBC, other than my brother didn’t get to see them when he went to ST.. Altuve getting injured is a data point, but I actually don’t root for injuries.

matthiasstephan
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  MarineLayer

Agreed. I read the Altive data point as the same as the Gavin Lux data point. Players can get hurt playing baseball – and we just hope it doesn’t happen.

Fansince1971
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  MarineLayer

WBC has been a meaningless exercise to me. Im fine if the USA wins and will not shed a tear if it doesn’t. Only thing I care about is Angel players escape uninjured and ready for the season- if so, then terrific. I see the tournament as a way to spread interest in the game around the globe and am fine with that As long as no Angel injuries.

Last edited 1 year ago by Fansince1971
gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Fansince1971

It’s kind of a data point, but honestly the games are generally really good…. miles better than ST games as far as entertainment goes. Nice addition to ST monotony.

And yeah, WBC/ST injuries…. pretty much all the same bummer.

Twebur
Legend
1 year ago

Question? Round #2 of where is Tyler Anderson? Assuming he has a different ST routine and it’s not the typical Angel “problem free agent signing” trAdition.

..someone alert the media…BOLO TYLER ANDERSON.

halofansince1978
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Twebur

As the round #1 author YA…where is Anderson??

Twebur
Legend
1 year ago

Slow start to the season and then blame it on not enough work in ST?

Or, is this a typical Angel…TJ for TA?

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago

He was sitting next to Phil Nevin during Saturdays game with a smile on his face.

Maybe he retired and got into coaching but we just don’t know about it yet?

halofansince1978
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

My wife has been a Bold and the Beautiful fan since the 1980’s.

I tease her all the time by saying, “Any Forester in a storm!!”

If you follow it you know exactly what I mean…OOH BABY!!

This team and it’s drama is just like a soap oprea at times.

matthiasstephan
Super Member
1 year ago

MLB.com has him scheduled to pitch tomorrow against Oakland. Anyone else hear anything?

halofansince1978
Super Member
1 year ago

Lameday shows Medero tomorrow…subject to change?

https://www.mlb.com/gameday/athletics-vs-angels/2023/03/21/719018/preview

matthiasstephan
Super Member
halofansince1978
Super Member
1 year ago

They tricked us with the old split squad fake out.

Designerguy
Super Member
1 year ago

Took my stepson on college tours in AZ, and on Saturday we watched the Angels.

comment image

RexFregosi
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Designerguy

nice seats – you could throw peanut shells at Arte from there.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

Maybe steal a beer or two out of his cooler below his seat.

Designerguy
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

He was there. Lots of people yelling at him to sign Ohtani.

MarineLayer
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Designerguy

I would yell for him to sell the team, Ohtani signing would follow.

FungoAle
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Designerguy

“Sign Ohtani, you rat bastard.” I heard it.

Designerguy
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  FungoAle

That was me. Happy my voice was heard.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Designerguy

NOISSS. Plus, if he goes AZ, he can watch the Sun Devils.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
1 year ago

Adios Cuba!!

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Angelz4ever

Cuba. Pretty much the one team I didn’t want to win. It’s not that all Cuban players are assholes, it just seems like all Cuban players are assholes. The world hates a happy asshole.

2002heaven
Trusted Member
1 year ago

https://youtu.be/m4pYJ-YCQm0
Go Aaron Loup and bring back your Ben Franklin ponytail!!
 💪  💪 

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
1 year ago

Predicted 3-5 feet of new snow Tuesday- Wednesday and ending Thursday morning, I do so hope this will be the end of it for this season though. It sure has been a long Winter this year, but we did need all that Mother Nature gave us. Lake is up7 feet, was down 18 feet.

Have yourself. Our game is at a wonderful time today and remember our game today is at 12:55 against the Reds and WBC is at 4pm.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago

Cheer up Grandpa! Everyone knows Spring officially starts tomorrow!

Jim Atkins
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Spring starts today, at 2:24PM PDT. The sun will be at 0Hours 0Minutes Right Ascension and 0 degrees Declination on the celestial sphere. Sorry, but I can only restrain my inner astronomy geek for so long.

Last edited 1 year ago by Jim Atkins
halofansince1978
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Jim Atkins

Jupiter and Venus right next to the Moon last month was incredible!!

halofansince1978
Super Member
1 year ago

But I coudn’t find that Green Comet.

Jim Atkins
Super Member
1 year ago

I couldn’t either! Looked a few times, but between clouds and the moon it was a washout.

WallyChuckChili
Legend
1 year ago

I found it.
Coming from Mercury!
.
comment image

Jim Atkins
Super Member
1 year ago

Yeah, stuff like that is so beautiful.

Twebur
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Jim Atkins

Angels have OF prospects Helios and Apollo down at Rookie ball. No bat all glove.

Stupid Sun.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Twebur

Extremely athletic prospects but lack advanced baseball skills?

They’ll fit right in.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Jim Atkins

That’s some good geeking.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
1 year ago

Good morning my friends, coming off a four-day run of sports and my head is wore out. Only one more week of Spring Training to go and the Halos are looking good, and we all are looking forward to Opening Day.

Its dog-eat-dog competition for a lot of spots on the team and it will look like a different team than last year for sure with some surprising cuts with plenty of flights out to SLC and Arkansas. Big question will be what to do with Lamb.

Does Shohei stay or does he want out?

Who will be the backups at SS and the OF?

WBC took its toll on players being injured, so far, we (Angels) are looking good.

Drury and Renfroe add a lot to the team power.

NCAA Basketball has had a lot of upsets on the way to getting down to 16 teams.

UCLA is still going and next plays Gonzaga. San Diego State is also still going.

Mia
Legend
Mia
1 year ago

Just keep everyone healthy for the next 48 hours.

Should be two great games.

halofansince1978
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Mia

USA! USA! USA!