OK. That tears it. We are gonna totally win the World Baseball Bowl. Though I could really stand for Moore and Estevez to look less trash at this point. But I’m also old enough to remember plenty of garbage springs from guys who had good seasons. Bachman had just about the most “AA stud prospect” outing ever there in the first two. Rengifo ohviously sucks and I are angry for Swansons. Not joking though, I think we may actually be able to give the Doyers a run this year. We look fairly good, they look weaker, and the NL has a tougher gauntlet of teams to go through IMO. Also, I hate the Dodgers.
Here we go. Last couple spring games in big scary stadiums. Then we go back to AAAA and play Oakland. Then MLB competition starts.
This team’s bullpen looks pretty vulnerable. Lot of talk about depth in the offense, but the pen is where this team is likely to lose games in the early going.
I understand why they’ve deviated from their plan of breaking with the “best 26” in terms of position players like Moniak and Lamb, but their reticence to make tough decisions in the bullpen seems like it could do damage to postseason hopes should they lose leads late in April and May because they are hanging on to shaky relievers on guaranteed contracts.
Each of Webb, Warren, Wantz and Joyce have looked more promising than Quijada, Moore, and Estevez at this point, and Barria and Tepera have looked quite hittable.
Wantz will probably make the roster . But Both Webb & Warren have proven they can get ML hitters out in the past and both seem healthy. I would be surprised if Webb doesn’t have an opt out that could influence future moves. I watched Joyce’s melt down last week and I think he could use minor league seasoning.
Moore Estevez Loup & Tepera are safe with their payroll commitments but Quijada is an interesting case since he was Billy’s pickup a year before Perry and Phil. But I dont know if this is Nevin’s hubris but I get the impression based upon comments he’s made, that he thinks he knows how to properly manage Queso and his volatileness.
Joyce has control issues he needs to work on, but I’m not convinced SLC is where he should do that (quite the opposite). Velocity driven guys like him and Bachman will likely always have walks in their game – but the team just laid out $13.5M to Estevez on the premise that his walks are tolerable as a tradeoff for his velocity.
Moreover a single poor outing from Joyce in seven appearances isn’t terribly alarming. Joyce and Estevez pitched the same number of innings – Joyce gave up 2 ERs, Estevez 9. The latter has been shaky every outing but one I’ve seen this spring. Zero command, walks, HBPs, wild pitches. He’s at low elevation and has control of almost nothing.
The problem is that an eight figure contract means Perry & Co are likely to let a guy like that lose 10-15 games before coming to terms with the impact.
I think you hit the nail on the head here Turk. I said a few weeks back that the bullpen would likely be the one area that holds us back or sabotages our chances to make the playoffs for the first time in a long time …
The funny thing (and you alluded to this) is that it doesn’t have to be this way. I feel like all of Joyce, Webb and Bachmann could contribute right now. I don’t feel like they need alot of innings in AAA to be ready. Throw em in there. There may be small blips on the radar, but overall I think you are helped more by playing them as opposed to giving high leverage late innings to Tepera or Estevez. I am already predicting a loss on Opening Night in which the Angels lead early then give up several runs in the 8th and 9th to lose.
The positives in letting players like Joyce and Bachman try and fail (and try again) is it’s a six-year investment. If they improve, it’s years of cheap pitching ahead.
If Moore or Estevez tries and fails, the team is just out both money and time, while blocking cheap assets who might be considerably better.
I’m always skittish about expending much free agent cash on the bullpen or the bench. That’s what the farm is for. If you’re going to spend on the ‘pen, then spend on durable veterans with a long run of success. Neither Moore and Estevez are that.
Bachman is already being stretched out as a starter so that aint happening in Anaheim.
Joyce is still a project and I dont understand why the thought of sending him to the great Salt Lake is so evil. There is No room on the major league roster right now for bullpen projects even if driveline Bill is now there.
But What really is the concern? I doubt 105 MPH fastballs and 93 mph is much more hittable in Reno or Salt Lake or Las Vegas. The competition is good enough for all of his Trash Panda buddies not sure why it wouldn’t be a benefit to develop Big Ben as well. And let’s not forget the instruction at the level was still good enough to fix Reid Detmers last year when Matt Wise and the gang had failed earlier in the year.
I get the concerns regarding Charlie Sheen, but anyone who had the stuff that was successful at a mile above sea level (including a triple digit fastball) should dominate in the dense coast air even with the walks.
Do I have concerns about the bullpen this year? Sure. I do every year. But I’m not gnashing my Teeth like Turks because I believe even at the major league level we will be starting off with more depth in the pen than we have had for quite a few years. And quite frankly, as much as I still have reservations regarding Nevin, he has shown last year that he is adept at successfully utilizing the bullpen And with the new sense of urgency to win for Trouty and Ohtani, the Angels aren’t going to be screwing around if the pen is failing and some depth piece is lighting it up at AAA. This is why I believe:
On the other hand, anyone who saw that “Best players, ah don give er shit!” statement from Nevin, believed it literally, and got a half chub deserves to suffer the disappointment of the childlike mind.
Outside of Herget and Loup, there have been few bright spots this spring in the relief corps that the FO seems to have settled upon. There’s a nice deep reservoir of bullpen talent in AAA and AA, but they don’t seem to want to go dowsing at present.
I have the same concerns . We have a ton of RP depth at AAA but hopefully we don’t dig our self into too big a hole before the team finally figures it out
I might have equal worries about our catching situations. Thaiss? Stassi hasn’t looked particularly sharp this spring, besides he’s off somewhere on a secret family mission. Maybe O’hoppy will be up sooner than later, ready or not.
I think Perry has shown the willingness to move on from a player in a reasonable amount of time. Might see some of these guys gone and the SL Shuttle putting on the air miles with younger, cheaper, maybe better replacements.
Having an offensive this year that hopefully is going to put up runs will relieve some pressure for the pen. But not looking good. Would love to discover they are all working on shit and not worrying about results.
IMHO Lamb over O’Hoppe to start the season.
OK. That tears it. We are gonna totally win the World Baseball Bowl. Though I could really stand for Moore and Estevez to look less trash at this point. But I’m also old enough to remember plenty of garbage springs from guys who had good seasons. Bachman had just about the most “AA stud prospect” outing ever there in the first two. Rengifo ohviously sucks and I are angry for Swansons. Not joking though, I think we may actually be able to give the Doyers a run this year. We look fairly good, they look weaker, and the NL has a tougher gauntlet of teams to go through IMO. Also, I hate the Dodgers.
Here we go. Last couple spring games in big scary stadiums. Then we go back to AAAA and play Oakland. Then MLB competition starts.
That team can’t move to Las Vegas fast enough.
Onward to LA vs Blue for one in Chavez Latrine and two at Big A…almost real baseball.
Please employ three security teams for the Halos busses please. Bomb dogs, the whole shebang.
Tempe games are finally over!
Perme games from now on?
we win again!
Ninth scoreless appearance this spring for Jacob Webb. 11Ks in 9IP. He’s walked one batter in all of March.
So….. scrap heap? That’s the point right?
Fletcher was scratched due to abdominal strain.
Claim is nothing to worry about…………so we should worry. Thankfully we have some depth now.
Depth. It feels good.
Fletch hurt them 6 pack abs?
Unpossible.
The WBC mustache made him top-heavy, 6-pack overcompensated.
After eating all that awesome authentic Italian food American food is tearing Fletch up.
This team’s bullpen looks pretty vulnerable. Lot of talk about depth in the offense, but the pen is where this team is likely to lose games in the early going.
I understand why they’ve deviated from their plan of breaking with the “best 26” in terms of position players like Moniak and Lamb, but their reticence to make tough decisions in the bullpen seems like it could do damage to postseason hopes should they lose leads late in April and May because they are hanging on to shaky relievers on guaranteed contracts.
Each of Webb, Warren, Wantz and Joyce have looked more promising than Quijada, Moore, and Estevez at this point, and Barria and Tepera have looked quite hittable.
Wantz will probably make the roster . But Both Webb & Warren have proven they can get ML hitters out in the past and both seem healthy. I would be surprised if Webb doesn’t have an opt out that could influence future moves. I watched Joyce’s melt down last week and I think he could use minor league seasoning.
Moore Estevez Loup & Tepera are safe with their payroll commitments but Quijada is an interesting case since he was Billy’s pickup a year before Perry and Phil. But I dont know if this is Nevin’s hubris but I get the impression based upon comments he’s made, that he thinks he knows how to properly manage Queso and his volatileness.
Joyce has control issues he needs to work on, but I’m not convinced SLC is where he should do that (quite the opposite). Velocity driven guys like him and Bachman will likely always have walks in their game – but the team just laid out $13.5M to Estevez on the premise that his walks are tolerable as a tradeoff for his velocity.
Moreover a single poor outing from Joyce in seven appearances isn’t terribly alarming. Joyce and Estevez pitched the same number of innings – Joyce gave up 2 ERs, Estevez 9. The latter has been shaky every outing but one I’ve seen this spring. Zero command, walks, HBPs, wild pitches. He’s at low elevation and has control of almost nothing.
The problem is that an eight figure contract means Perry & Co are likely to let a guy like that lose 10-15 games before coming to terms with the impact.
Worst collection of bullpen arms in MLB, says Fangraphs. I tend to agree. Vulnerability is an understatement.
Compared to our last 3-4 blow pens?
I beg to differ.
Worst in MLB…. I wish I could get some Fangraphs guys to lay a bet on that.
At the end of Cactus League play, yep – it’s the weakest link and worries me.
It’s easy to see a 5-2 lead turning into a loss in 2023
I think you hit the nail on the head here Turk. I said a few weeks back that the bullpen would likely be the one area that holds us back or sabotages our chances to make the playoffs for the first time in a long time …
The funny thing (and you alluded to this) is that it doesn’t have to be this way. I feel like all of Joyce, Webb and Bachmann could contribute right now. I don’t feel like they need alot of innings in AAA to be ready. Throw em in there. There may be small blips on the radar, but overall I think you are helped more by playing them as opposed to giving high leverage late innings to Tepera or Estevez. I am already predicting a loss on Opening Night in which the Angels lead early then give up several runs in the 8th and 9th to lose.
The positives in letting players like Joyce and Bachman try and fail (and try again) is it’s a six-year investment. If they improve, it’s years of cheap pitching ahead.
If Moore or Estevez tries and fails, the team is just out both money and time, while blocking cheap assets who might be considerably better.
I’m always skittish about expending much free agent cash on the bullpen or the bench. That’s what the farm is for. If you’re going to spend on the ‘pen, then spend on durable veterans with a long run of success. Neither Moore and Estevez are that.
Bachman is already being stretched out as a starter so that aint happening in Anaheim.
Joyce is still a project and I dont understand why the thought of sending him to the great Salt Lake is so evil. There is No room on the major league roster right now for bullpen projects even if driveline Bill is now there.
But What really is the concern? I doubt 105 MPH fastballs and 93 mph is much more hittable in Reno or Salt Lake or Las Vegas. The competition is good enough for all of his Trash Panda buddies not sure why it wouldn’t be a benefit to develop Big Ben as well. And let’s not forget the instruction at the level was still good enough to fix Reid Detmers last year when Matt Wise and the gang had failed earlier in the year.
I get the concerns regarding Charlie Sheen, but anyone who had the stuff that was successful at a mile above sea level (including a triple digit fastball) should dominate in the dense coast air even with the walks.
Do I have concerns about the bullpen this year? Sure. I do every year. But I’m not gnashing my Teeth like Turks because I believe even at the major league level we will be starting off with more depth in the pen than we have had for quite a few years. And quite frankly, as much as I still have reservations regarding Nevin, he has shown last year that he is adept at successfully utilizing the bullpen And with the new sense of urgency to win for Trouty and Ohtani, the Angels aren’t going to be screwing around if the pen is failing and some depth piece is lighting it up at AAA. This is why I believe:
We could literally have Fingers, Smith, Sutter, Hoffman and Marshal in our pen and I’d still feel scared about bullpen cause bullpen.
On the other hand, anyone who saw that “Best players, ah don give er shit!” statement from Nevin, believed it literally, and got a half chub deserves to suffer the disappointment of the childlike mind.
No reason to worry about our backup closer Matt Moore even when he continues to shit the bed in the last Arizona ST tuneup.
Outside of Herget and Loup, there have been few bright spots this spring in the relief corps that the FO seems to have settled upon. There’s a nice deep reservoir of bullpen talent in AAA and AA, but they don’t seem to want to go dowsing at present.
I have the same concerns . We have a ton of RP depth at AAA but hopefully we don’t dig our self into too big a hole before the team finally figures it out
I might have equal worries about our catching situations. Thaiss? Stassi hasn’t looked particularly sharp this spring, besides he’s off somewhere on a secret family mission. Maybe O’hoppy will be up sooner than later, ready or not.
I think Perry has shown the willingness to move on from a player in a reasonable amount of time. Might see some of these guys gone and the SL Shuttle putting on the air miles with younger, cheaper, maybe better replacements.
Having an offensive this year that hopefully is going to put up runs will relieve some pressure for the pen. But not looking good. Would love to discover they are all working on shit and not worrying about results.
Thaiss has never controlled the running game . With the new rules, some of the younger teams like the A’s will eat him alive.
Of course that is what will happen.
trAdition.
oh…they’re still up?!?