Game three of the regular season proceeded a minute ahead of schedule. No complaints here. Both teams got a runner to scoring position in the first and neither team was able to score. Nothing much happened in the second inning either.
The Angels got men at first and third in the third on bloop singles but Shohei struck out to end the inning DFA! His trade value must be nil. The Athletics did nothing in the third so there’s that.
Dr. Cool, aka Hunter Renfroe, came up to bat with sunglasses on and got a hit plus an error to make it to second base. Wear sunglasses dudes! I’m just sayin’ that’s the key. Renfroe made it to third on a rather wild HBP while Rengifo was batting, or was it HBP? There was a challenge. It was a wild pitch rather than a HBP and so Renfroe got to stay at third with just one out. Rengifo then walked. Then, Logan’s Run!!!! O’Hoppe hit a three run homer to give the Angels the lead.
Today I guess the Angels had a nice fourth inning. The Athletics did nothing in the fourth.
Mike Trout hit a major homer in the fifth.
So did Shohei Ohtani. OK, maybe no DFA yet.
It was 6-0 Angels at this point, by the way. And maybe these guys can hit, by the way. There were zero runs so far for the As. Maybe Anderson can pitch. I’ll take that. He did hit Esteury Ruiz, but got out of the inning without giving up a run.
LOL! They loaded the bases for Shohei Ohtani in the sixth inning. Unfortunately, Shohei struck out. DFA! Luckily it remained 6-0 Angels into the top of the seventh inning meaning we can deploy our bullpen with low risk.
Andrew Wantz pitched well in the seventh. Stiil, 6-0 Angels in the eighth. The As did nothing in this inning,
Really, nobody did any thing until the ninth inning when the Angels Charlie Sheen walked a guy; Ramon Laureano, of course got a hit by Charlie Sheen. Mercifully, the Angels won 0-6 over the Athletics. Woo Hoo!
Photo credit: Rex Fregosi
Since no one else did, I’ll mention that at least someone got the Logan’s Run reference there, nicely done.
The Angels were running around the bases this series like they were on a carousel.
I did. I’m just O’hoping that O’Hoppe can be allowed to keep playing beyond his age 30 season.
The A’s pitcher’s reaction as the ball came off O’hoppe’s bat was priceless!
So, O’Hoppe is basically Wally Pipping Stassi.
I was thinking – there are about 2100 PA’s to be had between 2nd, SS, and 3rd base.
Thinking Rendon gets 500, Urshela gets 500, Rengifo gets 500 and Fletcher gets 400. Sturdy gets the other 200 there plus all platoon options at 1st base. Or something like that.
Depth is nice folks. I like the ability to mix and match those players. I kinda wish Maddon had been given this group last year. He’d have done a good job managing this squad.
Totally agree on your sentiments about Maddon.
I used to feel that way but frankly, I think Joe kind of lost his drive . Even though hes considered a players manager I think he started coming in too late and leaving too early to effectively manage anymore.
What? Sources?
For one the lineups weren’t being posted until about a half hour (worse than Scioscia) before first pitch…no excuse for that.
I believe I’ve told this story before but during the backend of our franchise record losing streak last year, my Brother in law ran into Soggy Joe at the Black Gold Golf course in Yorba Linda mid morning before the game as he was that nightjust teeing off. I would think he would have had more pressing concerns after getting swept in 3 straight series and facing the Boston Red Sox.
Also if you have read both of Joe’s recent books, “Try Not to Suck” & “The Book of Joe” they are fascinating reads into his history of his irrelevant coaching mindset. But what definitely came through is his hardening of a philosophy that coaching should be done on a “feel or seat of the pants style. So it was if he had become a bitter rigid old man after winning the World Series for the Cubs.
I think alot of that was a response to Perry. Clearly PTP didn’t like Joe’s aura and his authority in the org. What happened last year was a power play by Perry. He wasn’t “his guy” and he wanted Joe out. The coming in late was a passive aggressive response to Perry. And btw, sometimes passive aggressive behavior is adaptive, not pathological. This is typically the case in the business and corporate world where direct confrontations can and do get people fired. Yeah, I know, he got fired anyway, but I think his behavior was understandable in this light.
Soooo…. Maddon wasn’t crap and a total let down?
Good post. I’m hoping that Nevin has the confidence to roll with the “hot hand” when allocating AB’s, but setting aide the obvious injury disclaimer, this lineup is solid 1-9. At the very least, it seems reasonable to feel optimistic about this squad.
I’m very comfortable with the first 4 starters, I’m not entirely sold on Suarez and 5 and I’m definently not sold on our 6th starter, but if we’re very much in the mix by late June, another starter can be added via trade.
Did we just land a steal in O’hoppe?
I wasn’t entirely thrilled with Phillips over Moniak, but I understand the reasoning. For now.
The bullpen. That’s the most obvious achillies heel – and we need not wait until late June to bring up the heat from the farm or swing a trade or two.
I think Detmers will still have some growing pains – like the game vs. the Dodgers the other night.
Suarez, the same. But I think those two will be better than most 4/5 starters overall.
The pen is another story. Estévez was unimpressive to me today. First time I saw him. Straight FB. No movement on the change. He seems really mediocre.
But, let’s see how it goes.
Share your observation with Estevez. Fastball seemed to have little life and the off speed stuff had little control. Got to come in and out hitters away and not roll into 3-2 counts. He’s like Quijada from the right hand side, control issues.
Who’s this sturdy dude? Can he pitch?
Drury. Sorry typo.
They mentioned that Stassi is continuing to be out due to a family/personal issue, rather than the hip flexor issue in the injury update. Nevin was asking folks to keep Stassis in their thoughts.
Altuve gave Rengifo a buzzer
Angels’ Luis Rengifo credits Jose Altuve for new approach at plate
https://www.ocregister.com/2023/04/02/angels-luis-rengifo-credits-jose-altuve-for-new-approach-at-plate
Not the best look for Altuve helping a burgeoning star on a division rival that is already filled with big bats.
Whatever the case, Altuve is truly a ‘tiny terror’ during game time. What a player.
CHEATER!!!
Detmers tomorrow. I have no idea who we’re playing.
I’ll bet tootee too does.
Just checked trade simulator.
Rendon is at almost -140!
That would mean the Angels would have to throw in Trout, Ward and Ohtani to get a “0” player in return per the simulator. 😵💫😂
He’s a bitch after all….
Hahahaha!
I was fortunate to be at today’s game, and sitting right behind the Angels’ dugout. The team was pumped for O’ Hoppe’s blast. Could hear them cheering and yelling the entire time.
Trout’s dinger was a no doubter as soon as it left the bat. Ohtani’s nearly made the second deck in right center.
My view today…
Obligatory Trout photo…
I remember you saying that you had tickets behind the Angels dugout for a game but I could not remember what game it was. Those are some great seats and that is a great photo of Mr.Trout.
Were those seats pants optional?
Not sure about the seats, but I am.
So many open seats, can you easily move down with the 2-beer trick or did you pay face value for this seats.
I paid $10 over face-value. As soon as I sat down an usher ran up to me and asked to see my tickets. I showed him my tix and he was fine. He said the row belongs to some big shot (didn’t get the name) and he’s always chasing people out of the seats.
I see. So they do patrol looking for people like me. Great seats, saw three bombs and looked like a great day.
Which player did you attempt to instigate a fight with?
I’m shocked you’d ask a question like that! I believe the proper form is “With which player did you attempt to instigate a fight?”
Dean Wormer kicked me out of school, so I write like I drink….fast and sloppy.
None, actually. But had a fun interaction with Brett Phillips between innings. Afterwards he tossed a bunch of us gum and gave a kid a baseball.
Brett working hard to stay on the team, I see
Just watched the Trout HR again… and I tell you, just the sound off that Trout bomb was impressive. And the ball hit off the facade of the 3rd deck ! That was quite a clout.
My biggest joy in watching MLB is young players with tons of potential who make their way to the bigs and begin to contribute, eventually becoming an integral part of the team and someone you look forward to watching as they become an established major leaguer. I still feel that connection to players like Salmon, Anderson and Erstadt – following them in the minors and watching their first day in the big leagues and feeling like I was a part (even as just a witness) to their entire careers.
I am hoping that we are at the very beginning of this cycle with O’Hoppe.
Agreed but this strategy requires a lot of patience from time to time. I’m not sure we have the time this year for that .
Yes, I agree. That is why it is important that Logan is running from the start… It makes the decision easier… Hopefully Max won’t be too Mad about becoming the 2nd catcher.
I think the Mariners dislike us even more considering our respective playoff histories.
A Mad Max might be a good thing but there’s been enough sequels and reboots of that series now. Time to just leave it in the can.
Pretty difficult for .180 hitters to be overly upset IMO.
He’s 23 and just brimming with potential. I’d rather watch him over Stassi any day.
Agreed. I was just commenting above that we may have a ‘steal’ here in terms of trade value. We all know that baseball can be a cruel mistress and guys that start fast can flame out even faster, but it’s exciting to watch a potential all-star caliber player at the catching position – which has been a black hole on this club for years & years & years.
100% agree. O’Hopping he’s the real deal
We outscored the hapless A’s 19-1 the last two games. If you count the first game we lost, it’s 20-3. Nice start for our run differential!
The A’s may be the worst offensive team in all MLB (worse than the Pirates even!). So, with that in mind, today truly was a MUST win. I couldn’t see us going anywhere had we lost an opening series to the worst team in baseball… Now things get tough with the next 6 games being against the Mariners and Blue Jays.
O’Hoppe Day!, Oh’Hoppe day!
I have no idea what happened in that postgame wrap but I did watch that game and it was a master classic!
I call him Hunter “Hustle” Renfroe but Dr. Cool is pretty good I guess.
Mike Trout is swinging a titanium toothpick again which is fun.
Shohei with no shift his average is going to be .400 this year. No matter, he still hits it off of really high things in other stadiums that are still painted nicely.
Ward does all sorts of nice Ward stuff and doesn’t hit a concrete barrier and I love it.
Anderson pitched like a Dodger. I loved it.
Nevin made a cool call and got our boy Fletch a hit, double win.
Also Logan O’Hoppe– the catcher we always wanted..
All in all, it was a Spring day.
That’s two in a row and a winning streak starts tomorrow.
KEEP IT UP!!
When Logan washed…
Mariners are shitting the bed in the top of the 10th.
You love to see it
And a nice error by the Mariners to make it 6-5 Guardians!
Seattle Loses!
They’ll be loaded for bear starting tomorrow. There are some intriguing pitching matchups coming up . Detmers vs Kirby tomorrow and Ohtani vs Flexen should be fun but because Seattle still utilizes a 5 man rotation Suarez will have his hands full going up against their ace Castillo on Tuesday.
Yes, and the Mariners dislike us as much as we dislike them. Lately I have been feeling pretty bitter towards them. This is a HUGE series despite the fact it is early in the year… Actually it is so because it is early in the year.
at this rate we’ll win 108!
That’s a Date!
Blowpen. Three innings, five Ks and one BB. That’s more like it. Plus Tucky D is out there being incredible.
Someone needs to photoshop him onto a jug of Sunny D
Or him driving the Beer Wagon
This team is doomed. We knew it from game one. Ohtani is going to leave me. Have I told you I am concerned about the bullpen and shortstop? I blame Arte for this win and I will not be fooled. Heee haw!
We’d be 3-0 if we signed Trea Turner
We’d be Back to Back World Series champs if Arte never stopped the Rengifo trade!
And oh my God Rengifo is actually good now. I said it in writing even what is this.
LTBU!