LA Angels Thursday News Crash:

Here at CtPG we know how to vent, just read the after the game comments. My excitement for the new season is waning a bit. Very soon I hope we go on a roll of wins that my interest will be returned and I once again get excited.

Last nights loss was tough for several reasons. Let me list the ways;

1. Ward is not a lead off player.
2. Ohtani and Trout are just not coming through and they both are consistently looking to hit a HR. Just watch their launch angle when they swing, even with two strikes.
3. LOB numbers with this years line up make no sense at all. When there are runners in scoring position the Angels make up ways of making outs. With bases loaded and no one out, the norm is to have the resulting scoring, well, not score.
4. We are all disappointed that our Bullpen sucks, but in comparison to other clubs we are not doing to bad with exception of a couple of pitchers.
5. The team is wasting Starting Pitchers great efforts by not hitting the ball, first pitch swinging, And most of all not picking up the pitch and just guess swinging.
6. Base running is minor league stuff, and I don’t know if it is a combination of coaching and lack of baseball instincts or just lack of giving a damn.
7. Mental errors on the field at the major league level is from guys thinking that every play is not coming to me and laziness comes into play. Years ago Simba, Fletcher, Trout and Calhoun always wanted the ball hit to them, and they made fielding look easy. They always knew where to throw, catch or run to. This team does not have the fire, it just doesn’t. Manger and coaching staff are afraid to upset the apple cart. It’s time to do Rah-Rah stuff and start calling players in the office and lay down the law- you want PT, then earn it and show that you have the team and game chops to do things above and beyond.
8. This one is tough. I get that trout is made of glass and his injuries are affecting his career numbers adversely and that he can’t play all out. I do not expect him to fly through the air and catch balls like he used to. But to pull up on catchable balls hit that are his to call for or to steal occasional bases is not to much to ask for. To show he cares when a hit and run are called and be running. At 31 or 32 you are still in your prime, now show it.
9. While it’s not time to panic just yet, it is time to change the way things are being done. Do we have the proper approaches and focus with the Manager, coaches and players? Station to station baseball sucks, leaving runners on base sucks, allowing the opposition to score with 2 outs sucks. Our team leaving runners in scoring position sucks. Not throwing to the right base, not taking the extra base, not going first to home when possible. Not scoring from third on a called run and hit. All of this adds up and points to not giving a damn because the other guy will do it.

You don’t have to agree with everything listed but believe me I see it all happening. The Stars of the team lead by example and that becomes catchy and good things happen, if they are not coming through then you simply and not a tight team focused on the same objective and are out there just for themselves.

I’m done now, what do you say, I’d like to hear it and honestly I do care about our team, losing stinks when you havr the horses to win the race.