LA Angels Monday News Crash:

A little league ball signed by Mike Trout at the age of 12 just fetched $15,600 at auction. Mike’s uncle Kevin had gotten him to sign the ball after Mike hit a home run. He held onto it for a couple of decades before selling it for a tidy profit. Mike Trout himself is heating back up.

Drew Maggi took a long time to make it to the majors but he is playing like he means to stay. Former ESPN reporter Marly Rivera is now out of work after uttering an obscenity to a fellow reporter in front of Aaron Judge and some children. There is a link to the video of the incident which is NSFW.

The first Padres versus Giants game in Mexico City proved to be a major slug fest. The Rays, for their part, were being no hit through six innings when they erupted for a ten run seventh inning.

Transactions

The Rockies released Jose Urena. He’s tied for the major league lead with nine home runs allowed. The Pirates traded catcher Tyler Heineman to the Blue Jays for minor league infielder Vinny Capra. The Tampa Bay Rays acquired right-hander Javy Guerra from the Brewers for a player to be named later or cash.

Injured List

Jacob deGrom went on the 15 day injured list with elbow inflammation. Corbin Carroll got a boo boo on his left knee and he is day to day. Julio Rodriguez left a game on Saturday with lower back tightness. Jake Bauers begins his Yankees career with a bang. Aaron Judge has a mild hip strain. He’s had his MRI.

Photo credit: Rex Fregosi

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1 year ago

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1 year ago
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GrandpaBaseball
Legend
1 year ago

I made no secret that I was a Marsh fan for two years to his arrival to the Big A. I knew he would break out and add to his game. Yes, I not only wish him a HoF career but, I hope we get him back some day. I really miss him patrolling on the big lawn at the ballpark. Some times I think that PTP does not value defense. In this case we really needed a catcher.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago

Plus fat boy wasn’t moving off the middle anytime soon.

We had to give up something to get something , and there was no way the Phillies were going to give us O’Hoppe for Adell, POBO Dave needed a centerfielder for the pennant run in the worst way last year, and considering he had no real attachment to the Phillies farm system that made O’ Hoppe expendable.

Fansince1971
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

If O’Hoppe were not injured we as a fan base would likely view the trade favorably this season regardless of what Marsh does.

BruinsAngelsKings
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

Even with O’Hoppe being injured I think the trade was one of those rare ones that workout for both teams. Catcher was a blackhole at the plate for YEARS. O’Hoppe looks to be the real deal back there. Injuries happen. I think O’Hoppe will come back just as good as was before the injury.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
1 year ago

Does anyone miss Thor?

BruinsAngelsKings
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Angelz4ever

Probably not with his current line.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/31730

bigviz
Member
1 year ago

Went to two Astros games at field level behind the Phillies dugout this weekend and noticed two things. Brandon Marsh looks so confident at the plate even when he makes an out. Wish we could have kept him and gotten O’Hoppe another way (Adell perhaps) and second, the atmosphere reminded me of the Big A during the 2000s. Absolute happiness knowing your team is playoff bound headed in the right direction. I couldn’t help but think how the new ownership inherited something like this and screwed it up. But better days ahead still.

2GA2Join
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  bigviz

If we could have traded Adell for O’Hoppe and had Marsh playing for us like he is in Philly, we’d be so happy with that right now.

Except that Adell would have gone to Philly and suddenly “unlocked” his potential and become the next Judge.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  bigviz

I know. I too wish teams would trade us their top prospect for stuff I don’t really want. That would be cool.

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
1 year ago

that’s a Yankee fan kind of thing. They list 5 failed prospects and want Ohtani in return. I know all fans do that but from what I’ve seen Yankee fans are the most unrealistic.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

Ummmmm. Wait till you see what CtPG guy expects for 2 months of Ohtani.

JackFrost
Super Member
1 year ago

NO prospects are worth Ohtani. Especially not failed ones.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  JackFrost

Ohtani is worth exactly what other GMs are willing to pay for him.

JackFrost
Super Member
1 year ago

Disagree. What they are willing to pay is based upon historical precedent. Number one there has never been a player like him before so applying those standards to him would not approximate his true value. Second, and probably the larger point is that superstars have not fetched equal value on the trade market, even ones on expiring contracts. That is largely because they are typically traded for “prospects.”

I have already outlined on many occasions why these trades are not fair or good for the team trading the star or superstar.

Last edited 1 year ago by JackFrost
Guest
1 year ago

If any of you are into the bobbleheads, the 66ers are giving away a trout bobblehead on May 13th, and they are going to give away an Edgar Quero bobblehead on July 29th.

2GA2Join
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to 

For some reason the Mets are giving away an Ohtani bobblehead on August 4th!

Hey-oh!

JackFrost
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  2GA2Join

Hmmmm….

I wonder why?

BruinsAngelsKings
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to 

But that would mean having to go to San Bernarghetto.

Guest
1 year ago

There’s a Metrolink station just one short block away from the stadium! You can be environmentally responsible, help San Bernarghetto’s economy, and cheer on Angel prospects (Denzer Guzman!) while you score your cool bobblehead.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to 

You may not make that one block trek to the stadium my friend.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Angelz4ever

You would if you were a Doyer fan.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

The Doyer fans are the victimizers.

Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  Angelz4ever

I drove to the stadium with a friend last Thursday for a game and felt completely safe the whole time I was there.

Twebur
Legend
Mikeal1st
Trusted Member
1 year ago

Anybody else notice that players, in general appear to be leaner this year? I wonder if they leaned up because of the new rules.
I hope Neto is the kind of leadoff hitter that just annoyed the hell out of defenses. Get on base and let the big guys drive him in.
Thank you for your support.

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Mikeal1st

without steroids players look more like they did in the 80s

Mikeal1st
Trusted Member
1 year ago

They seemed so skinny back then. I think there’s a difference since last year.

Last edited 1 year ago by Mikeal1st
Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Mikeal1st

Except for those Trout twins . Those are some big boys in any era.

Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Don Baylor was huge. He looked like he could lift a building right up off the ground.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to 

I’ve met George Foster a few times. He still has big arms and forearms.

There were a handful of big dudes back in the day.

BannedInLA
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to 

Dave Winfield was also huge. The bat looked like a toothpick in his hands.

2GA2Join
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  BannedInLA

I thought I remember reading once that Sheffield was huge too.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  2GA2Join

Huge ‘Roid user.

Twebur
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  BannedInLA

Cecil Fielder, Dave Parker, Willie Stargell

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Twebur

Boog Powell.

Frank Thomas ( Both of them)

Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

No-sleeves Ted Kluszewski!

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Cowboy26

Frank Howard…. so I’ve heard, Ted Kluzwviskiviskoyer

Dogface1956
Trusted Member
1 year ago

Frank was a very large man, I think we was about 6’7″ and around 280 pounds. He would be large today and was a giant in the 60’s he could hit the ball a mile.

Another big strong player from the 60’s was Willie Horton with the Tigers, I remember there was a rumor when I was a kid that the broke his bat on a check swing, he was one of the strongest players in his time.

JackFrost
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Dogface1956

Frank is one of the few players to ever hit a ball completely out of Dodger Stadium. A few of the others were Willie Stargell, Mark McGwire (we know how HE did it) and I believe Piazza, though am not sure about him …

Dogface1956
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  JackFrost

He also was rookie of the year for the Dodgers and he hit the game winner is Koxfax’s perfect game (might be one of his no hitters).

DowningDude
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  BannedInLA

ever seen winfield standing next to judge? You’d swear that Winfield is same height as Billy Barty

Mia
Legend
Mia
1 year ago
Reply to  Mikeal1st

I’m sure they’re just trying to stay on the field.

RexFregosi
Super Member
1 year ago

when i am sad i visit Michael Trout’s Baseball Reference career page. it reminds me to be happy. so just checking in on Career WAR as I am obsessed to do, first off, Michael is now MLB Active Leader. Before we speak of Michael, a word about the Previous ActIve Leader (PAIN).

The PAIN in his last five AL seasons produced a total bWAR of -1.9*. Total.
Averaging -0.4 bWAR over five seasons – amazing – (previous leader!!).
*After his AL stint, PAIN did play one more year in the NL and put up 2.2 bWAR and ended at 101.5 bWAR. this is the PAIN

Now there’s Michael. He put up 1.2 bWAR in April. And I think averaging that out is reasonable for 2023 for modelling a 7.2 bWAR year.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/troutmi01.shtml

Let’s see where this puts him month by month. At the end of 2022, he had just passed Nolie for #61 All Time, and he also passed Mussina (18y) in April. Michael now has 83.5 bWAR in his 13th season. Lets see some of who he passes projected 1.2 WAR/month this year.

May – Griffey (22y), Pedro (18y), and Ferguson(19y)
Jun, Jul – Chipper (19y), Robin Roberts (19y)
Sep – Brett (21y), Gibson (17y)

Now Michael is trending to getting almost to 90 bWAR and #47 on all-time list just by year end.

And he’s just 43 HR shy of #400 for his career. After he hit 7 in April, he needs to average more than 8 HR/month to get there. He started 2023 at 350, so he needs 50 HR in 2023 to do it.

this is a good tip to remember for the month if things make you sad or we lose a game.

tip the cap.turn the pagelook at Michael’s bref pagehttps://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/troutmi01.shtml

Last edited 1 year ago by RexFregosi
Mikeal1st
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

Thanks for the comment. I enjoyed it.
I thought this would be nice here…
Active WAR leaders…
Active Leaders & Records for WAR Position Players | Baseball-Reference.com
All time WAR leeaders…
Career Leaders & Records for Wins Above Replacement | Baseball-Reference.com

Last edited 1 year ago by Mikeal1st
Fansince1971
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

Just think if he hadn’t missed the equivalent of 2 1/2 years of games in his prime

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Twebur

Source?

Twebur
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

The Interwebs claim, a week or more to get ready for a two week reboot stint in the minors. A ball then AAA? Seems like a long timescale.

Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  Twebur

But can he pitch?

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago

Fletch has another good article. This time analyzing our bullpen troubles:

https://twitter.com/JeffFletcherOCR/status/1653069662182162432

IMO, He is basically saying that we will never reach elite status until our 2021/2022 bullpen draftees along with some of our dumpster heap projects can rise to an effective major League performance level

Last edited 1 year ago by Cowboy26
gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Cowboy26

Did he crack the code and explain how other teams manage to get total no-name guys to be solid bullpen arms? God I would love to know that… or love for our FO to know that.

The Angels pen is currently tied for 6th in WHIP, 8th in ERA, tied for 2nd with 4 teams at 11 saves, is a meh 7th with 40 BBs and is #1 in the MLB with 5 HR allowed. Why do I care? Because, if the pen as a whole stays with these stat rankings over a 162 game season we will be in pretty good shape. That’s WITH the hatepen we have had all season. No new guys. No infusion of greatness.

Did Fletcher go into how, if those stats hold through a whole season, it adds up to a terrible bullpen? Not “burp in duh one month sample I saw!” but actual math. Is there a way the above numbers extrapolate out to “bad bullpen”?

One thing I do know is we may have a secretly solid pen and still be a crap team. I know I’ve seen that plenty, where you see that the 9th best pen in the MLB is a team that had 76 wins at the end of the year….

Last edited 1 year ago by gitchogritchoffmypettis
Eric_in_Portland
Legend
1 year ago

more statistics

tied for 1st in blown saves (with Oakland)
also 1st in save opportunities
18th in save percentage

Twebur
Legend
1 year ago

Only BP in MLB to have Loup.

Angelstan
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Twebur

And Tepera. Those were two poor signings. Joyce needs to be good and pitching soon for the Angels.

Fansince1971
Legend
1 year ago

The 1st in save opportunities is important. It means this team has had leads and could have a much better record than it has. If they can figure out the magic sauce to close out and win games, they could take flight.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Fansince1971

This is true.

RexFregosi
Super Member
1 year ago

it also is deflating when a team gives up leads.

especially in playoff games.

Especially when leading a Stanley Cup playoff game 3-0 on the road that would give your team a 3-1 advantage in the series.

that’s especially deflating.

kinda like a football team giving up a 27-0 lead on the road in a playoff game.

dont give up leads. especially in playoff games. fuck david henderson (May)

AnAngelsFan
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

And it really won’t take much. At 15-14, the Angels are on pace for ~84 wins. If they can just convert one blown save per month to a win for the next 5 months, that’s ~89 wins and a great chance at a wild card.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

I think it means we have a lot of narrow leads in the seventh inning and on.

I would prefer more larger leads.

Fansince1971
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Yeah but that’s not realistic in baseball.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

Whats not realistic is being a winning team without more larger margin victories. In the month of April we only had 4 games where we had a lead of 3 or more runs entering the 8th inning and 3 of those games were against Oakland. .I get you have to win the close ones but you better have your share of blow out wins too or well all be done in by the TePoupas of the world.

Mikeal1st
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

It appears to me that great teams generally win by twice the score. Its anecdotal…

JackFrost
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Your commentary makes sense Cowboy when you think about bullpen usage… With all of those close games you would seemingly burn out your bullpen pretty quickly… So yeah, you are correct if for no other reason than you need to give your top bullpen pitchers adequate rest…

JackFrost
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Funny, but the Mariners last season won a huge number of 1 run and 2 run games… They rarely blew people out, so they would seem to be an exception to that rule …

Last edited 1 year ago by JackFrost
Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  JackFrost

And this year its no different as they’re already 3-9 in one run games ( Over 40% of their total games played this season!)

The biggest difference in 2023 is that they ain’t winning those 1 run games so far. Which tells me that luck also has alot to do with winning baseball . Probably a lot more then anyone here wants to admit.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Luck definitely plays a part. The Mariners were a massive outlier last year.

That said, when you roll out Loup for a second inning, you are taking luck off the table and begging for an L.

Fansince1971
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Baseball has a huge luck component. But like all luck based situations, one can maximize the odds by making certain decisions correctly. As Jeff points out, bringing in Loup in a close and tight game in the later innings is not good game theory.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

So would everyone, but you have to find a way to win more of those close games.

If not we’ll be sitting back in October saying “If we’d just scored 8 runs a game….”

Angelstan
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Yes Cowboy. The Angels have a problem each game establishing dominant leads where they can win like 8-3 or 6-1. They constantly eke out 4-3 or 5-4 wins. It tires the bullpen and makes it easy for the weak links to blow the game.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

What I am wondering is, if those stats above hold up, will we lead the league in blown saves and have a low conversion rate? If those are our bullpen’s stats for a season but we convert saves at a low rate, is it the pen or the offense compared to other teams? Bullpens mystify me, so I’m curious to see if those rankings all hold up over a larger sample. Cause, over a long enough period, being a what? top 8 pen in those stats, should poop out to being fairly good. That’s my guess, but if it works out otherwise I’d like to see why.

Last edited 1 year ago by gitchogritchoffmypettis
Eric_in_Portland
Legend
1 year ago

we also recognize that not all blown saves are the same. When a team can’t hit that day and leads 1-0 after 6 innings a 2-1 loss is a blown save. When a team leads 8-6 in the 9th and loses 11-8 then that’s a different type of blown save.

In other words, a grain of salt here on these early stats.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago

Hmmmm. those game descriptions seem familiar to me.

Fansince1971
Legend
1 year ago

I am a big believer that in modern baseball, the bullpen is the difference maker with an otherwise decent club. Winning those games with late leads makes the difference between 89 and 81 wins. So, I can understand Fletcher’s analysis – blown saves have definitely been a problem over the last decade and particularly the last few seasons.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago

Typically the codebreaker is to wait for the Angels to DFA some bullpen arm and then make him your closer or a primary setup man.

See Bard, Luke
See Brasier, Ryan
See Curtiss, John
See Hudson, Daniel
See Milner, Hoby
See Yates, Kirby

BruinsAngelsKings
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

It was surprising to see how many of the successful teams have had to rely on finding the gem in the dumpster diving. Yes, even the team that currently occupies the latrine.

John Henry Weitzel
Editor
Super Member
1 year ago

comment image

FungoAle
Legend
1 year ago

Man, the Rays are like an anomaly, a great year thus far. Yankees, Orioles, Jays will be battling it out as wild cards along with the Astros, Mariners and Indians. Angels take the West. Let’s go Halo’s, seize the moment.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  FungoAle

Call me crazy. I’d say we have just about a 50% chance of winning the division as we sit now.

JackFrost
Super Member
1 year ago

Vegas’ odds don’t support that a statement at all.

Oh, wait, was that sarcasm ??? It is getting to the point where I have to ask myself that question about every single thing you write …

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

Yeah. It was sarcasm. We’re at 500…. or one game over… or under…. what day is it?

JackFrost
Super Member
1 year ago

It is not about the record or the date… It is about the teams we are competing with/against. Are we playing better than them? Are we actually better than them ?

Vegas answers a resounding “no.” Through Bovada :

Odds to Win the AL West (as of this morning)

Astros (-165)
Rangers (+350)
Angels (+550)

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  JackFrost

What were the Odds we’d win the World Series on May 1st, 2002?

JackFrost
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Have no idea about May 1st 2002 for WS. What I can say is that I got them to Win the AL Championship in like mid-May and the Odds were (+800). I bought that ticket at The Imperial Palace Sports Book for $100.00. That means I won $800 and took back $900 total.

For comparison sake the current Odds to Win the WS are Braves (+550), Astros (+750), Rays (+800) , Dodgers (+850), Padres (+850) etc.. And the Angels are a long shot at (+2800).

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

Bless your heart Jack. You asked if I was being sarcastic. I said yes.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago

Someone ( maybe everyone?) is being very rhetorically today.

JackFrost
Super Member
1 year ago

I wasn’t actually asking.

That was a rhetorical question, lol.

Last edited 1 year ago by JackFrost
Fansince1971
Legend
1 year ago

I think thats a bit high. The optimist in me says 25%. The pessimist more like 10%. The pessimist views Houston’s start as an anomaly and believes they will get red hot.

So many things have to break right for it to happen. Ward has to turn things around, Rendon has to turn things around, the starting pitching has to stay healthy, the bullpen needs to get figured out.

Ill say 20% – that is closer to my optimist but acknowledges my pessimist.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Fansince1971

My thinking is the same as it’s been since January. The team will be better than last year. My hope is over .500. Ohtani will leave. we shouldn’t pay him anyway. We should have traded him last July. Anything better than that just increases my enjoyment.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

So…. THIS TEAM IS A JOKE! ?

RexFregosi
Super Member
1 year ago

always

the latest is the Tungsten arm meme. and the meddling owner who’s selling

and if you live in a cave, the Angels Angels of Anaheim and Cucumonga of Tustin.

RexFregosi
Super Member
1 year ago

TrashTROS lurking like a shark on this graph and unfortunately my guess is the return of Josita at 2B will help OPS+

Mikeal1st
Trusted Member
1 year ago

Looking at this I think, Are the Angels a better team than their record shows?

Fansince1971
Legend
1 year ago

Kind of cheesy for Trout’s uncle to sell that ball. I wonder what Mikey thinks?!

WallyChuckChili
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

Pretty sure he told young Mikey, “Hey, it might be worth some money some day.”

MarineLayer
Super Member
1 year ago

Victor says on his podcast move Neto to lead off and drop Ward down. I agree.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  MarineLayer

How ancient was that podcast?

have you checked out the lineup the last 2 games ML?

MarineLayer
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Recorded yesterday, posted today.

The lineup has not been set in stone, no official announcement made. Thanks for fact checking everything I post.

Last edited 1 year ago by MarineLayer
Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  MarineLayer

Well then, I guess you and Victor are living in the past cause Neto has been our leadoff hitter for the past 2 games and has responded well so I dont see that changing unless he fades and Ward gets en Fuego hot

BTW You’re welcome ML .

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Cowboy26

Man. I really like Victor but I hope he doesn’t make a career out of being a bitter ex-Angels broadcaster. It would be a waste if he just became the Tucker Carlson/Sam Blum of Sad Donkey nation.

FungoAle
Legend
1 year ago

…along with Joe Maddon

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  FungoAle

Well they both have a clothing line..( I meant Joe & Victor not Sam)

MarineLayer
Super Member
1 year ago

Should a guy with a .290 slugging be hitting cleanup?

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  MarineLayer

Man ML, you and Frostie should get a room already.

comment image

AnAngelsFan
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  MarineLayer

That depends. You should really build the lineup based on expected performance over the course of the season because you don’t want to make daily/weekly lineup changes.

Rendon is slugging .390 over the past week, which isn’t very high, but if he keeps trending back toward his career numbers, it makes sense to keep him there. I do, however, agree Renfroe is a reasonable choice at #4 as well. Rendon has been better over his career, but Renfroe has been better the past 2 years while Rendon struggled, so Renfroe/Rendon/Drury might ultimately be the better way to go.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  MarineLayer

If he’s Anthony Rendon, yes. If only to keep your soul tortured.

RexFregosi
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  MarineLayer

if he’s smooth, yes.
yes indeed

DowningDude
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Twebur

at least they were able to bring in signs. Georgia took our signs away as we walked through the gates back in December 1994.

Twebur
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  DowningDude

They are A’ss fans..those sheets are their hobo bedrolls, clothing.

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  Twebur

It’s a British thing

MarineLayer
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Twebur

Why don’t you address my comment instead trolling me and other commenters. Victor said the same thing on today’s podcast, including moving him to lead off. He said the politics of that might be treacherous because he might get offended, just like when we kept Pujols in that spot years after he shouldn’t have been there.

Last edited 1 year ago by MarineLayer
Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  MarineLayer

Comparing the politics of Pujols to Ward? Thats like comparing the Governor to a sanitation board member.

Ward is an Arb 1 player with options left. If he doesn’t start hitting pretty soon he probably end up in the great Salt Lake and be replaced by Adell who has more walks than Ward in less PA’s this year or Moniak who is red hot right now.

BruinsAngelsKings
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Ward needs to somehow re-capture what he was doing before colliding with the wall last season.

Twebur
Legend
1 year ago

He did regained it toward the end of last season too, looked strong in ST. Gut feeling, overthinking and mostly in his head, not feeling sexy right now. Bet he gets it going this month.

Free Ward

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Twebur

Initially I think He was letting the ball travel too far into the zone hitting weak sprays down the right field line, now it looks like hes rolling over and pulling pitches trying to over compensate for before.

smithy610
Super Member
1 year ago

According to Ward himself, the problem is that he’s been “cheating”

Ward, who had an .833 OPS last season, said he thinks the problems began when he was trying to “cheat” to get to sinkers on the inside part of the plate.

My swing is so simple that I really shouldn’t be having these problems,” Ward said.

The problems included a .224 batting average and a .673 OPS heading into Friday night’s game. He was hitting .151 with a .508 OPS over his previous 15 games.

https://www.ocregister.com/2023/04/28/angels-taylor-ward-believes-a-return-to-basics-will-help-him-end-slump/

MarineLayer
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

My comparison is Rendon to Pujols.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  MarineLayer

BTW I dont want to spoil your dream now but since his 2 HR game a week ago Saturday, Renfore is slashing .179/200/.321. Not exactly cleanup hitter material there.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Cowboy26

This kinda points to why he’s probably not gonna be a regular cleanup guy. He’s always been a “swing as hard as possible” streak hitter. These dips have always happened with him. End of the year he’ll have 30 HR and a .250 BA.

Fansince1971
Legend
1 year ago

I will go one step further and say these “dips” or slumps or whatever happen with basically every great baseball player. If you pay close attention day by day, it’s like a roller coaster. But if you take the longer season viewpoint, he will get his and will be productive.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Fansince1971

If you’re a real baseball man you emphasize the results of EVERY game. It’s what the pros do to stay sharp.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago

But it’s all about the trend and for management to know which way the wind is blowing before the Hurricane makes landfall.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Cowboy26

I was kidding. Players who stress about EVERY game or moment wind up in the Jared Walsh school for shattered souls.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  MarineLayer

Completely ignoring your breathless personal problems with Rendon, the answer is because it’s been 70 ABs. I think if he’s sitting at a .350 SLG at 140 ABs we’ll see he’s morphed into a #6 hitter. Or he’s on the IL.

But, even then, he’s still gonna be a fantastic guy with a shit ton of charisma, money and talent, beloved by fellow players and random women alike. Rendon. Always the better man.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago

Over this last week in 28 PAs Rendon is hitting .304/.429/.391

hes still not driving the balls to the gaps yet but I think those are really good numbers for your no. 4 hitter.

WallyChuckChili
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

But Chicks dig the long ball.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Cowboy26

He’s never had huge natural power. He’s rusty on offense and defense. He’s always started slow, even at full health.

So yah. I think they are just giving him time and, baring mor bo boo he gains power.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
1 year ago

Just wish they’d given him time in the 5th or 6th spot for the first month then moved him up once he was hotter.

Guest
1 year ago

The Angels managed only nine runs against the Brewers in this three game series. Here is what portion of those nine runs the individual Angels were responsible for.

Remember, if Rendon gets a single, Drury hits a single that moves Rendon to third, and then Urshela hits an RBI single, Rendon gets credit for 0.25 runs, Drury gets credit for 0.50 runs, and Urshela gets credit for 0.25 runs.

3.75 Trout
1.00 Lamb
1.00 Ohtani
0.75 Neto
0.75 Urshela
0.50 Drury
0.50 Rengifo
0.25 Ward
0.25 Thaiss
0.25 Wallach
0.25 Rendon

Drury’s spectacular supernova the previous series faded quickly from view. It’s been good to see the rookie Neto in the middle of this list the past few series-es.

Now for the year-to-date ranking of the Angel pitchers using this same methodology, but dividing the actual runs allowed by batters faced:

0.00 Silseth (11)
0.00 Devenski (3)
0.05 Ohtani (131)
0.05 Moore (58)
0.05 Estevez (56)
0.09 Davidson (53)
0.09 Wantz (45)
0.10 Sandoval (113)
0.11 Canning (62)
0.13 Barria (65)
0.13 Quijada (43)
0.14 Anderson (120)
0.14 Detmers (115)
0.16 Suarez (105)
0.18 Herget (35)
0.19 Loup (45)
0.25 Tepera (20)
0.29 Warren (6)

Using the Actual Runs Allowed/Batters Faced method, we see that Barria and Quijada have been equally effective this year at preventing runs to score, while Loup has been significantly worse than both of them.

However, the distortion of ERA paints a different picture. Here is the current ERA for these three pitchers:

2.76 Barria
5.40 Loup
6.00 Quijada

AnAngelsFan
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to 

If Neto hits a single, Ohtani grounds into a fielder’s choice (but beats out the double play) and then Trout hits a 2-run HR, Trout gets 1.75 runs, but who are you giving the other .25, Neto or Ohtani?

Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  AnAngelsFan

Yes, this situation has come up a few times this season. I have been giving the 0.25 runs to Neto. When Neto came up to bat, there was no one on first base. When Ohtani came to bat there was a guy on first, and then after Ohtani’s at bat, there was still a guy on first. Ohtani’s at bat didn’t change anything, it didn’t advance a runner, so I haven’t been giving him credit.

AnAngelsFan
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to 

I agree that is the best way to handle that situation.

DowningDude
Legend
1 year ago

Per the Angels Bref page:
Playoff Odds: 8.5% to make postseason, 0.2% to win World Series

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  DowningDude

Totally doomed. Totally true too. If they do exactly what they have done thus far over another 125 games, and every other team also does exactly what they have been doing, they will likely have an 8.9% chance of making the play offs.

So. The Angels have to do better at baseball to have better odds of making the playoffs. We’ll likely hover around these odds until we stop hovering around .500 playing a mixed bag of teams.

Fansince1971
Legend
1 year ago

Yes. Presuming they figure a lot of the things out – most importantly winning the games where they have a late lead, this team has a much greater chance of making the post season. Obviously, the opposite is true as well.

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

These odds, like everything else, will worry me more in July. I already knew I wasn’t rooting for the 27 Yankees, I know things have to break right for us, and I don’t care how happy Ohtani is, so I’m less stressed out and am just glad this isn’t the 2022 Angels part II so far.

AnAngelsFan
Super Member
1 year ago

I’d take the April 2022 Angels, part II in a heartbeat. It’s the May – July 2022 Angels, part II we need to avoid.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  AnAngelsFan

I spent all of last Spring saying “we’ll see where they are at in June.” Ung.

AnAngelsFan
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  DowningDude

BRef gives the 12-16 Mariners a 28.3% chance to make the postseason. I question the accuracy of any site giving the Mariners a significantly better postseason chance then the Angels.

Fangrapsh gives the Angels a 33.9% chance, so look there if you want to be optimistic.

DowningDude
Legend
1 year ago

Happy Off-Day everyone! Put on your happy helmets and send your Checks to Arte Moreno for the PLAYOFF RUN tickets!

HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY!!!!!

comment image
i said it months ago – we suck
i said it months ago – we suck
i said it months ago – we suck
i said it months ago – we suck
i said it months ago – we suck
i said it months ago – we suck

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  DowningDude

So, the key take away is, when we suck, I need to remember that you told us we suck. You will be the winner of…. things. Though all you’ll really win is the chance to argue with some other guys about who told us we suck first. Who was the Lief Erikson of discovering the 2023 Angels suck? I vote you cause Ren & Stimpy.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
1 year ago

Without looking it up, can you tell us who you think is leading the club in hits so far this season?

  1. Renfroe
  2. Rendon
  3. Ohtani
  4. Trout
  5. Urshela
angelslogic
Super Member
1 year ago

Urshela?

DowningDude
Legend
1 year ago

fat kid

Twebur
Legend
1 year ago

Phillips?

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend

Suspect it’s Trout and Ohtani in that order.

AnAngelsFan
Super Member
1 year ago

Trout, Ohtani, Urshela, Renfroe, Rendon.

I believe Urshela is ahead of Ohtani in average, but I’m guessing he has lower hits because of fewer games played.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
1 year ago

While we are not National League fans, I have never liked the Cardinals, way back to 1964 beating Mickey Mantle’s team in the World Series and in ’67 beating the Red Sox in the World Series along with Yaz and Jim Lonborg. We are hoping for a winning series in St. Louis, I do wish they’d take Poohole from us to teach their kiddies. Oh, how sweet it would be to come home with beating them at home.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
1 year ago

Did Lamb’s HR and Suarez’s pitching surprise you? Well, I was surprised and keep waiting for KA-Boom, you know trAdition, Bullpen meltdown, you’ve seen it happen before along with me. So Suarez saves his job and Davidson stay put in the Pen for now.

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend

Lamb being on a major league roster remains a surprise. The fact that Suarez put a good game together after looking like Blanton his first couple of starts – not so much a surprise.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
1 year ago

Good morning my friends, winning is fun, winning on the road is fun, winning by shutout on the road by statistically our worst pitcher makes the following day even better.

Fansince1971
Legend
1 year ago

Agree with your last statement.

Wasn’t aware the Angels won the Brewers series.

Last edited 1 year ago by Fansince1971