Guess what are the three areas where the Angels need to improve.
MLB hired Albert Pujols as a Special Assistant to Rob Manfred with emphasis on player relations to the Dominican Republic. He’s been doing pretty much everything except “personal services” to the Angels. Here is some very very bad defense by the Red Sox to brighten your day.
The Mets designated catcher Thomas Nido for assignment and activated Omar Narvaez. Meanwhile the Reds designated right-hander Frank German for assignment while the Red Sox designated Raimel Tapia for assignment. Not to be outdone, the Nationals will DFA right-hander Andres Machado.
Stephen Strasburg has sever nerve damage and is shut down for the foreseeable future. The Nationals were unable to insure his contract when they signed him. Yikes! Max Fried went on the 60 day IL to make room because Atlanta claimed Lucas Williams off waivers from the Dodgers. Jacob deGrom is now also on the 60 day IL. So is Darin Ruf. Aaron Judge has an injured toe from crashing into a wall. The Rays have placed infielder Brandon Lowe on the injured list with lower back inflammation.
Former giants manager Roger Craig died at the age of 93.
Photo credit: Rex Fregosi
Game thread?
in a minute.
And there you go.
https://crashingthepearlygates.com/2023/06/06/angels-vs-cubs-gamethread-3/
Bar doors are open. Thank you Sir.
Patience is a virtue.
I have a high time preference. Haha
I think Nevin dropped acid with Bobby V before making today’s lineup lmaoooo
Ward LF
Ohtani DH
Trout CF
Rendon 3B
Thaiss C
Drury 2B
Urshela 1B
Moniak RF
Rengifo SS
Neto still has booboo?
I think Nevin has been reading our posts. The winning pattern when Rengifo starts and replaced in 7th inning or earlier, Angels are 9-3 record at whooping winning rate of 75%, and it does not even include Sunday’s win because Rengifo was replaced in 9th inning.
I anticipate Rengifo to be replaced by Neto in 7th inning if we are leading.
Walsh might take over 1B, but will Urshela replace Rendon at 3B?
I have no real quarrel with this lineup other than perhaps Ward leading off. He seemed to get
back on track a bit battling in the 4-6 slots. Why move him up now?
I’ll get hissed at, but I wanted to see Trout at leadoff for at least a short spell.
Old school leadoff Trout was the best Trout. Ahhh, the good ol’ days.
Yeppers.
I believe in giving your best hitters as many ABs as possible.
Trout
Ohtani
Rendon
Drury
Thaiss
Ward
Urshela/Walsh
Renfroe/Moniak
Neto/Rengifo
Totally agree and platoon splits can also be weighted toward the dude with the hot hand.
We need Trout to find it. We may not win with a productive Trout, but we certainly won’t with a cold Trout.
If Trout grips it too hard whenever there’s RISP f it put him in the lead off . Of course we’ll have the same running game as when Brian Downing was our lead off hitter
Yes and no. Yes on the SB’s, but Trout is absolutely the far superior base runner from 1st to 3rd or 1st to Home on a double.
Downing was an all hustle plodder.
I liked that Trout, I really miss that Trout.
Dude, that version of Trout on this current team would be very interesting.
I loved that Trout as well. I just don’t believe that having him hitting leadoff would alter his approach.
NO! Line up comes out = Must have quarrel.
I think Rendon is ready to slap a face or two of Cubs.
You’re on one today, which is saying something.
Donde Esta lineup predictors?
Who needs predictions when you know the real thing?
https://twitter.com/Sarah_IsabelVee/status/1666222608277442561
Unwarranted speculation is so much more fun.
Soooooo…. why didn’t Arte show us his commitmunk to whin ing by signing Strasburg?
And deGrom! Sucks for him, torn UCL – but cheeep Arte owed us a PONY last Winter!
Rodon? No, wait, we all knew Eovaldi was the guy to get back when snow was on the ground. We also all ignore that he said he’d prefer a Texas team or staying in Boston in the past. Other than that Perry is an idiot.
Let’s not forget Odorizzi. I might have even put that guy in my IIWPM.
Although expected, don’t know whether he will start or even play tonight. Soto has been sent down as anticipated.
https://twitter.com/SamBlum3/status/1666207296614174721
You don’t send down Soto unless you activate Rendon. You don’t activate Rendon unless you plan on playing him tonight
Oh no. we’re doomed. Break out the tearpons.
Anthony Rendon is FREE!
Now we can start kicking ass…
deGrom is getting the zipper on his pitching elbow. See ya’ in a couple of years!
https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/rangers/2023/06/06/texas-rangers-ace-jacob-degrom-needs-tommy-john-surgery-will-miss-rest-of-2023-season/
Beginning of the end for the Rangers?
Not really, he’s only pitched 6 games this year, with only 2 wins. Because I’m too lazy to check, I’ll assume the 4 no-decisions were won by the Rangers. Convert all of those to losses and the Rangers are 33-26.
At your service, sir: According to BB Ref, your assumption has been confirmed to be correct.
I have watched Texas getting extremely lucky (or is it NL central and AL central teams are really that bad?) in at least in 5 wins that opponents made brain fart miscues in late innings, last example being last night Cardinals having TOOTBLAN with Arenado’s triple in the top of 8th and Arenado making an error on very catchable pop fly in the bottom of 9th, which led to Texas walk off win. Texas have IT this year while teams like Angels clearly do not.
Yeah. This is funny, but it doesn’t really dent the Rangers this year. He’s barely played.
Losing an overpaid FA pitcher from that team, right now, doubt they even care.
Obviously, they are white hot now and will eventually come down to a more normal orbit, but they as good as they appear.
Wow, who didnt see that coming?
Not.
Does anyone remember the low key piss simmer when Arte failed to go out and get Mad Max and DeGrom in consecutive years, thus showing Shohei he hates wins?
I do.
Of course, we can be 100% sure none of this shit will happen with Shohei. We’ve never seen it, but I’m sure he has a Steve Finley like workout program and the massive work load he’s under won’t effect him at all.
Your post made me look up how many Japanese pitchers have undergone the procedure besides Shohei:
Yu Darvish
Dice-K Matsuzaka
Kenta Maeda
Kyuji Fujikawa
Tsuyoshi Wada
I truly believe Shohei sought advice from Yu Darvish before he went under the knife, and Darvish pretty much supported Shohei’s decision. In my mind, it is 50/50 that pitchers will be better with the surgery while the other half will falter (I have no data to back me up.) In my small sample, only Darvish and Shohei succeeded after the procedure. Matsuzaka never regained his fastball after TJ. For Maeda, jury is still out.
I think that fact that Shohei got the surgery relatively young helped, too. But, Shohei definitely took a gamble in selecting to undergo the procedure.
I don’t think Shohei will need TJS again necessarily. I do think he’ll start breaking down after age 30 and very much after age 35…. and cost 50M a year while he does it. I don’t think he’ll ever suck. He’ll just become a .680 OPS DH and a mid-rotation arm if the team that signs him is lucky. For 50M a year till he’s at least 40.
Sigh…. It would be cool if Arte could just pay him 75M a year for 3 years.
Again, it is a speculation on my part, but throwing mainly sweepers and not as many fastball or split finger might be one of his ideas to prolong his pitching life by avoiding second TJS. I don’t he will ever divulge that is the plan even if he is asked, however.
I like my plan. Pay him whatever the market bears for 4-5 years with 2nd and 4th year being Shohei’s option while Arte purchases Island of Hokkaido (along with all the billboards) to be gifted when Shohei and Ippei retires.
Hey, I demanded Perry sign both DeGrom and Turner, get it right!
Good thing I’m not the GM, because you’d all be calling for me to be fired by now.
This also probably ruins my chances of being your POBO when you buy the team in a few years. Oh well, there goes my dream job…
I believe you would not have gotten out that easily, sir. I always hear words resembling execution or Harakiri on this site…
DeGrom was an doomed investment before the ink dried. Glad the Rangers got him.
deGrom $205MM x 6y with last year being team option. I assume what ever health insurance provided by Rangers is going to cover his medical expense.
Actually, to be accurate, I was leery of DeGrom and didn’t actually advocate for him that much.
I wanted us to sign Turner and Rodon, which would have been much oh wait
https://sports.yahoo.com/oakland-as-proposed-las-vegas-move-stalls-without-a-vote-from-nevada-legislature-165018373.html
Can Newsom approve money to help send the A’s out of the state?
I’m surprised he hasn’t already loaned money to Nevada to make it happen….
That would be his North Star move, allowing him to meet the moment.
Would require a trade? The A’s franchise and cash to LV. LV in return sends him a year supply of Hair Gel preferably Dapper Dan. And a 1,500 hobos to be named later
Sports are just too butch for a state that’s gonna lead the way in innovative way leading in the future.
I presume that was due to Nevada State Assembly with Democrat’s having super majority. Too bad Bugsy Siegel weren’t alive now; he would have made it happen yesterday and have As play in the Strip where Tropicana is (or was it Flamingo, I forget) next year.
I hope Fisher steps in poo today.
The Foundation Building Materials’ keystone of the game for the Angels tonight against the Cubs is “Across the Universe” by Fiona Apple.
If the Tyler Anderson led Angels lose tonight after the Halos just gave up 3-of-4 to the Houstros, just adopt the attitude Fiona has in this music video for this Beatle cover. While all around you there is destruction, gnashing of teeth, renting of hope, and wallowing in despair, just chill. There will still be at least one great defensive play or one Angel extra base hit to meditate upon while ignoring the 12-3 shellacking the other team is inflicting upon the Halos.
Jai guru deva
Nothing’s gonna change my world
https://youtu.be/CmlnO1EwCT4
First. apology. I listed two days ago Hendriks as starting pitcher today, but he pitched yesterday, so it is Hayden Wesneski (in place of Justin Steele on IL), who is in his second year and has been used as starter and middle inning reliever.
On paper, it has a feel of high scoring game. Wesneski ERA 4.81 Anderson ERA 5.47. Wesneski gave up 10HR while Anderson 7HR. Expect many batters from both teams swing for dingers tonight.
Of course, knowing Angels, I will not be at all surprised if cy-Wesneski shuts us down with either no-hitter or perfecto going into 7th inning.
My takeaway here, John Lennon is one hell of a songwriter musician. Great song.
One of my very favorite Lennon Beatles songs. Great poetry and imagery,
I actually listen to Lennon’s solo work more often than I listen to the Beatles. And of my favorite Beatles tracks, they are overwhelmingly Lennon’s.
That’s me with with:
Morrissey > The Smiths
Not sure Invalid Anthony’s presence would have made any difference but Mike Trouts numbers in the 4 game series at Enron Field is epic:
1 for 15 3 BBs 5 ks’s 1 RBI .100 BABIP
Really Phillip? You couldn’t find a day or 2 to sit him down the last weekend instead of just writing him in the no. 2 hole (emphasis added) in every game Now thats real management there.
Would anyone here be shocked if he gave him tonight off? We shouldn’t.
If he does? “We wanted to get him off his feet for 2 days, while using the off day”.
TrAdition.
I’d say it’s 50/50. He either is fighting through an undisclosed injury. Or he’s going to catch fire and put them on his back for over a month.
Sure hope it’s not just an off-year or him starting his decline.
We paid for his career year. Again. His decline started the minute we signed him. All we’re debating is the rate of descent.
Are we talking about Mike Trout or Anthony Rendon?
Rendon. He was WS MVP, he signed a massive contract with us after we missed out on Cole. Mike Trout got the lifetime achievement award contract.
In that case, I’m wondering why Phillip would need to find a game or two to sit him down last weekend instead of batting him in the 2 hole.
Free Anthony Rendon!
It doesn’t matter what the actual topic is… ML is talking about Rendon.
And you’re talking about me.
What are words for / When no one listens anymore?
Do yew heew mee?
No man. I’m talkin bout Rendon.
The world can dig it.
We could’ve signed Strasberg…..
Mike Trout, 2022:
May 24th, .328
June 5th: .274
a 4 for 42 stretch.
June 11th: .294
July 7th: .269
Oct. 5th: .283
This is
Mike Trout, 2021:
May 8th, .388
May 17th, .333
that’s 1 for 19, then out for the year. He does this every year. Gets hot, goes into a slump, gets hot again.
He does this every year over the past 2-3 seasons IMO. He’s definitely become more streaky and less consistent and while people are hyper focused on the S/O rates, it’s more or less on par with this S/O rate over the past half decade.
My unscientific eye test results tell me that he’s making less solid contact wether it’s on fastballs or off speed pitches.
LOL @ “Phillip”
Agreed. My new favorite name for him.
Los Angeles Angels right-hander Darlin Francia was suspended for 56 games after a positive test for the performance-enhancing substance Stanozolol.
The 19-year-old Francia is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in two starts and three relief appearances for the Arizona Complex League Angels.
The Arizona Complex League? What is that?
https://www.milb.com/arizona-complex/about
WhoTF wants to play baseball in AZ from June 6th to August 23rd at non-indoor spring training complexes?
The ball flies farther in 120 degree heat.
Its like BALCO.
Testing positive for Stanozolol….thats old school shit.
Their season just started today. The guy must have gotten busted on his first pee test since he got into town.
Most of them know exactly how to navigate that pee test. Big mistake, unlucky or dumb.
I guess he did not know who Lamar Odom and what his prosthetic wee wee was.
https://people.com/tv/lamar-odom-used-prosthetic-penis-pass-drug-test-2004-olympics
Maybe this pitcher lives in Florida where it’s against the law for people named Darlin to have prosthetic penises.
According Wikioarte, the Arizona Complex League is prison farm run by Arte Moreno is the desert just outside Phoenix, Arizona. The prison farm employs minor league ball players to create the metal-based parts used in the construction of billboard and outdoor messaging structures. Below is an image captured from one of the prison chain-gangs clearing brush for a future Moreno billboard.
How many nights in the box for leering at the car-washing woman?
It actually removes days from the sentence….
Isn’t that the goal?
What? That’s the warden!
This post reminded me of the time in the military when I was suddenly required to report to my commander’s office first thing in the morning. I was told to go to a latrine to wee wee while another officer looking. It happened about 3-4 times a year, and it was weird.
Oh great, we get to watch Tyler Anderson pitch tonight! I’m so excited! /s
Bollinger’s article is spot on. Even Nevin’s comments in response are right on the money. BUT, here’s what was left out:
4. Sitting players who are red hot (Moniak) just because of gritty vets.
5. Expecting a better result when a proven inept relief pitcher is brought into the game in a high-leverage situation.
6. Assuming infield roulette is a sound defensive tactic.
Do we lead the league in meaningless Solo HRs late in games when trailing by 5+ runs?
I really don’t get this complaint. Should the players not hit HRs late in games if we are losing? In which inning do we give up? In which inning should Trout try for a bunt single instead?
Timing is everything. When you frequently do your best work late in a 7-3 losing effort opposed to a 7th inning go ahead run, you’re stat padder… It’s ok, you are what you are. The world needs stat padders. I prefer someone doing their best work when it counts. 😐
It sounds like your complaint is not performing with runners on, rather than performing without them on. Also, one doesn’t control what players have done before them, right?
Not a complaint about production with or without runners. Just like the guys that do their best work when it’s meaningful. They keep stats on this, some do better in tight situations, some do better in winning or losing late in games. It’s science.
But much of that is matchups. If your facing the worst pitcher from the oppositions bullpen in the late innings you are by default going to pad the stats.
Still, you are one that frequently bulks up your stats against lesser pitchers late in games that’s out of reach…..some take ABs off late in games due to lack of interest, why waste the energy. It’s not a knock, you are what you are. Most guys are somewhere in the middle.
I loved Chili Davis when he played for the Angels. The guy would hit.250-.260 most years but was always good for 90+ RBIs as he would typically find a way to get the runners home. Tough to quantify clutch on a stat sheet but it’s real.
I’d take that every day of the week.
Plus he was attributed with one of my favorite quotes:
“Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.”
It’s not just sitting the hot hand that irks me. But if you’re going to build a team with extensive depth and position versatility then at least play the number on matchups especially against teams that have traditionally owned us.
It’s beyond ridiculous, especially with so many veterans to not provide your team with the best chance to win by fielding the best 9 players on the field each night.
So We are worried about some millionaire’s feelings ? boo hoo. They can cry in their champagne when we finally win something meaningful in October again.
October baseball?🤣
You raise a good point. TB doesn’t have to deal with this attitude. Their management controls having the most productive players in at all times of every game and isn’t controlled by the contracts of overpaid/underperforming players. We actually have plenty of good position players available to do that. The bullpen, that’s an entirely different situation as we have no depth there.
Good News, Trout has not been seriously injured so far this year. Bad news is he is playing as though he is 6 years older, though he surprised the other day against Houston and left his feet and caught a ball in CF like the old days. Feels bad when your favorite player’s, next to Mickey Mantle, declines in ability at a young age. 😫
He now plays like Mantle when he was old and his body was gone.
I still believe Trout can be a solid top tier player, and there’s nothing to sneeze about him staying in good health. But the Ks and K rate are concerning. It feels like we would have another Pujols in our hands inevitably, when it wasn’t so long ago we just got rid of the original version.
I do not see Bobby Valentine taking over for Phil Nevin. Now possibly a Bench Coach, just maybe?
I’m no “spring chicken”, but Bobby Valentine is 73 years old. Does anyone remember how “effective” Tony LaRussa was in baseball leadership roles when he was the same age as Valentine?
Valentine is not what the franchise needs in a leadership role. I find it fascinating in a head-scratching type of way that Perry thought he needed Valentine’s expert insights as an Advisor to contribute to Angel baseball operations.
Doesn’t mean I want Bobby V, but Dusty Baker won a World Series at 73.
Old people kick ass. It’s ridiculous to even think we would, should, could hire Bob V, but it’s the Angels. If they decided to go full clown show, I predict he will end up as a “Silver Alert” at some point during the season. Eventually found safe wondering a Santa Ana Denny’s parking lot, wearing a bathrobe and cleats. Just hanging with the parking lot hobos, talking baseball.
I’d rather have Artificial Intelligence manage our team than Valentine.
Yes! Do you have a newsletter that I can subscribe to?
The key word being intelligence.
BTW how much influence do we think Ray Montgomery ( and by extension PTP) have on the day to day lineups?
Whoever, has the most influence on the lineup construction needs to be reassigned or fired.
I still think it’s Minasian and Arturo. It’s hard to believe Nevin has much control of anything.
The key word being
intelligenceArtificial. As in Artificial hip or knee. Shows veteran old man grittyness. Yelling to get off my lawn while swinging a cain with authority, screams that he’s a leader of men and worthy of managing this team.https://youtu.be/YvT_gqs5ETk
Alexandra: How many did Ol Satchel strike out last night?
This feels like it’s got Arturo’s fingers all over it, Minasian has always felt like a puppet to me.
God morning my friends, hope this day finds you bright eyed and bushy tailed. 😃 🐇 The fourth item on Bollinger’s list could have been putting away batters with two outs.
Boy, oh boy, what a lousy GM I would have made over the Winter as I liked the idea of signing a Free Agent SS, I might have then by past Neto. My dream SS plays now for the Cubs and certainly makes a whole lot more money to boot.
Strasburg and deGrom were bargain signings, but who knew, the insurance companies, that’s who.
I am not a fan of Albert’s, imho he just never got caught bulking up with PEDS. When player’s do things for 10 straight years that we have never seen in the history of MLB, I get suspicious of those players when it comes to cheating. MLB and the writers love to take the low road and pander to the suspected cheaters especially if the cheaters are minorities. Ortiz, Bonds, ARod, IRod.
I hope the Angels can get things turned around this Homestand playing the Cubs and the Rangers, but maybe reality is that we are just a .500 team. But in my heart I see the team being competitive to make the playoffs.
Have yourself a good time today, see ya’ll later.
Ah, Grandpa-San, slight correction, sir. It will be the Cubs followed by the Mariners. However, please do not fret. When we face the Rangers in a 4 game series shortly after, talk of ever effervescent Bobby V with brand new sun tan look will heat up again. 😉
Let’s grab of 5 of 6 and and head into Texas hot.
I know we are not supposed to “count chickens before they hatch”, but if we win tonight with Anderson and tomorrow with Barria, we have good chance of going 5 of 6. It was a smart move on Nevin’s (or Perry’s) part to push Shohei’s start till Friday to face Mariners (perfect 5-0), to be followed by Sandoval and Canning. Pitching wise we are all set. Another fortunate development is that Angels will not face Marcus Stroman this week. If we win with Detmers on Thursday, that would be icing on the cake!
Some Japanese fans are complaining that Shohei the pitcher will not face Seiya Suzuki, but fu’k them!