Good morning Angels fans. No Baseball today, have some links instead.
Angels News
3 Angels All Stars, 2 played in the game, and only 1 did anything of note. Charlie Sheen himself had a shutdown 5th inning.
Well, Ohtani did draw a walk. He also struck out. So, yeah. Oh, and he also had a ton of interviews.
But besides that stuff, there was the MLB Draft going on. While CtPG has a discussion about the first pick, the Angels Scouting Director defends the choice.
How have the Angels hitters been doing? Well, depending on the month…
Around Baseball
Welp, for the first time since 2012, the NL won the All Star Game. It is also the first time since 2009 that the Astros Lost.
Elias Diaz of the Rockies is the All Star MVP. The first Rockie to do so.
Oh yeah and the Astros were booed during the intros.
Not everything was celebration, as an injury happened during the game. Jordan Romano hurt his back.
But what is a celebration is the age of MLB fans. The average age of fans in the stands has decreased! All while attendance is up and time of the games are down!
Manfred is still taking questions about the A’s. It is like he wants to be booed.
Where will the next All Star Games be? Well, there is a list, and Atlanta is on it.
And once again, MLB is trying to reinvent the baseball by trying to create a pre tacky one. Japan already perfected that, just use those.
The other thing is that expansion to 32 may happen soon ish. Uh huh…
Oh and they are also talking about shortening the season because Manfred can’t stop messing with everything. At least past attempts have fallen flat,
And Pete Rose is still banned BTW. Should have banned others as well but that is just my opinion…
Have you been playing Immaculate Grid? Well, they have been acquired by Sports Reference, so now the answers are linked right to their Baseball Reference pages. A good fit.
Anything I missed? Post below for upvotes!
OMG, I just saw that Yankee sponsor patch. Just when you thought the Yankee uni couldn’t be more sickening.
I agree baseball unis will soon be like NASCAR racing suits.
What’s sickening is the players from other teams making pitches to Ohtani to join their team. I thought that stuff was verboten while a player was under contract.
I know the Angels are too weak to do anything, but I’d go “Bob Gibson” on them starting with Tucker who was publicly recruiting Ohtani.
I agree, the media has such a b0ner when they try and guess as to Ohtanis uniform next year. They ask every bloody player on other teams.
I actually hold out hope that Ohtani re-stuns the world and resigns for less than he may get with other teams. For example: He avoided the Yankees for a reason.
That’s a lot of hopium man
Yeah man…..I hear you!
“I can quit any time I want (Hopium), I just don’t want to right now!”
I just saw YouTube clip of Japanese news program where they showed an overhead view picture of media interview of Shohei before ASG, where 150 people gathered. What looked absolutely hilarious was that right next to Sho was Kyle Tucker sitting, and that throng for Sho spilled into Tucker’s table area, and it looked as though there were no one interviewing Tucker.
On the sleeve is one thing, on the chest over the (Bile rising) iconic Yankee emblem is brutally bad.
link? I cannot find it
There is also YouTube clip version, but this is less offensive.
https://twitter.com/Yankees/status/1679133829385146371
I had to look at it twice. At first Glance I though it said:
STAPH
Infection
I do see what you are talking about. 😅
However, MRSA (Methicillin resistant staphylococcal aureus) is nothing to sneeze at. Hope that no more baseball player ever get infected with MRSA. https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/news/justin-turner-diagnosed-with-mrsa-a-staph-infection
MRSA on Turner’s inner thigh….I think that may speak to some extracurricular activities with women with infectious personalities.
I guess that would be better than getting Wally Joyner’s spider bite.
Garrett Anderson’s Pink Eye
Casey Kotchman’s mononucleosis
We are cursed
what’s the big deal?
Is there any hope for the Angels?
https://www.ocregister.com/2023/07/12/angels-face-long-odds-of-reaching-playoffs-after-midseason-slide/
You know the answer to this…..
Another Ivy Leaguer in addition to 2 Harvard guys who were recently drafted. This guy is a poly sci major. Arte got potential economic and political advisor in the making.
https://twitter.com/CULionsBaseball/status/1678954137541660673
I’m pretty sure he has a baseball player that’s going to play in one of his minor league affiliates
where are we with injuries?
Rendon — lol ? He hasn’t been placed retroactively on the 10-day IL, but will he be ready to go Friday? Highly doubt it.
Neto – could be ready for the Astros series? Maybe ?
Moore – should be ready for Friday ?
Drury – week(s) away ?
Adell – injured oblique in the 1st.inning during last Friday’s game. Month+ out ?
Joyce – month out ?
Kinda sucks that Jo went out right after Mike. I mean, we had the perfect “fill in” and then he gets his (obilque) issue … Does sometimes make you think they’re cursed with bad luck.
Does sometimes make you thinkthey’re cursed with bad luck.Today being an off day, I don’t expect to hear anything. Possibly tomorrow in that all players are expected to return to Anaheim to start preparations for Houston series.
Houston is another notorious team who has been poor in communicating about their injured players. No credible information on Yordan Alvarez. It is interesting that they announced their projected starters, though. They were TBA until today.
JP France vs Ohtani
Valdez vs Detmers
Javier vs Anderson
Quite surprised that Valdez not pitching on Friday. Wondering what Dusty is thinking. Valdez declined to go to ASG in Seattle. Is there a problem with Valdez? Is he giving up on winning the first game and trying to win the series by taking last two?
Hmmmm. Yes, that is interesting and sneaky by Baker. I can’t imagine one extra day would make a big difference for Valdez. He is clearly their No. 1. You’d think he’d be their guy on Friday…
Maybe Baker is doing a Popovich like thing when he’d rest two key starters on the road against a really good team, then the opponent would get overconfident and Pop’s highly motivated backups would shock them with the upset … It happened over and over for them… I think he may be doing that here. France is not bad, and should the Astros still take that first game they’d be lined up for a pretty easy sweep of the Angels..
Houston is looking for an SP and left handed bat.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/07/astros-trade-rumors-starting-pitching-top-prioriry.html
As it stands, Astros are leaning on Valdez (ostensibly less than 100%), Bielak, and rookies Brown and France. Presumably, Javier is slotted back into the rotation early in the second half. Houston has taken a look at Dubin and Blanco in the rotation, but they have been inconsistent. Outside of Brown, none of the rookies are considered high end prospects. France, Bielak, Dubin and Brown are already approaching last year’s innings total. Blanco has already exceeded his.
Is Dana Brown indirectly asking for Sho’rt rental?
Oddshark always has injury news, but it may not always be up to date.
Houston Astros vs Los Angeles Angels Odds – Friday July 14 2023 (oddsshark.com)
They are predicting a Houston win, and I’m afraid I agree … I think the Angels will have problems scoring… l suspect the first time we get two runners on with less than two outs we’ll hit into a DP and shift the momentum towards Astros… Simply because THAT is the kind of shit they do to us…
We may also see more strikezone shenanigans and fraudulent calls by HP umpire. Because THAT is what THEY do to us vs Houston.
The Astros will score enough off of Shohei to win… I can see this being a 4-2 win for Astros.. Maybe even 5-2 or 5-1.
We’ll know by the 5th inning of Friday’s game how the Houston series will go.
Yep. Agree.
It’s not when they come back, it’s the timing of when the go back on IR….
I realize I do not post nearly as much as most do on this site. I find this communities insights on the Angels to be well for lack of a better word – Excellent. With that being said I thought I would share what I really think needs to happen in Anaheim to turn things around:
For me it begins with culture. The past nine years have shown us that the organization’s culture is one that without change will continue to lead to the same results. I know I have read on here that at times the organization mimics insanity as they continue to do the same thing (make over the top signings on players who tend to break down shortly after) while expecting different results.
When I say change of culture it does begin with Moreno. I was thrilled that Moreno was going to sell the Angels and not because I dislike the man, but instead because I felt this was the shift we needed in the organization. I could go further in depth as to what changes we could possibly make to improve the organization as a whole, but as long as Moreno continues to interfere with what goes on from the GM level down we will continue to endure difficult times as a franchise and as fans of this franchise.
In truth the team actually has a good amount of talent, much of which came to us through trades or signings in the past year. But we have to be honest with ourselves here – we cannot build a winner when we have over 110 million dollars committed to three players (Ohtani, Trout, Rendon) two of which have lived on the disabled list the past few seasons. I hope that somehow someway the front office understands this (I honestly doubt that’s the case).
In the end I appreciate everyone’s insights here and know that these seasons are just as hard for all of you as they are for me. I thought for once I would offer my insights as to what the organization can do to improve in the future. However, until this team finds a new owner I don’t believe anything will change, Ohtani here or not.
Since Esty was the Angels star in the ASG last night, here’s a cool story of him and his celebrity namesake:
https://www.latimes.com/sports/angels/story/2023-07-10/charlie-sheen-angels-all-star-closer-carlos-estevez-share-name
The AllStar game has lost a lot of its luster for me. I wonder how it could be improved and still stay true to the game.
Yeah I forgot to tune in until about the 4th inning, missed Uni’s at bats.
I feel like it has to have some meaning. I thought it was more interesting when homefield advantage was at stake for the World Series. It doesn’t need to go that far but something to play for would make it more watchable.
After all, it is an exhibition game, not much better than spring training practice. No real game strategy, essentially bullpen game, everyone (except Arraez) was swinging for homerun, and many players more interested in socializing. MLB touts that ASG is for baseball fans, but I think it is more for MLB Network and media. The first time attendees seemed really excited to be there, but I kinda doubt that others were that enthusiastic once they have been there once.
I did watch it, but I didn’t have much expectation to start with. After Sho left after two at bats and feeling relieved that he did not injure himself, I pretty much lost concentration and interest for the remainder of the game (except when Estevez pitched in 5th inning.)
However, you gotta admit, compared to NBA and NFL All Star (which I pretty much ignore), MLB equivalent is at least watchable.
P.S. John Smoltz on Fox podcast had an intriguing suggestion. How about USA All Star vs World All Star? (a la Trout vs Ohtani)
Not a fan of that. Better to watch the WBC where real competition is evident. Stick with NL vs AL.
You should Tell that to Ray Fosse. Well you could if he hadn’t died last year.
I think Smoltz thought that there may be some good match ups between teammates, but you are right in that there are not too many players who stay on the same team, so that would not have mattered. In fact, at least Japanese fans wanted to see match up between Senga and Sho yesterday, but to their disappointment, Rob Thomson went with Alex Cobb, who walked him.
I was not watching but that would have been great for the fans back in Japan
Move it to after the WS, always playing it at indoor stadiums (or just Arlington or Vegas if/when they build a stadium)?
Every player on the team that loses must cut off a pinky finger.
Now THAT would be interesting. Or some kind of lion cage for every error or strikeout while looking.
Baseball’s All-Star Game drew a record low in viewers for the third straight year.
https://wtop.com/sports/2023/07/mlb-all-star-game-draws-record-low-viewership-for-3rd-year-in-row/#:~:text=The%20National%20League%27s%203%2D2,in%20Los%20Angeles%20in%202022.
Your suggestion will double the rating at least, but MLB will receive a huge complaint from PETA.
glove hand or throwing hand?
So thats what happened to Mordecai Brown.
I guess he had to learn how to win the hard way.
At your service, Gritcho-Sensei. I didn’t know you liked Japanese Yakuza movie.
https://youtu.be/aaOf_9FX4gI
I may be in the minority here, but I’m really glad the AS break has come and gone. Not a fan of “all star” festivities for the most part.
Anyway, the next 2-3 weeks figure to be extremely momentous for the team.
Can they play .600+ baseball and become aggressive buyers?
Does the slide continue prompting a Shohei trade and a general fire sale of veterans?
Worse yet, what do they do if we tread water with .500 baseball?
Yep, we gotta come out of the break like a house on fire!!!
Our house is already on fire.
..and unfortunately it’s so engulfed in flames it melted our LifeAlert necklace.
The All Star break is always miserable for me. I have tired of the HR derby (did not even watch this year) and the game itself with the in-game interview of players (announcers talking to a pitcher while he is pitching???) and the odd looking uniforms makes the game not what it once was. I look forward to the season re-starting on Friday and my frustrations with the Angels continuing once again. I cannot see them coming out of this tailspin but I can be pleasantly proven wrong.
We’re going to find out one way or the other and quick as were facing solid teams competing for the same playoff slot that we are.
These are essentially playoff games in July.
Let’s go….
Next 2 weeks of games may determine the future direction of the franchise.
Interesting times to be sure.
I’d could hug you…..yes to all of this. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Is absolutely one of the dumbest thing I’ve every seen or heard. And that is coming from someone who for the most part likes Mic’ed up players on the field, just not being interviewed while playing.
Dios mio I hate listening to baseball players talk. This is a group of guys who, during “Personality Day” or what ever the self expression game they have every year is called where they have nicknames on their jerseys, display for the world the fact that 95% of them can’t do better than the last syllable of the guys last name or just putting a Y at the end of it. Or better yet, names like KIIIID… from 10 years ago. As a group baseball players are about as interesting as American Cheese. Listening to them explain baseball even makes baseball dull. Just stop.
OK, gitchy.
I sooooo much agree with this comment. First, that thing of interviewing the pitcher WHILE he is pitching has got to be dumbest thing I’ve seen in my life. Speaking of life, if that guy is distracted even a little bit it can cost him his life by a linedrive right at his head ! I never liked the mic on players in the field, but that shit takes it to another level !
As for the uniforms they look like puke. What happened to the whole thing of each guy wearing his own teams’ uniform, be it road or home depending on the League. I always thought that was so cool to see the different colors on the field together… It was a feast for the eyes… What we have now is boring and actually irritating to look at …
They will have to go on a 20 game win streak to finally have a chance. I just don’t see it though when every week, another player decides to injure himself.
Moore has been gone forever and who knows if he will be the same since oblique injuries are difficult to recover from (see Walsh), Neto hurt himself somehow, Rendon is just glass, Trout hurt another part of his body, Joyce’s arm exploded after like his fourth game, O’Hoppe’s shoulder decided to kaput, and Adell hurt is oblique.
It’s another year of muh injuries amd obviously the new athletic trainer they’ve had for the past couple of years isn’t making any difference.
I also predict Arte fence sitting as usual.
Thanks Dr. Nick. The amputation business must be going well.
I assume you’re being hyperbolic re: 20 game win streak. If they were to go 13-7 or better over the next 20, they’ll be “in it” and will probably look to upgrade.
If they go 7-13 or worse over the next 20, I think they’ll throw in the towel.
If they go 13-7 in thay stretch then we get the 2011-2012, 2015, and 2017 where they choked at the end? I just look at the data such as the past seasons, but this year will be different somehow?
The question is what person or event will change the trajectory? The belief that players who have stunk it up for 81 games are going to flip a switch and reverse.
WRONG!
Every week Arte decides to injure another player. Because ego. And cheapness.
I agree, AS game lacks real competition to draw my attention. Ever since I saw John Kruk in the 1993 AS game flailing and bailing out in the batter’s box against Randy Johnson in, I knew this AS game was cooked. Derby? Yawn.
The teams ahead of us will be beating up on each other so an Angel hot streak will make a difference. Let’s hope in the clubhouse, there is more optimism than the despair and negativity exhibited on this web site.
Half of CtPG’s will be happy that they are still competitive, the other half will be burning Perry in effigy, and the remaining half will be arguing with the other two halves.
Back to 154, please!
That’s a hard no for me.
Ohtani announced at the All star game that winning is the prime directive for him. Knowing that, it would be negligent to get something for him before he goes.
Negligent to not get something you mean
Thanks for the correction. 😀
I think he meant the French derivative of that word “Negligee”
Yes, I speak very good French and that it what I meant.
Not most important issue, but nothing short of a prison sentence is needed for those ASG uniforms. I say 3-5 years is good.
Yeah, my son even asked me, laughingly, “What are they wearing?”
So what are your thoughts on the new Yankees jersey sponsor?
I haven’t seen it, but anything Yankee related raises up bile…..
Yeah. It was weird seeing all our favorite players dressed in the scrubs the sassier nurses wear on Friday.
In Manfred’s defense (first and I hope last time I say that), Oakland, having decided it couldn’t afford a stadium deal, is giving its mayor a $75,000 raise. Priorities, people.
Maybe it was a merit raise?
A raise for the mayor of Oakland? What was the milestone or benchmark for getting that raise? Being able to fog a mirror? I was just In Oakland recently, and yeeesh.
It’s essentially to comply with rules put into place by politicians to make sure politicians (the Mayor) get paid lots of money. No joke, the special assistant to the
GMMayor currently makes more than the Mayor.Rather than discussing the politics of the situation, I’ll just provide the link to the article in case you are interested: Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao could receive a huge salary raise (eastbaytimes.com).
Oakland is a tragic city in every way imaginable.
A dollar for every hobo. Hobonus. California…. keep inovationing until true north or and also something optimal happens for communities.
For defending manfraud…BANNED!!!
In some ways Shohei Ohtani was a bigger story than the All-Star game itself. Shohei is a very bright young man who can handle himself in front of the press expertly. He has given us Angels fans some great memories as he has gotten better every year as the Unicorn of the game of MLB. His smile, all out play, his having fun in the dugout and out on the field.
As a Free-Agent he could pull down 50 million a year for 10 years, he may someday hit 50 HRs in a season or may win 20 games in a season or do both in the same season. His potential is seriously unlimited, is it not. He could hit 30 HRs and steal 30 bases if he choses, there is no limits on his play.
To trade Shohei or not, very tough call, is it not. No matter which side you are on, you are right. Selflessly I would like a couple more months of watching him as an Angel, but the Angels fan in me wants to see a return for him instead of getting nothing. The time to cut bait is here and both options are not a fun or easy choice now, are they?
We a least have a little more time until we face the music.
All – Star Game was a 💯 % great game right up to the last pitch. I did pull for that kid up in Seattle to hit a HR for a walk-off in his hometown to cap off his All-Star break after hitting 41 HRs in one round in the Derby.
Sometimes “change for the sake of change does not take”, in this case it is All-Star Games player’s uniforms, which were just not Major League quality in appearance at all. As an Angels fan I would enjoy that our representative be in our team home uniform. Some things from things from the past are not so bad after all.
I haven’t seen this commercial before, but it aired last night during the game and made me legit LOL… he would LOVE to get a second-place trophy in the majors these days having not even sniffed playoff success (or appearances).
https://twitter.com/MikeTrout/status/1666143275298832386?s=20
Well, now he has lots of experiences of failure, and I think he’s handling it pretty well. So good advice, coach.
Free Trout!
Work a deal to get him to Philly. He’s served his time “in country” long enough.
This is assuming he’d welcome a trade. He’s a class act that deserves much better. We could go heavy on receiving top prospects and pay a much larger portion of his contract. Do it before it’s too late.
Sometimes I wonder if he regrets not going to Philly. Makes you wonder sometimes.
How could anyone regret not going to Philly? have you been there lately?
It’s a dump and homeless problem there is as bad as here.
The time of games in 2023 so far is 2:38 vs 2022 3:10, now that is huge. Average age of fans attending games has lowered and BABIP has gone from .291 in ’21 to .297 in ’23. Somethings have not improved though, such as the I.Q of those who wear the tools of ignorance or their eyesight. 😎
Hey, are you saying catchers are blind and dumb? What have you got against catchers?
Immaculate Grid has been a part of my morning routine for about three weeks now. Coffee, crossword and the grid. At first I was just trying to get 9/9, now that I’ve done that a few times I’m trying to get the most obscure players for each box and get a low rarity score. My best so far is a 102. Super fun game
So, Tim McIlvaine basically said he took a DH for the 1st pick. “We are going to try him at 1st base but we really like his bat” Would not have been my pick, but we will see.
That might be a bit hyperbolic. I don’t think I’ve seen the defense at 1B knocked anywhere, just that guys who appear destined to ONLY play 1B with no other positional versatility don’t get drafted at #11.
I feel like I read the defense was good there even? I think we should be worried if power doesn’t develop because he doesn’t strike me as a Sonny DiChiara DH-only guy.
I have not seen anything written that he played a good defensive 1 st base. I’ve seen that they played him at first, they tried him in left, but he struggled. Less than average speed on the base paths. But a good contact bat, not a lot of power. Have to wait and see now. Maybe he becomes an early bloomer and impacts the team right away like Neto, or maybe he takes awhile like Ward.
Maybe he’s an Eric Hosmer type offensive player, without the defensive prowess.
Thanks for the hyperbole SG. I guess being an Angel fan is excuse enough for being jaded but where did he or anyone else in the organization say our first pick was just a DH? All reports I’ve seen are that he has a good glove at first base and can play the corner positions . McIlvaine even confirmed in Jeff Fletcher’s story that they will try him out in the corner outfield spots this summer after starting out at first base. https://www.ocregister.com/2023/07/09/angels-take-florida-atlantic-first-baseman-nolan-schanuel-with-1st-round-pick/ His college coach also believes he could play a more premium position like 2nd and 3rd according to Sam the Hat. https://twitter.com/SamBlum3/status/1678199670667980800
if his defense was so limited why would they waste valuable resources trying him at other premium positions? Man this site needs massive therapy sessions.
To add to your point… name me another team that stresses the importance of defense more than this organization. 😀 🙃 😃
Like I said, we will see. It only took Taylor Ward about 6+ years to make an impact and find a spot (sort of). There are good signs (contact rate) and there are concerning signs ( slow on base paths, trouble playing left field). The Angels don’t exactly have a reputation for player development.
But Taylor Ward was a defense first no hit catcher not rated in the top 100 When the Jedi and his scouting team took him out of Fresno State in the first round back in 2015.
I doubt any of the people are still around that were clapping in that much posted video ( which I still love BTW) In fact I wonder how many people that were involved in Player development back in 2015 are still with the organization.
Its apples and oranges and like comparing the Doyers current draft strategies to our own..
We will need a DH next year.
Already have one, or two. Pick your poison between Trout and Rendon.
We will need a lot of things next year. It’s trAdition.
We are the neediest team in MLB.
Free Shufflebot
Free myself from all of this bullshittery
Free us from Wise
Free Webissantz
Free core muscles, hips, shoulders, wrists, sleep apnea, free elbow issues that 100% will become a Tommy John in the near future, free us from a clueless medical staff and training staff – “Do no harm” Ha!!!
Free Rengafo
Free proof of life for Stassi
Free acceptance that M Out is done and a perpetual K machine
Free us from ourselves
Who is this Stassi that you speak of?
East German Police
Why? We already have ……….. welp…… oh crap, we may need one.