Christian Javier has dominated the Angels over the years. He came into this game struggling and looking to right his ship against the Angels.
Tyler Anderson was dominant as as a Dodger but has not been anything close to dominant this year. He gave up a run and left the bases loaded in the first inning.
Mike Moustakas got that run in the bottom half of the second inning.
Charles took over writing at this point. Don’t blame Jeff for my stupid jokes and stuff.
The Moustakas homer sorta looked like this if you were a computerized bird or a terminator in the choppa.
Then Tyler Anderson had some kind of leg issue in the third. If I were a betting man, I’d say it was heat/dehydration related cramps. He got replaced by Jose Soriano for the fourth inning. The Astros got a couple of men on with two outs when Hunter Renfroe made a very cool catch on Jose Abreu to end the inning.
In the fourth Taylor Ward walked and Matt Thaiss singled to send Ward to third with one out. Renfroe struck out but Trey Cabbage doubled to drive in two. 3-1 Angels. This was his second big league hit. He had singled earlier in the game. Rengifo struck out.
Cabbage? Not succotash?
Then Zack Weiss came in for the fifth and got three outs in a row. The Angels did not respond well to the shut down inning but they still lead.
Part way through the top of the sixth, Jacob Webb came in to replace Zack Weiss. Alex Bregman had earlier singled and Kyle Tucker doubled to put men at second and third with two outs. Luckily, Jose Abreu grounded out to Moustakas to end the top of the sixth. It’s still 3-1 Angels, folks! Regrettably, three Angels grounded out in a row.
In the seventh, Chas McCormick hit a lead off homer to make it 3-2 Angels. The Astros feasted on Jacob Webb this inning. Jake Meyers also homered. 3-3 Astros. On the radio, Terry Smith referred to “God Bless America” as “our national anthem” which was news to me. I thought it was this:
Then in the seventh Trey Cabbage hit a one out single. Let’s face it, he had a great game. Zach Neto hit a two out double to score Andrew Velazquez, who had pinch run for Trey Cabbage. 4-3 Angels. Shohei Ohtani got intentionally walked. Mickey Moniak got hit by a pitch to load up the bases with two outs for Taylor Ward. Ward doubled to drive in three. 7-3 Angels. Mike Moustakas hit a deep fly to right for the third out.
Carlos Estevez came in to pitch. Alex Bregman promptly singled off of him. Kyle Tucker popped out to right. So did Jose Abreu, basically. Chas McCormick then homered to right center to make it 7-5 Angels. Yainer Diaz flied out to right to end the Astros half of the eighth. Matt Thaiss struck out. Hunter Renfroe grounded out to first. Andrew Velazquez drew a two out walk and then stole a bag while Rengifo was batting. Rengifo then struck out.
Jaime Barria came in to close it out. Say what you want about Nevin, but he used Estevez against the middle of the Astros order. Barria faced the scrubs at the bottom of the order. It must have seemed like a good idea at the time.
First off was Bligh Madris, who walked. Grea Kessinger singled to center. The Astros had men at first and second with no outs. Aaron Loup started warming up in the bullpen. Pinch hitter Corey Julks hit an out to first. Astros were at second and third with one out. Mauricio Dubon grounded out to third but Madris scored. 7-6 Angels. Alex Bregman came up and homered to make it 8-7 Astros. Basically, the scrubs were successful and then Barria had to face the top of the Astros order.
Kyle Tucker hit a homer to the moon to make it 9-7 Astros. Jose Abreu grounded out. The angels had three outs to make up two runs.
Neto struck out but Shohei Ohtani homered to make it 9-8 Astros. Mickey Moniak popped up to the pitcher for a base hit. LOL, or what the hell? Taylor Ward grounded out to advance Moniak to second. Mike Moustakas walked. Matt Thaiss lined out to right to end the game. The Angels lost 9-8.
I keep telling myself that it’s possible the team turns it around, but it’s really obvious that the best course of action is to start a bidding war for Ohtani and try to turn him for 4 solid prospects. Dark horse candidates like the Orioles and Reds could drive his price high, along with the Dodgers, Giants, and Yankees being more obvious suiters. The Brew Crew, Twins, and Guardians could also jump in. The only alternative is Arte legit stops worrying about salary and offers to take on a bunch of money for Scherzer / Verlander, and pulls a bunch of moves to get relief pitching that actually push the needle.
Possible? Sure. Probable? There’s zero performance based evidence this team can sustain playing at 60% win rate over the next two months to make the playoffs.
As this represents year 9 or 10 of missing the playoffs, it’s just beyond stupid to keep trying the same options “hoping” for a different outcome.
I’m going to go hard left turn. I think it’s safe to say the majority of folks who know baseball will say that Nevin hasn’t done a good job in managing. I think he’s been somewhat handcuffed, as some of his choices look driven by data etc. There have been some positives, but they were outweighed by the negatives. In addition, Arte didn’t do the team any favors by reneging on selling, which may have limited what the team would do, i.e., spend/extend Ohtani, upgrade the team, or properly market Ohtani at a global level to help his legacy (helping influence his stay). Combined that with Perry not helping the SP or BP core, yet still making some tweaks here and there, just not enough to match the more aggressive teams. If you go back a month, the Halos are dead last in BP ERA, and with the deadline coming, that’s just risking more losses before the deadline, forcing people to assume or push for selling. Obviously, the injuries and some underperforming have hurt, but the team still has an outside chance. So I look at all this self-inflection, and if the coaches, front office, and owner, ever get it together, they’d have a shot. I’m not inclined to move Ohtani, because, as an organization, if you can’t force yourself to add more urgency to put pieces together; it’s telling me they never will. If they add, which looks bleak, they could go on a run, but it’ll be very contingent on beating the teams in the WC standings who are ahead of them. We would be playing a different tune, had the Angels won 2 of 3 vs the Astros in the ugly fashion we saw. With Bachman hurt, Devenski IL, it’s looking worse, no doubt. I wasn’t a big fan Nevin and have questioned Perry, who I think drafts well, and is decent at making moves, but last year he didn’t take urgency when they were drowning, and I’m seeing only a little improvement this year over last (when they’re on the ropes). They’ll have to make drastic moves to swing back, but it’s doable. But that’s the situation they’re in. So considering this negativity, the positive is brought on by Ohtani, and I’d keep going all in until that’s extinguished. The guy is committed and gives everything, and maybe just maybe, that forces the Angels to finally match his altruism.
Sorry, but I can’t go along with your defense of Nevin on the grounds you claim. The primary reason is that earlier in the season there were multiple reports that Arte gave Perry a “hands off” order as far as making line-ups, day to day bullpen management decisions etc.. That was pretty early on. So the last couple of months are on Phil 100%.
Based upon the information that came out it does not appear that we can reasonably blame Perry and the FO for the stupidity of Phil’s in-game management, and particularly his awful handling of the bullpen.
Maybe Perry told Nevin to manage us to 10 games below .500 so he would have an excuse to go against Arte’s wishes and trade Ohtani. Otherwise I just don’t understand what’s going on here.
The deadline deal the Angels should make is Shohei for Kyle Tucker, straight up.
no. Do you want detail on that?
Well, silver lining is, it looks like this offense isn’t missing Trout, Rendon, Drury coming from the break. They scored 26 runs this series, and against two of the best of the cheaters’ pitchers. So it’s not like they got the “easy” part of their rotation.
If only they can figure out the pitching. But I really don’t see anyone, or anyone else who can come in and clean up this mess, fast.
Watching Blue Jays vs Diamondbacks series this weekend and I was impressed with the high quality baseball they are playing, I would say both Angels and Astros are not play off worthy right now. Both had decent hitting during the series, but both starting pitchers and relievers have stunk out pretty badly.
MFYankees are another team struggling. They could not win with Gerrit Cole against Rockies because.their bullpen have also melted down like ours. They lost the series against Rockies, the worst NL team. (Yes, I remember we did, too) I just pray that Canning pitches to at least 6 innings (7 would be ideal) with Severino being horrible with ERA of 7.38. I predict it will be another high scoring affair like the last three where we have to make one more play (or one less mistake) than MFYankees to squeak a victory.
But what is a “high quality baseball” though? Winning games 3-2, 2-1, regularly? I could argue that those games, while showing great pitching, doesn’t show great offense. And the pitching will eventually break if the offense doesn’t support it long enough ( i.e. Shohei)
Or is it winning games with scores of 9-1, 12-0, 25-1?! Because those scores don’t happen often either, even with a loaded team like the 2009 Yankees.
I’d argue the Angels 13-12 win on Saturday was a high quality game – never gave up, and the team won despite their manager’s blunders. The cheaters’ fans will see the Sunday game – their team came back from a late deficit and won.
It’s not “one thing”, it’s everything.
When they figure out pitching, hitting goes to shit. When they figure out hitting, the pitching goes to shit.
Perry’s trades this year focus on the margins. Moose was not a “major” upgrade, neither was the guy from the Mets. Either Perry really believes the team is “very close” to success, or he knows the prospect depth does not exist to make trades that really move the team forward.
in my opinion, the best answer is to tear it down to rebuild.
40 is going to make a 2 week guest appearance?
You can have good hitting but bad pitching.
You can have bad hitting but good pitching.
You can’t have both or any form of good/good. That’s the rules and the Angels will play by them.
You also can’t have a good manager in case you were wondering.
…and who created the situation where Loup was the final pitcher available?
Managing requires the ability to think strategically 4 or 5 moves ahead. Nevin clearly cannot do that.
Phil Nevin needs to be let go. Terrible decisions vs Houston this whole series. You don’t Pinch Run fast runners for fast runners (yesterday & today) i.e., Velazquez for Moniak & Velazquez for Cabbage. Those guys are fast enough to leave in there for their Bats. You’re supposed to Pinch Run fast runners for slow runners. Don’t put on a Bunt Sign if the Player isn’t comfortable laying down a Bunt and when you’re trailing late in the game (yesterday). Don’t burn your Late inning Relievers early in the game if a Starter is struggling, that’s what your Long relief pitchers are for (today). Soriano was used instead of Barria and that screwed up your Set-up man, Closer to Pitch in the 8th and 9th innings. Estevez is your Closer, no reason to bring in the 8th unless you’re going for 6 out Save. Left no one to Close out the game. Just so much incompetence switching the Roles of your Pitchers who aren’t used to pitching in those situations. I know it’s on the Players to execute, but man when your Manager puts you in a position to Fail, what do you expect? They’re going to Fail more likely than not. Frustrating to see the Angels grab Losses out of the Jaws of Victory (Should have taken 2 out of 3). The Angels won despite Phil yesterday and got close but couldn’t today.
Just brutal management. And fast runners for fast runners is hilarious but exactly what Phil does lol. It worked today and made him look good but honestly think Cabbage scores on that ball if he’s going on the pitch too. So that’s something that will continue if he’s not canned
Yeah I was baffled when he did that yesterday. I think Cabbage scores if left in and was running on the play
Really well put. Great analysis in what a smooth brain Nevin is (and has been all year). God he sucks.
Don’t agree
Elaborate please?
roles vs leverage.
I see a lot of people going with old school ‘roles’ comments in this thread.
I didn’t fault going with Estevez in the 8th. It was high leverage part of the lineup – sure, Jack, the 9th is “higher stress” but measurably, go with your best pitcher against the hardest part of the lineup. It didn’t work out as he got touched up.
Pitch him in the 8th and 9th and he’s out until Wednesday.
Sure, MH – he had low pitch counts, but the bullets spent in the ‘pen count and time warming up adds to his total workload. He would have been out for the first two Yankee games.
Tip cap, turn page.
Good ole “roles” – missing the Soth days for some maybe?
I think most of us agree that last night was essentially a playoff game. The Angels HAD to win that. Key Wild Card opponent, hadn’t won a home series against a divisonal foe in 6 straight tries, Houston as nemesis, national tv audience, chance to shift Ohtani trade narrative on a national scale etc…
There has not been a bigger game all season. They HAD to win. And that means leaving no bullets in the gun. Sorry DD, but they needed Esty for two innings, not one… Likewise, you have to use Soriano for two innings rather than Webb for two like Phil did …
As crazy as it sounds, winning the game for the reasons you state above might have harmed us more in the long run.
Shifting the trade narrative is a huge mistake. We need to make trades, and not waste our opportunity to build for the future.
A “huge” win last night might have swayed “mob opinion” and Arte/Perry to push for the playoffs still instead of doing what is logical and necessary.
I can see why Phil Nevin used Carlos Estevez in the 8th inning, but it was the wrong move to start off Estevez in the 8th inning. I will explain why. If the Angels were up 1 or 2 runs, Houston’s batting order due up would have been a High leverage situation, but they were up by 4 runs. The Key was the Angels were up by 4 runs, so they had wiggle room for a few mistakes. Barria or Loup could have started off the 8th and given up 3 Solo Home runs then removed for Estevez (Minimum of facing 3 batters). The Angels still would have been up 7-6 with Estevez coming in for a 4 or 5 out Save to close out the game (In this hypothetical Barria or Loup got 1 or 2 outs, worst case scenario Estevez had to get 6 outs).
I am trying to win the series vs Houston, if Estevez had to be used for more than a 3 out Save, so be it. I am looking at the Previous game where winning this game could have kept the momentum rolling heading into the next series vs the Yankees. If Phil played it out this way and they lost, understandable because he put his Players in the best position to win with who he had available (Loup or Barria to start the 8th and Estevez gets brought in the 8th with any sign of trouble to close out the last few innings). I am not trying to use Estevez for 2 innings unless the situation calls for it. It is what it is though, onto the next series.
Well, now we know Devenski is getting the “now or never Tepera IL” treatment.
The last sentence is just a load of bull. Isn’t the point of load management in April/May was so they’d be fresh(er) in the dog days of summer? Well here we are! This is what you saved April/May for. Time to just go for it!!!
“Can’t chase wins every night”bro.
Totally agree about management’s lack of logic on the subject of resting relief pitchers…
If you rest them it is clearly for the purpose of using them fully later on… You don’t perpetually save them for some future, imagined day..
If this was the first time that Nevin pushes the wrong buttons, then you’d say “I hope he learns.” He’s a hard learner, he just pushes the wrong buttons. Why first off do you keep Rengifo in late in game? Why take Cabbage out? Why waste your closer in eight, and then pull him? Why bring Barria in? Why not put Estévez in to start 9th?
Everyone is a Rookie to Moreno, Presidents, Vice Presidents, General Managers, Managers, Coaches, Front Office personnel, you get the picture.
The point is, we need a real manager, meaning to begin with a new manager. I hear the Yankees are not happy with their winning manager, trade Nevin for Boone. It’s a suggestion, any of a 100 managers would work, and a bench coach who is allowed input. A third base coach also while we are at it.
Dumb can exist because you think you know what you are doing (Maddon), inexperience ( Brad, Phillip), or not being to adapt to say a youth movement (Sosh).
What is needed is a top to bottom re-do. It’s too late for Trouty, but if done right we can become a contender in 3 years. Trade Shohei and throw in Rendon, OK, keep Rendon. Pull in a big haul for Shohei. Trade Renfroe, Rengifo, Barria, with Shohei.
What is best for the Angels is the goal, because come out of the ether as Shohei is gone so, why not get a return that helps the team? We need new blood infusion.
Stupid and Dumb has to change.
Managers don’t matter in MLB anymore
Plus SP’s won loss records matter
“real manager” … I thought Joe Maddon was that. Didn’t get us very far either.
Maddon didn’t have THIS roster. He also had to deal with a horribly meddling Perry, which for the last couple of months at least Phil has not had to deal with ….
It’s easy to see that while the players like playing for Nevin, or so they say, his in-game strategies leave a lot to be desired. I understand putting Estevez in the 8th despite the 4-run lead – it’s playing your best reliever in the highest leverage in the game.
But why not bring him back out in the 9th? It wasn’t that far off from the order turning. It was the chance to drive the dagger through the heart. Instead, it felt like the famous “bend but don’t break” defense in football. It was lacking killer instincts.
This.
It’s clear Nevin isn’t just ready for primetime yet.
Not bringing him back out for the 9th is what grinds my gears. 15 pitches tonight .. 5 last night. He had at least 15 more pitches in him tonight. That’s potentially enough to get you through the inning or at best into a situation with 1-2 outs where you can match up Loup ( I know I know) with Tucker in a HL sitch. The guy just doesn’t think ahead well and has no Phil (feel) for the game and his team.
Lol. Once again, the 8th was NOT the highest leverage spot in the game.
I don’t agree, and you’re not going to yell to get everyone in agreement or submission. I think it’s the highest leverage in the game – Bregman, Tucker – Abreu. Did you want Loup to make a mess of it first before Estevez comes to clean it up?
As it was, Estevez himself already halved his lead.
The bigger, or biggest mistake, was not putting Esty back out in the 9th, not that he was used for the 8th.
Well, that I agree with. IF you were going to use him in the 8th, then you need to bring him back in the 9th.
But I don’t think you understood what I was saying; I was responding to those who said we were too thin to cover the entire game (DD, Jayman etc) with the back end… I was therefore playing along with the assumption that Barria had to be used. I don’t necessarily agree with that in actuality.. I was entertaining that assumption and showing that one STILL could have worked under those parameters and handled it much better than Nevin did..
bringing him back out means – no estevez until wednesday.
Now if you KNEW that Barria would lose the save, then I’ll use Turk’s argument against me below … “Seems speculative at best.”
I would have lived with no Estevez until Wed. That is how big that game was last night …
I agree. I’d take my chances. Team gets a huge series victory win against a WC rival. Get into the Yankees series with that momentum. Hope for the best you don’t need Esty, and in case there was a need for him, you have a backup in Moore.
The other part of this argument is the “bird in the hand” philosophy… If you hold Esty to one inning just so you could also use him for Monday or Tuesday night, what if those games are both blowouts? Let’s say Yankees win tonight 8-2 and Angels win tomorrow 10-3 or something like that ?
Then you blew your chance to win that huge series vs Astros.
And for what? Nothing. That is the problem with holding your best relievers out of big spots for the future… If he had pitched two straight or three straight games that is different… But that is not what had happened.
And as it is, it looks like we already will NOT have Esty until Tuesday or Wednesday anyway. So no Esty and a deflating loss. Even worse combo.
Phil saw it as the heart of the order coming up, but you have a 4 run lead in the 8th. Let someone else besides your Closer pitch and bring in your Closer early if the other Pitcher gets into trouble. When he brought in Estevez that should have meant going for 6 outs to close the game and if he got into trouble in the 9th bring someone else in. Agreed he should have brought Estevez for the 9th.
Loup needs to face 3 hitters before he can be taken out. Loup could have easily walked Bregman, Tucker and Abreu and left it loaded for Esty to clean up, with no outs. We don’t even have to imagine it, we’ve been there this season.
As it is, Esty already gave up 2 runs himself. Would Loup or Barria have fared better in that situation?
Closers do worse in Non Save situations (They have an adrenaline rush or something with the Game on the line & like those situations). The 8th inning was a Non Save situation, Phil limited his resources by using Soriano earlier in the game when he needed him later in the game. I would have tried Barria or Loup in the 8th since those were the guys available and have Estevez clean up the mess. That way maybe Estevez just needed 4 or 5 outs to Close out the game.
Oh my…….I just can’t…….
DFA barria and suarez. It should’ve happened during the off season.
Apparently Barria is pretty decent if used properly
Agree, Max. Good low-leverage starter / swing man. Poor high leverage SIRP.
Wouldn’t every game at this point in the season need a high leverage start?
Yeah, in spots where the angels are up by plenty of runs already and want to save their good bp arms. That was his role the first few months until he started making starts.
Especially if he’s used in situations where he doesn’t suck.
Could a moderator delete my post above. I am unable to do so.
Thanks
Last two games this team has shown some Fight in their game. Not a lot of RFers catch that Thaiss ball. Great catch, Sucks to lose, but we fought till the end. Feel much better heading into the Yankees series than I did looking at it during the All-Star break.
Give it up.
Season is O-V-E-R.
Finito !!
NEVIN killed us. Tonight was the Wild Card playoff game and the Angels lost.
Hopefully we don’t start Anderson in our WC playoff game
😆
Well, now that you mention it that was another hilarious thing about this game… Why not start Canning? He’d have given you a much better chance from the starting gun.
https://twitter.com/jefffletcherocr/status/1680772324143022081?s=46&t=9okrAC405BGuMUJ9RAKfkg
So Maybe just have him pitch the 9th inning then??
didn’t want him to pitch 2 innings after he threw 5 pitches yesterday and 15 today? The Angels 100% had to be in do everything under the f’ing sun to win today. If Phil doesn’t see that……
If you have these issues, you bring someone else in for the 8th. Why is Loup on the roster?
Exactly.. I figured Charlie was going 2
Fuck you (2022,2023) Phil Nevin, May the fleas of a thousand camels infest your crotch.
One thing I’m thankful for is that I’ve been an adult for the last 10 years of the Angels horrible play. I have perspective that there are a lot of things that are far more important than baseball. Had I grown up enduring this as a child and teenage I would have absolutely hated life because I loved the Angels so much.
Sell the team Arte. You know nothing about baseball, and no one worth their salt will ever want to work for a guy that is a penny pincher on everything except player payroll, which he spends 80% before letting the GM do his job.
Maybe Phil thought the 8th was the 9th??
Kenyon Yovan couldn’t be any worse than this clown show.
Yovan says “Hold my beer.” This is the Angels we are talking about.
Maybe Tepera will be back with the club tomorrow.