Links

LA Angels Wednesday News Crash

August 2, 2023

Good morning Angels fans! Game is in a few hours, so quickly, read the links!

Angels News

Angels lost to the Braves yesterday, in part due to the lack of RISP hitting. They really need to stop failing at this timely hitting thing.

The Angels made 1 last move at the deadline, getting a RP from the Mets. Only had to give up the bullfrog, Jeremiah Jackson. Yeah, he better be good.

And the likely reason why Perry made that trade is that Sam Bachman has been moved to the 60 day IL. We really could have used him last night.

Oh and Jo Adell is on the 60 day IL now as well. Jordyn Adams has been brought up. Wonder how much he will play…

Aaaand Canning is also injured. He went on the 15 day list. “Just soreness” right… Victor Mederos was called up to take his place.

Around Baseball

Lots of trades happened at the last moment. The most important being that Mr. Bush-league himself, Justin Verlander, is returning to the Astros. Astros emptied their farm for him and for the Mets to eat half of his salary.

The Mets are selling because they are looking to compete in 2025–2026. Part of how they are doing this is eating a ton of money to get top prospects from teams, something that may prove to be very, very dangerous.

Seriously, the Mets are eating more money than a lot of teams. 13 as a matter of fact.

Anyway, more trades happened, but one that did not was E-Rod to the Dodgers. That is because he did blocked it with his no trade clause. A clause no one involved thought to ask if he would waive it.

Full list of trades and deals and stuff at the deadline because it is a LOT. Too many to cover.

Anything I missed? Post below for upvotes!

64 Comments

Newest

Oldest Most Voted

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Trusted Member

grichmanpoorman

1 month ago

Let the Jordyn Adams era begin!

Fun narrative we’ll probably see: JA is arguably the fastest player in MLB. According the the LAT, he gets from HP to 1B in 4.12 seconds. That would place him in the elite MLB tier, according to this Statcast list: https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/sprint_speed_leaderboard

Author

Super Member

John Henry Weitzel

1 month ago

Author

Super Member

John Henry Weitzel

1 month ago

Super Member

JackFrost

1 month ago

Well boys and girls, Aug. 1st has come and gone and Ohtani is still on the team. As I said over, and over and over the Angels would not trade him. Despite the lustful prospect worshipping desires of so many nerds on this board the Angels did not give in to the pleas and coercion of the mainstream media… They wanted to keep him all along, plus the offers were not good enough.

Interestingly, Baltimore was actually a player, having reached out. They actually had the capital to do it ; however, the Angels wanted a frontline starter with three good pitches and a bunch of prospects — like around 5 !… This was actually the asking price for any team that came calling… I am glad they maintained this hard line and did not cave to the East Coast media pleas to trade him for a bucket of bubble gum and a bag of balls ….

As things stand now Ohtani is “the Angels to lose.” That is good news. Well, good or bad depending upon how you view things … Those are the words of Shohei’s agent Nez Balelo. As most of us know it will come down to winning. But that means not just making the playoffs but doing something once there … That puts alot of pressure on the franchise…

I will say that I was pleased with what Perry managed to do … Though I am not crazy high on Giolito, I love the Lopez acquisition, really like Grichuk and also think Cron can at least contribute until full reinforcements return … It will be interesting to see the way the OF shakes out when both Trout and Adell are healthy…

Last edited 1 month ago by JackFrost

Legend

DowningDude

1 month ago

Reply to JackFrost

Tsk tsk. Name calling? 🤓?

Legend

DowningDude

1 month ago

Reply to DowningDude

Nice post, though! 💪

Super Member

MarineLayer

1 month ago

Strider had 31 swinging strikes against us. So we made a Cy Young guy look even better than that.

Super Member

AnAngelsFan

1 month ago

Reply to MarineLayer

Strider’s REALLY good at that. His strikeout of Ohtani in the first inning was #200, setting the record for the fastest to 200 strikeouts in a single season of 123 innings. The record he beat was his own from last year at 130 innings.

Editor

Trusted Member

Rick Souddress

1 month ago

Reply to MarineLayer

On the other hand, he didn’t get 10 K’s against us, which is difficult to avoid.

Super Member

smithy610

1 month ago

For this trade deadline, I’m giving Perry a B grade. He’s made some solid acquisitions, but also a baffling one, and one that seemed to be correct at that time, but hasn’t panned off so far.

Solid acquisitions – Giolito, Lopez, Moose, Grichuk, Cron
Baffling – Leone
Disappointing (so far) – Escobar.

I know a lot are impressed with TX getting Scherzer and the cheaters’ reunion with the Astros, and thinking why can’t we do better than Giolito. I disagree. I think Giolito is a very solid trade. We all like to think things operate in a vacuum, that if PTP only did this, he would get either of Scherzer or Verlander. Both of them have no-trade clauses, and who knows if the Angels are on there. Plus, even if say they would have voided that, and the Mets throwing cash, Perry might still not want to carry all that money in 2024 for an old pitcher, to get ready for the Shohei sweepstakes.

Perry got the player he wanted when the market was still just heating up. At least he didn’t waste time all the way to the last minute and ended up faceplanting like the Dodgers. I believe Giolito will end up at least as good, or even better than either of the two. And Lopez seems to be an underrated acquisition, so far.

Super Member

steelgolf

1 month ago

Reply to smithy610

Verlander most likely would have blocked a trade to The Angels.

Legend

Cowboy26

1 month ago

Reply to steelgolf

But his brother wouldn’t. He loves Alex just as much as us.

Super Member

JackFrost

1 month ago

Reply to steelgolf

That’s okay cause I wouldn’t want that douche on the team …

Legend

Cowboy26

1 month ago

Reply to smithy610

Have you watched Devenski & Webb pitch lately? Have you looked what’s left at the farm?

Not so baffling to me.

Super Member

Pineapple12

1 month ago

LOGAN O’HOPPE NEWS 🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨

“C Logan O’Hoppe is expected to begin a rehab assignment sometime next week. Phil Nevin said the rehab assignment might take the entire 20 days (the max allowed) because he’s a catcher he’s been out so long.”

https://twitter.com/JeffFletcherOCR/status/1686748632937025536?t=Pq1VcPti2Bb5v4-hv9JDrA&s=19

Last edited 1 month ago by Pineapple12

Super Member

BannedInLA

1 month ago

Reply to Pineapple12

Awesome. That means we should see him in the Bigs by the 3rd week of August.

Before Trout? We’ll see…

Super Member

Pineapple12

1 month ago

Reply to BannedInLA

— I’m sticking with August 11th @ HOU for Trouty.
— Thinking August 28th @ Philadelphia for O’Hoppe.
— Drury is back tomorrow !!
— Rendone returns Spring Training 2024 🙂

Super Member

BannedInLA

1 month ago

Reply to Pineapple12

Money aside, I do feel for Rendon a bit. Freak injuries beyond his control and a fan base that despises him.

“Rendone” is a deliciously savage moniker.

Super Member

MarineLayer

1 month ago

Reply to BannedInLA

So many better places to channel your sympathy.

Super Member

BannedInLA

1 month ago

Reply to MarineLayer

Bro, I’m not weeping in my living room with a bottle of vino and photos from yesteryear. Lulz

Super Member

MarineLayer

1 month ago

Reply to BannedInLA

Just saying that his $38 million cap hit every year with Zero production cripples your team in many ways. Think about what we could do with a spare $38 million per. The name Shoehei Ohtani comes to mind.

Super Member

BannedInLA

1 month ago

Reply to MarineLayer

I understand that. Mr. MaGoo understands that. My first sentence was “money aside….”. I was merely lamenting how hated he is and how his moniker of “Rendone” is funny, yet savage.

Multiple things can be true at the same time.

Legend

Cowboy26

1 month ago

Reply to BannedInLA

Ha Ha Ha. Rendone permanently resides in ML’s head despite his denials.

I thought the trade deadline was viable distraction for him but I think he was just temporarily repressing his true undercurrent of feelings. https://giphy.com/clips/SWAG-FYkKJLGvBZ9hzHUTqP

Super Member

PedroCerrano

1 month ago

Reply to Cowboy26

It’s weird as can remember how angry Vernon Wells made me as they gave up on actual good players to get him and absorbed his awful contract. Rendone is a huge salary hit but I’m not as angry as some of the stuff is beyond his control and is really Moreno’s fault for signing a guy after a career year when he had an injury prone history. With Vernon Wells it seemed like he never really cared or tried very hard.

Super Member

BannedInLA

1 month ago

Reply to PedroCerrano

Agree with all of that.

How’s your health, man?

Trusted Member

DaveChalk

1 month ago

Reply to BannedInLA

lol, no Rendone fathead wall decal in his Natty uni on your wall?

Trusted Member

Marcotor

1 month ago

Reply to BannedInLA

Shhh! The narrative here is he took the money and is too lazy to play. Much like Vernon, who never held a gun to Arte’s head and demanded he acquire the Worst Contract in Baseball. Or Garret Anderson, who did nothing but play and hit, and is the very DEFINITION of “lazy” here.

Please don’t interfere with that. Rendon was a horrible move, based on one giant season (much like HGH, Jr.) but most here conveniently forget how they were knob-slobbing one another for his “Hollywood” comment

Super Member

BannedInLA

1 month ago

Reply to Pineapple12

Re: Trout – I fear it may stretch to August 18th vs. the Rays. Roughly 6.5 weeks from the date of surgery.

I prefer your scenario.

Super Member

Pineapple12

1 month ago

Reply to BannedInLA

Trout’s recent comments have me feeling the same way as you on a later return.

But man, we need him back. If Trouty can play without concern for re-injury, he’s gotta get out there asap.

Super Member

PedroCerrano

1 month ago

Reply to BannedInLA

I can’t quantify anything buy it doesn’t seem like Trout has ever healed up early on past injuries?

Super Member

Pineapple12

1 month ago

Reply to PedroCerrano

When Trout injured his hamate bone, the first thing I thought of was Trout being a notoriously slow healer

Legend

Cowboy26

1 month ago

Reply to BannedInLA

I betcha they string this out until rosters expand on September 1st

Super Member

Pineapple12

1 month ago

Angels are 56-52

6 losses back of the division
8 losses back of WC1
5 losses back of WC2
3 losses back of WC3

8-2 Rooting Guide

Angels > Braves
Guardians > Astros
Mariners > Red Sox
Rays > Yankees
Orioles > Blue Jays
Cardinals > Twins
White Sox > Rangers

Last edited 1 month ago by Pineapple12

Super Member

Pineapple12

1 month ago

Morning baseball in the A !
Lets take this series 😇😇

Rengifo
Ohtani
Cron
Grichuk
Renfroe
Escobar
Neto
Wallach
Adams

Super Member

BannedInLA

1 month ago

Reply to Pineapple12

Not in the love with this lineup, but I get it. Moniak obviously needed a day and probably ditto for Moose.

Congrats to Adams on his MLB debut.

Super Member

MarineLayer

1 month ago

Reply to Pineapple12

I will be very interested to see Adams.

Super Member

JackFrost

1 month ago

Reply to Pineapple12

Glad that a slumping Moniak is sitting today. Let’s see what JA can do in his first real Big League action..

Super Member

smithy610

1 month ago

Reply to JackFrost

He went 2-4 yesterday, but I agree he needs the day off. He’s been playing everyday since Trout and Adell went down.

Super Member

JackFrost

1 month ago

Reply to smithy610

Still slumping overall I’d say … He was horrid in that Blue Jays series…

Legend

Cowboy26

1 month ago

Reply to JackFrost

You’re right Frostie . Mickeys still only 4 for his last 23 all singles with only 1 walk and 10 strike outs.

Time to give the kid a blow.

Super Member

JackFrost

1 month ago

Reply to Cowboy26

I’d say just give him a ‘rest’ ha ha.

Super Member

halofansince1978

1 month ago

Reply to Pineapple12

Halo Rookie Magic!!!

Legend

Fansince1971

1 month ago

Other than the money eating- I think the Mets approach is sound. They are loading up their team with young, inexpensive talent that could very well form the core of a great club. From a money eating standpoint- I guess Cohen can afford it.

Super Member

Pineapple12

1 month ago

Reply to Fansince1971

Eppler will f-ck it up, don’t worry lol

Now if Cohen fires inEppler and hires competent GM, the Mets might be cooking

Super Member

smithy610

1 month ago

Reply to Pineapple12

I remember when Billy just got here, he indicated that Arte is really the one running the show and he’s just the “General Recommender”. Can’t forget that.

Now if the Mets’ situation IS Eppler running the show, then sheesh. I’m glad we got out of that mess before Arte – if he ever would – handed him the keys.

Legend

Senator_John_Blutarsky

1 month ago

Reply to Fansince1971

I agree. If Cohen doesn’t care about spending HIS money, why should anyone else care?

I’m willing to bet Pineapple’s perpetual optimism that Cohen’s team will make it to the world series before a team owned by Arte does……

Super Member

BannedInLA

1 month ago

Reply to Senator_John_Blutarsky

Can’t fault owners for legitimately trying to win.

Super Member

Pineapple12

1 month ago

Reply to BannedInLA

Never !! What’s the point of owning a team if you don’t want to win? If it’s just an investment, invest elsewhere

Super Member

Kiyotchan

1 month ago

Reply to Senator_John_Blutarsky

Yes, it is His money, but the money he pays as tax will be distributed to teams (like A’s, KC, and Rockies), who have no obligations to put the extra $ for teams’ improvements. This is a good read.
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/mlbs-competitive-balance-tax-is-anything-but/

-The author proposes incentives for winning (set $ multiplied by # of wins) and inversely proportionate increase depending on the size of the market (not questioning the definition of the market). It is smart in that it encourages winning thereby reduces the chance of tanking.

-Another method I have proposed is delegation/promotion idea, the way European soccer leagues do. MLB can easily eliminate 2 worst teams, say from 2024 season, and go to 28 teams and have 4 divisions of 7 teams. This will create overall better quality baseball games. I would imagine ‘tanking’ will be completely eliminated.

However, if you are fan of having ‘weak’ teams that you would expect your teams to beat up on, then you will disagree with my idea.

Trusted Member

Fleckstein

1 month ago

Reply to Kiyotchan

Relegation would be awesome, but it will never happen

Legend

Senator_John_Blutarsky

1 month ago

Reply to Kiyotchan

It seems like a reasonable way to “force” owners to invest in their player personnel. However these are the same knuckleheads that just extended Manfred, so they seem satisfied with the status quo.

Legend

Senator_John_Blutarsky

1 month ago

Reply to Senator_John_Blutarsky

Regrets – I wasn’t seeking to temp you. I applaud your recovery.

Last edited 1 month ago by Senator_John_Blutarsky

Super Member

Pineapple12

1 month ago

Reply to Senator_John_Blutarsky

Thank you so much brotha !!! I’ve been looking for an opportunity to share that for the last week or so and you gave me the perfect one ❤️

Last edited 1 month ago by Pineapple12

Super Member

ihearhowie3.0

1 month ago

What’s crazy about the Mets eating salary on all their failed signings is they still pay tax on all of it. Eppler has convinced Cohen to basically buy prospects & minor leaguers at a wildly expensive rate.

When we rebuild Arte or the next owner should probably be prepared to use payroll space to absorb bad contracts for prospects too but Cohen is taking it to another level.

Trusted Member

Angelstan

1 month ago

To be 1-1 against the Braves is fine. To win today would be fabulous. The coming days will show how long the Angels can contend. The bullpen should be solid. Plenty of quality arms there. The lineup is decent and can be better if Drury and Trout come back. Not to mention O’Hoppe at C. Rendon would be icing on the cake.

We may look back at a few of the games they lost (the Barria as closer game stands out recently). But let’s root them on and see how far they get. 😀

Super Member

halofansince1978

1 month ago

Reply to Angelstan

Sandy went toe to toe with their best pitcher for 5 innings…BLOWPEN!!!

Super Member

smithy610

1 month ago

Reply to halofansince1978

That’s all you can ask for from Sandy. He limited their powerhouse lineup to 3 hits and 2 runs. If he had been more efficient, then there’s a possibility we would have not have seen Webb and the game would have been closer, or close enough still.

Legend

GrandpaBaseball

1 month ago

Mets are quick learners, not even Hal can repatriate what George could do, and Steve Cohen came out of the ether and threw in the towel. Building a team is hard work and a lot of work but, does payoff in the end.

10 years ago, the Royal were starting to arrive from their rebuild and won a World Series. Other teams went through the rebuild like the Asstros, and they got to and won a World Series. The Cubs rebuilt and won a World Series. Red Sux rebuilt and won a World Series all with mostly youth and a few FA’s. National won a series with a few Vets but mostly yuts.

Teams that tried and failed usually went another way, buying top named Free Agents like George did and they went for it and the Phillies made the WS. But the Angels have proved time and again that with the youth movement and a select few Vets can achieve good results. Stoneman knew that the 2002 team was not going to win again and soon new names quickly appeared, names like Kendrick, Aybar, Morales, Napoli, and a few select Vets like Guerrero, could win games, but alas, even then the window will close.

The 2023 version of ”how to build a team”, you know, the good old fashion George way, buy it does not work if two things happen, tear down the minor leagues and deal with injuries every year. Not just a few injuries, no, I mean mind mumming, injuries to whole pitching staffs, or to literally the whole darn team except for your best hitter and best pitcher.

I would very much like this 2023 version of the Halos to rock out and win it all this year for everyone’s sake. There is a sliver of a chance that PTP could pull this off. I support Minasian in his quest to keep shoveling coal into the boiler to get this train to the end. Win Baby, just Win Baby.

Yes, injuries are part of all sports, after all Doug Williams the QB show all of us how injuries to others can make a hero while leading the ’86 Redskins to a Super Bowl win, but in baseball, it unfortunately takes a whole team to achieve the end goal of World Series Championships I’m sad to say.

But maybe, like the little train that could, with a team effort got over that mountain, the Angels will get over the mountain in a train loaded with The hospital ward full of Band-Aids, slings, heads wrapped, crutches and wheelchairs and limp into the playoffs with sheer determination and go all the way to the World Series. All by doing things the wrong way, the Angels way.

Winning today takes a series against the best. GO ANGELS! JUST KEEP WINNING BABY!

Trusted Member

Angels22

1 month ago

Let’s complete the road-trip with a W. 6-3 road-trip and we really can’t ask much more from this team.

Super Member

BannedInLA

1 month ago

Reply to Angels22

All things considered, a 5-4 roadie is solid, but yeah, let’s get today by hook or crook and make it a .667 trip against “playoff teams”…..

Super Member

smithy610

1 month ago

Reply to BannedInLA

6-3 would be ideal, but I’ll take 5-4.

Now watch some revisionist history happen afterwards, from those proclaiming that Detroit was a “scary non-playoff” team, to dismissing the sweep because Detroit is not a playoff team.

Super Member

Pineapple12

1 month ago

Reply to smithy610

JFrost is salivating at the opportunity to tell us all that we swept a shitty Tigers team and went 2-4 against playoff contenders.

We need today’s win to avoid that scenario alone lol

Super Member

BannedInLA

1 month ago

Reply to smithy610

Doubtless that are a couple of (bleeps) that relish the losses more than the wins simply to trot out their “I told you so” tripe – as if they’ve won the lottery or made some grand prognostication.

Super Member

halofansince1978

1 month ago

Take the series today with one of our new guys…GO HALO!!