Today we saw Patrick Sandoval bring his changeup up against Logan Webb and the San Francisco Giants. Behold! The starting lineups.
Sandoval got through the first inning without giving up a run. He did give up a double, but it was all for naught. I guess Thairo Estrada is just a double-naught spy.
Anyway … Shohei Ohtani got a one out single and then with two outs stole second while Moustakas was at bat.
Unfortunately, Moustakas hit a 4-1 ground out to end the inning.
The second inning brought the Angels first double play. It might have come a batter earlier, but Rengifo was doing Rengifo things at short.
The third inning brought three strikeouts in a row by Patrick Sandoval. Luis Rengifo hit a bloop single to center with one out and Randal Grichuk on first. Shohei Ohtani came up with two men on and one out. He grounded out to first, but at least he advanced the runners. Brandon Drury got an eight pitch strikeout to end the third.
Mickey Moniak made outfield catches on both A.J. Pollock and J.D. Davis but Wilmer
Flores doubled in between. Patrick Bailey singled to score Flores. 1-0 Giants. Michael Conforto struck out to end the Giants half of the fourth.
Moustakas, Cron, and Moniak all struck out. Grumble, grumble.
The Angels got through the Giants fifth inning without removing Sandoval and without giving up any more runs. Sandoval got three outs in a row, in fact. Hunter Renfroe then doubled to put a man on second and no outs. Matt Thaiss used a lot of pitches but managed only a fly out. Randal Grichuk grounded out to third. Luis Rengifo also grounded out, although it was to second base this time.
Shohei Ohtani came up in the bottom of the sixth and doubled to lead things off.
Drury grounded out and Moustakas struck out. C.J. Cron singled to score Ohtani. 1-1 tie.
Mickey Moniak singled to center to score C.J Cron. 2-1 Angels. That chased Logan Webb, who was replaced by Tristan Beck.
Onward! It was 2-1 Angels. Hunter Renfroe struck out bringing up J.D. Davis who homered to make it 2-2. A two out throwing error by Moustakas put a man on base and ended the night for Patrick Sandoval. Matt Moore came in to pitch. Mark Mathias struck out to end the Giants half of the seventh inning.
In the bottom of the seventh, Matt Thaiss flied out to left. Randal Grichuk tripled to right. Luis Rengifo then singled to score Grichuk from third. 3-2 Angels.
Shohei Ohtani flied out sharply to right. Then Brandon Drury hit a fly ball out to center.
For the eighth inning, Jose Soriano came in to pitch for Matt Moore. Pinch hitter Lamont Wade Jr. came in and grounded out to second. Thairo Estrada struck out. Joc Pederson came in to pinch hit for A.J. Pollock and hit a fly ball out to center. Mickey Moniak robbed him. I wonder where 2002Heaven is with his orgasmatron.
Mike Moustakas came in for the bottom of the eighth inning and struck out. C.J. Cron grounded out then Mickey Moniak struck out. The Giant had three outs to make one run.
Carlos Estevez came in to replace Soriano on the mound. Wilmer Flores singled. J.D. Davis walked. Pinch runner Blake Sabol replaced Wilmer Flores. Hell fire! Patrick Bailey doubled to make it 4-3 Giants with no outs and a man in scoring position. Estevez intentionally walked Michael Conforto. Luis Matos moved Patrick Bailey to third with a sacrifice bunt. Mark Mathias singled to score Bailey and Michael Conforto. 6-3 Giants.
We’ve heard this song before, folks. Aaron Loup came in to replace Carlos Estevez. It can’t be over until Loup gives up a couple of runs. LaMonte Wade Jr. hit a single to keep the rally going. Thairo Estrada singled to drive in Mark Mathias and send Wade to second. 7-3 Giants. Joc Pederson struck out on three pitches. Blake Sabol singled to score LaMonte Wade Jr. 8-3 Giants. J.D. Davis struck out swing on three pitches.
Now the Angels had three outs to make at least five runs. No problem! We’ll just be sending up the bottom of our order. Camilo Doval came in to pitch for the Giants. Hunter Renfroe proceeded to strike out. Matt Thaiss also struck out. Randal Grichuk struck out for the trifecta. Game over. Giants win 8-3.
Photo credit: Rex Fregosi
Do you care if the owner of MLB team is a comprehensive jerk if the team is winning? Winning hides and takes care of all problems, right?
https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/john-angelos-embarrass-orioles-announcer-suspension
Curse of no hitter?
Even Kyle Tucker is cursed now.
Running from third by contact works! (Unlike the Angels) How many innings will Framber last today?
Beav beating up on Framber.
If Sho decides not to return to Anaheim, I hope he goes to NL team (not Doyers, of course), so Adley Rutschman has a chance to win AL MVP.
The Orioles score their sixth run after lead off double, followed by hitting grounder to right side, and sac fly. They are fundamentally sound.
So far that is proving correct as the co-hitting coaches Ryan Fuller and Matt Borgschulteare in their second seasons together on the Orioles staff. This year they were joined by Cody Asche, named before this season as offensive strategy coach.
The Orioles have two excellent CF in Jorge Mateo and Cedric Mullins.
The Foundation Building Materials’ keystone of the game for the Angels tonight against the San Francisco Cruise is “The Drugs Don’t Work” by The Verve.
Like a cat in a bag waiting to drown
The pain of being an Angel fan is so deep now that the drugs can’t erase the hurt any longer. And can I say, the lame Hyundai keys to the game don’t work; they just make things worse.
https://youtu.be/ToQ0n3itoII
Ayo, WTF?!?
Another season lost, still hope Ohtani stays and gives us at least couple more yrs. If you live in LA, I’m sure you hear non stop from Dodgers nation “he’s ours next year” . Well F them, please Ohtani go anywhere else. I understand he wants to win, but it doesn’t define your individual greatness as a player. Think about Griffey, Sandberg, Ichiro, Carew, Piazza, Gywnn, and many others who are HOF that never won. But I get it, he has earned the status to be MLB version of Kevin Durant who only wants to play on stacked teams to collect rings., if he wants to go there.
Be honest, if the Dodgers offered you more money and they sure as shit offer you a way better chance to win short term and long term than the Angels, why wouldn’t you go there? Other than the whole, “Because I’m an Angels fan” bias? If I’m Shohei, it’s a no brainer I’d choose the Dodgers over the Angels simply because Arte has proven he is clueless when it comes to building a winning franchise.
Maybe sometimes it’s about the franchise and loyalty. Why did Tony Gwynn stay with Pads and not jump to Dodgers? How about Trout staying instead of going to hometown Phil’s? And Dodgers are not a 100% destination for Ohtani. Giants will be courting as well as Mets, Seattle, Pads, Yankees. Arte will match whatever anyone offers. Why? Because this was what this whole season was about. He didn’t sell because the uncertainty of the Ohtani staying which greatly fluctuates the value of the team. Ohtani brings in so many more fans and advertisers he is a cash cow. Without him this club is worth millions less. Whether Ohtani stays or not Arte will then sell, to maximize his dollars or concede a loss and be gone.
Here’s the progression I am now hoping for resulting in Arte selling:
1. 2023 ends with great disappointment (pretty much already there)
2. Ohtani chooses to leave despite Arte’s offer which will be big but I think Ohtani leaves for greener pastures regardless of Arte’s offer. .
3. Season ticket renewals decline significantly on the news of Ohtani leaving
4. No movement on the stadium or land deal
Faced with declining revenue stream, no new stadium or land deal and Ohtani’s gravy train gone – $2.5B looks increasingly good and Arte sells. Buyers will still pay him the $2.5B because sport team assets have become some of the most reliable and long term profitable asset classes.
I think it would take that kind of progression but I think these things could very well happen. .
A traditional buttercupping
I recorded the game tonight, and was going to watch it now as I did some other stuff tonight. By accident I saw the score on my computer.
Boy, am I glad I did. I might have spent 2 hours feeling all excited, and then right before bed witnessed the end. The frustration might have interfered with me falling asleep. Glad I avoided that. 😄
I will stop beating a dead horse for tonight, but I believe Phillip needs to go. It does not matter if your closer wants to stay in and pitch, if he is not pitching well, be the boss and make the change. But you couldn’t because you were late in getting even one reliever up and even then, you screwed the pooch. Loupy had no business appearing in this game. Nevin wasted Moore. Oh another thing, Nevin made an excuse for Estevez by saying he might be tired. How in the heck did all the relievers since 1965 appear in so many games in their careers. Ever notice that Nevin is almost always late in calling the pen. I do not have any, zero, zippo, nada, none, confidence in Nevin as a manager of this team.
Oh come on, Phil may need to go but blaming him for Carlos melting down twice in 4 games is ridiculous.
Players are not performing. Period.
Thank you, yes.
I was thinking everyone on this site thought 100% of the blame went on Arte, Perry and Nevin for all of these recent losses.
The players play the game. And we’re in a tailspin. It happens. Sure, I agree that Nevin has made some bad calls. But he didn’t collapse the team himself.
He won’t be fired because it would make the Angels more of a shitshow than they are and Arte probably still thinks he has a chance to sign Ohtani.
Now 8 games out of WC3. Need to finish 34-14. At what point does it become impossible? 34-21 seemed improbable
Just watched highlight of Red Sux vs KC where the first base umpire gave the batter another strike after what should have been swing and miss third strike. After the umpire ejected KC manager for arguing, the batter hits a grand slam homer. Cora survives at least another day.
Is it my imagination that MLB/umpires in general do not give any break to the Angels? They must be in cahoots to make certain that Sho goes to a larger market team. However, Mr. Kuriyama has said Sho is Amanojaku, loosely translated as someone who seems to do exactly opposite of what others expect him to do. So, who knows? He may like KC barbecue sauce, for all I know.
That’s basically.710 baseball. Do you see any evidence or data that would support the conclusion that is possible?
By the way – .710 baseball over a season would result in 115 wins.
Seattle Mariners won 116 in 2001. What good did that do for them? Mariners are the only team in MLB that have not reached the World Series.
Kiyo – it’s been nice having you around. I’m guessing you’ll be on the Dodger site next year. I’ll come by to say hi.
Sorry, sir, but CtPG folks and you included are still stuck with ‘pesky’ me for at least until October 1 game against the A’s, and probably through the day when Yoshinobu Yamamoto decides which MLB he will play for.
If this guy with first name initial ‘M’ and last name “S” goes for Angels ownership and Moreno sells, and I can see Yamamoto signing with the Angels because he would love to play with Sho. In that case, we may find out before the end of this year what happens to Sho. Possibly as early as November.
Bally Sports network will cease to exist. Apple with Manfraud’s approval will take over most MLB game broadcast (other than Yes, SNY, Marquee, and Root Sports and Sunday Night Baseball on the east coast cable company whose name I have pledged forever not to write on this site.
Disney has announced today that it will partner with Penn Entertainment for sports betting.
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/08/espn-betting-sportsbook-launches-via-penn-entertainment-partnership.html
Disney CEO Bob Iger also recently signaled on CNBC that the company is looking for a strategic partner and is open to offloading its cable TV networks.
Apple is the perfect partner for this purpose. Apple is worth $2.83 trillion as of today. $3 billion would be a chunk change for Apple to pay to Arte.
This is the point where it is impossible.
Side note, has anybody ever written a physical letter to anyone at Angels stadium? And no, I don’t mean a flaming bag of poo or anything like that, even though they deserve it.
I’ve written to Santa Claus and gotten some good feedback/response
Still waiting for my two front teeth personally.
Teeeefffffff
Gah, missed opportunity indeed!
Yes. I wrote multiple times to my (former) season ticket representative when he was trying to convince me (unsuccessfully) to renew my season tickets. I made my feelings re Arte, Kuhl, Carpino and the Org problems very clear. His response was not to disagree – in fact he agreed to the extent he could. But at that point Arte was still selling so he asked me didn’t I want to keep my tickets to see what the ‘new owner’ might do?! Glad I didn’t fall for that crap.
I remember you posting about this. Those reps have to really feel dirty at the end of the day saying anything to put money in Arte’s pocket.
It’s all part of Arte’s sales staff. This Org has problems from the top to the bottom.
Personally I think the MLB should mandate that owners do some sort of regular public appearances, and even the occasional taking questions from reporters. I get it, never going to happen, why would the MLB make life more difficult for it’s bosses. But if you are 0.0001% rich and want to buy something shiny, but don’t want to ever talk to anybody, then why not buy art or something?
Mets have no problems. 😃
True! I despise Cohen as an individual for his previous dealings. But I do enjoy his transparency at least, personally.
Agree. He’s a tool but I can forgive that with transparency.
Why don’t they simulcast the TV post-game on radio? Rather have Patty O and Bobby V than what’s on radio.
Trent Rush and the phonecall depressed dozens last about 30 seconds before I shut down AM830
https://twitter.com/SamBlum3/status/1688777947262701568
No, we all thought you were playing backgammon.
Allowing 6 runs in the 9th is not “coming up short”, Phil.
Sam spelled shit wrong
Coming up shit
I also thought they were playing to lose. Glad Phil cleared that up for us.
Why waste Moore for one out? There was nobody on the roster to get up and brought in than Loup?
How nice would it have been to have an owner realize that the long term health of the franchise means more than a few months of marketing opportunities involving Ohtani.
If so, Ohtani, Estevez and probably Renfroe would all have been traded at the deadline for a nice group of prospects. Also the top prospects of the Org would still be there.
Sometimes you gotta know when to fold ‘em.
Should send Arte a copy of that Kenny Roger’s tune
But think of that juicy fourth-roundish pick we’ll nab when Ohtani rejects the qualifying offer.
The amount of front office talent that has come and gone the last 15 years tell you everything about the Angels. We have an owner who’s willing to spend big on free agents yet too cheap to invest in scouting and the farm system. You’d figure that Arte and company would have figured things out in the 20 years he’s owned the team but I guess not.
How much front office “talent” has come through here? Eppler making the Mets look like the biggest joke in baseball. Dipoto has won how many playoff series with the M’s? No one that is actually good is going to come here and deal with Arte the meddler. I think Perry might be the best one we’ve had in awhile.
Exactly. The new GM will be another first timer who just wants to get their foot in the door.
Does Randall Grichuk think he’s plasticman?
That was some shoddy play out there that hurried the blown save into existence.
Only plasticman could’ve made that play – or one of them Angels in the Outfield deals
Everyone on the team is pressing. They are all trying to come up heros. Hard for me to fault him too much for that.
At this point, If Arte doesn’t sell, and Trout doesn’t ask for a trade, that would say a lot about Trout. Loyal? Hopeful? Naw man. Complacent, scared and heartless.
*rich AF
Forgot about that one
Happy and content living in Newport Beach with around $400 million
Thank god I canceled my Fubo tv subscription right after the grand slam loss. In hindsight looks like it was the right time to give up
We still have our subscriptions to Fubar TV
got a legit LOL from that one