Penny pinching Arte Moreno has officially thrown in the towel as everyone healthy who is a FA (besides Ohtani) is now on waivers (on Thursday). Why? Because saving money to not go into Lux Tax makes the QO a 2nd rounder instead of a 4th rounder.
So, Renfroe, Grichuk, Moore, Lopez, and Giolito are all gone and while Lucas won’t pitch again for the Angels, the others may contribute something before they leave. I mean, I doubt it, but whatever.
Today was Anderson and he went 5+ innings giving up 5 runs on 7 hits, striking out 3 and walking 3. All things considered, he isn’t as bad as he could have been. Giolito has been worse for one. But this was still pretty bad.
So how did leaving players do? Well, neither reliever pitched. As for the two OF, Grichuk went 3-4 with a home run while Renfroe went 0-3 with a walk. Yeah I would have liked to keep Grichuk. Bummer that draft picks 24 and 25 of the 2009 draft played 1 game together in their career.
Highlighted Recap
The best of the Knights of Ren, Rengifo, hit a solo shot to give the Angels the first run of the game.
Aaaand it was tied right up right away.
But hey an error means the Angels got the lead back.
Aaaaaaaaand it was tied yet again.
But then Rengifo did it again.
And Ohtani got his second hit as well.
Anderson was winning through 5 so of course he pitched the 6th and gave up a 3 run HR.
Typical Angels. And then Soriano came in and gave up a run as well.
Make that 3.
At least Grichuk got one back.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand there it goes again.
And 2 more because why not?
Barria was there to just eat innings and it got even worse in the 8th.
Well, one last push in the 9th as the Angels get another to make it not look as bad. Thanks Marsh.
Ohtani doubled because they pitched to him.
Angels lose, get blown out badly. But not as badly as it could have been?
Upcoming
Morning game tomorrow. Tank or try to be better than last year? Rooting is weird this time of year with this type of team.
As an Angels fan living in the PNW (albeit 2 hours away from Seattle), I honestly have a hard time hating the Mariners. Beautiful stadium, unfortunate history, not a a big threat typically, etc. But man, when they start winning a bit it’s like the they are RABID. I almost feel like the the few I’ve interacted with this week have been apoplectic in releasing their pent up Angels hatred they’ve been sitting on for years. Kind of a turn off.
Maybe this is what the Dodgers fan’s feel like when I rage against their team. Like, bro…
The Mariners were not happy that they could not come back in the ninth inning with winning run at the plate tonight. The magic number for Oakland to stay in the celler of AL West remains at 6. If you are hoping for 16.5% for lottery group, Oakland is one of the three teams (KC & the Sunshine Band and Rockies are the others) that you want to cheer for. If the A’s can find 18 wins besides sweeping the Angels, the impossible dream become realized.
Jordyn Adams was the leadoff hitter at Las Vegas tonight, Phillips, Martinez, Fletcher, Padlo, and Plummer also played. So, we will probably see Rengifo playing CF with 🐙 playing SS, now that Moniak most likely to be on IL. Unless Detmers throws CG shut out game, we have no chance tomorrow.
In pursuit of 16.5% for lottery:
Kudos to gNats for winning tonight at only one game behind the Angels.
Kudos to Guardians for winning tonight tying Angels W/L record.
Disappointed with Tigres for losing now falling 3 games behind the Angels.
Disappointed with Mets for losing now falling 3 games behind the Angels.
Mucho congratulations for A’s: now they are only 24 games behind the Angels.
This explains everything well.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/38285769/lucas-giolito-host-los-angeles-angels-players-placed-waivers?platform=amp
This is what Grichuk said when he found about his being on waiver pregame today.
“It’s kind of one of those crazy things, because I know it normally doesn’t get leaked,” Grichuk said. “It’s usually behind the scenes. I don’t really know what happened or why.”
I guess it would have been public since Moore and Lopez for sure will be claimed, but the business part of MLB baseball is really icy. Also, why isn’t Eduardo Escobar, Cron or Moose on waivers?
It will not change the rule for next 3 seasons, but would MLBPA get involved for next CBA, possibly banning this waiver manipulation or have owners agree that this can only be done with player’s approval, kinda like player having no trade clause, but he can waive it.
My question is this. If a team claims one of the waived players, can’t the Angels pull that player back and attempt to trade them to the claiming team prior to 9/1?
No. The waivers are irrevocable. Unlike in years past where trades can be made ( for a PTBNL) after the trade deadline if the player passes through waivers ( or can be pulled back) After the last CBA Trades are no longer allowed after the trade deadline.
Is this the first year of this rule?
5th? https://www.mlb.com/glossary/transactions/trade-waivers-aug-31-deadline
So Thurs is the last day to have teams acquire these players and have them be eligible for their playoff rosters. And that is why only potential playoff teams would be interested in acquiring these players.
Thanks Cowboy. I figured that out after some research. What an absolute shit show.
I’ll answer my own question- no the Angels can receive no players in return since the Aug 1 deadline has passed. They can only receive salary relief. So they have effectively wasted 7 of their top 20 prospects- throwing them away.
This Organization is a complete joke. I am so glad I gave up my season tickets this season after approximately 30 years. Arte will never get another penny from me and the Organization will not see anything from me until after Arte sells.
Even the Mighty Trash Panda can’t handle this mess anymore. Arte will try to get another Vernon Wells or Mo Vaughn type player to put fans in seats.
How many people think we haven’t even hit rock bottom yet?
Here’s why the Padres aren’t going to the playoffs despite a healthy run differential. This was written before tonight’s one run loss
“ Last night’s 5-4 loss dropped the Padres to 6-20 in one-run games. That is on pace to be the worst record in one-run games since the 1935 Boston Braves went 7-31 (.184).”
I’m digging the young core we have but the problem is starting pitching. Ironic because we’ve drafted 29 pitchers in the past two years. Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while, right?
We have tons on nuts on our team, front office and fan boards. Yes I’m looking in the mirror
Pitching Pitching Pitching.
Nothing else will matter.
Former Angel Alex Cobb is 3 outs away from a no-hitter.
Will Cobb make it two ex-Angels to throw no-hitters in one season???
I’d be okay with this team not winning another game the rest of the season.
Thatta boy, Team Tank. Staff meeting tomorrow at Karl’s.
Even if they completely commit to the tank, can they catch Oakland for MLBMS, Major League Baseball Maximum Suckitude?
With the lottery we dont need to.
I know it won’t happen, but I’d love to see the owners collude and not claim any of our players, so that Count Dracula has to pay the luxury tax anyway.
Well one ex exec (although not a very good one) thinks the commissioner should put the Kibosh on this Angel dumping ground.
https://twitter.com/JimDuquetteGM/status/1696640350666829849
He’s got a good point
Why would the players have a grievance? They get to go to a competent team and play playoff baseball.
True … but it’s been mentioned in a few Twatter circles.
If we’re talking “best interests of baseball” the commish would have already stepped in when the Angels refused to trade Ohtani to the Dodgers.
Now thats funny.
Performance related for Renfroe, Grichuk, Giolito, Leone – YES, but no so much for Moore or Lopez.
This has zero to do with performance. Its all centered around getting under the threshold to avoid various penalties such as receiving a 4th round compensation pick rather than a 2nd rounder when Ohtani signs elsewhere.
I understand what its about, I was referring to the guy’s tweet.
Need the prospects more than biting Arte’s wallet. But yeah. Screw Arte.
You magnificent son of a bitch. Way to drive the tank, Phil. 3.5 games out of the lottery.
Manning the Gunner position, Rengifo, Barria in the Loader spot.
Excellent post. This is where they are headed. How can we lose the next one? Predicted Angels winning percentage in September? .333. And that might be high.
Even if we had a top 5 pick who’s to say Perry’s not just going to take the 25 year old 6th year senior who’s closest to majors anyways?
#SaveThePlatypus
Perry will continue his mean streak and sign a player who rejected a QO.
This just in; El Segundo Little League coaching staff deemed better than just terminated Angels coaching staff Nevin quoted as saying “Well, I nevvveerraa” El Segundo cut Nevin loose, new coaching staff on route to Philly.
We score seven and give up 12?
Nice….
When we give up 3 we score 1 or 2…bad team MO.
When we score 3 we allow the enemy to score direct hits off our pitching staff for 7-12 runs. trAdition.
I haven’t been showing up in CtPG for awhile now. Because the Angels, this year, esp, since Aug 1st…they broke me.
Finally.
Been a fan since 1970. Just felt a dire, almost medical need, to step away from the perennial clown show that is this franchise.
Understood.
I’m a Browns fan…it ain’t shit for me to be an Angels fan.
I’m guilty of caring too much for too long.
I’ve learned to always assume the worst and nothing bad can happen….2023 Angels are testing that theory 🙃
Good on you for establishing boundaries. I find it healthier for me to spend more time here than watching the games. 😅
Thanks Nishiogawakun. It’s crazy because, truly, it really is “just a game.” So why did I care so effing much? It got to the point this year where I just sorta felt like, “Why do I do this to myself every damned year?” I should be more like Twebur, above, the Browns fan.
There are sooooo many reasons I broke and you guys know about all of ’em. But if someone asked “Why aren’t you following the Angels? You always talk about them. They’re your team, right?” My first answer would be something like, “Dude: we had Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani for years and STILL managed to finish below .500 over and over and over. Do you realize how embarrassing that is?” Etc.
I wish I could get myself to believe in some sort of “curse” but I’ve marinated in too much logic and science since childhood. Is it the owner? Hard to see how he’s the reason they’re soooo bad, year after damned year. Arte certainly doesn’t help the situation, that’s for sure. But I don’t see how he’s the reason.
I just…don’t know, man. I had to put a (temporary) end to my Angels jones. Because this season? Yea, it broke me. It really did. Not proud to say it, but there it is. Why do we let our team break our heart? Why can’t I have a more healthy perspective? It’s my own fault. No one ever forced me to be an Angels fan. I did it to myself, and I guess there were enough payoffs to continue.
Guys like Downing Dude seem to be able to take the bad with the bad with the bad (and every now and then: the good) with an even keel. I should be more like that. But I’m not.
There’s a bunch of literature on sports fandom. If your team is a loser, you can fall prey to the idea that you’re a loser too, for following the losers. It doesn’t makes sense, cuz it really is, as I said, just a damned game.
Watched Game 7 in a very crowded sports bar in Santa Monica in 2002. Erstad makes the catch…and I’m walking out, with my bros and…I felt like I was walking on air. It was the very meaning of elated. This had actually happened: the Angels won the World Series. I never really believed it would happen. But it did! I’d been an Angels fan for 32 years at that point, and they were mostly a joke. But now they’d won the World Series! All of the suffering was redeemed, somehow.
Now? I don’t know anymore. I really don’t. I live in the Bay Area now and I watch Giants games. I like their announcers. And locals who grew up here who love the Giants are mostly cool people in my experience, There are a-holes, of course. But when the Angels played them I wanted us to kill the Giants. It’s incurable. I’ll be back in the Spring. Probably…
Actually – today I’m gonna gear up like crazy. Easy to fly the car flags when we’re winning – not so easy in tough times. Look for a red blur today from your airplane window seat. That’s me
Maybe Moore will get claimed, rest are overpriced underachievers, staying put. But watch, Dodgers pick up Giolito to replace Gonslin. Put him in the cheat lab, get him Bauer sticky stuff, and watch, he magically starts pitching lights out. Their training staff are not miracle workers, just best at not getting caught cheating
I would imagine Lopez will have some demand. But After Grichuk’s game tonight he may go too.
For teams in the hunt, Moore has been a quality arm for the Halos. Lopez has nice stuff and just weeks ago the Angels wanted him. Giolito is serviceable. Not good but maybe better than the 4-5 guys on some staffs. Renfroe and Grichuk are vets that can sometimes get big hits in games that mean something. All could have some value for the right team. But we will see.
No need for cheating. Just figure out what works for *Giolito* rather than forcing him into some Angel way of pitching.
Why is it that every other team that has better development, coaching, management, etc. than the Angels MUST be cheating? Sounds more like sour grapes
Because many of them are.
Many teams have had washed players play good, but you obviously do not noticing how many miracles cases LA has had. Heyward, Perralta, Martinez, Lynn, Yarbrough, Brasier. Look at numbers before and after. How about past allstar dropoffs after leaving like Kemp, Puig. No doubt Dodgers have better player development then most teams because they spend millions more for that. But to think so many lousy players get good just from coaching there ?? . And go ask Tyler Anderson how he can totally tank with Angels after last seasons numbers.
And NoI did not make that chart
Salty much?
Can they fire Nevin tomorrow? Up two runs, other team gets a hit. Lefty pitcher (who likely should be removed) against lefty Harper. Intentional walk. Like last night; put the tying run on. Allow the go ahead run to come to the plate. HR. Angels behind. Nevin failed math apparently. They lost the game last night with the same strategy.
Very hard to watch. BTW when will anyone note Rengifo seems to come alive once the Angels are eliminated from the playoff race?
Just keep shaking your heads.
The Lefty hitter that had hit a HR ( his 7th in 12 games) against the same lefty pitcher in his previous at bat?
Im ambivalent on this one. Pick your poison.
Make him hit another one then. You cannot put the tying run on. If you don’t like the matchup, bring in a reliever.
I have a more novel idea. Sign better pitchers
I keep saying the same thing, but there are a couple guys that don’t care about defense and just applaud his hitting in games that are meaningless.
Yeah damn those idiots and their optimism!!!!
Next funniest thing that’s gonna happen- none of the waived players get selected. Arte plan backfires again.
The funniest/most Angels would be several do but it falls 1 player short of getting under.
Ha! Classic
Well the jokes going to be on all of us if Arte doesn’t want to go over the Cap next year ( and the year after) because of the repeater rate surcharge.
https://www.mlb.com/glossary/transactions/competitive-balance-tax
They are definitely not going over next year because a) Ohtani is gone, which clears a lot of space, and b) no free agent of note is coming anywhere near this team until current ownership/management is long gone.
Arte never wanted to go over. Oh wait! Arte now wants to go over?
Later in the season: Arte wants to get under the cap.
Color me surprised.
Well here’s another reason the Jokes will be on us: https://twitter.com/kileymcd/status/1696650465671344322
Arte only went over bc of wanting to keep Ohtani. That’s likely a pipe dream now. So you are correct. Unless we get lucky and he sells.
Why was Loup not on that DFA list?
Because the Angels intend to exercise the team’s option and bring Loup back next year? That would be such an Angels thing to do. Arte is already getting a billboard ready to put Loup’s mug on it.
Even the Angels wouldn’t do that Angels thing.
Woof