In a lot of ways this season will go down in infamy. But there were some nice surprises along the way, too.
On Tuesday night Reid Detmers took his final turn on the mound for 2023. He continued his great run to end the year by tossing a gem in a 9-3 win. Over his final 7 outings he pitched 41 innings of 2.41 ERA ball with 37 K’s. That’s the type of momentum we hope carries over into 2024.
And Detmers isn’t the only positive news out of the Angels rotation. Griffin Canning had a remarkable bounce back season and finished quite strongly himself. I’ll take 6 innings of 2 run ball against a division leader all day every day.
Those 127 innings are the most in his career as are his 134 K’s. Here’s to hoping that year off in 2022 healed up all the nagging things and he can be a mid rotation arm going forward.
And as long as I’m in a good mood, Ben Joyce is healthy and throwing absolute gas.
Yeah, 102.4. In case you are wondering, here’s what it looks like to a hitter.
I can definitely think of worse ways to start the 2024 bullpen than the trio of Joyce, Soriano, and Esteves. Some might think Soriano doesn’t belong in that conversation but his numbers are better than many realize and his stuff, when on, is filthy. Like this:
I’ll add Jo Adell to this list. Since coming back from injury a couple of weeks ago he’s looked like a different guy. More confident on the grass and more selective at the plate with improved power. It is like he’s seeing the ball better now.
Add in Logan O’Hoppe, Zach Neto, Mickey Moniak, and Nolan Shanuel and I’m thinking 2024 should be a “Let the Kids Play” year to a large degree. Step back and see what we actually have and save money to buy whatever we really need once we know what that is. I’ll get more into this in some off season pieces but there’s really only one way to take inventory in baseball and that is through reps.
A bunch of kids and Mike Trout, who probably isn’t going anywhere.
From around baseball:
I keep having fun with the Tankathon site. I’ve run dozens of simulations and the most common outcomes have us moving up or down 2 spots. I’ll get an occasional outlier and did get the 1 once, but it seems to usually be 4,5, or 8.
Ronald Acuna Jr. became the first member of the 40 home run 70 stolen base club. What a tremendous accomplishment.
Cubs broadcasters were miffed the Braves stopped the game to honor him. Boo hoo. Stop him from stealing next time.
Speaking of sad announcers, FanGraphs took a look at some of the saddest announcers in baseball. That article is more fun than it sounds.
The Baltimore Orioles are staying put in the ballpark that launched the new ballpark revolution.
And in sad news, knuckleballer Tim Wakefield is battling brain cancer. The family was trying to keep it quiet but ass hat Curt Schilling made it public. Prayers for Wakefield and his family as they go through this.
Side note, I always loved the knuckleball. Always been fascinated by it. Wondered why more guys didn’t try it. So a little confession here, I liked Wakefield even though he suited up for that hideous organization. Plus the Angels could steal at will off him.
Enjoy the weekend. Last chance to get to the Big A and also the huge air show in Huntington Beach. I’ll be trying to coach a Farm Ball game Sunday at noon with jets flying overhead. I’m sure the 4 to 6 year olds will be locked in.
in other out-of-town news, Cincy now up 7-0 over StL in the 2nd. Carlos Rodon for the Skanks got zero outs in the first and left with 8 runs charged to him in a 9 run 1st inning for KC. Haha!
Come on Miami. Would like a Marlins sweep to avoid finishing that game last night which would likely result in a Mets defeat. Not looking good tonight, down 3-0 late.
interesting point. If the Mets finish 1/2 a game behind us (that is, ahead of, if you know what I mean) they’d probably be hopping mad at us being #6 and them #7.
geez, Saint Looie, can’t you be more subtle? Down 4-0 now in the 2nd (!!!) against Cincy.
The Reds just promoted their GM to POBO… now that they have a POBO, they’ll win it all next year….
😉
The news about Wakefield is so sad. I was also always fascinated by the knuckleball. There was an article about Phil Niekro in about 1978 in Sport magazine. Phil told all of his secrets to throw the knuckleball. I spent that summer throwing knuckleball after knuckleball in my parents’ back yard. But I never could master it.
Bob Uecker on how to catch a knuckleball, “let is roll to the back stop and pick it up.”
I also recommend the 2102 documentary, Knuckleball. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2343601/
2102?
well, 2012.
Very unfortunate news about Wakefield. I had listened to the podcast that day and thought, why is Curt even talking about it because he just finished stating how private it was to the familiy and they did not want anyone to know. Jason Varitek’s wife later tweeted, “FxxK you Curt Schilling. It’s not your place.” She is right.
Curt Schilling just seem to get out of his own way. What a dope.
Giants fire Gabe Kapler
Seems like an Arte hire to me. I’ll call Bekins and make arrangements.
He can start turning pages and chasing losses in Anaheim in 2024.
I’ll take Crag Counsell.
Thank You
Good ol’ Gabe. Blown out in less that 1-year with Philly, him refusing to stand as a Giants manager on the field during the anthem to his questionable handling of sexual assault allegations against the Dodgers when he was a minor league manager. Arte’s head is thick but Kapler is not a person that Arte could stomach.
I thought Shohei might end up in SF because they have a winning culture. But this article
(https://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/gabe-kapler-manager-fired-sf-giants-18397492.php)
states:
As reporter Andrew Baggarly wrote Tuesday, the Giants’ roster was filled with “too many ho-hum reactions to losing along with a near-zealotry to Pusoy, a Filipino card game that Joc Pederson and some other Giants players appear to find more compelling than studying the night’s opposing starting pitcher.”
That sounds so Pederson. He’s done as a Giant on Sunday. Logan Webb and Yaz have been calling these clowns out. Farhan needs to be next.
Angels waiting till Monday for Nevin. My guess is, if he’s coming back, it would have been done by now.
id take Bob Melvin. Or Mike Scioscia 🤣
Nevin sooooo gone.
So, technically the Mets did not lose last night and tonights Mets-Phils game rained out so make up tomorrow, doubleheader. Philly having clinched the #1 WC slot, I would imagine they will start limiting the innings for their starters with 3 games over 2-days. Angels getting help from the heavens.
If we win 1 game and the Mets lose out, they would pass us.
Is it just me, or does Jo look bigger and bulkier this year too? My recollection of him was he was a lanky guy during his first call-ups. It’s really too bad he got derailed by an oblique injury on a year where he may have had the most consistent playing time yet.
The picture up top was 2017 Jo Adell at the AZL. (Credit: Rex Fregosi) It can serve as a legit ref of whether he has bulked up since then.
lol just posted same
Seems he is the same size (bigger) as he was since 2022.
Btw way, the photo used today/yesterday for story of him was from his very first professional game as a member of AZ Angels Rookie Ball league- it was his first time on base as a pro, what’s it been about 5 years?
Thanks.
I was basing my observation on that video where he hit the HR and was running the bases. It seems he got bulkier in the upper body.
He looks a little bigger. I met him at Spring Training not long after the picture above and he was plenty muscular. But he’s filled out some. Added his man strength, so to speak.
Of he’s bigger how do you think he injured his oblique?
It happens as you age in your early-mid 20’s.
What does everything think about Michael Stefanic?
Will he be on the MLB team next year as a back up/ultiity player or is his game too limited (a AAAA player)?
He had a .463 OBP in AAA and the OBP is .397 at the MLB level (albeit with only 63 plate appearances).
Good story but a marginal big leaguer
Agree, little bit of a hit tool but marginal everywhere else
His swing and stance remind me of this guy:
https://twitter.com/Jared_Tims/status/1706517567630983201
Both. His game is too limited (AAAA player) but he will nonetheless be on the MLB team next year.
Good bench piece. Good PH option late in the game where there are people on base and you need a cheap hit.
But if he’s depended on as a starter next year, then this team will go nowhere.
He’s a feel-good story, but we’ve been there before with Jared Walsh. I initially hoped that Jared would be the long-term solution to 1B but look at how fast he fell from an All-Star nod.
He’d come to camp competing for a backup spot on a “play the kids” type year but likely end up in AAA as first man up type depth.
As of now, we could field a Schanuel, Rengifo, Neto, Rendon infield for a week or so into March until Rendon gets hurt again. I’d be happy to resign Moose as a 1B/3B backup and to mentor the young guys.
Adell, Moniak, Trout, and I’d be fine with Grichuk as the outfield would give Trout plenty of days off his feet to DH. I think Grichuk hit the Coors Field Hangover his first few weeks and is now playing the way we can expect him.
Are you deliberately not including Ward because of his injury?
I think it depends on Shohei, having 4 OF’ers with the DH open he may be offered a contract.
I’m sure Arte will be offering Ohtani a contract. The marketing guy is going to want the most marketable player in the league on his team.
And given Ohtani’s injury, there’s a much better chance than before that no other team will beat Arte’s offer.
I think there is less than 5% chance he will sign with the Angels. Even if they make the highest offer.
I think it’s about 40% to 50% even if they dont make the highest offer.
would he want to spend 7 years *hoping* the team improves? He might. We shall see!
The math Kind of works even If Trout, Rengifo and Blake return since I doubt the Angels would carry more than 13 position players:
Starters
Schanuel 1B
Trout DH
Drury 2B
Rendon 3B
Blake LF
O’Hoppe C
Moniak CF
Adell RF
Neto SS
Bench
Stassi C
Rengifo IF/OF
Thaiss or Mous
Fletcher or Gio or Grichuk
If Grichuk is resigned then Rengifo is the backup shortstop. If Grichuk isn’t resigned, then Rengifo is the 5th outfielder. Note that Fletcher can be optioned one more time out of spring training next year without penalty but I think that will end if he is brought up at any time or makes the team. You also have the plumber with at least a minor league option left so he can be stashed at the great Salt Lake along with Soto and Paris . So I think the Angels will ultimately have to chose between bringing back one of Gio Moustakas or Grichuk. The uncertainty over Blake’s return may make Grichuk an advantage over Mous but I love the leadership. Since Mous is a left handed bat that would spell the end of Thaiss in an Angel uniform. Outfield depth in the minors would consist of Adams or Cabbage
Thanks all. Stefanic is also from Idaho (my home state) so I root for him. I do think he will stick around some.
hes got 2 minor league options left. The Angels would be foolish to get rid of him unless someone would provide legitimate pitching help.
The Angels scored 10 runs in their final series against the Rangers. Here is the list of how many runs each Angel batter produced:
2.50 Drury
2.00 O’Hoppe
1.50 Grichuk
1.00 Escobar
1.00 Adell
1.00 Neto
0.75 Stefanic
0.25 Fletcher
This was the sixth time this season that Drury led the team in Actual Runs Produced.
Here’s the updated ARA/BF:
0.00 Caceres (2)
0.05 Joyce (44)
0.09 Bachman (77)
0.09 Daniel (34)
0.10 Silseth (205)
0.10 Soriano (181)
0.11 Detmers (644)
0.11 Canning (536)
0.11 Estevez (281)
0.12 Sandoval (652)
0.13 Anderson (629)
0.13 Wantz (152)
0.14 Fulmer (21)
0.16 Herget (122)
0.17 Barria (362)
0.17 Suarez (150)
0.18 Rosenberg (129)
0.18 Reyes (49)
0.18 Mederos (17)
0.22 Marte (48)
0.23 Ingram (30)
0.26 Diaz (42)
Loup is now officially out of the loop. Marte and Ingram had a rough series. Newcomer Carson Fulmer has set himself nicely in the middle of the pack.
With the AL West probably coming down to who can get the closest to 90 wins, and with no team running away to 100+ wins, like the Cheaters have done in previous years, our favorite whipping boy Rendon was right – 90 wins can get the team to the playoffs, and breaking it down to an average of 15 wins a month would do the trick.
They need to figure out how to get their starting pitchers to go 6 or more innings instead of 4-5 so they don’t go through so many bull pen pitchers.
Exactly. Seems like in every game The Angels starter will go 4 to 4 2/3 innings while the opposing pitcher goes 7 2/3 +. Tough to win games consistently like that unless they expand the rosters to 30 all season long.
we could *make* the opposing pitcher go shorter distance if we weren’t swinging at the first pitch so much
Thats an established philosophy form our hitting coach. Marcus Thames. Apparently the Angels internal data indicated that they highest BABIP on the first pitch of the at bat. Unfortunately their data probably also shows a massive reduction in OPS after the Angel batter starts the at bat off 0-1.
I am going to final game. Does any think Ohtani will step out of dugout at end of game, and give a final quick wave to the fans? That would be a classy gesture, if inside he knows he not coming back. At the same time if he just hides in dugout I get it because he might think addressing the crowd would hype media as a ‘goodbye for good’ when he hasn’t made any real decision about his FA plans.
Hmm……a strong Maybe.
Saturday is Team MVP award night
Go Saturday to see Shohei.
Regardless – I’ll be starting the Shohei chants in an attempt for a curtain call on both Saturday and Sunday.
👍
Might be standing in the rain…….somehow we’ll get screwed with an unexpected un-make-up-able rain out game. Crush our hopes and dreams with TANKATHON 2023.😥
I’m going tonight. Can’t remember the last time I went on a Friday night.
The Foundation Building Materials’ keystone of the game tonight for the Angels against the A’s is “If I Could Tell You” by W.H. Auden.
https://youtu.be/3AeefPqVZKA?si=ibQ8B1b4fmXOajRd
the winds must come from somewhere when they blow
there must be reasons why the leaves decay
the losses will be too heavy for hope anymore
and the injuries keep the boys from their play
time only knows the price we have to pay
time will say nothing but I told you so
Deep thoughts about the Ass’tros, Strangers, and possibly the Jerry’s making the playoffs this year.
https://youtu.be/9wuVjTrl8lY?si=9Ib-d6CYrYeYvHgo
Why was there a key to the game yesterday when there was no game?
I think we are all a little bit shell shocked at this point.
the season’s just about over and I wanted to get that one out there.
The Blum article is scathing but also fair. I think it is very well researched and presented. Most of us have suspected much of this – but having it presented in one coherent article helps to identify the many problems.
All of this said, I do not think Arte is “cheap”. Instead I think he is remarkably behind the times and is so egocentric and impulsive that he does not realize how far behind his Organization really is. He has surrounded himself with ‘yes’ men so that nothing changes. Sport Technology has changed and improved dramatically in the last 10 years. Arte and his Organization are behind the times and probably don’t even realize it.
Putting it another way, this Organization is stuck in the past. My rough estimation would be 2010.
The Carpino quote is classic Angels Organization bull crap. It’s just more of the same from the top brass.
If this were a company whose stock you owned, the research would be telling/screaming at you to divest. That the Angels need new ownership and a rebuilt Organization is made very clear by this article.
Sammy’s attacks on the org usually trigger me but this one was fair.
Very encompassing. Arte is about profit above going all out to develop the best baseball organization
Agreed. His approach has always been about marketing to achieve profits – which is fine but it cannot be the main/sole focus.
The Organization was very solid and appropriately up-to-date in 2003 when he bought the team. He did not build that Org – he inherited it. His approach was to invest in free agents like Vlad and Torii and that worked because he was still benefiting from the solid Organization he bought.
And then players like Salmon and Anderson aged and retired. And baseball began changing due to new technologies – slowly at first – but then rapidly. Arte never changed his approach. He never adapted.
In many ways Arte runs the Organization as if it is still 15-20 years ago when his approach was successful. Im not sure he even realizes how much technology has changed the game and everything associated with it.
Great post. I always thought Arte was a good owner, but doesn’t make good baseball decisions
Oxymoron. Arte is not, never was a “Good” owner. Good owners make very favorable “Baseball” decisions more often than not. They try to hire the best people for the positions available, all positions including Presidents and Vice Presidents etc. The best Owner’s strive to build strong organizations from the bottom up, not cutting back on basics such as food. Arte Moreno is “Cheap” and that is a fact. He has been lucky to have had so many good people working for him through the last 21 years, but somehow, he even screws that up.
Arte had a good run from 2004-2009. Even when the Angels didn’t make the playoffs, they would always be competing close to the last day, or even still finishing a good 10 games above .500.
Obviously he hit the jackpot in signing Vlad, Escobar and Colon. Some may argue even Guillen was a good signing, even if only for a short while. But to your point, the minors were still strong that time, with Howie, Casey, Aybar, Weaver, Napoli, etc. coming up to supplement his FA signings. No one ended up being a huge superstar (Weaver arguably, maybe) – Howie famously never lived up to his Future Batting Champ potential – but they were good enough pieces to supplement Vlad’s star power.
When that well dried up, is when all of Arte’s problems started. Even Mike Trout couldn’t save a very barren farm system everywhere else.
You forgot Hunter, 😃
Renfroe or Torii?
Strickland?
So basically, what you are saying is that The Angels, as an organization, is basically Sears.
Sears stock sells for .02 per share. That’s about right and makes a solid comparison to the Angels Org. They probably still are using dot matrix printers and Intel 486 processors.
I don’t think Arte is cheap either. He spends, and spends a lot. He just spends on the wrong things – big splash, FA – and not enough on the “grassroots” stuff, like trainers, machines, nutrition, minor leagues, coaches, etc.
Those reasons are enough to convince me of two things. One Arte is not a good owner as he certainly qualifies as the definition of “Stupid”. Grassroots” listed are basics goals, he is the definition and daffynition of “Cheap”.
The Blum article is old news. Mr 2023 irrelevant C J Wilson from 10 years ago is his primary source? If you read between the lines the only current employees are the underpaid and disgruntled Big A security guards. Of course other teams have to pay more for their security guards, Have you ever been the Latrine or the Bronx?
I want to know whats happening now under Perry’s muddled reign. Fletcher’s 3 part story last year was more in depth but also mentioned that the Angels have spent much more since Manasian’s took over as GM. is that still the case?
If it is, then continually whining over how cheap Arte was under the Billy and Jedi regime is pretty much wasted ink other than to demonstrate the horrible depths of disrepair that this organization has fallen into and what Perry will need to do to fix it.
i’d be happier this morning if both the the Rangers/M’s game and Mets/Marlins game ended after the 8th innings last night. ugh.
My second try at Tankathon earlier in the week, the Halos ended at #1 and i stopped.
Tried it yesterday again once and the result was we moved up to #3.
My attention is focused on the D-Backs. ‘Sttros in town for the last 3 and one win gets the Snakes in. Likely they are headed to the Caveman next week for the playoffs for 3 and hopefully they get Gallen and Kelly aligned to pitch two of them.
Corbin Carroll is incredible: 25 HR, >50 SB and he’s been carrying the team on his back in the pennant race this September. Kid is a budding superstar – keep both eyes on him.
Sammy hits Arte again today at The Athletic with a lot of lack of spending facts – Arte needs to open the wallet.
Curious, why wouldn’t they just call the game last night as a rainout? Since it’s beyond the regulation time, Marlins win a rain shortened game. I forget the rules.
Narrow exception. If the visiting team took the lead in the current inning, the home team gets to bat.
Copy, thanks
Jeff, I am dumbfounded why you would include Estevez in any form as a piece in the pen. He’s shot. The team needs to dump him and his salary.
I disagree. I think he’s been overused after the all-star break and his outings need to be addressed next season. But he has good stuff and in the first half proved how valuable he can be.
he was nails early this year. He got used a ton. He faded down the stretch.
And he’s signed through next season.
IMHO, he did not “fade.” He collapsed. Look at his pre-All Star Game and post ASG numbers::
Pre. ASG
ERA – 1.80 WHIP – 1.25
Post ASG
ERA – 6.59 WHIP – 1.76
Speaking of Moneyball…
https://twitter.com/BaseballQuotes1/status/1707422664384794744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1707422664384794744%7Ctwgr%5E18a2c5361bcb30824655dd385a6c5da19f95c122%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum.chorus.fm%2Fbts%2Ftwitter.min-v6.html1707422664384794744
I retire today, and have been already planning the journey to Arizona next spring for the start of the 2024 season. Despite the ugliness of the 2023 season, hope springs eternal for the 2024 edition of Angels baseball.
Congratulations! I’m about 5 years away myself from that goal. Sleep in on Monday!
Congratulations to you! I will be retiring too in 96 days 😃
Not that you’re counting the days.
Congratulations on your retirement!!! I figure, with two young kids, I can retire in two thousand and never! I’m going to try and make spring training this year with my son.
Almost 63 and continuing to work till ? It’s not bad as long as you enjoy it. Especially since I’m still WFH.
I just hit the big 63 this summer, my daughter (youngest) is going to turn 8 in December. I have a loooooonnnnngggg road ahead.
California losing two Senators in one day?
Good luck and congratulations!
Best thing about being a retired Senator is you can finally sit back and enjoy the
fruits from the “insider trading” and “kick backs” you’ve obtainedpride from serving your country.🤣
Congrats! If you want help planning a trip feel free to reach out to me.
Any suggestions on where to stay? We went to Spring Training this last year and stayed in in an airbnb in Tempe but looking to stay somewhere different this next Spring.
Biggest factor is which complexes you are visiting- if it’s only Angels, Tempe is as good as place as any. Consider south of Diablo in Phoenix or Chandler too that can be close as Tempe.
Around Mill Ave in downtown Tempe you can’t go wrong with
Agreed with Rex, it depends on where you’re going. We tend to rotate between Scottsdale/Tempe and Glendale in about a 2 to 1 rotation.
Mill Ave is great for post baseball fun, especially during college basketball tournaments; especially for guys trips. Old Town Scottsdale and Fashion Square are great if you’re bringing the family. Either works for visiting the ballparks east of downtown (Angels, Giants, Cubs, A’s, D’backs, Rockies).
I’ll get something close to the Westgate center in Glendale when we plan on hitting the ballparks west of downtown (Dodgers, White Sox, Rangers, Royals, Reds, Guardians, Padres, Mariners, Brewers). That eliminates downtown traffic and there’s a ton of eating, shopping, and fun around Westgate.
I definitely advise hitting all the ballparks over time..
Thanks for the tips, you too RexFregosi.
Plan is to head out to the Rockies/D-backs facility at Salt River Field as we really liked that stadium this last year. Who knows, maybe we’ll just say eff it and stay at Talking Stick. Then I can try and recover some funds at Paigow. Yeah right!
Congratulations on your retirement!
Congratulations Senator. Here’s to the shared “Hopeium” in 2024……But, it will be hard to overcome all of our trAditions.
Plan a side trip to honor our TANK history at the “Tucson Military Vehicle Museum”.
https://www.tucsonmilitaryvehicle.org/
Good for you!!
Ten years retired after forty with So Cal Gas Co.
You think you’re busy now…the fun is just starting.
That is awesome, good for you. Spring training tour is always something I wanted to do.
Congrats!