At last! The season is over. The Angels can go get their oblique injuries by golfing. Now we have the entire post season to adjust our expectations for 2024. Danielle has already decided who will not be in her IIWPM article.
Shohei Ohtani had the most popular MLB jersey this season. Cha ching!
Angel Hernandez continues his one man campaign to bring about the Robo-Ump age. As a result, one lucky kid got Bryce Harper’s batting helmet, which Harper had thrown into the stands in exasperation. Harper later autographed it. Harper didn’t hold back when talking to the press about the incident.
Tyler Clippard announced his retirement from baseball. Meanwhile, the Giants fired Gabe Kapler on Friday. Buck Showalter will not return as skipper of the Mets. He must quit or be fired.
The Brewers designated Julio Teheran for assignment. The Tigers will hire Miguel Cabrera as a Special Assistant in 2024. Orioles reliever Felix Bautista will have Tommy John surgery.
Bring back Scioscia!!!!
😆
Arte wants the job as it will save money
Sciooooo Sciaaaaa. I can hear Rahja Lodge now singing away
Banned! You now got that stuck in my noggin’
CURSES!!!
———-
Free Mike!
Hmm
I would have kept Nevin because I *guarantee* they don’t have someone else lined up and they’re about to get turned down interviews and stuff and people will prefer other jobs because of course they would.
Welcome to Arte szn
Gawd forbid they hire Showalter
ISTR us saying the exact same thing about BBB.
Haven’t seen anything officially announcing Phil is gone.
Jeff Fletcher posted
Gracias
Sammy posted it on X
Ah. I don’t do Twitter/X. Thanks.
There’s no other way to get the info from our 4 “beaten” writers
The people they likely will be looking at will take the job. Because no other team will be offering them a job as manager.
The Platypus saved his ass by firing Nevin. I’m not surprised
Would you being the GM want your last season in ’24, having Nevin as the manager? Nevin is clueless out there during game time and he alone lost at least 6 games with being the field General.
My point is that Nevin was Perry’s choice. Because Perry put a clueless guy in the role, the failure is shared.
I don’t trust Perry with the hire.
I think some players influenced the choice, along with the lower pay rate. Angels influence more than likely from the top also. Arte likes first year types.
Gene Mauch says Hello (though to be fair, that was from the playoffs)
So long Phillip. You weren’t the problem but you weren’t the solution either.
Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer has settled a sexual assault lawsuit with Lindsey Hill, the woman who was the first to accuse him.
https://sports.yahoo.com/former-dodgers-star-trevor-bauer-settles-lawsuit-with-woman-who-first-accused-him-of-sexual-assault-211323231.html
One down three to go. I can’t see him ever pitching in MLB again.
I don’t think he wants to or needs to. He is thriving in NPB, already all star this season, and really well liked by many Japanese baseball fans. His team Yokohama DeNA BayStars have made the playoff, and he declared himself back to health from IL ready to pitch for the playoff game in few weeks.
I would not be surprised if he continues to do well, he will be playing for Team Japan in next WBC (in 2026).
Despite what he says publicly, I assure you Bauer wants to come back to the MLB.
Good luck with that ever happening.
I think he is smart enough to know that no MLB team would touch him with 3.3 meter pole. He looks happy out there and is adding enthusiasm in NPB. Good for him . I don’t care much about his private life.
But if any MLB team stupidly offers him a contract, yes, he would jump on that. He would definitely like the opportunity to avenge his loss of pride by beating up on the Dodgers.
Confession time — I was in SoCal the first week of Aug taking my kids on college tours. Decided to see my first Anaheim game in 8 years, so my son and I go to the Aug 3 (yes, the Estevez grand slam blown save) game.
I myself am to blame for the downfall of this team. I set the curse in place and it ran its ugly course.
This is what happens when security forces me to wear pants. When the Rally Thong is behind closed doors (so to speak), bad things happen.
So there.
Epic post.
Tar and feathers from Texas!
You should have known better.
When facing insurmountable odds, one does what is necessary and just.
Yep, kinda like wearin’ pants. 😄
Whoa whoa whoa. Let’s slow down here. Who said wearing pants is necessary and just?
Same thing happened to me in 2015. Late season Sunday afternoon game against HOU. Forgot the guys name but he hit a 3 run home run in the 9th. My first game in years.
my rant for the day…
several months ago the Skanks were in 4th place but had a better record than whoever was leading the Central so there were articles in the usual places about how it was unfair for the Skanks to have the 6th best record in the AL but knocked out of the playoffs by Minnesota or Cleveland.
Funny that there aren’t articles now by those people about Seattle being out despite having a better record than Minnesota. It makes you think some writers are Skank fans, that their concern wasn’t for the fairness of the system but for the welfare of the Skanks.
It’s after 2:00pm on the day after the season has ended and no GMs or Managers have been fired beyond Show? WTF Preller still employed?
Gabe Kapler
Ah, left him out.
Maybe Phil is not answering his mobile phone…
Funny stuff Fungo.
He cut the string between the two cans.
Arte gives all “important employees” burner-phones. Plan runs out at the end of the season. Arte will send him a telegram later this week informing him he’s “OUT”
I don’t see why Kapler was fired on Friday. Why not just let him finish the season?
Dirty way to handle that termination – can’t expect anything else from that part of California.
As I watched the final game last night, and watched the final at bats, I was thinking in my mind how each at bat was likely the last ones ever as an Angel.
Because quite a few of those players last night quite possibly won’t be on the team next year.
For many players we will be opening a bottle of champagne in celebration of them never batting again for our team
AFL list is out, Daniel, Sonny D, Placencia, Chaney, N Jones, Luke Murphy will all be playing for Scottsdale Scorpions
Nice. I really had hopes Murphy would be a force in the bullpen the second half of this season. Like real, genuine hopes.
Unfortunately Both Murphy & Torres had a horrible year last year. Murphy struggled in his repeat of AA with a 1.67 WHIP and 5 walks per 9 innings. Torres ( even though he is a much needed LHP) had a completely disastrous year at AAA. in 26 games at SL he posted a 9.62 ERA a 2.43 WHIP including 11.2 !!! BB/9 & 2.8 HR/9. Over the course of the entire season at 2 levels he had 17 HBP in only 47-2/3 innings. I’m really shocked the Angels kept him up at AAA for as long as they did this year.
The state of the union is strong.
https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb-experiences-largest-attendance-growth-in-30-years-as-more-than-70-million-fans-go-to-games-in-2023-173838720.html
I think the exciting WBC event really increased interest just before the season started. The rule changes with pitch clock, larger bases, and shift ban, contributing to faster pace of game also helped. Having young and new faces, like Elly De La Cruz and Corbin Carroll was amazing. Of course, players like Ronald Acuna Jr, Adley Rutschman, and, of course, Shohei Ohtani performing well kept up the enthusiasm.
I go along with the WBC being part of the increase, but like it or not the rule changes to short length of games and remove the shift is the biggest bump that MLB has done to address listening to the fans concerns.
Season is over watching the 73-89 “Hacks”.
Come back, and “Hack” with your golf clubs
https://view.mail.mlblists.com/messages/1696267940711b5ae155b269f/raw
The Angels scored 15 runs in their final series of the season. Here’s the list of how many runs each of our individual Angels produced:
4.25 Drury
2.50 O’Hoppe
2.00 Moniak
1.50 Schanuel
1.25 Fletcher
1.25 Grichuk
0.75 Neto
0.50 Escobar
0.50 Adell
0.25 Moustakas
0.25 Stefanic
This is the second series in a row that Drury has been the team leader in Actual Runs Produced. It is the seventh time this season that he has been the leader.
The top half of this final list gives me hope for the future.
And here is the updated Actual Runs Allowed per Batters Faced list for our Halo moundsmen:
0.06 Daniel (52)
0.08 Fulmer (39)
0.09 Bachman (77)
0.09 Joyce (48)
0.10 Silseth (221)
0.11 Detmers (644)
0.11 Canning (536)
0.11 Estevez (281)
0.11 Soriano (185)
0.12 Sandoval (652)
0.13 Anderson (629)
0.13 Wantz (160)
0.13 Caceres (8)
0.16 Suarez (165)
0.16 Rosenberg (146)
0.16 Herget (127)
0.17 Barria (362)
0.18 Reyes (49)
0.18 Mederos (17)
0.22 Marte (48)
0.23 Ingram (30)
0.26 Diaz (42)
How weird to have Joyce and Soriano turn in the worst performances from all the pitchers who pitched in the final series of the year. Against the Oakland A’s. Oh well.
Still, the top half of this final list is encouraging for next year:
For too many of the pitchers we counted on this year, however, an unsettling pattern emerged: for one-third of their appearances, they were great; for one-third of their appearances, they were mediocre; and for one-third of their appearances, they were terrible. If the coaching staff could cut down on some of those terrible appearances and move some of those mediocre appearances into the great section, the Angels’ pitching next year would be much improved.
But that’s the secret sauce everyone is after, isn’t it — how do you eliminate the ups and downs and remain consistently good?
It is of note that you did not list Loup. You do not expect him back next season, do you, my evil twin bro?
Doesn’t count. It was vs. Choakland.
Glad to see many posts hoping Dodgers choke in playoffs. Tyler Anderson needs to come clean and reveal what that team gave him in 22 that made him an allstar and tricked Angels into signing his sorry azz for 3yrs. Yesterday at stadium it was a sale frenzy for Ohtani merchandise. Most of it was Japan fans wanting souvenirs. Amazing cause usually once everyone knows a star player is leaving nobody wants his stuff, and it ends up on clearance rack. No discounts on Ohtani merchandise. Man is Arte gonna miss him.
Uh viable coaching ?
Can’t be. Any team that develops pitchers well, and in particular the Dodgers, Yankees, Astros, Red Sox, Rangers MUST be cheating. Oh, and it helps if you use some lame “butthole” 8 year old schoolyard name for those teams, too. Get with the program! 😉
Blows the mind he would forget everything he was coached up on with dodgers
Little update on Yoshinobu Yamamoto. He pitched 7 innings yesterday against last place Nippon Ham Fighters with 11 strike outs, 3 base hits, 2 walks and no earned runs, lowering his ERA to minuscule 1.21. He is guaranteed to win another Sawamura award (equivalent of Cy Young), having won the most games, best ERA, and most number of strike outs. His team Orix Buffaloes finished as Pacific League winner and will be involved with post season, having a bye and waiting for second place and third place teams to play in the first round. There are approximately 5 more days of regular season in NPB.
It will be very expensive contract with both MFYankees and Mets bidding up each other.
If we were going to sign a big FA, this is who I would sign.
Most of the other big pitchers have question marks or QO attached.
This guy will just cost money. And we should have plenty.
Few questions about him.
1) He has never pitched on 5 man rotation. NPB uses 6 man rotation with Monday always being off day, so essentially, he has pitched only once a week. It will be interesting to see if MFYankees or Mets would accommodate 6 man rotation, or if Yamamoto would tolerate 5 man rotation. Senga of Mets had problems at first, but he seemed to have adjusted toward the end of the season.
2) He has never have to adjust to long flights and time difference. It will be a challenge that he will have to navigate the first year. He will eventually gets used to it. Other successful Japanese players have done that.
3) He does not do any weight lifting. He apparently has his own trainer; it is more like yoga or pilates that emphasizes smooth movements and stretchings. He will probably get his own way, but if he does not succeed, lack of weight training will certainly be questioned.
He may prefer the West Coast, at least a maybe?
It all comes down to what Ippei’s wife wants. If she’s OK with a move somewhere, that’s where Sho & Ippei are gonna go. I hope she likes Diamond Bar as much as Teixiera’s wife liked the Least Coast
A lot of you are thanking CTPG as if they won’t be here during the off season. Am I missing something? I check in year round, I love the news during the off season just as much. The Buttercupping starts for me after the last game.
We’re not going anywhere. Perry typically makes a questionable acquisition as soon as the World Series wraps up. Then there is the non-tender fest, the GM meetings, the Winter meetings, the settlements to avoid arbitration. The fun never ends.
Source?
😆
CTPG will be here, but the people thanking them might not be. It gets quieter around here in the winter.
edit: Oh, well, at least one of them will be. Still the season has more work, so the end of it is a good time to express gratitude. In that regard,
Thank you CTPG staff.
The “Team Shohei” crowd is busy packing up their belongings, waiting for the call from his new team.
It’s a good inflection point to give kudos to the staff for being so awesome.
Post Season is up next, oh goodie, MLB is not over yet.
Picking the winner in the National League would seem easy with the picking of the Braves and hoping for no upsets.
The American League seems more much more difficult in choosing as more one team seems to have all the pieces in place to win it all and move on to the World Series. My pick for the AL is Baltimore Orioles.
WS Winner = Braves.
A large size thank-you to CtPG staff for working very hard to put up News Crash and game and post-game spots where we could comment all season long, again thank-you.
A loud Thank-You to all members and posters who contribute to our daily diatribe here. It is only worthwhile when everyone contributes during games and in the daily News Crash.
I respect everyone’s perspectives, but I reserve the right to disagree. 😂
Thanks for the lols, Angels, and thanks for the group therapy CtPG community.
It’s about time that a player spoke out — on the record — about Hernandez. Good for Harper.
Agreed.
Go Marlins!!!
I’m pulling for Twins/Brewers. Watching EastSPiN have a stroke on the air would be hilarious.
In no particular order. Go! Twins, O’s, Ray’s, D-Backs, Brew Crew, Marlins!
OK with Braves (great team) and the Fight’n Philli’ps (Marsh).
JUST SAY NO! Jays (it’s Canada, kinda dick’ish). stRangers, Ass’tros, Doyers are evil, bad for the world ecosystem.
And an honorable mention of hate shout-out to the Mariners for pissing away, a perfectly good playoff season, and choking on their vomitus! “Home it’s where I want to be” sitting and watching with us! Eat it Jerry!
https://youtu.be/o9gK2fOq4MY?si=UTgKOpLgpYLOHTDV
Anybody but blue.
NL – Braves, Dodgers (SoCal thing), Phillies, Diamondbacks, Blue Crew.
AL – Orioles, Rays, Twins, Rangers, Blue Jays.
Doyers are right on schedule.
-Another season going completely unchallenged in your division ✅
-Coast to another easy Division Championship ✅
-Win that Division Championship with weeks remaining in the season✅
-Try to stay engaged and playing for something for the month of Sept.✅
-Pat yourself on the back, regale on how wonderful and great you are.✅
-Exit playoffs early! Ha! Defend your
computerprogrammanager Dave. Talk about how close you were, what a great season you had, get’em next year….rinse, repeat, same thing in 2024.*They haven’t won a WS since 1988. The Extended Spring Training Tourney, Rec League Title, Company Picnic Tournament of Champions, doesn’t count, not a legitimate Ring.
Completely agree…
“*They haven’t won a WS since 1988.”
The Lakers haven’t won one in a while either.
2010
Sure do wish the Angels had that long of a list you wrote. 😅 🙃
You are missing the trashcan bangers (AL) and the Fish (NL)
I would N-E-V-E-R root for the Cheaters, and I’m not big on warm water fish.
Man starting tomorrow 3 straight days of 4 games of playoff baseball in a best of 3 series.
Can’t wait.
I think I am rooting for the Rays and the Brewers. Bunch of teams I dislike in the play-offs, in order of my dislike – Dodgers, Braves, Rangers, Astros and the Phillies. The rest I am pretty meh on. I tend to like the smaller market teams.
My prediction for Angels wins this year was 89, thought the Starting pitching would be better and they improved their depth in the off season. I guess it is back to the drawing board.
Harper just gave me a reason to like the Phils (see above)
I’m pulling for thr Marlins, they started out strong, then had a skid, but prevailed at the end. Their GM Kim Possible seems to have found a way. Too bad we have Perry the Platypus instead
It’s all about the Dbacks!
Go Snakes!
Indiana Jones disagrees