I’m sorry. I just couldn’t deal with this today.
The Rangers did advance past the Rays with a sweep.
Photo credit: Rex Fregosi
I’m sorry. I just couldn’t deal with this today.
The Rangers did advance past the Rays with a sweep.
Photo credit: Rex Fregosi
Ruh Roh. Looks like Billy got out of Dodge cuz he’s got sum splainin to do. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/10/mlb-investigating-mets-on-allegations-of-improper-injured-list-usage.html
That’s sad. Aside from being a legendary football player, I really liked him.
I was just watching those “Less Filling Taste Great” commercials the other day.
I signed up for Chap GPT and asked it what we need to do to win the World Series. Here’s what it spit out:
ChatGPT
Winning the World Series is the ultimate goal for any Major League Baseball (MLB) team, including the Los Angeles Angels. To achieve this, the Angels can take several strategic steps:
It’s important to note that winning the World Series is a challenging endeavor, and there are no guarantees. However, by following these strategies and making well-informed decisions, the Los Angeles Angels can increase their chances of winning baseball’s ultimate prize.
Free Research Preview. ChatGPT may produce inaccurate information about people, places, or facts. ChatGPT September 25 Version
ChatGPT
Clearly AI isn’t as advanced as we thought it was. The Angels are a professional MLB team and they don’t do half of these things. Silly AI.
Ha! I sent that story to my daughter the lawyer. I wanted to make sure she didnt get any crazy ideas when she’s under a tight deadline.
maybe Shoey could be the manager.
But seriously, folks, I expect Perry will do nothing until after the World Series ends. He’ll want to know who’s available and who fits the new plan.
Make of it what you will:
Mike Puma
NYPost_Mets
·
Buck Showalter is interested in the Angels’ managerial opening, according to a source, and trying hard to get an interview. The job isn’t deemed attractive within the industry because GM Perry Minasian is entering the final year of his contract. But Showalter wants to manage.
I wouldn’t object. A track of winning is certainly better than the inverse, but then again, I’m firmly in the camp that baseball managers are largely interchangeable and Winning vs. Losing is 90%
roster construction & the lottery that is player health.
Bill James wrote an article on managers and compared their importance to playing poker. The cards will heavily dictate success but it also definitely matters whose playing them.
I think the Players liked him. https://fansided.com/posts/pete-alonso-mets-steve-cohen-office-after-buck-showalter-fired
Old hand baseball dudes that are chubby are impossible to dislike. See Tommy Lasorda.
kingman(full).wav – A Tommy Lasorda gem: “What’s my opinion of Kingman’s performance? What the f*** do you think was my opinion of it? I think it was f***ing b*llsh*t.”
I would love Buck Showalter to provide credibility and continuity for 3-5 years while they get the organization on the right track and he could mentor his successor. Only problem, as previously mentioned numerous times on this site, is that it requires a plan. I believe Buck would work well with Perry and, even thought he’s older, he embraces modern methods but also brings lot’s of traditional knowledge and experience.
With the Platypus being a lame duck in 2024, the vacancy will not be considered appealing to most established baseball managers. Perry is not going to have a lot of options.
Buck is old, my instinct tells me that this particular question wouldn’t be a deal breaker.
But Buck & PTP are old buds. I think It’s good to have the manager and the GM on the same page.
I’m not opposed to it at all, which is essentially my point over a few different posts.
Managers are overrated. Show me the roster and the health outcomes and I’ll accurately predict Winner vs. Loser.
All that being said, we could do waaaay worse than Buck.
Speaking of which, I am still STILL waiting for the Angels to cash in those several win they were supposed to pick up each season by simply not having Soth manage anymore with his “ern gaym dec sishuns”.
Billy Eppler has “resigned” from his position at the Mets
https://sports.yahoo.com/billy-eppler-resigns-mets-general-202337171.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall
Jerry is embarrassed and made a mistake. Eat it Jerry!
“First, I’d like to say I’m generally embarrassed by the way, at least, that comment and especially one other was received,” Dipoto said via the Seattle Times. “I’ve been doing this job, or roles like this, for a long time now and I’ve made mistakes. I’ve made my fair share, like most do. This was kind of one of those times. I just did a poor job of illustrating the points that I was trying to make.”
I actually understood what he was trying to say with his original comments . Of course it came out as if he was saying “eat it peasants you should be happy with an average 54% winning percentage even though we have never been not may never ever go to a World Series.”
Still hate your HS valedictorian and did Jerry and Scott knock over your ant farm? 😢 😥 He’s right BTW because Seattle’s a small market town they don’t have a NBA team anymore and the Seahawks are in the NFL with a salary cap and revenue sharing.
Sorry, but it’s true ask the Florida teams today.
Yep Downing Dude and Cookmeister 💪 Besides FL is the the bandwagon state
there isn’t any hard loyal fan bases there……..Dan Lebatard former ESPN host and Miami Herald sports editor. But none the less I’d take what the Rays did any day over 8 straight losing seasons.
The Rays, and Marlins too, and their fan shituation really is a shame. Both teams deserve better support.
Angles fans are generally docile & boring in the stands, but they’ll certainly turn out WAY more than the slug fans of those teams.
Let’s be real, they could probably outdraw a Tampa playoff game just to have fans look up from their phones and make some noise when prompted to see the lame monkey.
Bwahahaha, yes Sir.
I realize the Doyers are a sore topic here, but I grew up there and have always had a blast there. The fans are lively and yes, I wear Angels gear at those games.
I’ve been going to Dodger games since I was 4 months old in 1961. Was great growing up with an Uncle in Glendale who had season seats along with ours here in Anaheim. Went to tons of games, and WS games at both stadiums, and have always had a blast. I just can’t hate the Dodgers for being “mean to the Cowboy” (who incidentally gave us 20+ years of shitty teams and no one called for him to sell), they didn’t force him to play there. And the narrative about kicking the “poor people” out of Elysian park mostly happened long before the O’Malley took his chopper ride over the city.
I attribute it to modern thinking where you MUST choose a side and place a line of death in the sand for any stance you might take (and “Bros” with their “Boys” and their backward caps). It’s like a franchise that’s enjoyed success in NY, LA, BOS, OAK, TEX, HOU can ONLY be successful by MLB rigging games on the orders of ESPN, massive cheating, PED’s (Troy Glaus says hello!), and the International Umpire Conspiracy to Only Screw the Angels.
Can someone please tell me why people seemingly treat ‘2002’ like a pariah?
Yesterday there were posts talking about getting the band back together…my $.02
Manager: Scioscia
Bench: Benji Gil
Pitching: Black
Hitting: Hatcher
Infield: Eckstein
Outfield: GA
Catching: Molinas
Bullpen: Percival
Base Running: Figgins
1St Base: Erstad
3rd Base: Salmon
Bud Black would have to get (103 losses) canned…lots of the parts are interchangeable.
I appreciate the nostalgia. But I don’t see it. Perry and his computer I think are in charge along with Arte. The managerial and coaching spots are largely figurehead and personality spots now. It’s a shame but that seems to be where things are going.
You Mean your $20.02
I can give you $6.14 back in change.
I don’t hate myself for being an Angels fan. I hate some Angels fans. It’s an easy thing to confuse.
If I’m the only fan left here proud of the 2002 W/S Championship…I’ll be that guy.
1978, 2002 called and wants its championship back.….
That 2002 championship is so 2002.
I would always LOVE the 2002 team. It was what made me an Angel fan (from out of the country).
That said, not sure if I would have fond feelings of bringing the band back together, so to speak, to coach this current team. Just hire the best people regardless of the past.
REC !!!
Very proud.
I was at a party in West Hollywood with my ex-wife and her entourage of gay friends screaming like a loon when they won.
Not sure how ANY long suffering Angel Fan couldn’t be proud of 2002, frankly.
Don’t get me wrong. I loved winning in 2002. I was also really in love with this girlfriend named Kelly in 1997. Both were/are great. Both are in the distant past. Neither are the solution to any problem today. Constantly bringing either up like they are is kind of pathetic.
This is truly nauseating, but cool if you’re making a comeback-special-holiday-warm-memories Lifetime movie
Bruh, way to stick an arrow in his heart !!!
(PS – HFS1978 is my dawg, but you’re right)
I’m there with most of what 78 posts, and wasn’t trying to stick a knife anywhere. It’s just silly to think an overachieving team in 2002 that won the WS (and couldn’t play .500 baseball the next season), would somehow magically be able to turn around a franchise mired in mediocrity.
2002 Angels are like the 1984 Tigers and the 2015 Royals. Totally cool. Fun to think of. And that’s about it.
Put another way, it’s been over 20 years. If any of those guys would make a good coach or manager or GM you know what they’d have been doing at some point in the last 20 years…..?
I haven’t offered my appreciation for gratitude for CtPG writers for 2023 yet so here it is – THANK YOU! I’ve been around since HH days too as far back as 2005ish and this was a hard year to show dedication but what doesn’t kill us just makes us stronger!
On that note, i offer this token from my Archives
February 20, 2018 – “Hey Mike, there’s some one we like you to meet”
Shohei had been in camp already for almost a week but this day is the first day for position players. the way camp is run in the morning, early dugout meetings, separation of P/C and positional players, and they were acting in these photos suggest this is the first time Mike and Shohei meet live in person.
Mike hits a few in the cage, then Shohei.
I love how Shohei acts just like other little kids do when meeting Mike or an idol (Ippei too). Shohei is a lot skinnier. Too bad that blonde Angel media rep is in the way on the handshake. No MSM caught this moment. The very last photo is the only of my thousands i’ve blown up to a 24″x36″ poster.
Enjoy – Shohei is still ours till the last out of the World Series.
My sentiments exactly. I’ve been lurking for many years and only recently joined. Since the LA Times Sports Section that I grew up with left us long ago, I have appreciated the two sites as a morning substitute. Attended my first game at the Ravine in either 61or 62 against the Yankees with Billy Stafford pitching. As a youngster, I was rooting for the Yankees who eventually scored a comeback win late in the game. My dad grew up in the Bronx in the 30’s and was a big Yankee fan as kid but by this time was an Angel fan, primarily because he listened to Dick Wittinghill on Gene Autry’s radio station. Some of you know what I’m talking about. Still remember George Thomas hitting a grand slam and Elston Howard hitting a triple late in the game that either drove in the winning run or positioned himself to be the winning run. Thanks to all of you who contribute.
Fletcher touches on the topic of outmost importance to fans – why do Angels players seem to fall down like flies during the season?
The players are, though, and they agree that the training and strength and conditioning staff is not the problem.
Five veteran players – all questioned because they had the reference point of being with at least two other teams – were asked to assess the Angels’ training and strength and conditioning staff. They were each offered anonymity so they could speak freely.
All five said the Angels’ staff was, at worst, the same as other places they’d played, and at best, even better.
“Honestly, when it comes to the training staff and the medical staff, I think it’s probably better than a lot of places I’ve seen and heard,” said outfielder Randal Grichuk, who is with his fourth big-league organization. “So (the blame) is definitely not there.”
Left-hander Tyler Anderson (six teams), infielder Brandon Drury (seven), catcher Chad Wallach (three) and outfielder Brett Phillips (five) agreed with Grichuk’s assessment.
“I think they’re good actually,” Anderson said. “The strength coaches are good. They do a really good job of communicating with the training staff.”
Drury added: “Strength and conditioning and medical has been awesome this year. If you look back at our injuries, it has nothing to do with anything in the gym, anything you could do in the training room.”
Obviously, some of the major injuries the past season are freak injuries – Ward, Trout and Rendon – and those you can’t really blame on training. But what about those lingering oblique injuries, strains, etc.? What is the answer?
Start with all oblique, calf, hamstring, groin, lat, abdomen and quad strains, and then add neck and back injuries that include the words “strain” or “tightness.” Using that standard, the Angels had 12 of those injuries this season, which was tied for fifth most in the majors. The average was 7.6 per team.
In 2022, which was the first year for the current medical staff together, the Angels had only four, which was tied for 22nd in the majors. The average was 7.0. In 2021, the Angels had 11, tied for 11th most. The average was 9.8.
The caveat with the other soft tissue injuries, however, is those descriptions are likely going to be attached when an injury is, say, exaggerated for the sake of roster
management. If a pitcher without options needs a break, either because of workload or performance, it’s easy to find some “hamstring” or “groin” tightness.
At least five of the Angels’ injured list placements this year were mostly about roster management, and all were given soft tissue descriptions, a source said.
In terms of all injuries, the Angels had the third most this year, but it hasn’t been a trend. In 2022, the Angels ranked 20th in the majors in total injured list uses, with 29. The major-league average was 32.7. The Angels were also below average in 2021, with 33. The major league average was 40.7.
It’s an interesting read: https://www.ocregister.com/2023/10/04/angels-seek-answers-to-significant-injury-issues/
from what i’ve seen in Tempe, i’d agree with the players assessments that training staff is ok or at least much better than it was.
there definitely was a change a few years ago and there were more specialized exercises and smaller groups with more staff than there was 5+ years ago.
is it enough? don’t know, but it has been upgraded.
From the article, this is the present makeup of the Angels training staff:
The Angels have three athletic trainers, led by Mike Frostad, who is in his second year in the organization. Matt Biancuzzo also joined the Angels last year, while Eric Munson just completed his seventh year.
Longtime head athletic trainer Rick Smith, who has been with the Angels in various capacities since 1978, also still assists at home games.
Head strength and conditioning coach Matt Tenney joined the Angels in 2022. Assistant Adam Auer just completed his fifth season working in the majors with the Angels, after being in the minors.
The Angels also have two physical therapists – Marc Ocegura and Robbie Williams – who each joined the organization in 2022. Massage therapist Yoichi Terada has spent 13 years with the Angels.
So, we are left to surmise that the reason for all the injuries is The Angels Curse.
This is funny. It starts by saying the players were offered anonymity, then goes on to quote them by name.
You can’t have it both ways, lol…
But giving their names to their quotes gives more credence, doesn’t it? Reporters told the players “I won’t put your name on the report, so just go ahead and tell the truth,” but players said “No it’s fine, go ahead and put my name on the paper.”
So Sam the Hat’s scathing expose is not Pulitzer Prize pristine journalism and Evil Arte isn’t Uber McScrooge?
This is just so shocking to me.
Bu but… truth to power? Right guys? Rage Against the Machine? V for Vendetta? I complain on the internet, so I’m not a soft bitch right?
Honestly, I don’t think those two things need to be mutually exclusive. It could be very well true that the Angels are just cursed and some things are out of anyone’s control.
And at the same time, it could also be true that Arte is a cheapskate on the more important things that make great teams go.
Not sure why those two things would be incompatible.
Well, if they say “go ahead, it’s fine” that does not mean they’ll be completely honest.
The report would have to insist on their anonymity to increase the chance of honesty. But frankly, even that would not guarantee it.
So what you’re saying Frostie is EVERYONE is lying all the time and we should not believe them because we know the real truth.
Got it.
Personally I don’t believe any of them. Player protecting themselves, team protecting themselves, press being stenographers. They don’t know what the problem is, I get that. But you know what they say, the most underrated ability is availability. trAdition.
You’re in Vegas, you have $1000 and need bet it on an over or under on an Angels injury total next year….most of us are taking the over.
Baghdad Sam
https://youtu.be/-Ung95ORVUY?si=7eKk-h9kFJu3_nay&t=10
Actually Frostie, IMO I would find more credence in quotes of players that were offered Anonymity but decide to go one the r record anyways. Especially if the pool of players interviewed is as large as it is.
That, or Mother Nature:
One theory is that the Angels simply have more older players. They ranked seventh in the majors in terms of oldest average position players, according to Baseball-Reference. The Angels pitchers, who were healthier, were the ninth youngest.
Its the logical answer. We’re all looking for something or someone to blame, when the reality is likely very simple.
Well yes, age is a factor. But the young position players also suffered injuries that caused them to lose significant time.
Neto missed significant time with oblique and back issues. Adell took one swing and there went away his season. O’Hoppe’s injury can be categorized as a freak injury similar to Ward/Trout/Rendon, but can also be argued the other way (that he could have benefitted from better training and conditioning on the shoulders). And you have Rengifo’s too.
I blame Team Donkey that lets us down…and that stupid “ass” Shuffle Butt. And lack of True Grit.
That doesn’t explain the injuries to Neto, Adell, Joyce, Bachman….
Should I go on?
Good article. Just seems to keep coming down to the same two players getting injured mid year or sooner and never coming back same two players making well above 50% of the position player portion of the payroll). The pitching decline seemed far more performance related than health compared to every other team.
Yes, the starting pitchers were blessed with good health for most of the season. I agree their decline is more performance-based. Detmers, Sandoval, Canning pitched a lot of innings this year and held up relatively well, health-wise.
But yes, Trout/Rendon missing the season since July is much, much different a combo of say, Rengifo/Fletcher missing the same amount of time.
Seems the training staff (according to players) isn’t as bad as you all claim.
https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/mlb/article280143084.html
Not really a ringing endorsement. The ones interviewed said the training was generally similar to what they had experienced previously
Geez Cowboy. Right back at ya! My eyes see the last 10 seasons which have all basically been the same with injuries and no farm system to fill in. Things are broken in this Org. If you don’t want to see that, nothing I can write will change that. If you want to wear rose colored glasses, go right ahead.
If my lenses are rosy then your’s must be covered with a 1/2 inch of salty donkey tears.
Everyone knows what the problems are. Unfortunately nothing that you have “written” here remotely resembles a solution. Just like everyone knew the Angels won loss record from 1961 to 1977 but did everyone exactly know why they had only 4 winning seasons while never finishing higher than 3rd in the standings
All that I have advocated here is to look at the current situation in an analytical fashion and recognizing the differences (and similarities) with past Arte controlled regime. Failing to do so will only condemn this organization to make the same stupid mistakes they’ve made when they switched 4 GM’s over the last 14 years. Fletcher has done some of the heavy lifting in this regard. Detailng the current state of affairs in the organization both today and last off season. And while we dont know for sure what goes on internally with this organization using logic and reason and yes, even math ( I know thats a difficult concept for ya) is the best way to determine where we are heading.
We have the worst farm system in the majors leading to 8 straight season? Ok Great how do we solve it? You want to tank well that’s novel. Unfortunately we have a draft Lottery system and a draft that is only 20 rounds with effectively a strict signing bonus cap coupled with a limited international signing pool program so unless you are a small market team good luck instantaneously shitting out a top farm system.
So what has Perry done to fix it? Lets see . By all accounts they are paying their minor league coaches more thereby attracting better ones. They’ve upgraded their analytics department. spend more on their strength and conditioning program. He’s told Arte no on the big splash while attempting to sign more depth and increasing payroll. The Angel seem to be scouting and signing a better quality of international players even though those players are still very young for their level and will require more time to ascend to the big leagues. I believe their drafts have been better targeting players that are closer to the bigs that are being rushed to the majors because there’s no other latent in the system blocking them. Has he made some bad trades and mid level free agents signings? yes. (as did his predecessors Billy, Jer Jer da Ninja) but has also made some good acquisitions that may have long term benefits ( Moniak & O’Hoppe for example)
Could we benefit from Arte selling the team or at least bring in a POBO? probably ( There are a lot of shitty owners out there like Jim Crane who despite the Astros successes is considered to be a major asshole of a human being) but It is not a stretch to say that despite the organization’s massive short comings, they are heading in a better direction than they have the last 12 years.
Very good analysis. We hopefully have bottomed out and the curve is in an upward trajectory as you seem to imply. I think PTP is the best of the last 4 GM’s we have suffered through considering that Arte seems to have to have the last say.
Minor Leagues cannot be turned around faster because the team cannot afford to wait for either drafted or traded for youngsters to mature. So, then they are forced to consider AAA players in trade or college players in draft. As for the Minor League Managers and Coaches being paid more, I do not recall reading anything about that.
Why do I most of the time stick up for Minasian, because so many major roadblocks have been placed in front of him and unlike Eppler, he has performed well. I like or agree with his moves over 60% of the time or more. I thought being in Drury and Renfroe were going to produce, and to a certain extent they did. I would not have liked being in his position trying to constantly replacing players on the roster as injuries piled up, some mistakes were made in which players to release or trade. Tail bone notwithstanding, players added in the off season were smart moves. One bad move I believed was bad was Anderson, but he ate up inning for us.
As for Arte, he really should sell the team very soon, the sooner the better. He destroyed and poisoned this team to a point of no return while he owns it. He paid under 200 million dollars for the team and 20 years later turned down 2.5 billion for a team going nowhere and with no stadium deal in the works.
I have provided thoughtful analysis throughout this season and for many years. I’ve provided what I felt the team should do. I’ve suggested trades. I’ve suggested specific organizational changes. I have been quite detailed in my suggestions and analysis. I’ve contributed IIWPM columns. I think you are confusing me for others who just complain.
My belief is that the Angels are not run as a baseball Organization. I’ve given many examples of why the decision making has been marketing based and not baseball oriented. The minor league system and scouting/development of players is in shambles. It’s all of these things and it all flows down from the top.
This team has not hit rock bottom. As long as Arte is the owner I expect it to get consistently worse or at least stay the same.
I believe Arte doesn’t even realize something is wrong. He probably just thinks he has been unlucky just like so many of the CTPG characters.
For all those that bemoan not making the playoffs, I give you the Rays and other teams that lost two straight and are down already. Their fans are groaning now.
its hard not to root for this team.
i keep saying it – Carroll is incredible – and he lived up to the hype in WC Rd. 1.
-the doyers will be tough for them
Not just Carroll, but Moreno, Walker, Perdomo, Marte… Jake McCarthy had an off year but he’s a solid piece. Ivan Melendez is a beast prospect as is Lawler. Young pitching. Plus Dominic Fletcher. The Sneks need to trade some position prospects for more pitching (and draft some pitchers) but they could be solid for a good long while.
YES. No step on sneks Doyers! It’s not likely, but it will be really fun if the Dbags take out Los Doyers.