We’re midway through October and getting closer to a World Series. The first couple of rounds didn’t offer much drama, but the LCS series are shaping up for some high stakes baseball early next week.
The ALCS has been pretty good thus far with the road team winning all four of the games and the teams scoring an identical 12 runs through the first 3 games. Not only have they been close games, there have been some really clutch hits and nice defensive plays like this:
Texas had a solid 2-0 lead but took a risky bet on Max Scherzer that blew up in their faces and led to a Game 3 loss. I still say the Rangers needed to take that shot.
Our old friend Andrew Heaney took the hill for Texas last night and did even worse. He didn’t even make it out of the first inning and Houston cruised to a blowout victory. That series is now tied at 2.
The NLCS hadn’t been as entertaining but that all changed last night. Philly won a 5-3 Game One that never felt that close and a 10-0 drubbing in the second game.
That 2-0 hole and absolute but kicking have NLCS ticket prices plummeting in Phoenix. $15 will get you in. It also doesn’t help having a game start at 2 PM in the middle of a work week.
But the Diamondbacks made it a series in the most dramatic game of the postseason; a dramatic walk off win to make the series 2-1.
As Angels fans we get to root for former Angels on other teams. Brandon Marsh has always been easy to cheer and made me an even bigger fan after this interaction with a kid:
Interactions like that mean so much more than the game. This video also makes me hope the Angels make the playoffs while my son is still a kid and the ballpark holds that special kind of magic for him.
If the Angels are going to improve, a lot of help needs to come from within. Friend of the site Davis Daniel is doing his best to try to be one of those pieces. He was named the AFL Pitcher of the Week thanks to his 6 inning/10 K performance Saturday.
That makes two really nice outings from Daniel against many of the best prospects in the game. Here’s a quick interview with him from a couple of days ago.
Just who will manage the next Angels team is still undecided, but lists of potential hires are popping up.
I’m organizing a prediction piece with the winner picking up a trinket of some sort. Keep an eye out for it next week.
From around the league:
Pitchers tend to outperform their peripherals in October. FanGraphs explains why.
Gold Glove finalists were announced this week. Somebody other than Nolan Arenado will get one at third base for the first time in over a decade.
The Hall of Fame announced the eras candidates. Joe West in the Hall would be the second biggest travesty in Cooperstown behind David Ortiz. West sucked, but at least he did so naturally.
Kim Ng led the Marlins to the post season after three years of improvement but was asked to play second fiddle to a TBD executive. She deserved better from the Marlins and is a very intriguing front office candidate.
Links will get longer when there’s more news to actually link. For now, enjoy the weekend and link what I missed.
For us, well, last week our Farm Ball team made the Bad News Bears look like the 1927 Yankees. It was brutal. But we had a good pizza party to celebrate one teammate’s birthday and another teammate has been coming over on Saturday afternoons for some practice and play time so we’re nailing the important parts.
Might be a manager……just not a 3rd base coach.
Giants rumored to have more interest in Angels third base coach to manage than the Angels do
Can the Giants steal Bill Haselman away from the Angels?
https://halohangout.com/posts/giants-rumored-to-have-more-interest-in-angels-third-base-coach-to-manage-than-the-angels-do
Steal?
The only stealing involving Bill Haselman in 2023, were runs off the Angel scoreboard.
Horrible 3rd base coach.
Thankfully he never played for the Angels.
Ex-MLB pitcher Danny Serafini charged with murder
https://deadspin.com/ex-mlb-pitcher-danny-serafini-charged-with-murder-1850947650
I saw that. The guy obviously has some serious issues that drove him to make some really bad choices.
That interaction on the Castellanos HR was awesome – what a special moment for that child.
I appreciate O’Hoppe’s enthusiasm and potential, but I miss Marsh. Watching Marsh have a great post-season (OPS of .993) is very special.
It’s cool and all, but how do you think that kid got to sit down there? It’s because he’s Nick Castellanos’ son Liam. He’s not just some random kid, which would be a much better story.
The new Petr Bourjos of Angel’s fans.
Always emotionally attached to average hitting outfielders.
HE ISN’T A ANGEL ANYMORE…..I wonder if Dodger fans still like Joc Pederson and Yasiel Puig?
Would you actually leave if I threw a stick?
Sheez, perry didn’t have much to say about what the organization offers to a potential new hc.
So I have question. I thought the Angels were an awful job but why does no-one want to work for the Red Sox?
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/10/red-sox-interview-gabe-kapler-in-gm-search.html
Maybe it is awfuller!!!
Under current ownership, the Angels are an awful job, but they are not the only awful job in professional sports.
As for Ng – let’s see…..the need to move from Miami to Boston just might be a non-starter. Playing in the AL East with so many competitive teams might be another concern. The other aspect could be that someone as respected as Ng likely has other opportunities she wants to pursue before considering Boston. Lastly, she may have the copyright and trademark for “Boston Sucks” and would be very conflicted being employed there while encouraging the chant.
Versus working in the NL East that had 3 playoff teams this year and a 4th that will spend more money than God to win?
sure I guess so.
Well, you can always give her a call and find out the real reason.
Unfortunately She’s not my type.
lovely.wav – Victor Kiam: “She is a lovely lady and my apologies to her.”
There’s a long, notable history of non white people wanting nothing to do with Boston.
Mookie signed an extension about two minutes after he landed out here.
I’m guessing we now know why Stassi has been gone.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CyoemtAP-vybl9MGQ9fehpSNHIh3HvTn8hU8K40/
I hope the best for him and his family.
That is an incredible story of hope and perseverance. God Bless Max Stassi and his family
thank you. An amazing perspective. Take your time coming back, Max. You know what’s best for you and your family.
I can’t imagine what that must be like for the Stassi family. Lucky for them, they have the best in health care and support. Amazing how far we have come with medical technology.
One of my Nieces was not much further along when she was born, not much heavier…..Happy to say she is a beautiful, healthy, happy, hard working, living an active life, with no health issues. This was almost 30 years ago too.
Some things are bigger than baseball.
I now understand why Phil couldn’t say anything when asked about Max, and why he’s always said just pray for him.
https://clutchpoints.com/angels-news-max-stassi-wife-make-emotional-announcement-after-sons-long-health-battle
Family is more important a career or a job. Unfortunately many don’t learn that lesson until the family is grown and the career/job used them up and spit them out. What we all spend our time, energy, focus on is under our control. Time is the one thing we can’t control. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. Stassi chose correctly, and I respect him immensely for making the choice of “family first”.
Knowing the full situation now, I’m disgusted by the Angels putting him on the restricted list on September 3rd. From the outside it appears this was linked to the franchise wanted to get under the luxury tax threshold by not paying Stassi the remainder of his 2023 salary (approximately $300k). Even if Stassi was physically ready to play in September, his mental and emotional focus would be with his wife and child.
Yes, I realize $300k is less than 5% of his $7m salary in 2023, but $300k is a rounding error to the personal wealth of Moreno. The lengths that Moreno forced the Platypus to shed salary in September illustrates the true character of the man. The legacy of Arte Moreno will be dominated by how he treated his employees in the last chapter of his life. I’m no longer angry at him. I feel nothing other than pity for him, and empathy for those who have been hurt by his actions.
or…
they put him on the restricted list because he notified them he did not plan to play in September. The team probably got clearance to pay Stassi while on the restricted list.
Wait what? the Angels paid Stassi over 80% of his Salary by intentionally creating a semi bullshit injury ( they can put him on the 60 day IL without taking a 40 man spot but still have to pay him) Despite the fact he was in no position to put on a baseball uniform. They could have put him on the restricted list in April if they were just a bunch of cruel cheap ass bastards.
Its wasn’t until after Stassi finally notified the team that he was ready to play baseball again (well after they were out of contention) that they worked out a deal to put him on the restricted list in an attempt to get below the CBT threshold.
You can find a lot of other things to get upset about the Angels these last 10 years but the way they handled the Stassi family crisis is definitely not one of them.
Other teams with managerial openings seem to be interviewing for that position, while there are crickets coming from Anaheim. Is it possible that it’s because they’re planning to bring someone in above Minasian? If that’s the case, then why aren’t we hearing who they are considering for this position? I wish we were more proactive. Free agents are going to want to know who’s running the show, and the clock is definitely ticking. The endless playoffs will end eventually.
Anaheim front office has always been tight-lipped in the Arte years.
and I highly doubt they’ll bring in someone above Perry.
Not when they require an additional large salary and get to see the actual nothingness behind the front office doors.
Exactly. At some point, those accepting employment in executive level roles working for Arte Moreno accept personal responsibility for what they will be required to do. This is not 2003 when it was a major unknown how Arte would operate the franchise. Arte is a known quantity. His business practices are well documented. No one can feign ignorance.
If you take the job, you own becoming another fallen angel.
Or a drunk driving one…..Tony La Russa.
Sorry but Im thinking thats complete bullshit. It didnt stop the JeDi, His sour puss BFF or two of his asst GM’s at the Angels ( Justin Hollander -the current GM in Seattle even though he was originally hired by Stoneman. or Matt Klentak- the Phillies GM before POBOtus Dave) from getting even better jobs somewhere else. it certainly didnt stop Billy from getting the Mets GM gig before he stepped on his own dick there .
In fact other than possibly Del Taco Tony (who Arte inherited and elevated after Stoneman’s retirement) what other baseball ops executive left this franchise in disgrace and was stigmatized into getting hired any where else?
I know. How Stupid were Bill Stoneman and Mike Scioscia for staying on when Arte bought the team? They should have left with Disney.
Re-read what was written: This is not 2003 when it was a major unknown how Arte would operate the franchise. Stoneman left in 2007. Soth stayed because he was untouchable for so many years.
But you knew both those data points….
IMHO… Soth was the defacto GM (roster builder) after Stoneman retired. Part of the reason he needed to go.
-Angels fan and Donald Rumsfeld
I read it clearly the first time. But considering the duration both stayed with the team after Evil Arte purchased the franchise (Scioscia for 15 seasons and Stoneman 6 seasons until retiring and accepting a 10+ year consulting gig.) not sure your argument holds water. Both Stoneman and Scioscia in huge demand after 2002 & 2003. Either could have left for greener pastures so why stay with a new employer for so long if he is sooo awful
League Championships and World Series. MLB frowns on teams making big announcements during that time. Players too. Remember A-Rod’s big reveal during the WS he was opting out.
SF Gigantors are bringing in candidates, including that woman. Talk about several others.
refresh my memory – have the Angels ever had a post-season walk-off hit?
*(besides Decinces pop-up in 1986 in the 10th)
Against them ? Multiple times.
But for us? I can only think of Game 3 of the 1979 ALCS.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqQ5ohDyRtM
Whoops I forgot about the game before Game 5 in 1986.
A Bobby Grich walk off https://www.facebook.com/AHaloLife/videos/bobby-grichs-11th-inning-game-4-walk-off-1986-alcs/1980974242084023/
I remember it like it was
yesterdayalmost 40 years ago……Had great seats behind home plate, watching with my father, brother-in-law and his (father-got us the seats, car dealer executive).
My seat mates (father included) got into (don’t even remember the reason, but a pissing match ensued) it with some guys in front of us, much tougher than us (think average Doyer fan) but were also Angel fans……but a few innings after the near huge kerfuffle, we were hugging these same grown men, united in a great victory after Bobby’s walk off hit!
Will always remember leaving that game, the energy, the noise, the parking lot horn honking……….but I also remember game 5, at that game too…..not so fun. F#ck the Red Sucks.
I am watching this, how wonderful being able to see these guys playing. The stadium sucks though. Great combo of announcing. Baylor was my favorite because of his great season always coming through.
Harlow drives in the winning run. My goodness, I remember it like it was yesterday.
That was a nice win. Hopes were raised.
My memory is that Angels-killer Scott McGregor took care of us the next day in Game 4. We did not have the pitching to compete with the O’s. My best friend (an Orioles fan) and I skipped high school to watch game 2 which was a day game on TV from Baltimore.
We lost game 1 in extras after Nolan Ryan ran out of gas after 7 innings and a 119 pitches. Bobby Grich’s error on a missed pop up in the bottom of the 3rd leading to 2 unearned runs turned out to be the key play even though Lowensteins 3 run HR in the bottom of the 10th walked it off for the Bards.
Game 2 I watched from my college dorm room . David Frost (RIP) who was arguably our best pitcher that year, shit the bed early leading to a 9-0 deficit after 3 innings that the Angels almost miraculously came back from leaving the bases loaded in the top of the ninth when Brian Downing grounded out only one run down to end the game.
Game 3 had to be the loudest game in the history of the Big A at the time . The energy was amazing.
Game 4 was the game where Doug Decinces glove conjured up ole’ Brooks Robinson and seemed to single handily snuff out any chance of a rally we could muster. I remember thinking all we had to do was get through that game because we had Nolie ready to take the hill at the big A the following night.
Of course that never happened so game 1 was the last time Nolan Ryan would pitch in an Angel uniform.
I was there for game 3. After the victory I went to go try to steal one of the bunting decoration things and near that was that Baltimore dude with the rainbow hair, who was pissed after the loss, and he said to me, ‘Get lost kid!’
Mathis vs Yanks in 2009, game 3?
Yes. another forgotten Angel walk off moment! That was the game that followed the A Fraud blooper home run walk off game.
So by my count thats 3 Angel walkoffs and 3 opposition walkoffs in 48 total franchise playoff games. I guess thats about right.
I prefer the Dodger killer guys
Matt Stairs, Jimmy Rollins, Matt Adams, drumroll……………
FORMER ANGEL HOWIE KENDRICK 2019!!!!!!!!
💪 💪 💪 💪
How you know it’s October….
-HomeDepot puts out its Christmas crap.
-Angels are hiring a new manager, or GM, reshuffling the roster deck chairs in preparation for another failed season next year.
-Doyers are defending their season, tell everyone Dave “laptop” Roberts will return next year.
-The Medicare renewal commercial with that annoying grandma Martha runs every other minute. I’d like to put out a plate of cookies somewhere and get her and those Kar 4 Kids in the same room………………………..
Dave Roberts does exactly what the front office wants him to do. The front office firing him would result in no strategic change. If anything, it would be the front office admitting their strategies don’t work.
The Diamondbacks can still pull off a stunner against the Phillies, fingers crossed. Phillies on the other hand have been as hot as any team in the ’23 post season. You can only hope to contain them.
Those Damn Asstros will just not die or go away, Max is done after a nice career run and Heaney his whole career has choked to many times.
Maybe more of us will show up here during the World Series, at least I hope so.
How do you do it? It seems like if you are the visitor this past week you end up winning, truly weird stuff happening here. 👻 🎃
How does an Umpire who is in the bottom 10 of all Umpires in making the right calls on pitches get to the post season? The Phillies and DBK’s are going to see a real “Shit-Show” behind the plate.
Shohei may be just the best in the Game at fielding the ball yet does not make the finals for Gold Glove. 😮
Have a great day guys and enjoy the Game. 😃
That was the Heandog we know and love!!