Anthony Rendon went on the IL over the weekend with hamstring issues and the Angels called up Ehire Adrianza.
Shohei Ohtani broke a record by former Angel Hideki Matsui for the most homers by a Japanese born player.
Frankie Montas will be missing his next start thanks to a Taylor Ward Line Drive. Brooks Raley went on the 15 day IL due to elbow inflammation while DL Hall went there due to a left knee sprain. The Astros’ bad luck continues, as they have placed Cristian Javier on the 15 day IL.
Triston Casas is on the ten day IL due to a left rib strain.
Perhaps Adell will have a big night tonight. He’s due for one of those.
Canning pushed to tomorrow…Detmers is starting tonight..
Obviously Wash can feel the team circling. Smart move IMO.
They need to break the pattern…I’m confident in Detmers, the question will be can we score enough runs.
The time for a classic “Staff Ace” performance is tonight for Detmers. I’m equally concerned re: offense, but hopefully “home cooking” is the cure.
I, too, like most people here, feel frustrated and bummed to see us keep losing. The “good” thing is that I think we could have easily won about 4 of those losses recently if things just bounced slightly differently.
But there is so much tension between the philosophies of “we’re gonna suck this year, so let the kids play and develop” and “why hasn’t Perry made this team better”.
I guess the way I see it is that if we were going to have a “semi-rebuild” year (I don’t care what we call it) where we see how our youth plays, then we were going into this knowing we’re going to take our lumps and get toasted.
So it doesn’t make much sense to me (although I’m tempted all the time) to complain about why didn’t Perry do more to improve the team during the offseason.
And I know there is the argument about “signing complementary pieces that don’t make the kids sit”….. but I’m not sure this makes much sense either. What we really want are some players who can rotate into spots (or be depth for cases like Rendon) who satisfy our requirements of playing well, but who will fill this role. Remember that in order to sign someone, they have to want to come here.
How many “decent” free agents would have wanted to sign here, knowing that they are just role players to fill in when we need them? They’d rather be starters somewhere else.
The key to having the depth we want/need right now (especially as exposed by Rendon) would not have been attained by signing some free agent during the winter… it is by having decent players on the farm at AA/AAA who can step up when needed. That is what we don’t have. And I don’t blame Perry for that. I blame Arte, who has meddled and messed up our farm system by not putting money into it, and making ill-advised decisions like trading away everyone in order to “go for it”.
Tonight’s lineup has Schanuel leading off, Adrianza at 2b, Sano at 3b, both Moniak and Adell hitting.
if that doesnt put butts in seats, i dont know what will
This feels like one of those expanded roster, already eliminated from the playoffs lineups, bad thing is it’s only april.
I mentioned in Spring Training that we would look like this much earlier than the last few seasons but I did not think it would be this early.
That’s at least interesting
Rengifo’s average bat does not overcome his horrendous play in the field. He simply can’t be allowed to trash a wonderful pitching performance such as Soriano yesterday, especially because they are so infrequent. Unfortunately, he and Adell prove no matter how great a coach Washington is reputed to be, no one can fix the unfixable.
I believe Adell is fixable (His problems are base running as hes actually fielded his position better than Mickey this year) but Ren E Faux ? NFW
Yet many on this site had feels that “Renny” was the answer to many question marks and might even be a starting infielder.
I’d like to give Adell full time at bats to find out. I think Rengifo can DH from his good side, and an emergency utility player. I’d love to try to move him to a team that thinks they can unlock him defensively, and I’m happy to let a team try that.
I get why so many here feel he might have been the answer (I was not one of them). But hell, even the Doyers thought so. I’m reminded of that while watching Andy Pages make his Major League debut.
Rengifo’s value has always been as a non starting player because of his abilities to play multiple positions. Like many others, his weaknesses are exposed when he is forced to play everyday. I could live with him at 3B if I had to but not 2B. Get’s back to the Angels not really having a plan for 2nd base. If they were going to use this season for assessment, why not play Paris. If Paris isn’t ready, then they should have signed someone because they don’t really have a real 2B on their major league roster.
Don’t interrupt the harpies enjoying their little hate Rengifo dance party.
As if Rengifo falls within the top 10 of organizational problems. Ridiculous, frankly.
On of the better bats to be honest, I cannot hate on the guy for that.
It’s a little bit of “pick your poison”. There aren’t any ideal solutions on the roster right now. There was a lot of talk here about a needing back up SS and a starting 2B but the organization apparently didn’t think so.
Oh please. Strawman much?
I’m an open Rengifo supporter and I own my bias. My point is and remains that he is one of our five best position players. I’ve always preferred him as our Swiss Army knife that gets plenty of playing time.
The fact that he’s our 5th best player versus our 10th best player is the fault of management, not Rengifo.
The Good:
Detmers and Soriano have legitimate ace-like potential and are showing it early on!
The Bad:
Literally everything else associated with this franchise.
Anderson has pitched well too despite the hard-luck loss.
And if this is Canning righting the ship, then that leaves the head case as the only question mark in the rotation. It’s a not a world-beater of a rotation, but enough to keep games close enough to give the offense a chance to win.
Which will be ironic since he’s our opening day starter.
I cannot understand how or why Wash saw an opening day starter in Sandoval.
One of the great mysteries of the universe.
Young veteran grittiness assumed but never actually demonstrated.
Prediction alert, which means I’ll be wrong…. jinx, mush.
Enright, will right, the Sandoval ship sometime this year (sooner than later)…he will simplify his delivery, simplify his pitch selection, simplify his brain.
This will result in some improvement and less disgusting 🤮 to watch. I think it’s in him to be an average #5 starter. He’s still recovering from exposure to the WISE virus……Give it some time. If I had access to Eppei’s account, I’d put $25.00 on it.
And parlay that with Rengifo making an error every start for the remainder of the season, even when he is DH’ing, it’s Rengifo, it’s possible —— $25.00
Free the cow that died to make rEngifo’s glove
We left for Italy on April 4th with the Angels in first despite all of their obvious shortcomings. My brother tried to get me to bet him that they would still be in first when we returned home which I quickly denied.
BTW: Italy is cool, 24+ hour travels days back to Oregon, not so much.
Maybe Wash knew that Detmers is mentally strong and could handle him starting Sandy on opening day to give him (Sandy) a confidence boost.
Wash seems like a guy who has a plan, and he is intelligent enough to know Detmers has ace potential. I also believe Wash knows that if Sandy and Canning don’t perform, the 2024 season will be an abject disappointment. None of us know what Wash said to Detmers when all this went down.
Yes, add some offense to most of the starting pitching efforts by Halo’s SPs and we’d have more wins for sure.
Anderson will fetch a decent return his era is sub-3.75 come June.
He would if Perry had a scouting department
Tonight is the 10,000 game in Halo history, going 4967-5029 for an overall win % of .497.
The ‘02-‘09 years seem really distant. Crazy that I’ve been to about 30% of those 500 or so home games despite missing the first few decades from not being a mistake yet.
Have fun tonight steel, I think Reid will do the business and get us back in the Win column.
The Angels define mediocrity.
Lately, I’d take “mediocrity” gladly!! What we saw over the last four days was a lot worse than mediocre.
Did we have 3 ties?
https://www.statmuse.com/mlb/team/los-angeles-angels-85/history
Other references have us at the same 9996 because they don’t include the 3 ties, here’s another one of those:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ANA/index.shtml
Ties in ‘61, ‘69, ‘74
All results in same overall win % with same # of wins/losses.
4967-5029-3
Darn, I really want that commemorative 10,000 pin being given out tonight. Would look good on an Angels jersey or cap.
They will be on EBay tomorrow.
Send me an email at my user name here at yahoo.com, provide your address and I’ll send you one. Some band kids didn’t want them.
Thanks. After watching my son play the Star Spangled Banner on the field, I will hike up to the 524 nosebleed seats, and spend quality time in the concession lines feeding the always hungry kid.
I smell a multi-hit game coming for Holliday during this series. That’s how we roll.
Can Canning Can the O’s?
In a word :
No.
Marsh is turning into a complete superstar in Philadelphia and a crowd favorite. He’s on pace for another 5-7 WAR season. I love O’Hoppe but feel like the Angels got the short end of the stick on that trade – at least thus far.
The team needed a catcher far more than another fielder.
This! And Marsh was not doing that under our watch.
Geez – he was what, 23 years old when he was traded?
It’s been the tradition here for decades: we trade the prospects we should keep, and keep the prospects that flame out.
For every prospect someone identifies that we kept and became a star, it won’t be hard to find two we kept that did nada.
Yes, Trout is the exception.
My point was really more about the people in our organization who were working with him as opposed to Marsh himself. I don’t know if Marsh would be doing what he is now if he was still in our organization because we do a really poor job historically of developing young players.
yep. and I don’t think he would have …
Wasn’t Quero in the system and likely available to play at the MLB level this year? I mean – arguably – Marsh and Quero over O’Hoppe would be pretty good.
But the Angels needed Quero to trade for a month of Giolito 😱
I know I’m only with a few, but while I like Quero’s hit tools, I don’t think he’ll stick as a catcher. I think he may be converted soon. I could be wrong.
He’s a slow plodder too, Suzuki-esque speed
O’Hoppe showed he was MLB ready, Quero was getting close to MLB ready.
His best year ever was last year at 3.5 so we’ll see at the end of the season. He still doesn’t walk much but hits for decent power. Your point is well taken though, even as 3-4 win player he is very good.
I’ll take O’Hoppe any time of the day. I love Marsh, but catchers like O’Hoppe (or at least with his potential) don’t grow on trees. Without O’Hoppe, we will be stuck with some combination of Thaiss and an afterthought signing of a “veteran” catcher. It’s nice to think we’re set at that position for the foreseeable future.
As for OFs, we still have Trout and Ward. And if this organization only knows how to commit to their young players, we should also have been fine with Moniak and Adell in there.
Only Perry, and Wash, can turn a sure win of the Thor-Moniak trade into a loss. You got a promising OF with pedigree for a washed-up pitcher. Way to turn him into a pumpkin.
As I mentioned, Quero behind the plate would have provided a very solid backstop for years to come as well. And then that outfield would be Trout/Ward/Marsh which would be very soiid.
We gave up Quero for nothing and he is very good.
Quero’s ETA, even if he had stayed with the Angels, is 2025, maybe even 2026. O’Hoppe has produced for two years now (at least the time he wasn’t injured). What was the plan while waiting for Quero to “arrive”? Thaiss and Maldonado? Thaiss and Stassi? Coax Suzuki out of retirement?
Good for Marsh for thriving with the Phillies. But I’m happy with O’Hoppe and not looking back, even if Marsh wins MVP, or gets the walk-off hit to win the WS. I think the trade is a win for both teams.
But it doesn’t matter. Let’s assume O’Hoppe gives us 4 WAR each year in 2024, 2025, and 2026. The team will still finish in the second half of the division during that timeframe.
As constructed now, the team isn’t going to contend until 2026 or 2027 at the earliest, so having Quero would have fit nicely with that timeline.
The player to trade would have been Ward, but he had little to no trade value to get a player like O’Hoppe.
Shoulda, woulda and coulda, will kill you everytime. Now I will say I loved Marsh and was sorry to see him get traded. But the more I have seen O’Hoppe the more it looks like we won that trade, catchers who can actually catch, hit and are leaders don’t grow on trees, so I will take O’Hoppe any day of the week over Marsh.
As far as the trade Quero, in hindsight looks pretty bad, but I think at the time they were in the running for a wild card spot and were thinking that pitching would put them over the top. Of course as some here would say “tradition” that did not work out they went into a tailspin and they sold off everyone they traded so ending up with nothing to show for it. They Shoulda held onto Quero, they Woulda ended up exactly the same way and they Coulda have have Quero and some other pieces for the future.
Only 1 game, but….
https://www.milb.com/news/road-win-over-rocket-city
off to a great start
https://www.milb.com/player/edgar-quero-700337
Quero = Stud
Quero = Hitting catch who is not that good as a catcher.
Though at 21 he could easily improve his D
I didn’t mind giving him up, getting nothing back is the problem.
Not doubt!
There’s infinite things to rightfully whine and complain about with this team.
I don’t think the Marsh for O’Hoppe trade is one of them. Great trade for both teams and players.
I think it’s about the only decent trade Minasian has made during his apprenticeship.
Well, I think you still need to include Moniak in there. We gave up 2 months of a mediocre pitcher we completely didn’t need, in exchange for an OF that has played really well at times and is at least a potentially decent cheap 4th OF.
Not really whining. I love O’Hoppe but I thought Marsh was great too. It’s just a thought process- would Quero and Marsh > O’Hoppe. I guess we won’t know but just a discussion point.
I don’t. O’Hoppe has All-Star potential. Big, great frame, strong throwing arm with some speed. Hitting skills are developing. Leadership skills are off-the-charts.
Marsh continues to have strikeout at rates above 30% (36% this year) and is useless against left handers (.167 this year). Nothing has changed other than the talent surrounding him, more opportunities for production.
Perry smoked that deal.
He’s looking good so far in 2024. His WAR last season was 3.4 so “another 5-7 WAR season” sounds like hyperbole.
Okay, new week, lets et some wins at home.
Here is to raising a hot cup of coffee to having a winning week at home, taking a sip and think about every one of you favorites having a great week. We sure could use a winning week of baseball around here.
Soriano is close to figuring his out this thing called pitching out. Every appearance he seems to be more improvement. So which player lost us two games in the past week? No not Sandy or Soriano, it wasn’t a pitcher. No not from the Blowpen either.
The old adage about pitching and defense are what win games has been proven once again to work. And once again we have a pitching staff that are hardheaded and won’t throw strikes on the first pitch. One thing is for sure though, there was not a Free Agent Pitcher available the off season that could have helped our lost cause-no not even Smell.
Definition of hard luck is the Stephenson signing. Is it time to jettison Hicks or banish Moniak? Cross our collective fingers and play Adell more? Use Rengifo at DH move often? Start resting O’Hoppe more often as his numbers are falling fast.
Fuego came up with a solution or at least with something fun, fine players for walking lead off batters. I would make an addition, first pitch ball one.
Rendon was showing signs of life with his bat and improving his work with leather but ended his mini streak like folded lace. Move over Albert as you are not now the holder of the Angels worst signing of all time. There seems to be no cure for Body Breakdown, not even rest. Has anyone ever had more rest than players from the Nationals? If my statement about Body Breakdown is true, then any day now Trouty goes down.
Did hopium enter into you thought process about evaluating the Halos chance of a 73+ win season? Currently on pace for a 65-66 win season, but hey, it’s not all bad there still remains the A’s and W/S to finish worse than us, that’s some easy pickling hopium.
Rendon’s injury even made the Fox News main page.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/angels-third-baseman-anthony-rendon-placed-on-10day-injured-list-with-strained-left-hamstring
😂
Rendon has taken his rightful seat on his comfy throne as the King of The IL.
The guy is clearly fragile, but I’ll give him credit this time since he was injured running hard, not just because he’s made of glass.
Doesn’t make much difference in the overall assessment, however, that he’s yet another huge FA mistake.