Morning Angels fans. Hungover? Me? No. Not at all. Have some links.
Angels News
Mike Trout is injured. Again. Knee. Out for a while. No one knows how long.
To get some OF depth, Kevin Pillar is now an Angel. At least the defense will be good.
Oh and the Angels lost last night. Because of a blown save. Yep. They still have not won back to back games since sweeping the Marlins. Not even a cat could save the Angels.
Is Rengifo good? How about Jo Adell? I hope so.
Around Baseball
What is worse than a rain delay? A Bee delay. NOT THE BEES! AHHHH! Thankfully the beekeeper beekept the bees and threw the first pitch. A good thing too, since the Mariners posted the Bee Movie script.
Jose Abreu was sent down to AAA. Yes, former MVP Jose Abreu. Has that ever happened before? Like not cut or whatever, but agreed to be sent down? A former MVP? With a big contract?
Pitchers throw harder than ever. SP are now throwing triple digit triple digit pitches a year. That can’t be good.
Comcast no longer has access to Bally Sports. When will Bally Sports go under? We are waiting.
The NHL playoffs are on, so of course, MLB had to appeal to their fans by having a brawl. Punches thrown wow! Oh and 2 other people got thrown in an unrelated incedent.
Anything I missed? Post below for upvotes.
This is for all you fair weather fans.
https://www.si.com/mlb/angels/ron-washington-doesnt-want-angels-fans-to-give-up-on-2024-team
*sounds* okish… what sounds better is Washington ponying up his own cash money to create a Washington’s winners fan section anywhere in the park. I’d take LF/RF foul pole last row nose bleeds.
Wash has altered his previous perception I had of him regarding his managerial skills (for the better) but this type of political mumbo jumbo is as ok to call out as it is to say. As someone who frequents the Big A on the above average grading scale, I’d rather have him talk about anything else (like upcoming players or FA acquisitions) than the come to the park and don’t give up on us because I believe we will put together better baseball at some point pile.
I don’t think there are any fair weather fans here. Wash is new to the Arte era and all the warts in this Org. Being realistic does not equate to giving up on the team.
“Don’t think, it can only hurt the Ball Club.”
I’m a fair weather fan, you could say. I see absolutely no point in watching a team that ownership has mismanaged so much. Like a bad movie, I won’t watch it just because it was made by a business. My heart is with the Angels but I’m not going to stay in a bad relationship forever. I never thought that could happen until Scioscia won me over from the Reds, so it can happen again. It hasn’t happened yet, but it could get there and I don’t see a problem with it at all. If you want me around, give me a reason to be around.
Thank you for being honest about it.
But that was written before last night. After Watching Wash’s horrible management of the bullpen ( Moore pitching for 3 days in row/ Asking Estevez to get a 4 out save knowing that he sucks giant balls on back to back days) Not sure if he hasn’t already given up himself.
If this was Maddon, Perry would be trying to control the available arms but since Wash is his guy , that aint going to happen. Man what a terrible combination
Well Wash, you give us better defense, a bullpen that doesn’t blow up games, and batters that get hits when runners are in scoring position and I will show up at the ballpark. (Note, most of this is tongue in cheek. I had no expectations to see good baseball this year. lol)
We can’t even consistently throw to the correct base. We need for the team to be forced to attend some of the practices being currently conducted by people on this board.
“I know we may not have the best personnel in the world, but we can play better baseball,” Washington said, via Fletcher. “And that’s all we want, to play better baseball. The rest of it will take care of itself.”
What is “the rest of it” that he refers to?
😆
Pillar starting in left field today
I hope the Phillies decide to take it easy on us
12-0
Kevin Hicks…Aaron Pillar
🤢
Sano to IL, Calhoun in:
https://x.com/LAAngelsPR/status/1785752023134319058
Here is a long-form tweet from a doctor that Fletch retweeted. So I’m assuming it has good info:
Ron Artest returned to an NBA lineup 11 days after his surgery. I would estimate 11 months for Trout.
Not concerned about this injury. Standard procedure for all athletes.
The back issue was/is more worrisome for longterm health imo.
Now you’ve done it: dared the angry ancient souls under centerfield – Trout will be looking at a full knee replacement…on both knees.
That’s happening with or without me if we are being honest. Trout is the human version of the patient in the game Operation
Mike Nano-knee…..emphasis on the K in knee.
Anybody else remember media and coaches talking about how when Trout was running the bases that he had super heavy footsteps and he sounded way louder than other players?
I’m remember reading that years ago and wondering how well Trout would age. It was a big part of the reason why I thought moving him to left was a good idea.
Certainly when he returns this year. He should DH.
Willie Calhoun to the rescue. According to Fletch, he’s joining the team today.
This may be forebearing of bad news for Sano, who’s still not officially on the IL.
How does this work defensively? Does that mean Rengifo gets everyday starts there?
That, or Adrianza
Always a good idea to bring up a guy who has no defensive position because he can’t field at all. What about Marisnick?
I believe Marisnick is on the minors IL
We’ve been in a sad state for a while.
Pillar and Calhoun might be rock-bottom.
Captain Jack? Velasquez? Aaron Hicks? It’s an endless list of rock bottom.
We don’t have Trout or Shohei this time. It’s badddd
I fear we’re not even within 4 light-years of “rock bottom”
“The call is coming from inside the house”
I think of that when I think about the Angels. It all adds up to misery until the owner sells and a real GM is hired. And a real scouting department is developed.
Here’s my Perry rant for the day. Raisel Iglesias has a 2.38 ERA for Atlanta and had a similar ERA the year before but Perry got rid of him because of a short loss of form. And yet Perry will sign players off the scrap heap because they were good two years ago, or three, or eight.
Signing guys who are “trade chips” won’t work for two reasons. Other clubs won’t value our scrap heap signings and we have nothing in place to properly evaluate other teams’ prospects.
I know you all know this. I just felt like venting, thinking about Estevez and wondering about Iglesias.
You could say it this way. They gave up Iglesias. They then paid Stephenson more money. Who would you rather have?
Add a new Closer to the list for 2025….along with, 3rd, 1st, 2nd, rest of the Bullpen, 3 or 4 starters, and another OF’er, assuming our CF will miss at least 1/2 of next season too.
Could we just get the Rays to move to Anaheim?
What?
I thought Iglesias was something like 4yrs $64MM.
Stephenson is 3 for 33, right?
Minasian doesn’t know what he’s doing. If he thinks Arturo is tying his hands behind his back, he should just resign.
As well you should. Minasian has a very poor record stocking our bullpen, even when he says it’s the top priority.
A closer who cannot pitch effectively two days in a row is not a viable closer!
Today’s Lineups
No Halo at 10am.\
https://www.mlb.com/gameday/phillies-vs-angels/2024/05/01/746238/preview
Wheeler vs. Sandoval yaaa…
No lineup yet. I wonder why the Angels release their lineup so late. I wonder if Washington forgets and no one on the staff reminds him. Does he remember that Sano is still on the team?
I’m a sceptic on Sano. 27Ks in 61AB with 8 walks and just one HR doesn’t bode well for his future prospects.Angels have basically zero real third baseman.
What makes me cautiously optimistic is his insane average exit velocity together with the fact he appears to be our best defensive 3B.
I get it but wonder if that is sustainable with all the swing and miss. I agree on the defense but it’s a pretty scary reality when he’s the best defensive option.
they’ll find enough ball players eventually. i imagine they’re calling Independent leagues teams now for players.
Hey Washington, give Estevez the day off, no need to dress for the game, let him catch the early flight.
This is the year we find out who the real Angel fans are.
Yeah baby. Purity test.
The next three to five years will be like the original 18 and the first 10 Disney years…buckle up and enjoy the ride!!
i wish.
i think this team is just 1974 team on endless repeat loop
This team wishes it had the equivalent rotation of Ryan, Tanana, Singer and Hassler with Ed Figueroa in the wings. Even Dick Lange who started 18 games was better with a 3.90 ERA.
Ryan & Tanana started 76 games and accounted for over 600 combined innings! That team just couldn’t do anything else well.
BTW: I meant first few years of Disney…oops!!
I hated the Disney characters dancing around on top of the dugouts. It was like the hard boiled egg eating contest or whatever crazy crap they invent to distract you from a MiLB game.
After missing the playoffs for 10+ years, this is “the” season where the true believers are christened?
Peak struggle session, comrade.
“Comrade?” OMG, they’ve gotten to Grichman!!!!!!
Russian collusion?
Well, the Halos are now primarily Red……
Confident that anyone still here is a real fan.
There’s no reason to support this shit team lol
I’ve already seen a couple “As a fan I’m going to mail it in.” posts.
One of those was me! I mean, if you want to gate keep that’s fine, no skin off my nose. I still have all my Angels memorabilia on my wall and they are my team, but definitely not spending hours a day watching them. Life is too short, my kids are only this age once, and summer in the PNW is something very pleasant. I’ll be a daily tuner when I decide to be again.
and you are our optimist!
Wait…I want that title!!
LOL @ “This is the year….”
😂
Now is the time for all good men…
I’m not sure that buying into this shit show is an indication of true fandom. Perhaps, stupidity but here I am still commenting.
definitely will clean out the fraud fans who were just sticking around for all the joy and fun times of back-to-back 73 win seasons
Funny stuff Rex!!
Blowpen loses the following day are just as tough as the night before,
Seinfeld fans…..something to watch instead of our shitting baseball team for an evening.
Unfrosted – a comedy about Pop-Tarts
https://youtu.be/6Uv1ofWr8Zk?si=i62e6DT_cOPg3C3q
Happy about Jo Adell finally becoming the player he was projected to be. On the other hand, that’s not much to hang your fandom on. This team has no reason to exist any more.
FO
I am an old man, 68 years old, and am not a good example of the possibilities of post-arthroscopic knee surgery recovery.
It’s impossible to say how one recovers from a torn meniscus procedure in the knee.
I was a runner for many years and had an arthroscopic procedure done to remove torn meniscus in my right knee. I thought it was a fairly minor procedure and would allow me to run again.
Unfortunately, the surgeon removed so much tissue I ended up bone on bone and required a partial knee replacement surgery a year and a half later.
Still haven’t been able to run for over 2 years now. But, hoping to start soon.
I am hoping the best for Trout. As he says, when you play the game hard, shit happens.
I think the key to Trout’s recovery is how much meniscal tissue has been torn and needs to be removed. And is there any damaged cartilage that needs to be removed as well. If there is enough tissue remaining after surgery to cushion the space between the bones that connect in the knee, he’ll recover faster and perform fine post-surgery. If a lot of tissue needs to be removed, then he could end up like Lonzo Ball with the Bulls, with constant knee pain that restricts running.
Let’s hope for the best….
Unfortunately, history shows Trout doesn’t recover quickly from injuries, which were very different.
I’ve already called Ippei’s bookie: I’m going with the “over” on Trout being out 3 months.
Just in time for the playoff run.
Agree!! There will be “complications” and he might miss the entire season.
Looking for the silver (lead) lining….I do enjoy watching the kids play and they seem to be very motivated by their time in the spotlight. There are obviously gaping holes on this team and many of these kids would be the 8th or 9th best prospect in good Orgs and likely still at AA. But I enjoy their spirit.
And yet Minasian keeps adding retreads like Amir and Pillar.
Pure stupidity by Perry.
I suppose there was an All-Star available for league minimum that you would have preferred to add?
We don’t need any stupid moves…play the kids.
I figure that these types of signings are not to block the kids.
They are just for warm body bench guys.
If there are good “kids” that we want to develop, they are better off playing all the time in AAA than riding the bench in MLB. And that is why I assume he signed Amir and Pillar.
Well, you know what assume means.
Yes. It means we’ll find out.
But that also means that we don’t know it is stupid yet, either.
WRONG!!! It means make an ASS out of U and ME.
Bad organizations don’t suddenly become good. Their decision making process is broken and has been for over a decade. Washington Commanders football is a good comp. Nothing is likely to change until all of the current decision makers are purged. They hit a lottery ticket twice with Trout and Ohtani but still managed to blow that opportunity.
It probably also helps these young player’ ‘psyches that they don’t have to fear getting benched the next day because they got a K the previous AB, etc. For example, aside from his swing, Jo has significantly improved in pitch selections. He doesn’t swing as blindly as he did the last couple of years. Been impressed so far that he’s stayed away from the high stuff. Probably helps to know that even if he Ks on a good pitch, he will most likely play the next day.
Just like what Marsh said about the Phillies – “There’s a process. There’s a plan.”
I hope Moniak also improves with more playing time. Because unless the team signs Juan Soto or some other mid-tier OF (dunno who the FAs are) next year, and it’s not like there’s some budding decent OF prospects soon to be upcoming from the farm, the 2025 OF would be Moniak-Trout-Adell, as I fully expect Ward to be shipped out in the next two months. So this staff might as well give Moniak all the chance in the world to get it right.
I bet Hunter Renfroe is available if Minasian is willing to empty what’s left of our farm system.
You’re on a roll today. At least we all get to hang out each day even if the baseball is really dark right now.
Marsh alluded to the same confidence of knowing the next bad at bat won’t get him benched.
I wish the blowpen game would’ve been today.
Well, we can take the series today.
“Oh….the humanity!”
That loss is on Washington. Horrible call to ask a guy that always sucks in multi inning and back to back games to both of those.
When Estevez came in for a four out save a shiver went through my very being.
Same for me. Remarked to my wife that they were going to blow this game.
Darkest of Days to be an Angel fan right now. Started in the off season with the losing the best player in baseball; bad but worse when he chose hated team across town. Then Arte being cheap not signing anyone. Perry only singing a broken reliever. Sandy still suks on opening day. Rendone is done again. Middle relief pitchers are horrible. Bad hitting with risp. Trout hurt again. Esteves still unreliable. Pretty soon in last place. The only upside is when you’re on the bottom you can only go up. Question is how long is that going to take?
Years I believe
YearsDecades I believe.DecadesDecades more I believe.It’s been ten years since our 1 playoff appearance since 2009. Decade and a 1/2 I’d say.
It doesn’t happen until you actually trade assets and start a full rebuild.
It could be done in a few years. Rendone’s gone in ’27, making his money available before Detmers becomes a free agent in ’28. That makes ’27 the target year. Any player who becomes a free agent before that should be traded – Estevez/Moore/Cimber (’25), Rengifo/Anderson/Canning (’26), Ward/Sandoval (’27). For ’25 and ’26, sign veterans to short contracts to fill the gaps and look to trade the 1-2 best performing at the deadline each year. Draft with an eye toward 27/28.
Sign big names in the ’26 offseason to fill the gaps and make the push in ’27. If it isn’t going well, move Detmers at the deadline and try again in ’28, which is O’Hoppe’s (and Adell’s) last year.
In ’27, the team would be Trout/Adell/Moniak/Schanuel/Neto/O’Hoppe + new 2B/3B/DH (or OF if Trout is DH), Detmers/Silseth + Soriano/Kristofak/Bachman + new pitchers.
I’m not that optimistic. Not saying it can’t be done but significant improvement would require significant investment in 25, 26, and 27 along with some good fortune in the draft and development area. And, as you mention, most of the current players would be gone and the ones that remain would be getting more expensive. You would need at least another outfielder as well as I would not count on Mickey being around or any good and a 1B unless Schanuel becomes something other than what he currently is. From today forward, position player wise, I think the only players you can count on are Trout, Neto, O’Hoppe, Adell, Rengifo, and Ward in the short term. A couple of the additions would need to be costly middle of the order additions. I like these players but you need some impact bats to compliment them along with a couple of starters and a bull pen. You’re faced with the fact that there isn’t much time to draft and develop so you would have to buy them until you have established a productive minor league system which would also require additional investment.
Agree. Perry will gone after this season and the new guy will get “his” people in place and it begins anew. Until Arte is gone, it’s wash-rinse-repeat.
Yes. The plan requires 1) good fortune with the remaining players, 2) Arte to spend money on veteran free agents that can be traded the next few years and 3) Arte to spend money on quality free agents in ’27.
The biggest hurdle, however, is it requires a change in Arte’s philosophy from trying to be competitive every year to letting the GM sacrifice two years for long-term improvement. If Arte is willing to change that philosophy, then there is no reason not to aim for ’27, with a plan B to shift gears to ’28/’29, as needed.
As long as the Angels don’t destroy the farm again for a long-shot like they did with Othani’s years and remain sellers at the deadline until the team is legitimately pursuing a division title, a rebuild should be able to at least get Trout to the playoffs before he retires.
Well, we saw what the Dodgers did when McCourt left, so we know it is possible. We are in pretty much a similar situation right now.
I do believe it depends on having a new owner who radically changes things (or unless Arte suddenly completely changes his ways, which is probably unlikely).
i find it hard to hate the dodgers anymore.
or sox. or yankees.
My hate for the dodgers is eternal.
More extensive article on The Athletic re: Trout’s injury:
That quote from Mike sounds Kobe-esque. I know Rendon got a lot of flack, maybe undeservedly, for saying baseball wasn’t a priority for him. But I never questioned Mike’s competitiveness and his will to win, despite his quiet demeanor. If he can exchange his 3 MVPs for 1 WS ring, he would. I never got an I-Can-Still-Win-Some-MVPs-If-I-Continue-Playing Aaron Rodgers vibe from Mike.
So I was wrong. It seems a torn meniscus is something you feel immediately, not something that will nag you until you can’t take it anymore. And if he really got it while jogging to the dugout at the 3rd inning?! What fucking (May) freak show is that?! This reminds me of Rengifo tearing up his bicep muscle while warming up on the on-circle deck last year.
He got injured this time simply by doing normal baseball activities. It’s not like he got hit by a pitch or ran into a wall. He moved his legs and tore the meniscus. He hurt his calf in a similar way.
I do think it’s fair game to compare the “old” Mike to the current Mike. He’s not the same athlete. His career is moving towards not what he’s done on the field but the amount of time he’s spent off the field.
I think old Trout will eventually become a low average, strikeout or home run DH.
So he will become Schwarber? 😂
FWIW I just found out I have a meniscus tear and there was no injury or traumatic event. Its possible I just had some wear and tear over the years or some genetic predisposition and it finally started showing weird symptoms.
What Trout described is awfully similar to mine. Nothing crazy or scary, just a weird new feeling that progressed a little bit to the point I got an MRI.
I suspect Trout’s is the same. Its probably been a minor tear for a while. perhaps even years but you don’t get MRIs when there are no symptoms.
Get better!!
Thanks! Luckily I dont have to run down baseballs so it should be a less stressful recovery
Thanks for that POV. I hope you’re feeling better.
If indeed he’s had it for awhile, and it finally reached a breaking point, I imagine all that running didn’t help. But don’t these guys get regular physicals as part of being a professional baseball player? If the tear has been there for awhile, how can it be missed all this time?
Luis Rengifo
.313 BA / .360 OBP / ..458 SLG
131 OPS+
9/9 SB
0.8 WAR
The rest of the season is about 👑 Luis! I encourage everyone to hop on the bandwagon.
Fuck (May) you, Carlos Estevez 🙂
It’s me. I jinxed the bullpen yesterday when I said Wash’s best bullpen arms are the trio of Cimber-Moore-Estevez.
Is this because Estevez had 26 pitches the night before? It didn’t seem too much to me. But maybe it’s true, as much as Maddux pitchers won’t flourish in this baseball generation anymore, maybe the rubber arm Scot Shields and K-Rod types are also pitchers of the yesteryears.
Estevez is historically terrible as a more than one inning, back to back days reliever. As a manager, I think Washington may be a good fielding coach/motivational speaker. However, I’m getting weary of his poor use of the admittedly weak blow pen.
Yeah time to get key-party experimental with the bullpen. Ben Joyce!
If the Angels play their cards right, Luis Rengifo will win a WS ring with another team this year.
Why don’t we trade Adell and Detmers too, and rob me of any last drop of joy ?
Because they aren’t free agents after next year.
I’m not saying trade Rengifo because I don’t like him. If he’s traded, I’ll root for him to get that ring. Rengifo is at peak value right now and the Angels are unlikely to win with him this year or next, so the way he can help the Angels the most is by bringing back some prospects.
I understood, I was just kidding lol
Don’t say that crap out loud,