Yesterday I bashed Arte Moreno for redefining organizational failure. It is unbelievable how deeply the stench runs in this franchise. This is what top to bottom suckage looks like.
I wonder how hard one would have to try to make an organization this bad on purpose. Especially considering he inherited the reigning World Series champions and a top notch farm system.
For those of you who play MLB The Show, could you even purposely make an organization suck as badly as the one Arte has spent billions of dollars on?
And now for something completely different…
Griffin Canning looked great over the weekend outside of one pitch.
And in a year in which the kids need to play and take their lumps, Nolan Schanuel took some lumps early but is back in his natural habitat at the dish.
It is funny how baseball punishes you for trying to do too much. Moreso than any other sport. Ironically, now that he’s not trying to hit for power he’s hitting for power.
The Padres made the first significant trade of the season, picking up batting champion Luis Arraez and adding him to their collection of hitters.
With one significant trade completed, who else might get moved early this season? There’s an Angel on that list.
The White Sox are recalling Mike Clevinger. He’ll make 27% of the money Robert Stephenson will make this year but Clevinger will actually pitch for his club.
Enjoy your day.
I want to know, who TF wrote the schedules. We still have another week before we play someone from the AL West. That’s one and a half months… a quarter of the schedule.
Of course by the time we play the Astros they will have righted the ship and win the series like they always do against us …
This lineup is Fugly and Sandoval is on the mound. Nice (/s)
All eyes on “The Kidz”
Schanny, Moniak, Adell, O’Hoppe & Neto….
Our American League Western Division has its own surprises in ’24. Who would have ever thought that the Astros would have run out of fuel this early? That the A’s would have ever become competitive this early? Mariners started off sluggish but are now better than the Rangers. Speaking of the Rangers, there not exactly the same team as last year with pitching or hitting from Seager.
Is Alex Bergman at 30 going to become just a memory with the bat? Will Verlander ever be great again? Can the Human Gnome keep up his hot pace all season? Can you name 2 starting players on the A’s? These and many more are questions to be answered by our foes.
Sure do wish about now we played more games in our division than we do currently? It just might not matter who we play and get our rear ends kicked by at this point, this may end up the worst Angels team in history by wins, that’s for real. I only one at this point coming out ahead is Arte Moreno who it seems can’t pocket enough money in his later years. One last question, do you think Arte really ever cared if the team got to the playoffs?
“One last question, do you think Arte really ever cared if the team got to the playoffs?”
I tend to believe he wouldn’t mind winning but doesn’t care all that much, as long as people come to the park and as long as media money is there.
We, for example. if we’d slept through the game for some reason, would come to the park and the first question would be “did we win?” I believe Arte’s first question would be “what was the attendance?”
This is maybe the single best way I’ve seen someone sum up what makes Arte the shittiest owner in American sports.
Fyasko51’s comment below, about our record, makes me thankful for the Miami series.
Calhoun, Pillar, and Tucker all in today’s lineup.
Still no Rengifo, and no Ward
Wonderful. Maybe we need to add them to the mural at the stadium.
Calhoun will need two walls for his full body pic.
Zing!!!!
I really can’t begrudge Wash for putting Calhoun and Tucker in the lineup. They’ve hit on the times they were asked to play. That’s all you can really ask for.
And it’s not like he’s benching Trout or Rendon so Calhoun and Tucker can play. Oh wait….
Ward’s may just be a scheduled day off. But really, if this is about limiting the mileage on Ward before his eventual trade, I’m all for it. An injured Ward has zero value, and it’s not like he also stays healthy. A hit to the shoulder on the LF wall or a busted ankle/hamstring/calf/quad on a sliding catch, and we can all kiss a fairly decent prospect in return goodbye.
Agreed, and no complaints other than they are the only choices we currently have which reflects the state of the team in the beginning of May.
Moreover, Ward is STRUGGLING.
I didn’t realize Spring Training extended to May 7th.
I think Jeff said previously that Spring Training was all year.
I wonder if this will post correctly…
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/frank-look-hot-dog-prices-211036283.html
MLB’s second-most-expensive basic hot dog is the $8 Angel Dog at Anaheim’s Angel Stadium,
And the most expensive hot dog in the majors is in Oakland.
Oh, the irony.
No, it’s Bryce Harper
4/12 was the last time the Angels had a winning record, they were 7-6. They wont be above .500 for the rest of the season and its only May. Only reason to go to the Big A is for a bucket of Cathy’s cookies, nothing else.
The Cubs are looking for a closer right now……..just sayin’….
Estevez would be perfect for them.
Internet troubles here…might not be around.
Router connection hit and miss…GO HALO!!
When you look to the heavens for answers for this team, and you get the appropriate response…
https://twitter.com/gunsnrosesgirl3/status/1787858961988808774
😆
We have all speculated when that moment occurred after 2002 that changed the course of the franchise to get to this point. It is simplistic to say it was the Moreno purchase because he had a pretty good first 5-7 years of ownership.
Since I truly believe the strength of Organizations can be judged by the farm system, my moment in time was the hiring of Reagins who then proceeded (presumably with Arte’s blessing) to fire a true baseball legend, Eddie Bane. That was a turning point for the Org where the focus seemed to change from scouting and player development to spending big on free agents while letting the Org slide. The decision making shifted and the perceived value by the Org of baseball decisions from baseball people seemed to fall by the wayside.
Admittedly Arte spent quite a bit on free agents before Reagins but those signings seemed more thoughtful, complimentary and certainly worked out better (Vlad, Torii, Abreu etc).
This was a quote from an article October 20, 2010:
“In a surprise move last month the Angels fired Eddie Bane as part of a housecleaning in the scouting department….”
I believe Reagins was the first of the figurehead GMs where Arte and his combo of Carpino and Kuhl actually became the decision makers. Prior to that I think Arte had more deference for baseball people and baseball minds.
September 2010 – that was the turning point for me that has slowly eroded this Organization to where we are now.
The turning point was the hiring of Reagins as that was the beginning of Arte interjecting himself more into baseball ops after the Stoneman years kept falling short to the Red Sox and Yankees.
Specific move was not signing Beltre despite him basically begging to play here but then panicking for Vernon Wells, losing Napoli and Juan Rivera in the process. That trade bombing lead to Wilson, Pujols and Hamilton which wrecked payroll for a decade.
Yep we are on the same page. Hiring of Reagins was basically Arte saying he and his minions were in charge.
The Vernone Wells trade was one of the single most idiotic moves in the history of baseball. And Carlton came out and said that Arte and Sosh came into his office and said to get it done or he would be fired. I can still remember when it happened and going “ wtf are these people doing?”
That was Arte and his buddies first front office hire.
So you’re saying (and I agree) that the moment Arte started actually running the team things went downhill.
Basically the entire premise of this piece.
Yep. I agree 100% with your piece. I would add that in the first 5+ years of ownership it seems to me Arte relied more on the good baseball people he had around him. At some point he became convinced he and his buddies could do it better and that was the turning point. Those baseball folk were let go and it’s been pretty much the Arte/Carpino/Kuhl shitshow ever since.
Arte let all this happen, so it begin upon his ownership. It didn’t fully become visible until 2010’ish
Where’s the fundamental baseball, Washington? Schnauel failing to slide after he was sent from third with no outs. We suck, but this is pathetic.
I blame his off-season “standing for the entire day conditioning”.
Maybe a flashback?
Didn’t help that Ward practically just watched that play unfold right in front of his eyes standing there like a statue.
On a similar play earlier in the season, not only did Trout signal to Neto to slide, but he actually directed him WHERE to slide, to go left since the catcher was standing on the right to receive the ball. Neto just missed the home plate by inches because his legs were bent instead of being straight.
Blame the Runner. Blame the 3rd base coach form being overly aggressive.
Blame Ward for half ass’ing it with his communications. Blame Washington for his reckless overly aggressive philosophy on the bases, on a team that might have the worst base running fundamentals in MLB. Blame the 7 other guys that would have probably done the same thing. Blame Arte. Blame the Baseball Gods.
I actually do blame all of it, but at the end players have to play and the combo of Schnauel and Ward didn’t.
are we expecting wash to “teach” grown men (might be a shock to some, but there aren’t any “kids” on this team) fundamental baseball
I wasn’t, that’s why I laughed when Washington was being given credit for 15 WAR pre-season.
Wash is 72, everyone else is a kid to him…..
I know. I don’t blame Walsh but It seems like this year they are almost going out of their way to make fundamental mistakes. I’ve never seen so many. You would not accuse them of being a well coached baseball team. There are youth teams, probably some of which are coached by posters on this website that play better fundamental baseball. It’s almost mind blowing.
To me it’s mind blowing that they would have to be coached on these things at this level!
No kidding. I played baseball at all levels without much systematic fundamental training, but the guys I played with were students of the game and learned by observation and experience. They played much smarter and were far more baseball savvy than many of the players we are watching. Many of them played in college and a few professionally, but they knew what they were doing.
With the Marlins moving Araez in early May, the Angels should consider selling high on Tyler Anderson now.
100000%
Tyler A needs to be moved ASAP before his ERA naturally balloons where it belongs over 4.
And Ward too, before an eventual slump hurts his numbers and value. Predictably, with him being the only real “threat” on the offense since Trout went down, pitchers have adjusted on how to pitch to him.
Honestly, at this point who do you not try to trade. Regarding position players, I would offer up anyone but Neto, Schanuel, and O’hoppe. Not that there aren’t others I like but I don’t see anyone else being a part of a successful club. This is assuming you get value for anyone you trade. The only pitchers I would not offer up are Detmers, Soriano, and Silseth. It is assumed you can’t trade Rendon or Trout, but I would trade Trout if I got enough financial relief.
There’s no financial relief in trading Trout. Arte would practically eat his entire salary just to get rid of him. He would be paying for Trout whether he’s at home rehabbing, or he’s playing for another team.
I said I assumed he was not tradable, and I didn’t say that there would be financial relief, only that I would do it if there was.
Got it, I misunderstood your post.
I do wish there is some kind of relief to get in trading Trout, whatever relief it might be. But unfortunately Arte’s just stuck with it.
Agree with all of that except for the last part re: Trout.
The best outcome IMO is that the Angels would eat most of the salary, but in exchange. they’d nab a decent prospect or two. Reason #1,973 why his latest injury is such a bummer.
I’m good either way. You either get financial relief or good cheap players. It was about getting a return that was worth it.
The money is (Arte’s) sunk cost. We need prospects. Many of them.
That is a wise way of looking at it, true.
Kind of what I remember saying months ago when using a stock market analogy.
The cost has already been spent. Now we just need to make a decision of what is best in the present moment. Looking back into the past and saying “but Trout was the best ever, and he’s a lifelong Angel, and he cost a lot, so we should hold on to him in case his value rebounds” is just an emotional reaction that will get us in trouble.
Moving forward and trading him for whatever we can get to build for the future might be the best answer.
That said, I think it sucks, because I wanted Trout to retire as an Angel after hitting 700 HR. 😄
I’m sorry but unless Trout wants to leave, insists on leaving I would say no to trading him as far as I am concerned no matter what, if he only plays 30 games a year for the life of his contract he deserves to stay with the Angels and as fans we should be happy with that. Sorry but as far as I am concerned I don’t care what we would get in trade, I want Trout to retire as an Angel.
I just don’t understand the folks here that say trade him he is the best player that ever put on the Angels uniform and he has been everything you could wish as the face of your franchise. Loyalty is a two way street and Trout has been loyal to us, and god-damn we need to be loyal to him. Fuck (my first f**k ever) many here talk about talk about other fans (I’m looking at you Dodgers or Giant fans) being fair weather fans, but when it comes to Trout I see many fair weather fans here.
Trout has a full no trade clause in his contract. Trout doesn’t get traded unless Trout WANTS to be traded.
No I understand that, I just don’t understand the desire for so many members of this site what him to be traded.
Someone mocked me when I said Schanuel would return to form (Though I wanted him @ AAA for a spell). My feelings are still hurt….I just want you to know that….I won’t forget….
What was I saying?
Schanuel has hit well over .300 since I stated that he should be sent down to “get right”. Haha
Reality finally settling in. This is probably gonna end up being the worst Angels team of my lifetime.
It’s making me appreciate what Ohtani gave us during his time here. How great is he? Well, he’s the GOAT. And how bad have we been? Incomprehensibly bad.
Dark, dark days. Dang.
I’m envious that Shotime is just that in Dodger Blue, I mean good for him, but too bad that he and Trouty were not the 21st century version of the Babe and Iron Horse. Someday maybe we will have nice toys again and be big time winners, though I don’t think all of us will outlast that damn Arte.
We had an opportunity to run the table had we added some pitching when he who I won’t name was here. IMHO they should’ve always viewed him as a hitter and then plan that he wasn’t pitching. I as a manager (Who the Hell would pay me) would not have pitched him in the rotation for the whole year, every year while he was in red.
But, crying over spilled buttermilk…..
With arguably a weaker roster in ’21, Joe had a winning record going into September-“the good ‘ol days” 😆
I have been blessed these last 3 or 4 games, we have been busy. Yesterday was doctors and PA’s and blood work and X-rays, oh it was as painful as having watched the game. Oh Arte you have such great executive powers, you make Baseball at the ML level so much fun. Why you give Donald Sterling a run for the money being the worst major sports owner in LA area along with “Georgia”. has ever had. 😲
Why did you have to bring up Frontiere?
That scar is barely healing as a life-time Rams fan.
I still think when the Super Bowl team was being built Georgia was in the corner saying no to all the trades and signings and they just ignored her or wheeled her into the hallway.
Don’t forget McCourt, who still owns the Doyers parking lot. Boy, did an ownership change sure turn that franchise around in a hurry.
We are soon going back to the days of the BOGO coupons at Ralphs for Halo tickets. Oh how the mighy have fallen.
Buy one get three free?
LOL
To expensive!
Grocery List
Lobster
Red Lobster Cheddar Cheese Biscuit Mix
Butter
Free Angels Tickets
Toilet paper
Little Debbie Snack Cakes, bring to game, feed Willie
Are you suggesting “Feed Willie Night” at the Big A?
We are there man. Still fans in the darkest hours. Go team and stuff.
It does seem that it’s time for us to go on a winning streak.
One game winning streaks will happen, for sure.