Sunday May 19th, 2024, the campaign into the heart of Texas has been somewhat fruitful. However, a lot is riding on the upcoming battle, and supplies are limited. With the fighting going deep into the night last night, I fear that this leaves me no choice but to trust Soriano to go as long as he can. He is young, and if we were in a stronger position, he would not even be here, alas, we have to make due with what we have.
Huh, I guess treating sports as war can be kinda cool after all. But lets not kid ourselves, the biggest thing these things have in common is that injuries are inevitable and luck can turn in an instant. So what did Jose Soriano do today? Well, he went 7 and 2/3 innings, giving up 1 run on 5 hits, striking out 5 and walking 2. That was amazing, but, would it be enough in this dangerous ballpark?
Funny enough, he went up against Lorenzen, someone who was on the Angels before, and someone who signed cheap late who could be used in the rotation right now. Hell, he would likely be taking Soriano’s spot if Perry the GM signed him instead. Makes you think.
That fact that Soriano outlasted him is more to do with efficency than ability as Lorenzen reached a pitch count and was pulled. In the old days, these two would have both gone 9 with the way they were dealing.
Highlighted Recap
After a long pitcher’s duel last night, the Angels and Rangers figured to have another one apparently. That is until the 4th, when young Soriano blinked first.
Lorenzen cruised until the 7th, when he was pulled with 2 on and 1 out. That was a mistake as the bullpen ruined everything. First, a bloop by M-I-C-K-E-Y
And then a Pillar single scored 2 more.
Oh and then Rengifo tripled. Because he’s awesome like that.
Soriano went deep, and the bullpen got the final 4 outs as the Angels won their first series vs an AL West team!
Upcoming
The Angels go south to Houston next. Something I do not like at all. Worse, they have been winning as of late, which does not bode well for the Angels. Stupid schedule ruined a chance to face the worst Astros team in a decade. Whatever cheap AI Manfred used is biased and bad and I hate it.
Never thought a series win vs. last year’s WS champion would feel so empty. Gotta hang your hat on something. Kudos I guess?
Dang missed all the fun. but glad for Soriano going almost 8. After leaving 18 LOB yesterday, it was our boys time to come through and good for them. Renny with a triple is cool, Pillar looking like Trout in 2012-well almost. Go Angels!
And to think that back in April after Soriano had that dud of an outing people were ready to kick him to the curb…. people said he was overrated, sucked, all of that etc. And I said that I would not jump on that bandwagon of negativity. I said his stuff was electric and he just needed to learn the mental part of pitching. Slowly but surely he appears to be doing that …
I just hope this kid can stay healthy (fingers crossed) and continues to progress. He could be a real keeper. I suspect he will be.
Outstanding performance by our young starter deserves a bonus GIF!
Series win!
Go team! Woo hoo
MVPillar’s tie-breaking 2-RBI single was the 1000th hit of his career.
I admit I have a soft spot for guys like him who are at the tail-end of their career, and making the most out of it.
So cool!
Playing the AL west teams over the next two months will really help with painting the picture of where we are. If we can string togeher some series wins and keep the youth playing everyday, I think we can start to see a better future on the horizon.
Let’s sweep the Astros and go ahead and win this half-assed division. Who needs a wild card?
Girlfriend and I were at today’s game. Suarez looked fantastic and it was great seeing the Angels hit with RISP.
I don’t recall Suarez pitching. Was it his outfit?
Oops, Soriano
Of course He looked fantastic sitting on his fat ass down there in the bullpen.
He does look like a MLB pitcher when he is not on the mound – right uniform and everything.
Way to rep! Good work!
IDK, but when the dust settles (I know small sample size) we should retain Pillar for next year, if available on the cheap.
The club will see how the year plays out. Remember Captain Jack Mayfield a couple years back? There have been others too. Guys get hot for a bit.
It is nice to have vet presence on the bench. Moose played that role well too.
That said, 5 OF is too much (see Hicks), so I hope moving forward there isn’t really a place for a guy like Pillar.
Nice, nice, nice , nice , nice.
Good to see a series win against the Rangers.
Hella good pitching four games in a row.
Go Halos!
To be fair though, this series win wasn’t entirely just lucky. The starting pitching this series was top-notch.
I guess the new strategy of pitchers facing themselves is quite working.
So was our defense
Is this the first series win against a team with a winning record?!
Pigs do fly indeed!
Quite high it seems.
Texas is .500 now so does it still count?
Only because we beat their ass Mr Biggiswirth . Of course it counts
Nothing quite like airborne swine!
Jose Soriano has the best smile in baseball. As bad as this has all gone this season- the rotation definitely has potential that is starting to show.
better than Magic Santana”s?
No one has a better smile than Vladdy.
There is hope for next year’s rotation, but we’ll need to rebuild the bullpen again.
Well, Never fear , young help is on the way:
Ben Joyce’s last 6 appearances at AA, 5-1/3 innings 0 runs 0 hits 1 BB, & Ks .059 OPS against .
Mason Erla 2021 Draft reject . This season at AA 11 Games 13-1/3 Innings, 4 Saves 0 Earned Runs, .98 WHIP 10 K’s 3 BB’s
Hell even LHP Eric Torres another 2021 Draftee loser is back. He now has a 2.38 ERA in 9 games 11-1/3 innings 17 K’s against 6 Walks ( still little high) been only a 1.06 WHIP 2 years ago he was the Relief pitcher of the year in the southern league But last year starting with the experimental baseball, it was one of the wildest relief pitching performances I have ever seen.
Even at AAA, LHP Tyler Thomas, who the throw in as part of the degenerate Gambler David Fletcher trade has been pretty stellar this year pitching to 1.77 ERA in 13 relief appearances . His walks are still too high at 14 but in 20-1/3 innings he has struck out 25 batters.
My level of Hopium grew three sizes reading this
Theres also a couple of Perry’s retreads down there in the Farm
Bryan Shaw who and hasn’t given up an earned run in his last 8 appearances in the PCL bandboxes was a minor league pickup for us after getting released by the Pale Hosers early in the season , is now sporting a 2.31 ERA , a 1.20 WHIP
Hayden Seig a 25 year old minor League free agent pick up from late 2021 is pitching his ass off in relief this year at Rocket City. He’s got 21 strike outs against 6 walks in 19-1/3 innings yielding a 1.40 ERA and a .88 WHIP
Or long in the tooth 26 year old UDFA Michael Darrell-Hicks is himself having career year in relief at Rocket City sporting a microscopic 0.47 ERA and a 0.79 WHIP in 19 innings over 11 games striking out 18 batters and walking only 3 so plenty options if need be.
If you need some….I got a cousin…..
The news on Joyce is encouraging. He’s the young guy with true promise.
Wow, an actual series win. Okay, as a public service announcement, I would like to v warn everyone to be careful when they go outside their home, pigs are probably flying.
Doesn’t use pillar yesterday, but will today. I don’t understand the logic.
Our starting 5 would be solid if “Not the Ace – Ace Delmer’s” could pull his own wieght.
Replace and fix most of the bullpen and our pitching problems are solved 😀
Now THAT is how you close a game !
I would seriously consider making Garcia the new closer. I know he has struggled in a less significant role, but perhaps he’s a guy who needs that extra edge. He’s much more steady under pressure than that gas can Estevez.
I don’t even want Garcia in the bp.
So, you’re happy with Charlie Sheen closing games ?
Frostie, odds are with this team our next closer just graduated from college last week.
Word. He’s terrible. Like a worser Estevez.
LTBU
Took 2/3! Series win!