It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…. The theme this week was A Tale of Two Sweeps. First the Angels headed to CHAD and were swept by the Seattle Mariners. Then the Halos headed home and pulled off a sweep of their own against the San Diego Padres.
It really was the kids leading the way this week as it has been most of the year. Jo Adell has been struggling but came through with a huge pinch hit grand slam in Seattle. That’s my highlight of the week.
It was a big week for Adell, who heated up with the bat and won AL Defensive Player of the Month.
That’s the beauty of a lost season like this one. You get to see a player go through the ups and the downs and watch for signs of growth as much as the stat line. Is Jo Adell a key piece moving forward? We still don’t know, but give it another 300 plate appearances and we will.
Another player getting a chance to prove himself this year is reliever turned starter Jose Soriano, who was brilliant again on Wednesday night. I feel like the Angels should win with Soriano on the mound and I think most of you agree.
Now let’s circle back to March. Would any of us have guessed Adell would win a defensive award and Soriano would be a really good starter? That’s what I thought.
Zach Neto’s growth is also apparent and I don’t think I link him enough. The questions coming into this year were mostly about his bat. Thus far the slick fielding shortstop is carrying a wRC+ of 104, meaning he’s 4% better offensively than the average MLB player. Thus far the defensive metrics don’t love him this season but he put up solid defensive marks last year. Neto also had big moments against San Diego.
The one kid who is really struggling is Nolan Schanuel. He’s 23% worse offensively than average while playing first base, which is an offense first position. Yes, there’s still time for him to get back on track. But also not every kid is going to prove himself as part of the next core.
The Angels do have a couple of ways to add pieces to the next contending team. One is through the draft, the other is through the trade market. Cookmeister took an early look at how the Angels might approach the trade deadline.
I really think the team is 2-3 years away from being competitive in the AL West so I’m on board with trading anybody who will not be here in 2 to 3 years. So that means Ward, Rengifo, Anderson, Drury, and most of the bullpen.
The draft will be here in about a month. Much of the best talent is playing in the NCAA Super Regionals this weekend. The tournament is fun enough by itself, but if you’re like me it is always fun to play armchair scout as well.
Here are the teams vying for a trip to Omaha, the site of the College World Series. If you are unfamiliar with the format, there are 8 best of 3 series being played this weekend. Those 8 winners will advance to a double elimination tournament in Omaha.
Not sure who the favorites and underdogs are? Here are the 16 teams ranked by NCAA.
And the Angels might have a little talent on the farm. Adell wasn’t the only Angels organization member to earn an award last week.
Speaking of the 66ers, anybody who was at the game on Tuesday night had a great time.
From around baseball:
Shohei Ohtani was cleared of any wrongdoing by MLB after Ippei pled guilty to federal fraud charges.
And while the departure of Ohtani still stings, how great was it to watch the battles between him and the wunderkind Paul Skenes the other night? In case you missed it, here you go.
Aaron Judge had a May for the ages and is now the AL MVP frontrunner.
It was a bad week for the Padres. Getting swept by the Angels is bad. Having a farmhand get Pete Rose’d for doing Pete Rose things was even worse.
Actually, that’s not fair to Marcano who bet on games in which he did not play. Rose bet on games he managed and did not bet on games he managed to lose.
Speaking of Rose, I’m wrapping up Charlie Hustle and definitely recommend it. If your dad is a boomer the book will make a nice Father’s Day present.
Enjoy your weekend and link what I missed. It is kind of odd not having a game scheduled for Saturday. I already miss it. But I am getting together with a group of close friends to mark the one year anniversary of the death of a dear friend. He was the one who brought us together and always put smiles on our faces. It is fitting to honor him by getting together and enjoying an afternoon.
Plumber called up!
Paris flushed down.
https://x.com/KTLA/status/1799465787637334463
I was wondering what Reagins was up to these days.
A lot to love in this box score from Rocket City last night… https://www.milb.com/gameday/lookouts-vs-trash-pandas/2024/06/07/750095/final/box
3 hits for Rada who is so young for that level. They need to keep him at AA all of this year and probably let him start out there next year as well. That’s the best development environment in our system by a longshot.
And Dana continues to crush. Seems likely to seem some innings in Anaheim this year after rosters expand… if not earlier.
If Neto’s wRC+ is 104, does that mean he is 4% better than an average MLBer, or 4% better than an average shortstop? I would imagine if we just compared shortstops his wRC+ would be higher, no?
Yes, 4% better than the league average. His wRC+ doesn’t change but relative to other SS, the % difference for better or worse could be different. I was surprised though that SS had a better wRC+ than most other positions, believe it or not. I think SS were 2nd or 3rd in hitting by position behind RF and DH. Catchers were the worst followed by 2B and then CF. It changes from year to year. Even if there are some really good hitting SS, having a SS who hits better than the league average and plays good defense for minimum wage is incredibly valuable.
Shortstop is loaded right now. Back when I learned the game it was glove first, hope they can hit.
Centerfield was the home of the all around stud. Now it’s shortstop.
Kyle Tucker to the DL, just in time. Auck Fstros.
Hence why we get to see some of our own old
GarCabbage this weekend.Did he hurt himself on the bad route to the ball he didn’t catch?
Honeycutt with a walk-off bomb propels the Tar Heels. Honestly, more entertaining than MLB at the moment.
Tonight’s Lineups
https://www.mlb.com/gameday/astros-vs-angels/2024/06/07/746220/preview
Ruh Roh Trey cabbage is starting against us tonight in RF. This will be interesting.
Affectionately known by some here as the “windmill”, or the “big fan”.
https://twitter.com/FSUBaseball/status/1799152512664051906
I’m warming up to the Tibbs kid as the pick
https://youtu.be/QriuMgOeXCo?si=XVK-iTJz75WBBC0I
Limited speed and range in the field but maybe good with slotting in at 1st?
We already have a 1B with limited speed and range.
He’d be Ward’s replacement in short order but a lefty bat.
I’m no pro scout but I do love the way he looks at the plate. More walks than K’s, quick, powerful swing.
2-more bombs today, hard to dispute the bat. Callis has him mocked at 8. Agree, trade Ward, let him start out in left but would like his slugging percentage at 1st in the long run.
Go ahead bomb in extras. The kid is definitely clutch.
I’m definitely warming to him.
His 3rd shot was monstrous
Can’t we just draft the best player available for once? I like the underslot strategy… netted us some nice lower-round prospects in recent years… but Nolan had the look of an underslot last year and Perry still managed to sign him for the full slot amount.
Do we ever have a series against these cheating bastard Ass’tros where we don’t face Framber?
Everytime I see him I’m reminded of 2002 always posting how they signed him for like $1,500 bucks and some food, with a $100 gas card thrown in to seal the deal.
This dude is on fire this year in Rocket City. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=darrel000mic&type=pgl&year=2024
Come on Arte time to Free the Hyphenator.
Will he ever be given a chance, not being drafted over drafted guys?
Free the Hyphen
Free the Siphon (plumbers pump) Bring up the Plumber no more Paris
Forget Paris?
26-year old, AA…comes with no expectations, seems to fit in perfect
I like these even more than hot and cold dumpster dives or overpaid journeyman relievers which Perry loves to sign. I’ll take late blooming cost controlled minor leaguers who have found a new pitch (or road dealer) every day of the week like these blasts form the past:
Shields, Scot
Donnelly, Brendan
Shoemaker, Matt
Yeah, pitchers have a much better success rate at making a contribution at an older age. If you develop an out pitch, anything is possible.
Exactly.
One day they can throw a gnarly new pitch or figure out how to better throw another and take off.
Phillies just picked up Buddy Kennedy. Why should that matter to us? Well, he went to this HS in New Jersey called Millville. He’s also hunting buddies with another Millville HS alum. I’m just saying.
Tyler Skaggs “Legacy”
https://www.si.com/mlb/angels/angels-news/angels-news-tyler-skaggs-legacy-lives-on-in-new-mlb-opioid-initiative-01hzshewfk2m
To me Cole Fontenelle was a kid that looked like he might be a big leaguer someday. I knew his injury was gruesome but I didn’t know the details. (dislocated ankle, a torn ligament and he broke his fibula in two spots)
https://whnt.com/sports/trash-pandas/trash-pandas-cole-fontenelle-recovering-from-leg-injury/
This is terrible. The team kept him in spring training late so he could work with Washington on fielding. I hope he can recover because I thought he might be our future third baseman.
I was optimistic and hoping he might be an answer in the future, and still may, but I didn’t see any evidence of that in Spring Training.
same age as Schanuel so there is time. hopefully he heals better than Bobby V.
definitely could be an asset at MLB level but obviously this will set him back a year.
I did . he seemed to be holding his own against Major League pitching ( even though it was ST) which he was facing for the first time. I thought he exhibited good plate discipline , decent power ( much more than Schanuel) and his defensive work seemed like it was good foundation to build on.
I did not see the injury ( nor have any desire to) but I am hopeful he makes a full recovery. If I recall young, Bill Buckner had a horrific leg injury at a play at second basest Doyer Stadium way back when which ultimately turned him into a full time 1B/DH . Hopefully thats not the case here.
I follow the Angels prospects, but not much else, not good for being a judge of talent. So my unsophisticated eye test told me that Fontenelle looked good overall. He stood out, but I’m used to seeing them bring up guys like Paris and Adams (I know they were picked as athletic / hope they grow into a baseball player, but they have a sweet dunk video on YouTube guys). I guess I’m easily impressed with kids that passed “Baseball Situation 101” and know what base to throw to and have baseball instincts that are above Pony League. Besides, he’s an Angel farm boy, don’t expect much, trAdition….or in his specific case, injury trAdition.
This was Cole’s first full year in the organization and first time he had played above low A ball. But at Rocket City he had gotten off to respectable start slashing .278/.405/.417 in 22 games at AA.
I hope you are right.
4-6 in last 10, 10-21 at home this season, is well, underwhelming to say the very least. 24 wins at the approx. one third of the way through the season. There are 3 notices posted on the preverbal bulletin board to subscribe to.
Forget about “reality” or what is real like this ream pretty much sucks, just hope for what you would like to see the Halos do. Of the 3 notices on that bulletin board please sign up to one or the other.
#3 looks inviting right? Afterall, we have just swept the Padres at home and increased our win total in the Big A to 10 with 3 wins in a row. 17 more consecutive wins and we’ll be at 20 in a row. Playoffs here we come, the stadium is alive once again, so Kool. It could happen. Heck, we don’t even have to trade our favorite players at the deadline. Go Angels!
#2 looks good too, although we fall short of the playoffs, we finally have a winning season and maybe something to build on for future seasons. We may even get to hold on to the player’s we favor. Even going to the Big A becomes fun again and the Rally Monkeys are out again as we try to get to the promised land.
#1 doesn’t sound or look like fun for this season now does it? Looks like a wait ’til next season or longer. In the last several weeks some folks have speculated that PTP may not have the chops to put a winner together.
There no buzzer sounding telling you that you picked wrong here. If you choose #3 doesn’t make any difference to anybody but to you. If I tell you that I personally prefer #1 choice does not in my mind, make me a “Debbie Downer”. But truth be told I choose to trade most of the players that will bring a return with throwing in a few that I would use to sweeting the pot in a trade. Arte has insisted that we stay competitive every season and I ask myself how has that worked out?
I have only 3 untouchables on the current 25 man roster, Soriano, O’Hoppe, and Neto. Who would you choose to keep? With a decent draft choice this year and hopefully a better one next year along with some decent returns for what is on our current roster we may just yet like like a solid team in 2-3 years and be the envy of the critics. Baltimore has done it this year, the Royals are looking good too, and we’ve seen the Royals do it before. Atlanta and Houston showed it can be done, even Jedi is coming close. To my reasoning it only makes complete sense to try doing this another way or direction if you prefer than trying to cut every corner so Free Agents can be signed and still be losers. Dif of stupid is doing the same thing again and again and expecting dif results-sound familiar?
I don’t care if we even end up at 81 wins this year, I care about being smart with looking down the road and the future of what we find there rather than doing the same thing over and over again. I really do believe in GO ANGELS.
There’s my weekend long form!
short form (condensed version):
hakuna matata
https://youtu.be/nbY_aP-alkw?si=YPI2DzJ4EktstAkJ
Don’t worry-be happy, so who worries, just enjoy the ride 😍
The logical side of my brain picks #1, the emotional side of my brain picks #3.
Maybe Pineapple12 is on to something with Rendon and Wash’s influence on him. This is probably the first time I’ve read of Rendon engaging in a good faith discussion of his progress. If this was really a manager-influence type of thing and not just a “Rendon is an asshole” type of thing, then Nevin really let the inmates run the asylum last year:
It’s about time somebody put a boot up Rendon’s ass…thanks Wash!!
I am one of those who is not excited about Rendon’s return because pretty much everyone who replaced him performed better. He was 20% below the league average as a hitter when he was healthy. Even with the mistakes, I would much rather have Rengifo at 3B.
Yes, Rendon wasn’t exactly on fire when he went down. But having him back pushes Rengifo to 2B, which would make the team get rid of Paris and/ Guillorme. I think having both Rendon and Rengifo in the lineup and on the field is much, much better than having Rengifo and Paris/Guillorme/Tucker.
Rendon won’t be replacing Rengifo. He will be replacing one of the three scrubs.
I agree, I’m not a fan of any of those three although I think I like Sano over Rendon.
We agree on much but, not so much here. If a dude is going to strike out at a 40% rate, he better be good for 40 jacks. I don’t think Sano is good for 40 jacks.
I don’t disagree, but amazingly he’s still a 20% better hitter than Rendon and makes fewer outs.
I’d like to see it born out over enough at bats. Either way, 3B is a major hole. Ditto for a lefty OF that can rake.
Rendon was playing increasingly better leading up to the hammy tear. Sigh.
I would think the Angels keep Guillorme. He can play adequate defense at 2B 3B & Short in. apinch and provides a left handed bat off the bench. Sano will probably replace Tucker if he doesn’t fall asleep with the heating pad on anymore So that will mean a lump of Cole for Tucker. and a trip to Paris for Kyren
I see what you did there.
If Perry gets an extension, Rendon will be DFAd, calling it now. There is no changing that guy and going on 5 years since his last decent season.
Los Angeles Angels
The Angels have begun listening to inquiries on certain players, and among them is outfielder Taylor Ward, according to major-league sources.
Angels general manager Perry Minasian is asking for “giant returns” for both Ward and Jo Adell, per Jeff Passan of ESPN. The prices will surely come down as the trade deadline approaches, but for the Angels, maximizing returns for either player – as well as expiring contracts – would help improve a farm system that was gutted at last season’s trade deadline.
Among the Angels’ other trade candidates include left-hander Tyler Anderson, who has posted a 2.47 ERA in 11 starts and is under contract for $13 million in 2025. Infielder Luis Rengifo is hitting a whopping .327/.374/.469 with four home runs and 18 RBI this season and is once again arbitration-eligible in 2025. Players on expiring contracts include outfielder Kevin Pillar and relievers Hunter Strickland, Matt Moore and Adam Cimber.
https://fansided.com/posts/mlb-trade-rumors-buyers-sellers-brewers-padres-braves-angels-marlins
Surprised by the Adell bit. But hey, if Perry gets a lot of inquiries about him, it’s foolish not to listen. If there are really a lot of inquiries, I hope Perry maximizes that leverage for the best return possible.
From where the Angels started this season, we might end up with an OF of Pillar-Trout-Moniak, with Adams as the 4th OF, after the trade deadline. Would have never had that on my bingo card.
I think Perry’s approach with the two is a good one for now this early.
Music to my ears. Trade anything and everything for upside. In probably in the minority but I’m on the 5 year turn around plan.
Oh sweet music, sing it P12!
Placencia is interesting. The org pushed him aggressively in 2023… all the way to AA as a 20-year-old. Cratered. Now he’s back in low-A (to work on his switch-hitting?)… and is putting up Altuve-like numbers for a middle infielder. Still only 21… same age top college picks will be this year.
altuve like?
Numbers?
.261/.433/.535./968 10 HRs, 39 BBs, and 51 Ks in 188 plate appearances.
Strikes out once every 3.68 plate appearances and walks once every 4.82. Every other hit is for extra bases 18 out of 37. He’s 21 in A ball, let’s see what he does at Rocket City. The numbers are good but I would be more excited if he was 20. Certainly a possibility though. He’s 5’11” 173lbs.
BTW he just had a birthday last Sunday so he put up most of those numbers as a 20 year old. Hes always been a high walk guy but low average and virtually no power and that was at both AA & A+ last year. His stint 2 years ago at the IE as a 18/19 year old was adequate (.254/.387/.427) but hes definitely maturing with much more power and plate discipline than before
Good catch on the birthday. Getting on base and not making outs are skills that almost no one on our current team has and thanks for pointing out his improvement over time. If he plays in Rocket City next year, he may be ready to play up here in 26.
True outcome middle infielder… sort of a rare breed.
I’m not too concerned with Schanuel at this point. Sophomore slump is a real thing for a lot of players as pitchers adjust to them, he will get it figured out and adjust accordingly.
Also useful to note that he’s 22 and would be playing in AA or AAA in virtually any other org besides the Halos.
Tend to agree steelgolf.
His swing is solid and his approach is an effective one… But I notice he’s been a little less disciplined at the plate than he was last year. He needs to get back to that.
I think he will be fine and he has more power (6 homers) than I thought.
Hopefully you’re right. I’m seeing Casey Kotchman as Schanuel’s ceiling at this point.
Kotchman was a decent player. I just think my view of Schanuel is souring as Nick Kurtz tears up the NCAA and will likely be available at #8. We’re going to bypass the best middle of the order bat in the draft in hopes Schanuel turns into Casey Kotchman.
Reading they consider Kurtz a plus defender at first. Any chance he could have an outfielders glove set in his locker for him to mess around with? Obviously this idea is in hopes that Schanuel develops.He doesn’t appear to be a candidate to make a position change. But, we will always need a DH.
Not sure how good an athlete Kurtz is?
Not sure. I know he absolutely mashes and is a stellar first baseman. So unless Nolan can hit well enough to merit DH time or move positions it would make the most sense to keep Kirk at first.
I have a bad feeling the college arms will be gone by 8, leaving us a good selection of college bats.
Wetherholt and Kurtz are the guys I like best. Tibbs would be an attempt at a below slot deal. Cam Smith plays third base, fills an immediate need, and likely signs for a discount.
Knowing the Angels they will bypass the two superior talents and take one of the last two guys.
We need that really superior bat. We need both quality and quantity but we should not pass up a really good bat.
Schanuel would move to the OF before Kurtz
Kurtz, if he falls to us, is kind of in the same boat as Tibbs and Wetherholt. If we just plain want offense, and we know our team is thin, then take one of these guys. If Shanuel needs to move, or Kurtz needs to move, or Tibbs takes “outfielders” spot on the roster in 2026 do we care at this point as long as the guy has an .800+ OPS?
Then take a Wake Forest pitcher with our second pick because I am weirdly fixated on that.
We need hitters. Figure out the position later.
I agree completely. It’s ok to have two guys at the same position, you can always trade one or make one a DH. We need hitters.
Fortunately it doesn’t really matter. He’ll play 1B until the team believes it can compete.
Sure, but service time is a relevant consideration. Perhaps he can “figure it out” for a couple of months in the minors. Particularly when Drury/Sano/Rendon return.
That is true. They could save a year of service time by sending him down.
Where’s my long form weekend read Jeff?!?
You got to buy the Book.
I read JJ’s synopsis on here 4 weeks ago though
https://crashingthepearlygates.com/2024/05/08/charlie-hustle-is-a-great-read/
Didn’t find anything worthy of your time this week.
🤣
You and I both know my times not worth much!
Bummed none of the locals (Fullerton/UC Irvine… or even the gauchos up north) made the final 16. Go Evansville I guess!
Yeah, I was hoping one would. That Santa Barbara regional was tough for me as it had both Fresno State and the Gauchos but neither made it through.
Arkansas also fell. I’ve been a Razorbacks guy due to Tim and Dominic Fletcher. I really missed texting Tim during this baseball season. He was a great guy.
as you can imagine, I’m rooting pretty hard for both Oregon and Oregon State in the Super Regionals. They’re both on the road so it’ll be tough but they’ve made it this far which is pretty cool.
You have to subscribe to his Substack.
Could tonight possibly be the last Mike Trout bobble head? Since team is going rebuild there are no guarantees he will be here in 2025.
No, considering there’s a Mike Trout throwback bobble head on 7/27 v Athletics 😉
Cool ! Did not see that one. Will go to that game for sure.
Note to self…..remind everyone that we don’t do rebuilds.
From the desk of —
A. Moreno
Does his figurine feature him in crutches or in street clothes?
That’s awesome and very appropriate.