Having fun this season as an Angels fan? Well, good news, the season is only halfway over. Ok, mathematically a little past half ways, but we promise no math here.
This year’s All Star Game takes place on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas. My Uncle Chris invited me to fly out there and join him but work is insane right now. Here’s all you need to know about it.
Tyler Anderson is the lone Angel on the squad and he’s fully deserving of the honor. His performance last Saturday in Wrigley is our highlight of the week. This was an absolute gem.
Well, that was the highlight on the field. There’s absolutely nothing better than giving back to the community. The kids are crushing it on the field and they are only getting easier to root for.
Logan had a pretty great week on the field as well, taking a future Hall of Famer yard twice on Wednesday night.
Returning to work just in time for a four day weekend was Anthony Rendon. That piece says Mike Trout is also progressing and should be back about the time Rendon to take another break.
From around the league:
Paul Skenes has been better than advertised and wrapped up his first half with a no hit bid. 11K’s over 7 innings. I need to see this kid live.
Skenes Pirates were rumored to be pursuing our very own Taylor Ward. I really like their farm and would love to get some of it.
The All Star Game festivities include the 2024 Draft. So mock drafts are out in force.
FanGraphs has a very well reasoned mock draft that Angels fans would be happy with.
MLB’s final mock is a bit different and I love this kid’s upside at 8.
Want to know who the experts say these draftees resemble? ESPN has you covered.
I’m purposely not linking Wander Franco because that case is too disturbing. I’m absolutely heartbroken for that girl.
Enjoy your weekend and link what I missed. I have an All Star Game game thread scheduled so swing on by and say hi to the forum if you’d like.
USA Today mock has us landing Hagen Smith: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/draft/2024/07/12/mlb-mock-draft-2024-first-round-predictions-travis-bazzana/74371185007/
Bottom line is there are about 8 studs at the top of the board. The Angels pick 8th. One or two should be there.
As Rex keeps saying, just don’t overthink it.
I’m so unsure about everyone in this draft that I’m OK with just about anything. Honestly I’m not THAT excited about Tibbs, sounds like Adell with college. But he’d be fine too. Feel the same about Condon. I’d even be OK if they took some crazy talented high school kid like Rainer. If they just went “most talent we can get” with the first pick and then picked solid college talent the next two spots I’d be OK with watching how that rolls out.
Like say we got “stuck” with Rainer then Luke Holman (RHP LSU) and Dylan Dreiling (LF Tenn) and Aiden May (RHP Oregon) or Chris Cortez (RHP Texas A&M) in those first 4 picks? That’d be fine with me. We’d just have to see how they suss out, but that’s the case if we picked #1 as well, just about. Things would depend on if one of those 3rd round pitchers can learn a change up and be a starter, and how fast Dreiling can make it to the show, for example.
I watched way more college baseball than usual this season. There are a good 4 or 5 guys I’d be happy to take at 8 and I’m willing to bet at least one is available.
Holman or Ben Hess (RHP Alabama) in the second round would be great.
Dana- Draft pick – trade acquisition leading the Pandas rotation next year would be nice.
May and Cortez in High A the second half of next year would be a huge talent boost at that level.
Even me would be happy with Rainer.
It would be something new for the front office
SWIV A New Hope
Whoa. Totally forgot that Joe Saunders went to an ASG
Also kinda like how Tommy LaStella went to ASG.
Or Jared Walsh.
You mean Left fielder Jared Walsh?
https://www.mlb.com/video/jared-walsh-s-clutch-catch
I saw the picture before scrolling down and didn’t even recognize who it was.
The forgotten years….when we had multiple all-stars and don’t remember one of their names.
Funny thing is that I recall really liking that guy. He didn’t have exceptional stuff but he got the most out of it by knowing his craft.
Re: those mock draft links…
WetherBOLT would be exciting… Montgomery perhaps slightly less exciting because all the reports say he has some swing-and-miss issues. We already have a RF with a cannon arm and good power with swing-and-miss issues.
But we should probably all be prepared for the team underslotting Tibbs or 2B Christian Moore maybe (?) and getting an Albright down-draft.
Not a Monty fan with the first pick.
Of course, we all know the Angels are going to be huge sellers at the deadline. And SI is claiming they’re open to ALL possibilities, but it’s kinda hard to take them seriously if they can’t even do basic proofreading:
I have no faith that Arte will let Perry do his job.
Would be mildly surprised to see Anderson, Ward, or Canning moved.
I have no faith Minasian can do his job.
🎯
You must be factoring in his results into making that comment.
I’m fine with other teams giving us players for Tyler Ward.
AI
Sell, sell, sell
We said sell.
So we went way under slot in 2019 for Will “Still No Cup of Coffee” Wilson, to pick up Kochanovich, in a sleuth deal (he was telling others he was going to college). Who was the next pick after us? Corbin Carroll. Well done Epler.
The Wilson instead of Carroll gaffe is typical Angels stuff sadly. At least since the days for Bill Stoneman ended. I don’t have much faith in whomever they pick this weekend. The three top pitchers all look good. Just taking one of them would seem to be an easy quality pick.
I know most here are totally into “sell” mode in search of aliens being drafted in coming years that suddenly in 2027 and beyond right the ship and make a deep playoff push. I don’t know who these executives are for the Halos that will be making these terrific trade deals and subsequent draft picks. You’ve seen what has happened since 2010. Why does anyone think trading Rengifo (after waiting years for him to finally became a real MLBer) for a couple prospects that might be up in 27 or 28 moves the needle?
The Angels have O’Hoppe, Neto, and Rengifo as quality MLBers that should play well in the next few seasons. They have Ward who is adequate. Next Trout and Rendon are legacy players that if healthy can contribute. Schanuel will be on the team. That leaves OF, pitching and depth as the areas of need.
The rotation is a disaster for future seasons so I’d start there. The team needs to use their own draft picks to get future talent that can actually play. If they cannot do that, they won’t be turning it around no matter what.
“Trout and Rendon are legacy players that if healthy can contribute”
This is simply not true with Rendone. He’s a terrible baseball player and has been for 3 years running.
He aint healthy hasn’t been since 2020 and probably never will be. His legs are shot.
Injured = terrible. Got it.
How has he performed when healthy ?
When was the last time he was really healthy?
If I had to guess I would say May 3, 2021 which is the last time his OPS was over .800 as he had just hit 2 HR’s and 4 XBH in the span of 3 days.
His power numbers (as well as average) have been pathetic since then
I expect you are accurate. However, Rendon was never a true power hitter. His value was always in timely hits and knowing how to play the game. Did the Angels in hindsight markedly overpay? Apparently so — given the injuries etc. But he is what he is. Fans can only hope he stays healthy and provides some of the value his talent could allow.
I agree with your perspective on selling off everyone, but in the baseball world it makes sense to start over thru drafts and prospects when the team sucks. You’re right that trading a legit player for prospects that could not turn out is risky. Rays, Nats, and A’s were masters of doing this, but not our GM’s. And drafting the same problem, plus even if you score #1 there are no guarantees (ask Moniak). We have to look to the future, but yes that could be much more years of suck if young players don’t turn out.
If one was interested in getting better sooner as opposed to later they would keep Ward and extend Rengifo, which means at the very least, you would need a RF, DH, and 2B assuming you stuck with Schanuel. The 2B would just need to be a positive contributor but the RF and DH would need to be middle of the order bats. That’s doable I believe. As mentioned by many, the rebuild path would take a while. We’d be looking at another 2-3 more years at least like this one. You absolutely need to trade Anderson and Estevez. Arte either has to be willing to live with more years like this one or be willing to spend his way out, and like others have already said, I’m not confident that the organization can execute either option successfully.
I think Rengifo is 2B, unless or until Rendon gets hurt. Hence, I think it’s more OF, and utility player. My guess is at DH they will rotate Trout and Rendon plus others through there.
You also have to find pitching…. or win 75 games still.
I do not consider Rendon capable of contributing and I’m still very unsold on Schanuel but I agree on the rest. I am more optimistic than you about their organizational pitching as opposed to position players where I think they are almost completely empty.
Or later in draft that Gunnar Henderson kid, but he’s no good. At least we got Paris, instead of that Dodger pick Pepiot. Our scouts got an F- grade in 2019
did you know Carroll is hitting .209 with an OPS of .612 and an OPS+ of 76 this year? in 400+ plate appearances.
Not sure it can get any uglier.
Hopium is the only thing left!!
Give all the kids a cup of coffee.
Some good news. Doyers got swept!!!!!!!!!