That was a heckuva game yesterday. Caden Dana started off the fifth inning with something like 51 pitches thrown. Pitch efficiency hasn’t been an Angel strong suit lately. Maybe that can change. The Angels won the Seattle series by the way.
Where Red Floyd and I sat, we had a couple of foul balls coming in out of the sun. One of them I simply could not see, but I was pretty sure I was at ground zero. I’m wearing sunglasses next time.
The Angels recalled Reid Detmers. He will start Tuesday. Also recalled is Charles Leblanc.
The Orioles just released Jean Segura. Time marches on. Nick Ahmed just got a minor league deal with the Padres. The Blue Jays claimed right-hander Dillon Tate off waivers from the Orioles. The Cardinals DFAd Tommy Pham. The Royals snapped him up, along with Robbie Grossman and Yuli Gurriel.
Clayton Kershaw is back on the injured list. Maybe he’s done. Who knows?
Photo credit: Rex Fregosi
BTW, Charles, that foul ball bounced off of the fence between our seats and the Diamond Club, and ricocheted into the Club.
Time to play Guess the mystery MLB players so here we go:
Player A is a 26 year old Left handed hitting outfielder who in his last 213 Plate Appearances is hitting .226/.301/.411 for an OPS of .712
Player B is also a 26 year old Left handed hitting outfielder who in his last 213 Plate appearances is hitting .283/.329/.515 for an OPS of .844
One of these players plays for the Angels while the other one does not. Any guesses?
The Angel is Moniak of assume. I don’t know the other player. Harris for the Braves? Tucker for the Astros? Just guessing wildly.
Half credit Stan . Player B is Mickey Moniak. Player A is…..Brandon Marsh.
Brandon Marsh is almost 5 months Older than the Mick. But both will be Arbitration eligible for the first time next year.
Wow. Good call on the trivia question.
Two Monday’s in a row without Angels baseball is just rude. Even if they aren’t the best right now.
Alas, hope they sweep the Dodgers and AZ wins their games to close that gap.
I’ll be in TX for this weekends series. Likely do the Friday game, but may just do the Saturday one.
I want AZ too, but shit they scored over 30 runs on Doyers and still lost 3/4? Just ridiculous MVP stacked super team. Plus everyone they seen to get always plays well, opposite of Angels. I didn’t think Sho could get any better but now he’s gonna do 50/50 for them. Go figure. Hope to somehow win 1 of the games at home. Shut up that cocky Latino crew Pantone who are taking over our stadium.
I wouldn’t fret too much Skollie, Th Doc Roberts Doyer Playoff choke is only month away.
I’d forgotten that Nick Adenhart made a few appearances in 2008. I wondered if his 6 shutout innings in that one game in 2009 was his first start…it wasn’t. Anyway, I was thinking about it in comparison to Dana’s win yesterday.
What could have been. Nick would now be 38 years old. That’s still so young that it makes me cry again.
Bring up your struggling starter to face the Doyers in his return to majors. Which Mensa in our org is responsible for that abomination.
Washington makes the line up including pitcher assignments.
What an awful decision.
Until its not..
Why? What difference does it make if a 95 win team looks at a project pitcher against the Dodgers? How is this a source of hemorrhoids and outrage? Could it be that this just isn’t that awful a decision and is merely just a decision?
Could it be a more productive day if the Angels take a look at Detmers while you take a look inside yourself and try to see what it is about your own feelings that makes you react this way? How you came to learn this pattern of reactions that is you doing a thing more than the world doing something to you? Perhaps a kitten? Some tea?
YARR! ERF WEED JUS WIN DIS WAN WE WILLD BE SO MARCH MORE BETTER IN DUH SEASON! THESE STOOPIDZ HAVR NAR FIRE! NO ZAZZ!
🙄
Arb Eligible in 2025, who do you offer a conract to?
Adell Arb 1
Moniak Arb 1
Detmers Arb 1
Thaiss Arb 1
Wantz Arb 1
Quijada Arb 2
Burke Arb 2
Suaraz Arb 2
Plesac Arb 2
Ward Arb 3
Canning Arb 3
Sandoval Arb 3
Rengifo Arb 3
We have room to do whatever we want moving forward with how much of the youth movement we have been able to bring up and see. We are starting to see a bit of a roster crunch on the SP front at the MLB level.
The easier question to answer is who I wouldn’t tender a contract to — Wantz, Suarez, Plesac.
Sandy’s situation is tricky because he’ll miss most (if not all) of 2025. Definitely want to keep him in the org.
Canning should be traded for a bag of balls, and if that isn’t possible then let him go.
I’d keep Canning. Yes, he has had a subpar year but maybe he can get back to 2023 performance. He has been healthy this year so this is a start and maybe he can get back on track.
I honestly think, based on nothing, that Canning’s place comes down to the coaches. If they think they can do something with him they’ll keep him.
Sandoval is a remnant of loser Angels. I don’t see the point in ever starting his pouting, negative self just to get 5 innings 4 runs and 1 WAR. There’s no reason to beg for his “breakout.” He’s not going to turn into Johan Santana. You already have replacements. We already have Detmers to fill that annoyance role. Now that Perry has his contract, it’s time to shed these losers like Ward, Sandoval Suarez. canning is not in the same level of loser but he’s just not good.
In fact jettison : Rendon, Drury, Ward, Canning, Sandoval, Suarez. This is instantly a better team.
Pouting. Negative. Sandoval id perfect for the mopes around this site. Why not keep him so these losers can keep typing TrAdition like a bunch of nutless whiners?
Adell yes
Moniak yes
Detmers yes
Thaiss yes
Wantz no
Quijada yes
Burke no
Suaraz no
Plesac no
Ward yes
Canning no
Sandoval no
Rengifo yes
Good list.
I agree with everything you said.
Burke will get tendered. So will Sandoval Canning is questionable. Wantz is Meh but since he’d take up a 40 roster man spot Im going to say no. Suarez & Plesac should be NFW.
But I would agree with all the your Yes’s Senator.
It will likely look a lot like that…. though Canning and Sandoval will be cheap innings and DamnRight may have plans for em. Kind of a coin flip. I’d be more sure they will be gone if the Angels had like 8 young starters they intend to get 100+ innings next year.
Plesac is FA. Can an org offer arbitration to FAs?
Adell, Moniak (why not?), Detmers, Thaiss, Quijada, Ward, Rengifo…. maybe Canning and Sandoval. Trade Thaiss, Rengifo, Ward as soon as we can if we get good off season offers. Canning too.
Moar Kidz!
Monday trivia for you all.
Of the 2025 returning players for the halos, can you name the #5 highest paid GUARANTEED player on the roster?
hint: He’s never taken an AB for the Angels.
Evan White ?
You are correct sir
And probably never will.
That contract is almost JeDi’s worse . But I said almost. it still pales in comparison to the Baldoquin fiasco.
And now it’s our bad contract. If I’m reading this correctly Seattle was paying him about a mil or a mil and a half and it’s only in 2025 that his salary balloons up to $8 mil.
Actually the JeDi is paying Atlanta $4.5 Million for taking on the remaining $17 Million Dollar commitment that we are now paying Evan White. If you recall in return Atlanta is taking on a $14 Million Dollar Commitment to David Fletcher and a $6.25 Million Dollar Commitment to Max Stassi (While the lowly White Sox are picking up an additional $1.25 of Max’s guaranteed Mula) . Obviously these two were Perry’s worst Contracts of his Angel GM tenure.
It looks like this trade saved Arte a net of $4.5 Million.
Got it, thanks!
Julio Rodriguez called…..said he would like a chance to be #1 On that list.
SP depth check-in
MLB / MLB-ready:
Tyler Anderson
Jose Soriano
Reid Detmers
Caden Dana
Jack Kochanowicz
Samuel Aldegheri
Griffin Canning *terrible*
Injured:
Chase Silseth *injured*
Sam Bachman *injured*
Patrick Sandoval *TJ surgery*
AA:
George Klassen
Brett Kerry
A+:
Ryan Costeiu
Walbert Urena
Big name FAs avaliable this winter — Corbin Burnes, Blake Snell, Max Fried
C – O’Hoppe
1B – Schanuel
2B – Rengifo
SS – Neto
3B – Rendone
OF – Ward
OF – Adell
OF – Moniak
DH – Trout
**still no report on Christian Moore after suffering a knee injury in AA**
The core is there, but once injuries inevitably hit we don’t have the depth to sustain.
As a survivor of the 70s teams that really sucked, it was cute when we played the kids, but the reason the flag finally flew at the end in 1979 was because we jettisoned the kids and signed a few All Stars.
There is enough here as a base, but would love to see Arte spend in 2025- a key piece or three to make us competitive.
I remember those years too. While I believe Harry Dalton had a plan to build a team that way, it felt like calling up the kids was more an act of desperation rather than what the team is doing now.
And we were able to trade young assets for veterans such as Dan Ford and Rod Carew and old assets for youngsters like Brian Downing and Dave Frost . But it didnt hurt that the youngsters we were able to keep that year like Carney Langford made huge contributions.
You have to hit on all cylinders to compete in this game.
My recollection of 1979 is that it had more to do with a career year from Dave Frost who won 16 games to combine with Ryan and Tanana. Also a young Lansford at 3B.
Bobby Grich came over in 1977, same with Baylor and Downing was 1978.
So I’m not sure your memory of a bunch of free agent signings acquisitions in the off season prior to 1979 is accurate.
just Bobby Grich
just Don Baylor
they came, starting in 1977, and I don’t recall them being the supporting cast behind Frost and Langford.
Those guys were signed prior to the ‘78 season not the ‘79 season. Worst move was trade of rookie Lansford for (I think) Dave Parker?
Ah – got it. Thank you for the reminder.
You are confusing Bo Bichete’s dad with the pre steroid meat man, ’71.
Lansford was traded along with Mark Clear and Rick Miller for Butch Hobson and Rooster Rick Burleson after the 1980 season. Burleson was a 3 time all star Shortstop but was on the wrong side of 30 .Burleson did deliver an all star season in his first year with us but proceeded to blow out his shoulder in the beginning of 1982 season and was never the same.
The 1979 team only won one more game than the 1978 squad. I think the big differences were the trades that brought Carew and Dan Ford over and the career year by Dave Frost. Below is a list of the major contributors that year and how they got there:
Downing traded for in 1977
Carew traded for in 1979
Grich free agent signing in 1976
Campaneris traded for in 1979
Lansford drafted in 1975
Baylor signed as free agent in 1976
Miller signed as free agent in 1977
Ford traded for in 1978
Aikens drafted in 1975
Rudi signed as free agent 1976
Frost traded for in 1977
Ryan traded for in 1971
Barr signed as free agent in 1978
Aase traded for in 1977
Knapp traded for in 1977
Tanana drafted in 1971
Lol, maybe I’m misreading the comments above but no one seems to be talking about the monster years Grich and especially Baylor had in 1979. Those two guys alone dramatically moved the needle. Shoutout to the player Downing became for us too. Trades and FA signings dramatically changed the offense of the team. And I have my baseball cards from the 74-76 seasons to prove it. Lol
You have the trade for Rod Carew prior to the 1979 season also.
Joe Rudi was signed in 1977 along with Baylor and Grich.
We don’t have the pitching depth yet. We need about eight – ten key pieces. A good example is the Braves/Phillies. They got a bunch of pieces and especially arms in place and then spent money to top off the talent.
If the definition of “the core is there” is to win some games, I’m in agreement.
If the definition of “the core is there” is to win playoff series, my perspective is that we are NOT there.
If the objective of fans and front-office alike isn’t to win championships, then why even care?
Nah. Not there yet. Good progress this season though. Imagine if we’d traded Ohtani in 2022? It sounds like the value of Ward/Rengifo were hampered this July, but if we’d gotten some kids for them too?
Then I’d feel like 2025 we may be seeing the core get solid. Bring on some FAs for 2026.
But I’d say we made some forward progress this season, just not gonna beat teams like Baltimore, Houston, Cleveland, Kansas City, New York or Boston regularly yet.
I tend to see the offense as the major weakness. They need impact bats. The kids are major leaguers that can get hot but not superstars.
Moore is already injured ?
Damn !!
TrAdition strikes again !!
Bullpen:
Ben Joyce
Robert Stephenson
Jose Quijada
Brock Burke
Roansy Contreras
Won’t spend a ton of time on the bullpen. Volatility in relievers is too unpredictable. Somehow we’ve had the best ‘pen In baseball for over 2 months. Shoutout Perry and Barry.
Stephenson is a big unknown given the injury. I think Roansy and Burke will be to inconsistent over a full season. Keep them while they are dealing, but don’t get possessive of them
Mason Erla is a sneaky option too
You bring up a good point. We will likely see some AA starter prospects get some MLB pen innings next year if needed.
Free the hyphenator.
Free BTO from his injury chains.
Fried and Goldschmidt
I’m with you on the Goldy signing. He and Nolan S. train together and are good friends. That platoon would be very good for us.
Goldy is aging fast. Fried performs like Kershaw in the postseason. Think the Halos should tread carefully here.
Angels not ready to complete, avoid those big FAs. Look to the second and 3rd tier.
Trade Anderson.
Perry and Barry’s Pitching Lab has me feeling good enough where I’d skip the big FAs too.
We desperately need TA to finish the year strong. A continued 2nd half meltdown doesn’t help.
Arte’s checkbook will stay closed until it’s time to bring home the prodigal son, Vlad Jr. 🧠 🧠 🧠
Yay. Another aging fat man with very limited defensive ability. Haven’t tried that.
Amen. We need this winters version of a Jed Lowrie. Not Juan Soto. And we need a couple trash heep pitchers to come here and “find their stuff”.
IF a situation like our current kids hold, Adell continues to get better, say Moore and that AA Panda 3B kid work out well and Jordyn Adams becomes a good bench piece, and a couple more kid starters solidify along with Soriano… say Dana, Silseth and Silent C…. then in 2026 it’s probably time for some splashing.
I wouldn’t sign any big FAs until we know we have a core in place. Especially break able pitcher types that may be well over 30 before we need their stubble and grit for a play off game.
It’s nice to be on the side that has the Cy-rookie pitcher for once.
Nice series win.
Now sweep the next series whoever it is.
We need to sink in the standings, no special medals for finishing 17 games under .500. Ping-Pong-Balls.
Not likely.
We’ve got two against a very hot and offensively healthy Dodgers team. And Canning is pitching one of those games — that’s an automatic loss.
Canning will be the opener……..but not listed as the opener, if you know what I mean.
Two loses by the Dodgers won’t keep them from the playoff, but I’d love the Angels to knock them out of the first-round bye and make that division race closer.