In a bit of irony, this column is easier to write during the off season. There are player signings and trades to discuss. Awards, Hall of Fame ballots, and odes to the glory days of baseball provide plenty of content when there are no games to cover.
Once the games start, they come so frequently and in such quantity that there is little other news than the games themselves.
The only notable Angels news this week is that shortstop Zach Neto has been ruled out for Opening Day. Even that is really telling us something we all expected months ago. One man’s misfortune opens an opportunity for others. Tim Anderson is making his case for the gig.
There has been a lot to like about the Angels this week. Franchise icon Mike Trout is getting comfortable in right field and is back to launching laser shots over the fence.
If we can get a season of the real Mike Trout this year that would be amazing. For the Angels, for baseball, and for the dad of a kid who now understands what a home run is. Give me a summer of watching the kids develop and Trout being Trout and I’ll be as happy as the 2025 Angels can make me.
Speaking of kids developing, Caden Dana gave us reason to dream yesterday.
Here’s how we can tell there’s a shift in the organization. In years past Caden Dana would be hoped upon as a savior or sorts for the rotation. That one guy who just might finally be a good homegrown starter. And to be clear I have high hopes for Dana. But this year, he’s not the only young arm fans feel should be in the Opening Day rotation. Silent C had a better MLB run than Dana last year and kicked off the Cactus League schedule with a decent showing.
Those two are competing for time with Angels 2020 first round pick Reid Detmers, who is looking to capitalize on his potential in 2025. Reid gave up 1 run over two innings in his start against Cleveland last weekend.
Yes, it is still February and these are basically exhibition games but it has been decades since the Angels had a starting pitching trio age 25 or under with this potential.
Jose Soriano is only 26 and is flashing front of the rotation potential. He worked on his sinker in his Cactus League debut and looked shartp. Take a look at this nasty knuckle curve.
So, yes, life in Halo land is good at the moment. The kids are showing promise and the vets we need to bounce back are in one piece. There will be plenty of turbulence between now and October, so just enjoy this for what it is while it lasts.
The fact there are so little Angels storylines is a good thing. From around the league:
Jose Altuve’s move to left field is an attempt for Houston to keep its window open longer. We shall see but I predict Cam Smith, the slugging third base prospect acquired from the Cubs, will be killing the Angels for years to come.
We are baseball nerds. Let’s just be honest with ourselves. Increasingly, the tiny screens of beat writers are giving us our first glimpse at the upcoming season and prospects. That is a good read from FanGraphs and our longform piece for the week.
Mets pitchers are dropping like flies. Sean Manea will join Frankie Montas on the shelf at the beginning of the season.
Lat injuries seem to be the theme of early camp. Brewers hurler JB Bukauskas injured his lat so severely he underwent season ending surgery to repair it.
Giancarlo Stanton is not quite Anthony Rendon but you can see it coming from here. He hasn’t swung a bat in weeks and had to leave camp to fly to NY for medical testing. He has manned up and played over 100 games each of the last several years but he’s owed $96 million over the next three seasons and the injuries are mounting.
I’m linking this simply because this is a ridiculous draft profile and the fact I’d love to be young and/or good at baseball. Here’s a guy who could be a plus defender at shortstop who also hits 97 MPH on the mound. I haven’t been to a high school baseball game in forever, but catching him and his two other highly rated teammates might not be a bad idea.
Enjoy your weekend and link what I missed. My 5-7 year old Angels team is undefeated thanks to a monster rally in the bottom of the final inning on Wednesday. We played baseball, we kicked dirt, one kid even brought me a baseball that wasn’t from our game in the middle of an inning. It was fun, it was herding cats, it was everything youth baseball is supposed to be. And we’ll be back at it tomorrow morning against a Phillies squad we’ve yet to face. Being an assistant coach in years past was fun but being the manager is on another level.
