New York… New York… New Yankee Stadium in New York is not as new anymore but it is certainly a place where balls, and time flies. Jose Soriano had to pitch today. He went 7 innings giving up no runs on 6 hits striking out 6 and walking 1.
Too bad the Angels also went 10 innings without scoring either. And only managed 4 hits.
Yep, a pitching duel was here. In NY. Somehow. No one knows how or why but it was true. Clark Schmidt matched Jose Soriano as the duo turned back the clock to 1968 with hardly a hit let alone a run.
Highlighted Recap
It was scoreless through 7. Not much to show. But uh Moore got bored first hit! A triple by Judge!
It was very much a pitching duel. And every pitching duel needs great defense. Like this one by Neto in the 8th that allowed them to not have to deal with Judge.
Anyway, we head to extras after Jansen and Rengifo keep it scoreless with pitching and defense in the 9th.
Too bad they couldn’t do anything at all in the 10th. But the Yankees couldn’t either. Heading to the 11th.
It was then, after a stupid failed bunt by Neto, that Nolan doubled in the first run of the game!
But that was all they scored. Which meant that the Angels had to make this a shutout with Brock Burke. After a walk to Judge and a flyout, a weak grounder may have doomed the Angels but Moore got the out at home!
Too bad Neto botched the next batted ball. Thankfully Strickland came in for the save! Angels win!
Upcoming
More games in NY the next 3 days. Yes, this is a 4 game series. I will be writing 3 of them.
I root for two teams every day, The Angels and whoever the Yankees are playing. Yesterday both of my teams came through.
In the same game, even!
I’m glad Brooke Burke didn’t go all “Wild On!” us
Great Angels pitching performance!
And our offense was just slightly better than the Yankees.
For Tuesday,
Will Warren has face Angels only 1 time: a loss, in which pitched 1-1/3 innings, allowing 7 earned runs (16.62 ERA)
Kyle Hendricks has faced Yankees twice (while he was with the Cubs): 2 games, 3.27 ERA in 11 innings pitched, no pitching decisions in either appearances
Perhaps we can steal another game on Tuesday?!
By the way, O’Hoppe is now in a gigantic 4-51 (0.078 BA) slump.
I say we keep playing him, just to give the executives a better idea of whether to sign him to a long term contract.
For 2026, he enters his first year of arbitration
Well Well well. look who pitched 6 scoreless innings including 10 strikeouts on the way to a shutout of the Mermen tonight.
https://www.mlb.com/gameday/red-sox-vs-mariners/2025/06/16/777486/final/box
This has to be the best game hes pitched since ,well, you know, that dark day at the 2023 trade deadline.
Because…of course.
Now compare Canning to Soler. How wonderful
Unfortunately Griff is quickly turning back into a pumpkin. Last 5 starts:
6.75 ERA 1.67 WHIP whileAveraging just 4 innings per start
But, but….they fixed him… they did what was unpossible with us.
Barry Enright looked like a really effective pitching coach last year but early this season I was thinking maybe I overestimated him. Well, with the way the bullpen has completely gotten it together I’m back on the Enright train.
I forget who mentioned this recently but, grabbing that 1st game in a 3 game set is YUGE. We did this tonight and we’ve now got 2 opportunities to take 1 more game and win the series. That Baltimore series sucked but, if we’re able to win this series in NYC, it takes much of that sting away.
Hopefully Moore is starting again tomorrow now that he established some momentum tonight.
It was me who said it ha ha. Unfortunately this is a four game series, so I guess we first try to secure a split ? I don’t think it happens tomorrow with Hendricks so we set our sights on Wednesday !
Oh sh*t. I presumed it was 3 games. Anyway, it’s still a spot on take on your part.
I watch a ton of MMA and the same applies to 3 round fights.
I cant remember the last time a Halo rookie has come up and looked so confident on defense from the get go. Every ball hes handled so far hes looked smooth and confident. He must have taken all of Wash’s Spring training fielding exercises to heart.
Shohei in 2018 was nails from the get-go. whether o not he counts, it’s good company to be in.
Best defensive DH in our teams history?
I remember when we stuck him in the OF (once his pitching night was over) before MLB installed the “Ohtani Rule” 😂
Yes. He looked extremely regal standing there in Right Field waiting for the inning to end.
You’re just gonna’ continue to keep ground & pounding on poor RexFregosi, eh? Lulz
Sexy Rexy? NFW I love that guy. Hes HH Royalty. But it’s hard to let a snarky softball joke go by without swinging at it.
I actually almost spit my drink on your initial direct hit. Funny stuff.
the pitcher is part of the defense and Shohei the rookie pitcher in ‘18 was nails out of the gate, starting Easter.
Shohei rookie pitcher 2018? When, who, where? He’s only played for the Doyers, and tonight was his first time pitching.
A lot of people have honestly forgotten he was on the Angels. It’s like he never existed before last years 10 year – $700,000,000 contract he signed up the I-5.
That play he made in the 11th saved the game. Totally calm, totally focused, and made a great throw home. Only if our vets like Newman and Heefo played D that way !!!
Well, Newman won’t be on the roster much longer. Or at least we can hope.
Rengifo did play that type of defense tonight when he realized he realized he get outs at third base without throwing the ball away.
yeah, tonight he was better, but overall this year his defense has been horrific !
Re: Moore, I thought the word on him coming up was that his 2B defense was merely OK and that he might ultimately project as a 3B?
My recollection fades:
Either way, he looks pretty damn smooth now.
The scouting reports also said Neto probably wouldn’t stick at SS.
Maybe Wash and Co. has had an effect? They did wonders with Adell last season and Paris before he was sent down.
I’m sure CMo will have some struggles, but the kid oozes confidence.
That wasn’t the scouting consensus on Neto though. Many scouts put a 50 grade on his SS defense, but said he might become an above average defender if he moved to 2b.
They weren’t wrong – OOA has had Neto in the bottom 10% for two years running, and Fangraph’s defense metrics have turned negative on Neto this season as well. He can make some splashy Jeter-esque plays, but like Jeter, the metrics don’t always accord with fan perception of him.
Here was Longenhagen’s take on Neto in 2022 – he was among the highest on Zach before the draft (ranking him #5 on his board), and I still think this is a fair / accurate description:
“A plus athlete, Neto does some acrobatic things at shortstop and when he puts his whole body into a throw, he appears to have plenty of arm for the left side. He goes out of his way to try to throw while he’s on the run, and while Neto’s effort level is admirable, he rarely makes anything look easy the way big league shortstops tend to. He has a non-zero shot to stay at short, but I feel more comfortable projecting him to second base.”
“He has a non-zero shot to stay at short, but I feel more comfortable projecting him to second base.”
That statement doesn’t read like a scouting report that wasn’t overly supportive of Neto sticking as an MLB SS.
I’ve seen the advanced metrics grading Neto below average defensively. Not what my eyes tell me, but to your point the Jeter-esque plays can mask quite a bit haha.
I wouldnt read Longenhagen’s language as supportive vs non-supportive. Just assessing where his best positional fit was. I think he was correct that his defense at SS is probably average / fringe average, and he’d be potentially better at 2b.
As with Jeter, I think people remember the spectacular plays, and don’t register the unexceptional plays where range, footwork or transfers fall short.
Welp according to the Fielding Bible , Neto is tied for 3rd among Major League shortstops with 7 defensive runs saved to date and thats after missing the first month of the season so apparently his defense hasn’t slipped that much this year.
Of course Taylor Walls is crushing just about everyone in the DRS category.
I neither read nor comprehend most of the advanced metrics but, Neto passes the eye test & 7 DRS is a stat I do understand. Dude can ball.
You understand DRS more? I always found it more hermetic due to its dependence on propriety BIS data (essentially aggregated human judgments). Also, a run-based formula seems less intuitive than an outs-based formula for assessing defense to me, but that’s just me.
I like OOA for infielders as it’s more of a range based metric that looks at batted ball data (direction, speed, distance) to determine catch probability, which seems pretty important when considering situational infield defense.
(It’s also a metric they’ve been actively improving as we quantify ball movement better.)
I “understand” is a relative term here.
It’s more accurate to say that DRS is convenient as a catch-all statistic that places a numerical value to a player’s overall defensive performance – perhaps similar to WAR.
I don’t delve into the various metrics, etc. that comprise DRS and apparently there is some subjectivity included, which only clouds it further. I suppose I just find it useful to augment the classic stats that I’m more familiar with (Avg / OBP / SLG / OPS, BB / SO / SB, etc.
Basically, DRS is a data point for novices like me that don’t know enough about the game.
Didn’t pre-injury prone Trout also rate as a mediocre defender in CF even though he certainly passed the eye test for a layman like me? Save for perhaps his arm, which I believe also improved over a period of time?
Well, there’s a reason why Statcast moved on from DRS to OOA – the latter takes positioning more into account among infielders. I think front offices are increasingly using OOA over UZR/DRS, which were more standard 15+ years ago.
This article does a pretty decent job of teasing out the differences:
https://www.tdabaseball.com/post/defensive-metrics-examining-how-to-evaluate-the-game-s-fielders
I really like Longenhagen’s take, matches what my eyes are telling me. While he steadied the position for the Angels at a time of need, feels like a move to 2nd would be best. That bobble tonight, I’ve seen more of that recently from him. Range going to the hole is limited. He’s fine there until someone better comes along.
I read the same reviews Banned. I cant believe this is the same guy
I watched many of those games, and his defense *was* raw – bungled some routine grounders and throws, but had some good nights as well.
He was like this at Tennessee though – made some outstanding plays and had good games, then had some boneheaded ones. The inconsistency is/was the issue.
TT = The Voice of Reason.
It’s difficult to NOT get a little hyped over the Neto/Moore tandem.
Going way back to 2022, Neto. He’s more accomplished on that side of the field than the 2024 draftee.
Avia Arquette at #2. Complete the IF …
C – O’Hoppe
1B – Schanuel
2B – Moore
SS – Neto
3B – Arquette
I need it. Of course if Holliday doesn’t go #1, then take him before Arquette
Then who the hell is going to pitch for this team in 2027?
Agree. HAVE to take a pitcher with the #2 pick, whether it is Kade Anderson, or Hernandez or whomever…
But aren’t we kind of obligated to take Reggie Willits kid Eli?
He’s a legacy you know.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bhFCts-Rt0
Ha ha ha. That would actually be funny.
Well, maybe not so much. We did give Torii’s kid a shot though !
Would not cry if they rolled the dice on Willits kid, do it
Gotchu, CB
1. Ace Soriano
2. Reid Detmers
3. Old Man Kikuchi
4. Free Agent not on team yet
5. Urena/Dana/Klassen
Cant wait to see who Number 4 is
Klassen has the best chance of those above to be “that dude”.
Maybe Silent C if he can fix his command issues ? Maybe the 3 is our new stud like Kade Anderson ? Seth Hernandez would of course need seasoning in the minors …
To clarify, I’m down with Hernandez or any of the college arms too. The idea of solidifying our infield for the foreseeable future is mega appealing!
I think the Italian Job might force his way into this conversation….
yes, then grab pitching in the following rounds
Listened to the game on SiriusXM, had the Yankees radio feed. The new play by play guy is pretty sucky. Makes Roger Lodge seem like Scully, Jr. Very confusing trying to follow the game.
Damn, that had to have been some REALLY shitty announcing.
Don’t know how we survived the last couple innings but we did it! Somehow we’re still only 2 1/2 games out of the wildcard too
After the 2023 “all in” flameout, I try to avoid thinking along those lines. I just kinda’ go week-to-week and enjoy the small moments.
Definitely. It’s too early to seriously think about it but it does seem like the American League kinda sucks and anything could happen
playoff talk in June ???
I’m at work so I can’t actually look for the GIF, but..
[Insert Jim Mora PLAYOFFS??? GIF here]
The reports of Jose Soriano’s demise were greatly exaggerated. Back-to-back gems.
And that defensive play by Neto was sick. What an athlete. The Neto-Moore combination is something to bet cautiously optimistic about.
That play was just about impossible, but he made it !
And ditto on Soriano… It is HUGE for him to put high quality starts together back to back. CONSISTENCY is what we need from him if he is to become a true Ace !
I believe he’s gone 7.2 and 7.0 innings respectively. In this era of MLB, 7 is the 9.
I’m wonder what has change? Travis behind the dish? Or Jose just working out kinks. He’s a stud.
Probably impossible to know. Soriano has “stud stuff” to be sure. Didn’t Logan catch today?
I joined late, you’re right. My error.
No worries.
That said, Travis might pass Logan on batting average soon at the rate that Logan is falling.
Attacking the zone with strikes
What a performance by Soriano and the bullpen.
Incredible win.
Duel threat Moore! Nice!
He looked really overmatched, didn’t he ??
Just saw the play by Neto. It was unbelievable !!
my head hurts. Get swept by the woeful Os, beat the 1st place Skanks. Ok….
Consistently being able to raise their level of play against good teams is an awesome quality in this team.
Which makes the sweeps by Miami and Baltimore all the more dumbfounding.
As you’ve mentioned before, the 2025 Angels are a significant improvement from the 2024 Angels.
Miami did not sweep us. We won the first game. I know you went to the Sunday game (bummer), but I went to the Saturday one…. As for tonight the thing that impressed the most other than the great defense was the amazing job by the bullpen…
Not often that the Yankees are shut out for 11 frickin innings at home ! Clutch performances by Soriano, Detmers, Jansen and the whole lot !
You’re right, Frosty, my bad! Really hoping the next time we get a game within .500 we will be able to break through.
Yeah, me too. It will be hard the next 6 games. Really hard.
The Yankees are really hungry right now, and after tonight they will be angry as well. It is usually us who have the LOBster fest, but tonight the Yankees were plagued by LOBsters…
I think tomorrow they will feast on the soft tossing Hendricks… And we will see how Silent C holds up. I expect the Astros to shut us down the first two games in Anaheim as they re-set their rotations so we would fact their top two starters the first two nights…. Then we get Boston. We could go 1-5 in the next 6 games which would push us that much further below .500.
Have to hope Silent C can have a big game on Wednesday cause we’re losing tomorrow for sure.
When I heard the Angels scored one run today, I was like “figures”. Imagine my surprise to find out they shutout the Yankees to win 1-0. Keep going, 72 wins is in sight.
LTBU !!!!!!!
CMo looks like a dude, talks like a dude, and plays like a dude.
Schanuel is unbelievable. I can’t understand how anybody doesn’t like him.
Soriano? That’s my ace ❤️
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Suck it Skanks!
One game winning streak! Wahoo!
One game is not a streak.
I’m going with, “Yes it is.” Don’t harsh my dreams dude!
😄