It is Kikuchi day, which means a win chance is good, but a Kikuchi win chance is low. Because that stat is stupid for pitchers. Some people still cling to it, because number goes up, and there are really only 2 counting stats for pitchers anyway, wins, and K’s. Anyway, Kikuchi went 7 innings, giving up 2 runs (both unearned) on 3 hits, striking out 12, and walking 1. Maybe you can get that W today after all…
Highlighted Recap
The Red Sox scored first in the first with a 2 run single.
Not to fear, Adell is here, and he blasted one to LF in the 4th.
And Travis said yes, let’s tie it, and above the wall, so no line jokes this time.
And the next inning, Jo Adell drove in another run, with a single.
So did Travis.
Mike Trout then contributed in the 6th with an RBI single as well.
With runs in 3 straight innings, the Angels had the lead and Kikuchi was able to give 7 strong innings and hand it off to the bullpen to get the final 6 outs.
Zeferjahn was tasked with doing so. Yes, a 6 out save, against the team that traded him. Classic. Angels win, sweep the Sux.
Upcoming
No game tomorrow, Nats this weekend at the Big A.
The Mercedes-DENZER
https://x.com/trashpandas/status/1938049932054630403
How is it that low? Show your work, is this based on math, or just you opinion man?
Sincerely,
The Dude
https://x.com/samblum3/status/1938077149812179014?s=42
Hmmmm ? Makes me wonder… why for instance BOSTON, whom we just swept and were 5-1 against for the season series are so much higher than us ? A little thing called “East Coast Bias” perhaps?
Likewise, why is Texas so much higher? I mean, they are not 1-2% higher in odds but damnit if they are not 16% higher…I haven’t checked strength of schedule from here on out for each team but this can’t be right ….
I blame Wash.
Not sure how often these odds numbers are updated. Baseball-Reference has a cool layout for playoff odds. Their calculations, which does not include today’s game, show that the best record the Angels might have is 83-79. Their calculations show that we would still be behind, Tampa, Toronto, Boston, Cleveland, Royals, Seattle, Texas in wins.
According to Baseball-Reference best scenario the Angels would need to win 91 games for a WC. That means a 51-31 the rest of the season. The strength of schedule is only just over .500, but includes Astros, Mariners and Brewers.
Playoffs are out of reach. There is no way to buy a .626 record for the rest of the season. Be bold and trade for at least one, preferably two very good MiLB 3b that can play OF or 1b. Add one or two of our minor arms if needed. Picking two pitchers with our two first draft picks can replace them easily. If the two 3b are ready for 2027, maybe trade Schanuel for another #2 or #3 starter. Hat3 to think that but we’re trying to build a 90+ winning team.
Ummm, no. I don’t believe this…
Good chance it won’t take 91 wins to make it. I mean, there are THREE Wild Card teams now and not just one. That does increase the odds alot.
If you look at the teams currently ahead of us in the Wild Card standings Seattle currently holds the number three and final spot. They are 41-38 which means they have 83 games remaining… For them to get to 91 wins they would need to go 50-33. That sounds just as improbable as the number you quoted for us… I sure don’t think Seattle will go 50-33 the rest of the way ..
The Mariners are currently playing at only a .519 pace and lead us by just 1.5 games for that final spot. If every other team plays to average the rest of the way (which is not inconceivable) then we’d only need to play at about a .520 pace and perform well in our head to head matchups with them. We would then overtake them.
Not sure where Baseball Reference is getting their shit, but the playoffs are sure as hell NOT out of reach. You my friend are buying some bad product and are trying to sell it to the public as legit.
Or maybe you have been smoking some mile high stuff to get you in that state of mind…
the other thing is that if they think the Red Sox of all teams will be ahead of us it tells you how deluded they are …. Boston is a sinking ship… We just showed pretty unequivocally that we are a better team than them.
We just beat them 5 out of 6 meetings..
Last year 86 wins got you a WC slot. It looks like more wins will be needed this year. While the remaining schedule is not bad there are 16 games against Astros and Mariners plus games against Texas all of whom have better pitching, particularly Texas. We also play games against Tigers, Tampa and Toronto. Angels win about half the games against .500 teams so far this season. To reach 86 wins would mean being 10 games over .500. Tall order.
Texas has better pitching but we have better hitting. We have a big 4 game series with them coming up and that should show alot… Toronto does not really scare me.
And we showed we could beat the Rays; frankly they are playing a bit over their heads and should come back to earth a bit… You talk about last season but this year is different.
Really, I don’t think that ANY of the non-division leaders in the WC race will get to 91 wins as you originally claimed it would take. For example, I really don’t think the Rays are going 46-36 the rest of the way.. But even if they did they are only one team and two more slots are open.
The Wild Card race is actually WIDE OPEN, and as I previously stated THREE teams will make it.
It all comes down to run differential. The calculations show that they currently are over performing. If they keep winning and reduce blowout losses the odds will improve.
I am not a big believer in run differential as a tell all stat. For example, we are way behind Texas in run differential but lead them in the standings. For me how a team performs in 1 run games is much more important and we are BEST in MLB in that category !!
I, too, would put Texas, KC, and Min ahead of us.
It’s about how Angels are doing overall, as opposed to saying, “…in last 20 games, relievers are performing in top 3 of all teams….”. Then, when you look at stats over the entire set of games to this point, Angels relievers are near the bottom 3 teams.
So, while I’m happy we are 40-40, and are within striking distance of the last playoff spot, I remember all too well 2023, a team which had similar problems to this year’s team. Executives thought they had a shot at making playoffs, did some trades, and a team that was 3-4 games above 0.500 around trading deadline, ended up 73-89.
And we no longer have Shohei, and Trout seems light years older.
This aggression will not stand, man…
This case has a lot of ins, a lot of outs, a lot of what have you’s. Fortunately I’m adhering to a strict drug regimen to keep the mind limber.
I think it’s great that the Sox were swept and the team is at .500, but I’m not expecting they finish at .500 or better. Since the last winning season, in 2015, the following shows the last date with a .500 record for each year:
Season Date Record
2024 Apr 17 9-9
2023 Aug 09 58-58
2022 Jun 04 27-27
2021 Sep 04 68-68
2020 Jul 25 1-1
2019 Aug 03 56-56
2018 Sep 12 73-73
2017 Sep 21 76-76
2016 Apr 27 11-11
So what’s your point?
My point is that there have been multiple instances where the team was at .500 even as late as September and yet had a losing record. While it’s great to see the Angels playing well, I’m expecting a losing record, but they will show improvement over the last few years.
And there are multiple instances where a team has losing record this late or later in the season and still makes the playoffs. So…
.500 baseball, winning 7 of the last 10 games. Moore shows promise, Adell is streaking, Neto may not be seriously hurt, O’Hoppe has found his form, and the pitching staff is holding its own.
Good times.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Beautiful. Just beautiful.
What an absolute crazy series. From the top of the 1st inning in game 1 to the final out. That… was fun.
Missed this one, was down in San Diego watching the Pads beat the Nats 1-0. Glad to see this on the scoreboard. Good baseball day.
No shuffle?
You just gotta be patient man!
I came in after 30+ comments, that’s plenty of time! GIVEMEMOARSHUFFLZZZZZZ
Got other things on my plate 😂
Jo Motherfuck*n Adell. Has anyone ever looked as badass in home whites?
I always thought he could a fine player, but geez, did anyone think he’d ever have a month like this?
Ohoppe.. pooholes looked like a scoop of vanilla ice cream
Yup.
Groove was definitely the baddest of asses
.500 is a huge surprise, timely pitching and hitting this season unpossible but its real. Hitting with runners on base is the best in 10 yrs at least.
…and we have a better record that the RedSux-Suck it Trebek!!
Pumping the Chowds is definitely th3 cherry on top. I was happy with the Dodgers sweep, but let’s keep going, eh?
Almost swept the Chowds in Boston
Almost swept the Yankees in the Bronx
7-0 against the pesky A’s this year.
This is a different Angels team!
(Of course they also got swept by Baltimore).
Growing pains in this pubescent contender of a team! .500 feels so good when we’ve been abject shite for sooooo long
Wow… just wow. If you had told me we’d be at .500 at the end of June, I’d have said you were crazy. I’m so pleasantly surprised. I still think we need to trade every viable piece that isn’t part of the long-term core — but who am I kidding? Arte’s probably popping Cialis pills like Tic Tacs and is ready to buy, buy, buy like it’s 2023 all over again.
Agree!!
If someone wants Jansen, Anderson, Rengifo, etc. – do the trades!
Heck, same for Trout.
Shiiiii. Hate to say it, but if we could pull off a salary dump with nothing in return it would be a miracle. Phillies? Dodgers? Yanks? Probably no one…
Jansen and Anderson will have some value. Rengifo is a crapshoot, you just have to find the right team that thinks they can fix his skillset.
Is etc. Taylor Wards new nickname? cuz I’m down with that.
Lolbah
Before today’s game the starting staff was third in the AL in WAR (3.2) behind KC (5.0) & NY(3.8).
Wow 😃
So horrible?
According to Erica Weston, no structural damage to Neto! What a great day!
https://x.com/ericalweston/status/1938012202449174916?s=46&t=b3GzRpbtEWhzBnN_52yN2w
LFGGGGGGGG
Zach Neto has no structural damage in his shoulder, Ray Montgomery said.
He’s day to day. A very positive update for Neto and the Angels.
https://x.com/SamBlum3/status/1938012253481291933?t=cXTDQq2OOo5AuJ1uL5RB0w&s=19
Okay, give Neto tomorrow off.
.
.
.
(Yes, I know)
Im no doctor but that Sounds like Shoulder TJS to me.
I’m no doctor either, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
I stayed there too and your room was way too d@mn loud.
Good news!!
However, same was said of Trout, for his knee.
And, Trout missed 1 month’s worth of games, I think. And, he’s still not played in the outfield since returning.
So, it’ll be interesting to see how many games Neto misses.
Nice, but we’ve done been down this road before. The organization has lost any good grace with me in terms of honesty with injuries.
Hallelujah!!!
I’m enjoyin’ the ride peeps!!
let the kids play!!
Swept the Sux
Walk of shame from the Big A x 3 for those loser sux “fans”. So beautiful
40-40 ! This team has shown impressive resolve battling back to .500. You know Wash is proud.
ETAs on Neto, Moncada, Stephenson, and Wash will determine how serious of a run we can make at a WC berth.
LTBU ! 🍍 🍍 🍍
Positivity King! You take a bow Mr Pina!
You going to Sunday’s game ?
You know it Salvy day. My wife if half Salvadoran. She probably wants to send me to the death camp their half the time. You? I’ll connect for sure. Hahahaha
Lmaooooooooo
I’ll forsure grab a ticket to the game!
Who is this Stephenson you have listed?
I believe it’s an old wooden ship….
Who would have thought?! It’s June and Angels baseball is exciting again!
🙋🏼♂️
Not me! So happy to be wrong.
Let’s have a good day off and then get after the Nationals. Baseball is fun again.