Links

LA Angels Wednesday News Crash: All Star Hangover

July 16, 2025

Good morning Angels fans. Still no Baseball until Friday. Have some links.

Angels News

With Kikuchi not pitching and no other Angel there, the All Star Game was rather… un-angelic this year. This was all the Angels got this year.

At least he got to talk to the media. Yay…

Oh and the Angels drafted a bunch of players, signed undrafted players, and made most Angels fans mad. Here is a list of the players signed so far.

Around Baseball

The NL beat the AL in the All Star Game on a Home Run Derby. Yes. A Home Run Derby. NL blew the save but the 9th ended 6-6. Schwarber then led the NL to victory in the Home Run Derby instead of Extra Innings.

Naturally Schwarber won the All Star MVP for his performance. Even though technically he shouldn’t have been even eligible.

In case you weren’t watching, there was a tribute to Hank Aaron’s 415th home run after the 6th inning. It was a cool fireworks and light show.

Alright, in non All Star Game news, the Rays got sold. Lucky.

They will also play the playoffs in the Yankees’ Florida stadium if they make it. That’s really bad but hey, at least that place will sell out.

Oh and the Twins will also be sold eventually. Eventually…

Anything I missed? Post below for upvotes!

76 Comments

Newest

Oldest Most Voted

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Editor

Legend

Jeff Joiner

38 minutes ago

Cowboy posted this in the draft thread and it is good news. Only $120k north of slot value for the Spin Monster.

https://x.com/BeyondTheHalo/status/1945001531943661921

Trusted Member

toad2065

45 minutes ago

John Henry, I demand that you return those 300 home runs that you have stolen from Mr. Aaron!

Super Member

RexFregosi

1 hour ago

ESPN Analysis. Its funny to look back at TT’s analysis and see a category “The Angels Type” and sure enough, Shores and Snead are on it.

Best value: CJ Gray (fifth round). Gray popped onto the scene last summer with a dazzling performance, but scouts tempered their enthusiasm when he had trouble throwing strikes all spring. He finished the season better and showed well at the draft combine, giving teams a glimpse of what his plus athleticism could mean in terms of improvement in the next few years.
He’s a loose 6-foot-2 with a heater into the high-90s, a lower release height and an above-average slider with the makings of a changeup. If he can just keep throwing it over the plate, he has a big league future.
Quickest to the big leagues: Chase Shores (No. 47 overall, connected in my mock 3.0) or Nate Snead (No. 105 overall). If both are left in relief like in college, then Shores will win and could be in the big leagues before the 2026 draft. If Shores is stretched out, Snead has the traits to, with some adjustments, move quickly as well.
Sleeper to watch: Jake Munroe (fourth round) or Luke Lacourse (sixth round). Munroe graded out well defensively at third base and has the polish (pitch selection, ball flight) on top of fringe-to-average tools to be a big leaguer along the lines of Jared Triolo, which is a nice find in the fourth round. Lacourse has the highest breaking ball spin rate in the draft, but was underwhelming with fastball velocity this spring in the low-90s. He could break out with more progress on that front.
One big thought: They opted for savings at the No. 2 pick with Tyler Bremner instead of Ethan Holliday or Kade Anderson. Those savings mostly went to prep pitching, with Johnny Slawinski in the third, Gray in the fifth, Lacourse in the sixth and Xavier Mitchell in the 13th all seeming to be overslot — or at a seven-figure slot in Slawinski’s case. It’s a bulk strategy contingent on pitching development and I like the confidence to do something different in that spot. Because it’s such a high-leverage, public decision, it just needs to work.

Legend

gitchogritchoffmypettis

45 minutes ago

Reply to RexFregosi

Shockingly useful info for ESPN!

It’s a bulk strategy contingent on pitching development and I like the confidence to do something different in that spot. Because it’s such a high-leverage, public decision, it just needs to work.

This is exactly how I and others likely feel. I’m unhappy because I wanted something else. BUT I am also unhappy when ever a GM has “no plan”. PTP obviously has a plan. I think it’s a bit crazy, but it’s a plan. For example. Clearly we have more than one scout working. They went “bulk” and they had to have scouted a lot of HS arms to get to these picks. Also, unless they are totally insane, they are gonna need to continue investing in becoming a “pitching factory” like the Mariners, Rays, Indians, Twins and Brewers. The Mets just got into this game too. It appears the Platypus has squawked his way into Arte signing off on this.

I look at it this way. If this draft I don’t like results in the Angels building the lab in Tempe, upgrading it regularly, and expanding the learning process from there all the way through AA then I think we actually got something out of this…. even if only Bremner shows up in the MLB. If we actually become a place where Nick Mears becomes a sub1.0 WHIP reliever because of “the lab” that’s gonna help us succeed for a long time. If we become a place where a guy like Snead (or Detmers) can actually be stretched out into a starter we have a gold mine. If Arte really has been talked into investing in this then, they will try to go get coaching for it…. like the Driveline Red Sox of Boston.

Sure, there’s about 20 gallons of hopium poured out on this. But at least it’s a plan. And it’s needed, if you look at the FA starters who make it to market. AND, unlike in the past, the Angels aren’t doing this ten years after everyone else. Small wins.

Perry has The Lab. Perry has a big pile of teenagers with “good thing” highlighted on their scouting report. My guess is the first big test is getting Bremner tweeked as far as high fastballs and slider control.

So we’ll see. Say one thing. Perry’s got huge balls.

All I have to do is not pay attention to any of the hitting prospects I wish we’d taken….

Super Member

Roy Hobbs

37 minutes ago

Reply to gitchogritchoffmypettis

Or he’s an idiot. We’ll find out.

Legend

gitchogritchoffmypettis

36 minutes ago

Reply to Roy Hobbs

Idiot is likely. But the idiot’s doing something….

Super Member

Roy Hobbs

33 minutes ago

Reply to gitchogritchoffmypettis

True. I’m not saying he is, he might be a genius, we just won’t know for a while.

Super Member

RexFregosi

9 minutes ago

Reply to gitchogritchoffmypettis

Big arms too. Perry has Big arms.

Editor

Legend

Jeff Joiner

31 minutes ago

Reply to RexFregosi

As Turk’s pointed out, rather than investing $9 million on the singular Hernandez the Angels are spreading that risk among multiple high school kids. Each is rated lower than Hernandez but we’re talking about 18 year olds and the bust rate on all 18 year olds is super high.

It does seem like Perry is fine with a bunch of mid rotation starters if he can build a dynamic bullpen. Not my favorite team building strategy, but in the modern game that can give you a chance to win most nights.

We need some bats desperately, though. At this point I’m hoping any selling at the deadline focuses on offense.

Super Member

tanana40

15 minutes ago

Reply to RexFregosi

Just FYI, I follow the Pirates and Jered Triolo is hitting .158, so not so much of a find perhaps (talking about Munroe, the 4th round pick).

Last edited 14 minutes ago by tanana40

Super Member

Angelz4ever

2 hours ago

RP Julio Urías is back on the boards. No hitting is a problem for him.

Super Member

RexFregosi

2 hours ago

Reply to Angelz4ever

I saw Bauer was demoted in Japan to minor leagues there. Maybe Urias can take his spot.
More likely though is the Astros sign him tomorrow.

Legend

Eric_in_Portland

2 hours ago

McCollum sounds like a decent prospect. The Draft and UDFA signings >>>> the All-Star Game

Legend

FungoAle

2 hours ago

Reply to Eric_in_Portland

McCollum: At 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, McCollum is not your prototypical leadoff hitter. This season he hit a career-high .371/.472/.540 with 20 extra-base hits and 17 stolen bases. McCollum has a sound approach, but his double-plus bat-to-ball skills are his calling card. In addition to his 87% overall contact rate, McCollum posted an impressive 94% overall in-zone contact rate. As a cherry on top, McCollum runs well and is an effective basestealer.

Legend

gitchogritchoffmypettis

2 hours ago

Reply to Eric_in_Portland

Yep. Both McCollum and Graeber are guys I am actually a little hopium for. Are they likely Jeff DeVanon level talents? Yes. Future Camperos? Almost certainly. But if anyone has the off chance of being a good pick up out of the whole UDFA slough these are two of them. They lack TALENT but are really skillful and McCollum actually has some abilities which, if they grow far more than expected, could make him a very good player.

Zaborowski is the opposite. He has a talent that chicks dig. He’s likely to be Niko Kavedas. But as Turks said, maybe they try him out at 3B and see if they catch lightning. Then all he has to do is make contact with AA pitching…. easy.

All I know is I’ve never felt like poo pooing UDFAs. Like going 4 years playing at Georgia is a sign of failure. I don’t have the scouting knowledge to understand why I am supposed to be over the moon about a HS prospect like Josh Hammond and his power potential but a guy who mashed at an SEC school is garbage after playing in COLLEGE for four years.

BUT. This also pissed me off because if I wanted to be Captain Buildapen I could draft some actual prospects with my 2nd and 4th picks in the draft and pick up several Joe Baseballs from Oberlin College as a UDFA if I’m just looking for a cheap guy to pitch the seventh inning.

Legend

Cowboy26

36 seconds ago

Reply to gitchogritchoffmypettis

Jeff DeVanon talents?

That means a Big League Cycle 🚲 is guaranteed.

Super Member

YOUknowulovetheIE

2 hours ago

The most boring few days in sports is today and tomorrow.

Super Member

Angelz4ever

2 hours ago

Reply to YOUknowulovetheIE

World Class Curling is on Fan Duel.

Super Member

smithy610

3 hours ago

It’s quite funny how people are just about finding out that players don’t stay until the end of the game. They say adios when subbed out and actually fly back home as the game is still ongoing.

Legend

gitchogritchoffmypettis

2 hours ago

Reply to smithy610

Hell most of the people at the game who could get tickets for the game had left by the end too….

Super Member

2GA2Join

3 hours ago

We may have just lost a trade partner in KC, oh well.

Super Member

RexFregosi

2 hours ago

Reply to 2GA2Join

CtPG would be excited to trade Taylor Ward for magic beans such as this. Imagine the hopium!
Devanney, a pre-arbitration player who can suit up at multiple positions but spent the majority of his time playing shortstop at Triple-A Omaha.
Devanney, a 2019 draft pick of the Milwaukee Brewers, was called up to the Royals last week but has yet to appear in a major-league game. In 69 games with Omaha, he’s hitting .272/.366/.565 with 18 home runs, 55 RBIs and an OPS of .931.

Editor

Legend

Jeff Joiner

1 hour ago

Reply to 2GA2Join

Frazier is a utility player. Ward would be a major boon to that team.

KC is still in play.

Trusted Member

Mikeal1st

4 hours ago

I’ve disliked Kershaw for a long time (Weaver fan) but that was pretty cool to see him go out with the mic last night.

Legend

gitchogritchoffmypettis

2 hours ago

Reply to Mikeal1st

I’ve always liked Kershaw. I will like him a lot more when he stops putting the uniform of the grossest team in baseball on. Had to hear a lot of Doyer talk this week… is there a team more pompous than the Doyers? They make Red Sox fans seem balanced.

Dave Roberts is a twat. He is extremely West LA Strong.

Legend

FungoAle

2 hours ago

Reply to gitchogritchoffmypettis

Same, Kerhsaw is the only Dodger I could/can respect

Super Member

RexFregosi

2 hours ago

Reply to FungoAle

the last Dodger I liked was Bobby Valentine

Legend

gitchogritchoffmypettis

1 hour ago

Reply to FungoAle

Freddie Freeman WAS one of my favorite players but he just disappeared from my mind a few years ago….

Editor

Legend

Jeff Joiner

30 minutes ago

Reply to Mikeal1st

I really, really like Kershaw. He’s incredible on the mound and I respect his charity work. Class dude on and off the field.

Just wish he wore a different uniform.

Trusted Member

Mikeal1st

4 hours ago

AL lost because they didn’t play any Angels.
Cursed until the Angels win a WS.

Last edited 4 hours ago by Mikeal1st

Trusted Member

grichmanpoorman

4 hours ago

Reply to Mikeal1st

It’s science.

Super Member

RexFregosi

3 hours ago

Reply to grichmanpoorman

Aeronautical scientists.

when one manager doesn’t have Judge and the other manager has Schwarber and Alonso, it’s like one guy can’t make a paper airplane and the other is designing B-21s.

Legend

WallyChuckChili

4 hours ago

Reply to Mikeal1st

Or the AL didn’t lose in 9 innings bc they didn’t play any Angels.

Legend

Cowboy26

4 hours ago

Reply to WallyChuckChili

But the AL ultimately lost in a Home Run Derby because they had no Angels hitting them. And we typically do really in good in HRD’s ( Well except for the Unicorn he sucked giant Ballz)

Super Member

YOUknowulovetheIE

2 hours ago

Reply to Cowboy26

GA let us down too

Trusted Member

DMAGZ13

2 hours ago

Reply to YOUknowulovetheIE

GA won the Derby and the ASG MVP on the same weekend what are you talking about? GA slander will not be tolerated.

Super Member

YOUknowulovetheIE

2 hours ago

Reply to DMAGZ13

I’m a huge GA fan, my memory let me down.

Super Member

RexFregosi

1 hour ago

Reply to YOUknowulovetheIE

the only thing I remember from 2003

Super Member

YOUknowulovetheIE

1 hour ago

Reply to RexFregosi

I had just graduated hs, about to have a kid, and getting ready to leave to boot camp all within a few months. I had alot going on lol

Editor

Legend

Jeff Joiner

1 hour ago

Reply to YOUknowulovetheIE

Wow. That’s a ton of responsibility at that age.

Legend

red floyd

1 hour ago

Reply to DMAGZ13

I’m too GA to correct GA slander.

Legend

FungoAle

3 hours ago

Reply to Mikeal1st

Trout was our perennial All Star until…the demise

Super Member

RexFregosi

2 hours ago

Reply to FungoAle

perennial All Star MVP

Legend

Fansince1971

4 hours ago

How about this way to resolve an AllStar game tie:

Both teams get the bases loaded with 2 outs. If the game is still tied after that, the next inning goes to bases loaded one out. If still tied it ends in a tie.

Super Member

HalosFanForLife

4 hours ago

Reply to Fansince1971

I actually think adding a few additional pitchers would be fine. They are on the roster, but fillers from a play standpoint. Let them know they are likely only going to play in the event of extras or injury, but they could play and will get the experience. There are so many teams. Why not?

Legend

WallyChuckChili

4 hours ago

Reply to Fansince1971

Should give each team a keg. 1st team to finish, wins the tiebreaker! MVP goes to the guy pumping the keg.

Legend

FungoAle

3 hours ago

Reply to Fansince1971

How about each side stash a couple of multi-inning pitchers on hold in case the game goes into extras. Let it play out. Players who were subbed out early in the game could come back into the game, in case of an injury.

Super Member

RexFregosi

2 hours ago

Reply to FungoAle

what a concept!

I’ve spent an hour looking at past extra inning All Star games and there have been some classics. I still hate the play, but kids today won’t see anything close to 1970. Here are others and if I remember correctly, the 2nd half of the season survived in each of the below.

2018: American League 8, National League 6 (10 innings)
2017: American League 2, National League 1 (10 innings)
2008: American League 4, National League 3 (15 innings)
2002: American League 7, National League 7 (11 innings, tie)
1994: National League 8, American League 7 (10 innings)
1987: National League 2, American League 0 (13 innings)

Even that long game in 1967 in Anaheim, it’d be nice to have a HR Derby that year, but still prefer it not be in the game itself.

Legend

FungoAle

2 hours ago

Reply to RexFregosi

Great recap! I think it was the 2008 game that sent everyone in a tizzy because they ran out of players. The managers substituted frequently which boxed them in a corner along with the desire to get everyone in the game.

In that ’67 game Catfish Hunter tossed the final 5-innings and ultimately took the loss (Tony Perez walk-off). The AL side only used 5 pitchers, spread over 15-innings. Plenty of resources left.

For me, I love to watch the top players complete, if the game went extras, great. But theatrics have now taken over, players mic’d up during the came, John Kruk bailing out against Randy Johnson…it’s lost the technical edge forever.

Legend

gitchogritchoffmypettis

2 hours ago

Reply to Fansince1971

As long as we only have one guy on the roster and he’s hanging out in the clubhouse at the end of the game, or his hotel room, I say you get all of the players out on the field and then release some starving tigers. The team with the most players still alive after 15 minutes wins. Oh no. Que lastima. The Doyers. So many all stars.

Super Member

RexFregosi

1 hour ago

Reply to gitchogritchoffmypettis

I say you get all of the players out on the field and then release some starving tigers. The team with the most players still alive after 15 minutes wins.

While it worked for Rome and that empire lasted much longer than ours, it probably is not allowed today because animal rights. Maybe if they held the game in Texas.

How about we do a Flag Football game? It worked for the NFL and the boys would like that.

Legend

Senator_John_Blutarsky

5 hours ago

Misiorowski and his 98 MPH slider was filthy.

Super Member

RexFregosi

6 hours ago

So when the Angels win the pennant in October, who will be the manager next year in the All Star game? Ray or Wash?

Legend

WallyChuckChili

5 hours ago

Reply to RexFregosi

If the Angels win the pennant, Ray would definitely deserve the AS nod. 2nd half record would outshine our 1st half.

Legend

Senator_John_Blutarsky

5 hours ago

Reply to RexFregosi

It’s up to Wash – if he is healthy, he should get the nod. Wash still is the manager, he’s just on “leave”.

Super Member

HalosFanForLife

5 hours ago

Reply to RexFregosi

You can get 700:1 on Fan Duel right now to win the World Series. I’m thinking about $100 or $200 on that. If they somehow make the playoffs – I’d likely hedge out and make a pretty penny. Of course, that’s a big if.

Legend

Fansince1971

4 hours ago

Reply to HalosFanForLife

That’s people a lot smarter on odds telling you the reality over emotion.

Super Member

HalosFanForLife

4 hours ago

Reply to Fansince1971

I am not saying it’s a good bet – neither is the Lottery – but when it gets over $500 million – I’ll throw in $10.

Legend

gitchogritchoffmypettis

2 hours ago

Reply to Fansince1971

Data. It’s all lies.

Super Member

Angelz4ever

4 hours ago

Reply to RexFregosi

Tori Hunter

Super Member

RexFregosi

6 hours ago

https://youtu.be/7LtjzQaFZ3k?si=nk6Cpf3igvVUy5AC

Super Member

2002heaven

6 hours ago

I blame the other team in LA for yesterday’s MLB AS Game loss.
15 yrs of bad farm system (which was a deliberate choice BTW) How do you explain LA’s other team from first passing Kumar Rocker and then Kade Anderson who BTW pitch for our divisional rivals NO LESS!!
😡

Legend

Cowboy26

3 hours ago

Reply to 2002heaven

Maybe you need to go back to posting pictures Toots and you’d realize that a 3 times drafted loser with career 1.5 WHIP, 5.90 ERA amassing a -1.5 WAR is the last thing we need. We already have Silent C costing us nothing we dont need another one.

Super Member

2002heaven

43 minutes ago

Reply to Cowboy26

Maybe you can make sense of statistics better in your Mom’s basement. Make sure you’re home by 4pm 🤡😜

Legend

gitchogritchoffmypettis

38 minutes ago

Reply to 2002heaven

Man. You have no idea how much sex happens in moms’ basements do you? Not everyone who has hung out in a basement is a sex starved loser who is bitter about some guys at Mutt Lynch’s mocking him back in 1998 and Arte being 1000 times more successful than he is.

Super Member

YOUknowulovetheIE

2 hours ago

Reply to 2002heaven

The same rocker the angels just put 6 runs?

Legend

gitchogritchoffmypettis

2 hours ago

Reply to 2002heaven

It’s nice to see someone still has their rectum on fire about the “failure” to draft Kumar Rocker. Is he your nephew? Favorite Grinder swipe? How did this happen?