For a brief moment in the bottom of the first, it looked like we might have something brewing. Taylor Ward ripped an RBI double to cut Cincinnati’s early lead in half and the crowd had a reason to perk up. (Ward has an OPS+ of 122 this year) Unfortunately, that was about as lively as the offense would get all night.
The Reds jumped ahead quickly thanks to Gavin Lux, who launched a two-run homer in the first inning that set the tone. They didn’t need fireworks the rest of the way just some well-placed small ball. Ke’Bryan Hayes added a sac fly in the fifth, and later McLain tacked on another with a sac fly in the eighth.
Mederos struggled to settle in after Lux’s blast. Singer kept things under control on the other side scattering our baserunners and making sure Ward’s early RBI stood alone. We had a couple of chances doubles from Neto and Schanuel teased some life but each time the rally fizzled out faster than a beach ball on the Angel Stadium warning track.
Just couldn’t get anything going in this one. Aside from a lone RBI from Taylor Ward earlier, the bats stayed quiet against Cincinnati’s pitching and every small chance with runners on fizzled out. Meanwhile the Reds scraped together just enough with timely hits and a late insurance run to keep the Halos at arm’s length. It wasn’t a game full of fireworks and it certainly won’t go down as a highlight reel, but it’s one the Angels will want to quickly move past as they try to find some consistency heading deeper into this homestand. 4-1 Reds.
Suggestion for the Angels:
Get rid of that silly repeating of “Day O” over the PA system and replace it with “K O” after every Angels strikeout.
The PA would break
Team was two games under .500 when Washington left, and now three games under .500 with Montgomery.
Both are substantial positives and impressive given the roster and Org.
Following up of my post early Monday regarding Trout, he is producing little positive in the line up. Since beginning of 2023, there are two areas he has been good: Home runs and walks. 68 homers in previous 760 at bats, however most have been solo shots. And good on base percentage as a result of walks. He has produced 24 doubles in past 760 at bats. His OPS has sunk to barely over .800. Of course his K rate is atrocious and also he doesn’t steal basis anymore or play defense.
He does need to be moved from three slot, but, of course, Angels have few options.
Perhaps Adell to three slot and move Trout down. Or Trout to lead off, factoring in his OBP, though the K rate hurts there and move Neto to three slot.
Just add the three slot as another item to address in ’26.
At leadoff, the K rate is mostly balanced out by his really good OBP. The only real problem is that he won’t attempt and swipes for healthy reasons. It appears that he is reserving the ‘burst’ for when it’s needed most: Beating out infield hits & going 1st to 3rd or 2nd to Home on singles. I think we should move him there as well.
Keep Adell in the 5-6 area IMO.
Trout
Schanny
Neto
Ward
Adell
Hard to believe that this team won’t spend a little money on an outfielder for 2026.
I like how they kept to their commitment to lead the earth in strikeouts. Had to have 3 there in the 9th, and in typical halo fashion, they pulled it off. I gotta admit, I was a bit skeptical. 10 per night is there norm. Great job guys!!
Monty put Rengifo in centerfield. Just let that set in. They probably still would not have won the game and still lost, but why look like an idiot while losing?
All systems failing WRT to this organization.
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