Ignominious Loss Postgame

The Athletics scored two in the first Soriano. Is that guy our ace? I thought that guy was our ace.

In that same first inning, Taylor Ward walked in a run.

Jo Adell walked in a run.

Luis Rengifo singled in a run.

Oswald Peraza sacrificed in a run to make it 4-2 Angels.

Some guy named Lawrence Butler grounded out to first in the third inning and another Athletic run scored. 4-3 Angels. Zach Geolf singled in Tyler Soderstrom to tie the game at 4. JJ Bleday homered to make it 8-4 Athletics. I guess maybe Soriano is not the perfect answer. Ryan Zeferjahn came in to pitch. He hit Brent Rooker with a pitch to drive in the ninth run for the Athletics.

Then the Athletics retired the Angels in order, not that there is anything right about that.

Nothing much happened For a while except that Jose Urena came in to pitch. The Angels mostly did Angels things. They specialized in not scoring.

Mike Trout got hit by a pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning. Yoan Moncada struck out to end that inning.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Angels bravely went down in order. Wins? We don’t need no stinkin’ wins! Andrew Chafin came in to pitch the ninth inning. He gave up a solo homer to Lawrence Butler. 10- 4 Athletics. Bring in Peraza to pitch. Chafin can man first base.

Chafin walked Colby Thomas and then advanced him to second on a wild pitch. Darell Hernaiz grounded out to Chafin but Thomas advanced to third. Nick Kurtz mercifully struck out.

Peraza- foul tip strikeout. Logan Davidson- strikeout. Matthew Lugo- also struck out. Game over. Angels lose 10-4. You can put a toilet seat over this one!

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Turk's Teeth
Editor
Super Member
1 month ago

Tonight’s 66ers game is an extra compelling matchup for those of you with MiLB TV access.

The Padres are sending their 2025 first-rounder Kruz Schoolcraft up against the 66ers pop-up prepster Dylan Jordan. Most MLB clubs have not debuted their prep arms to date post-draft, but the Padres are departing from the script and giving their 6’8″ lefty teenager a peek.

I imagine it’ll just be an inning or two, but Schoolcraft was the top-rated prep arm in the draft after Seth Hernandez, so it’ll be intriguing to see what he looks like in action.

FungoAle
Legend
1 month ago
Reply to  Turk's Teeth

Kruz is an interesting prospect. Could be a 2-way but likely Padres will push him to the mound. At No.25 pick, Padres have some real upside here. The Padres always seem to do well in the draft.

Turk's Teeth
Editor
Super Member
1 month ago
Reply to  FungoAle

Honestly, I find many of their draft selections a bit head-scratching, but they do consistently take some big swings on prepsters at the top of the draft.

At the moment, they have the consensus worst farm in the sport, but that’s in large part due to Preller ritually shipping off everything of note at the trade deadline.

Phil
Trusted Member
1 month ago

For today:

Ginn has faced the Angels once, giving up 4 runs in 4 innings (and 2 HRs) while losing.
For the season he’s 2-6, ERA 5.17

Kikuchi has faced the A’s 13 times, going 3-4, ERA 3.41
For 2025, he’s 6-10, ERA 3.83

At least when we lose to the A’s today, we won’t be losing to a 4th starting rookie A’s pitcher. 😐

While Moore may not be MLB-ready, given that the Angels had him in the lineup this year (and he’s lost his status as a rookie, and thus can’t qualify for ROY in 2026), why not let him gain more MLB experience by having him play in these meaningless games?
Instead, the Angels’ beloved Luis Rengifo starts at 2B

There’s 2 benefits to a losing season:

You can play your rookies and fringe players to evaluate them for a roster spot next year.
You increase your chances for higher draft picks.

Q: Why not take advantage of being a loser?

A: To paraphrase Taylor swift: losers gonna keep losing

Last edited 1 month ago by Phil
2002heaven
Super Member
1 month ago

Calling JACK FROST!!!

steelgolf
Legend
1 month ago

Today the Battle of the Cellar Dwellers continues! Who will take glorious ownership of the highly coveted CA cellar!!!

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  steelgolf

It sure is a bummer that we’re battling this meaningful battle. What’s worse, I can already tell the A’ss are closer to being good than we are as a team. BUT I am uplifted by the fact that both teams are better and more fun to watch than the versions of them that seemed to always be playing each other the last couple years.

Sure, tonight’s not a great example. But I am happy with the progress a lot of our roster spots made this season. I did not expect miracles and I didn’t get any. But things got better. Hell, with the team this low on the talent scale I don’t even mind Perry’s crazy headlong rush into becoming a “pitching factory”. At least he’s doing SOMETHING and I guess we’ll see if it works.

The only thing I hate about this season is crap from above. The fans and the ownership. The “we are almost there, don’t sell, we are gonna go for it, then we are gonna reload, the rubes demand rube entertainment!” has made it a lot harder to believe we will actually be any good any time soon.

But who knows? Pitching is very important. Maybe it’ll work really well and accelerate things? Maybe a couple guys like O’Hoppe, Rada and Moore all suddenly work out well? Hell, 3 WAR Anthony Rendon? Then we at least become a thin contender, like the Royals. That’d be a nice step up. A lot of hopium has to solidify for that to happen though.

steelgolf
Legend
1 month ago

My guess is the A’s will move to their new digs in Vegas, and suddenly become good, spend money, and Astros the hell out of the AL West. Meanwhile Angel fans will still be wondering about stadium deals and if the team really is for sale.

Kevin
Trusted Member
1 month ago
Reply to  steelgolf

You have a good chance of being correct.

Phil
Trusted Member
1 month ago
Reply to  steelgolf

And the Angels will still be putting Rengifo in the starting lineup, while having him at 3B.

steelgolf
Legend
1 month ago
Reply to  Phil

Sadly that will come true.

grichmanpoorman
Trusted Member
1 month ago

Guzman tatered last night in SLC… now has 17 for the year and appears to be handling AAA quite capably for a 21-year-old. Essentially the same age as a 2025 college draftee.

Time to convert him to 3B full-time no? Could be a marvelous longterm solution there.

Also: Hayden Alvarez. Two hits last night pushing his OBP upwards of .450. That’s crazy-impressive for an 18-year-old in A ball. Deserves to be a Top 10 org prospect.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

Heck yeah. Let’s try the Goose at 3B. Why the heck not? Doesn’t look like hitting is eating too much of his processor.

Alvarez…. he reminds me of Turks hot fave Ubaldo Soto. These are guys that, coming into A Ball, are unproven. So yeah, they are 45 Grade lower 20s rank prospects. BUT if we actually are trying to develop kids now, they will jump up in grade and rank.

Alvarez isn’t a huge prospect because he has little power. But he’s a pretty polished hitter for his age and he is fast. If he gets bigger but can still run and hit, adding maybe 20 HR power? Yeah, he’ll be a 50 grade when he hits AA. Same with Soto. I liked him as soon as I saw video of him when we signed him. He’s gotten bigger and added velocity. He has three 50+ grade pitches, but is a 40 Grade prospect. BUT if he sharpens his control and manages the strike zone for a year? We’ll see that prospect grade match the grade on his pitches pretty fast.

Turk's Teeth
Editor
Super Member
1 month ago

While I understand the temptation to want to quickly elevate an exciting prospect, especially a system that lacks positional talent, I don’t think Hayden Alvarez is being unfairly neglected by being placed in the 20s. He’s played in fewer than 75 games stateside, and his power metrics are modest even among the teenagers in the complex leagues.

The ACL, like the Cal League, inflates offense. Among the batting leaders in the ACL, Alvarez wasn’t top ten in BA, OBP or SLG – in fact he was #33 in OPS and #45 in SLG. Hitting well, but not exceptionally well, in a hitter-friendly developmental league for 55 games, doesn’t tend to rocket guys into the top 10 in their respective systems, much less into the national conversation.

That doesn’t mean that, with strength gains and development, that Alvarez won’t become a top 10 in the Angels system – even perhaps by mid-next year – and it doesn’t mean that Alvarez is not an exciting prospect. But I think prospect watchers are being appropriately patient and cautious with a kid who has all of 67 PAs in the Cal League, in peak summer when offenses are at their fiercest and some of the collegiate arms are beginning to flag down the stretch.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Turk's Teeth

Oh yeah. Hayden’s a long way from being promoted. I just think that, if he hits well in A Ball next year, he may see his stock rise. He’s years away from the majors. So is Soto for that matter.

Turk's Teeth
Editor
Super Member
1 month ago

I think a good comp here is Roldy Brito, who was the MVP of the Arizona Complex League (and I’d say deservedly so).

He hit .368/.445/.555 there, and had impressive batted ball data that projects to greater future power. He hasn’t quit since being promoted to the Cal League – .374/.443/.466 over a decent 151 PA sample. In the ten or so Cal League games I’ve seen Roldy play, he looks like a potential star – a formidable top of the order threat.

He’s currently ranked #25 on BA’s list for the Colorado Rockies, and MLB Pipeline doesn’t include him at all (and both orgs updated their lists last month).

Alvarez, meanwhile, is #21 on the Angels’ BA list.

That’s because a lot of kids who flash hot in Arizona and SoCal in deep summer can bump their heads in A+ ball in more neutral contexts. And that’s fine – development takes time. There’s just historically a lot of variance in outcomes in players that burn bright in the second half in the southwest.

If Roldy and Hayden can do what they’re doing in the Northwest League for a few months April-June, their names will be shooting up rankings quickly.

FungoAle
Legend
1 month ago
Reply to  Turk's Teeth

Didn’t Kavadas crush last year in Arizona? Says all I need to know about anything coming out of there.

Turk's Teeth
Editor
Super Member
1 month ago
Reply to  FungoAle

That was the Arizona Fall League – same geography, temperatures, and offense-inclined parks, but much higher level of competition. It’s where teams tend to send their better prospects after the season is over to get them more work and exposure to advanced pitchers and hitters.

But yes, Kavadas hit .329/.462/.700 in that context, and was named AFL Offensive Player of the Year last November.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Turk's Teeth

Will they even push Alvarez to high A? Nothing wrong with getting him some time in A Ball.

grichmanpoorman
Trusted Member
1 month ago

Hope Rio Foster pulls through. Tri-City cancelled the game last night. The young man is clearly in bad shape. https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/angels-rio-foster-car-accident

grichmanpoorman
Trusted Member
1 month ago

I believe this story is about his accident… thrown from the vehicle. https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/crime/article311987274.html

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend

I hope he survives and has a speedy recovery.

Getting into a car with a drunk driver and not wearing a seatbelt is a bad combination.

grichmanpoorman
Trusted Member
1 month ago

I think his driver was the drunk one.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

SHIT! Fkn shit man.

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
1 month ago

3 hits and 16 Ks. Let’s bring everybody back.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
1 month ago
Reply to  Roy Hobbs

#CONSISTENCY

Terry
Trusted Member
1 month ago

The final shining glory of this season, sweeping the Doyers in front of sellout crowds, huge enthusiasm and a flicker of possibility of reaching .500 or, dare I say, sneaking into a WC spot. But like the title of the old Lance Rentzel book: ” When All the Laughter died into Sorrow.” Our boys reverted to the what the were, what the are and what they will be.
So it goes. …….

steelgolf
Legend
1 month ago
Reply to  Terry

And 2026 doesn’t hold much hope either. They will be lucky to improve by 2 games next season.

2002heaven
Super Member
1 month ago
Reply to  Terry

Maybe the Dodgers aren’t as good.
Like I’ve said many times on this blog before……..QUIT MISTAKING OUR IMPROVEMENT ON OUR COMPETION GETTING WORSE.
Their farm system is in fact overrated……look at most of the team is made up of expensive mercenaries. They made no big significant deal at the trade deadline shouldn’t that have told you something? The Astros didn’t make a big move either.
Sometimes you gotta look past the news and data LIKE EYE DO….. 😜 
Yes the Astros are still the masters of AL West but they’re clearly not as good as recant years past.
 💪  💪  💪  💪 ……BYE!!!

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend

I give the CtPG staff a rousing standing ovation for having to recap the Angel crapfest night after night. Well done.

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Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
1 month ago

Fun night at the fights. Met Gitcho in person and it lived up to expectations.

Looks like the Angels got beat up as badly as a couple of guys in the ring tonight.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Hell yeah. that was a fun night. Thanks for turning me onto it. Now I dream of someday being the professional wrestler who flops around on some guy between fights between actual fighters…. and it’s all because of you.

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

Hell yeah! I’m gonna be fat short Bonesaw!

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
1 month ago

Went to see local rock n roll but it was already 8-4 when I left. I thought we’d make it to 8-7 but I see what transpired.

Our 2026 rotation is wishful thinking. Our two best pitchers are .500 types, sometimes good and sometimes atrocious.

At least the Chargers won

DowningDude
Legend
1 month ago

“Phillies-Marlins Karen” is the big news of the night.

James
Trusted Member
1 month ago

Too many strikeouts as usual and Trout looks truly washed to me. If you can’t beat the A’s then you probably aren’t very good. 😡

GonFishin
Trusted Member
1 month ago

Doesn’t feel like we are playing meaningful games in September.

Simba
Trusted Member
1 month ago
Reply to  GonFishin

Time to go fishing.

steelgolf
Legend
1 month ago
Reply to  GonFishin

These are very, very, meaningless-ful games!!!

steelgolf
Legend
1 month ago

Well …… uhhh …… I got nothing.

CAoldskoll
Trusted Member
1 month ago
Reply to  steelgolf

Ha, he said ‘Nothing’, that in itself speaks volumes about this game lol.

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