The Angels designated Joey Lucchesi for assignment to make room on the roster for George Klassen who pitched yesterday. Klassen helped the Angels win a series against the Mariners. So did Jo Adell with some historically big defense. Thank you and good night! Mike Trout was hit on the hand by a pitch yesterday but the X-Rays are negative and he is day to day. It’s too bad, because he has been drawing enough walks to get Fangraphs attention just for that.
Hunter Brown of the Astros just went on the injured list with a shoulder strain. Yaramil Hiraldo of the Orioles also went on the injured list with shoulder inflammation. The Pirates placed infielder Jared Tiolo on the 10 day IL.
For fantasy baseball, here is the waiver wire report for week 2.
Photo credit: Rex Fregosi
I disagree with the decision to have Adell play in any other position apart from RF.
I’d staple Adell to RF and never move him again. Let Teo roam CF whilst Trout is out.
Soler can DH and Lowe can continue to play RF. Hopefully Lowe “finds it” and soon.
Bench Moncada and let Peraza man the position for now.
As expected, Trout sitting tonight
Bruh. Moncada at DH? Bench his ass. Moving Adell to left? Cmon Suzuki
The fans in RF are not going to be happy!
Neither will the fans in left.
Rough. Looks like he was trying to load the lineup with right handed bats though.
Guess it’s a bad illness, Ryan Johnson to IL. Mitch Ferris called up for some length in the pen. Klassen looks like he’ll get a 2nd chance. https://x.com/laangelspr/status/2041266879847960652?s=46
Farm notes:
Both A-ball clubs exited the weekend undefeated. I’m not sure we can draw too much from the run returns on either club – the bats we’d expect to be hot were not, and we saw contributions from more bit players – but early pitching looks from Jordan, TGA, Bremner and Vargas were promising.
Salt Lake looks rough – Rada, Moore and Guzman pretty quiet out of the gates, and pitching has been generally clobbered. Pretty much all of the bats in the system have struggled in the early going, but “early” is the key word.
If there’s any pop-up guy that could merit a follow, it’s 10th rounder 2B Nick Rodriguez, who has a hitterish utility look to him, and followed up a decent fall debut last year with a strong weekend in the three-spot with the Pandas. Not a ton of power there, but quality contact and plate discipline from a lefty bat in the Adam Kennedy mold.
This team feels like it is a few parts of way from being consistently mediocre. One of the big blunders that could have raised this ceiling was not signing Okamoto. While the concerns about his high k% have materialized and he’s currently striking out at an 43% clip.. Okamoto is otherwise looking like a steal with his WRC+ at 118 and likely to rise as he gains comfort at the plate.
At 4 years and $60 million that’s really good value for the Jays while we still have a black hole at 3rd base for the millionth year in a row. We were rumored to be his preferred choice. His production and not to mention the magic of having a Japanese Super Star back in the park was yet another huge misstep by Arte and crew.
— This is not a judgement of the trade thus far —
But has anyone looked at how Ward is doing in Baltimore? He is crushing it. Glad to see he’s having a good season.
.343 average with 4 doubles and surprisingly no home runs, but his OPS+ is 160
Good for Taylor! Hope he has a great season and cashes in next winter.
Completely concur. Good dude by all accounts.
So loved the win yesterday – but wow did that HBP on Trout stir up some recent emotions. 2 weeks ago my son, a junior in HS, got HBP – upper 80’s on the hand – they first thought bone contusion, but it broke. High school season over. He had been on fire. In fact, for a few weeks he was leading the country on Maxpreps in RBI’s – and was really heating up. .435/.516/.761. I saw Trout – and was like -“NO – not again.” Glad to hear Trout is day to day.
Mine did get some good news too – getting out of cast a week earlier. He was selected for the Rangers Area Code Games tryout in Texas in mid June – so he’ll have time to recover. Ironically, first games he’s ever missed since Tee-ball because of injury or illness. I had to tell him – it’s not a matter of if, it’s when. He tried to stay – in ran the bases. Went to short at the next inning and couldn’t throw.
So sorry to hear about your son but glad that he will get out of his cast early.
One last thing. I know I often come across as a hater when I see our crappy team and post accordingly. However, it is done out of love for the team I have been rooting for since I was a little kid in 1961. I will always love this team more than I loathe Arturo and his incompetent minions and can’t wait for the day he is gone. I hope I outlive that.
Watching Torii in the dugout in our uniform makes me wish he was our manager. I don’t think it’s an accident we had that amazing win yesterday.
Far too soon to be writing off Suzuki…there is a learning curve for new managers. I do hope he learned a lesson yesterday. Frazier had a good game with the bat, but he is no outfielder. In replacing Lowe with Teodosio in left field for no apparent reason, Kurt left himself with no option other than Frazier when Trout left the game, and it almost cost us the game.
I’m not writing him off, I just like Torii more.
Perhaps Tori is more effective in a teaching/mentoring role. The managing job is really more administrative.
IMO if Torii is serious about wanting to manage a team, he should put in some time working as part of a coaching staff first.
Torii was on the Halo Territory podcast the other day and he explicitly said he wouldn’t go on the road full time unless he was a manager.
Right. He’s unwilling to put in any time and just wants a top job handed to him, otherwise its not worth his time. I love Torii, but his ego can be ridiculous.
Okay, so what time did Suzuki put in ?
Lets compare qualifications, shall we?
Suzuki:
Torii:
I know which one I’d choose. Feel free to provide your reasoning on why Torii would be a good manager.
Thanks for writing alot of stuff that is of little consequence. It is my understanding that BOTH Torii and Kurt Suzuki had zero prior managing experience at any level. So they are identical in that regard. They also BOTH worked as “Special Assistant’s to the GM” which is Perry. Again, both equal. Neither has “put in the time” as an assistant coach or field manager. If we are to be fair the guy who got the job is no more qualified as a coach than Hunter.
And while Kurt does have the experience of having played catcher at the MLB level there are many successful managers who did not play catcher. Some of those are Casey Stengel, Walter Alston, John McGraw, Billy Martin, Sparky Anderson, Cito Gaston, Tony LaRussa, Terry Francona and Lou Pinella. There are alot of World Series trophies represented there.
SO, we can see that it is not necessary to have played catcher to be successful in the role of field manager.
To be clear, I have nothing against Suzuki, I actually like him. I just don’t like the way you unfairly went after Torii when the facts really don’t justify your critique.
Thanks for writing a lot of stuff that is of little consequence. You could’ve just said you love Torii’s smile and you have a huge mancrush on him and left it at that.
Yeah, I do like Hunter. And so what? I would not describe it as a “mancrush,” but for what it is worth I do think he would do a good job.
What is it about him that you don’t like? I mean assuming we can agree that ALL Major League players either current or former have an ego… And some regular people too !
My personal opinion is that a former player should first either be a coach on a ML team, or a manager at a level below the majors (minors, college), prior to getting the job as a manager. Out of all positions though, I think catcher would be the one where I’d have a bit of grace on that position. So if choosing between Kurt and Torii as first-time managers, and having no clue what each did in their assistant roles for Perry or how their interviews went, I’d prob lean towards Kurt. I also think Torii has a huge ego, and don’t think that’s a great quality for a ML manager to have given their role in the game.
I liked your post and yes, Torii’s smile could light up a dark cave.
I heard that interview and maybe just me but came across as a guy who was enjoying being around the team having fun being allowed to float as a Minasian disciple
Me too.
I sure don’t. Installing a fan favorite in that role with no experience just feels sloppy and meant to appease the masses. Results matter. Kurt deserves a year. If we had to reach back into the lores of Angel history, grab Erstad.
It is more than him just being a “fan favorite.” Torii was the de facto leader in the clubhouse for most of his time there. As such I think it is fair to say that he has leadership qualities.
And while one can’t mathematically measures those, I for one think he has them. If for any reason Suzuki leaves or is let go I would love for Torii to get a shot.
BTW, despite what some posters here have joked I think Erstad would make a great manager. And he certainly can’t be attacked for not having “put in the time.”
Of former players my first choice of guys who presumably might want and take the job it would be
1) Erstad
2) Hunter
Also, IF Don Baylor was interested I would put him on that list so,
3) Baylor
Baylor could really put Angels in the Outfield.
Groooove. Love Don Baylor. I do recognize in today’s game, guys get hired with no experience for the managers job. Cora, Boone and Suzuki to name a few. That’s the way it is. In today’s game, most matchups, pinch-hits, and bullpen decisions are mapped out by the front office and support staff long before the first pitch. The modern manager’s real job is to manage people, to maintain culture and keep players pulling in the same direction. Yeah, Torii could likely do that but I’m not sure. The version of Torii I see is a happy go lucky, media friendly personality and folks just love him. Reeks of Mark Derosa. If in the clubhouse, he was a no-nonsense leader and called out folks out of line, I could’ve behind it but I do like Erstad as you do.
The Angels “insulted” him with their offer to join Washington’s staff. He would have ascended to the Managers chair naturally. Fuck Torii Hunter
Thank you to Jo Adell, the fan who captured this image, and the artist who created this rendering for helping us remember the single greatest Angels moment since we won the 2002 World Series. Even if we lose 100 games, I will be remembering 2026 this way and remember being an Angels fan is about the players, not the owner or the front office.
Click on it to see it larger. I want a wall-sized signed by Jo version of it on my memorabilia wall.
Gloria mundi sic transit
How soon they forget.
A week after this catch happened the Halos did a giveaway of this pic on a poster. My buddy worked in the FO and said they had Trout sign 10 of them, and he gave me one. It’s still rolled up in a poster roll, one day I’ll frame it.
Gonna be busy the next few days with work, giving you all a reprieve from me 😂. Great win yesterday grabbing the series! I loved every second being back at the Big A.
Zooming out a bit from the day-to-day paralysis by analysis, this team will be a fun follow. Tough stretch upcoming, especially with Trout dinged up. Can we activate Rendone for the next Seattle series and have him jump out of the dugout ready to swing? Seriously, we need to throw hands and protect Trout, it’s getting ridiculous how often they hit him.
Few other quick notes
— Peraza and Frazier were smart pickups
— CMo has started at 3rd in AAA the last several games 👀
— Bachman’s stuff is eye popping. That 101 on the corner yesterday 🥶
— pleasantly surprised with the pitching. Wya offense ?
I basically agree but did you see that noodle-armed throw by Frazier in extras to allow that Seattle player to take third with one out.
I agree regarding Frazier.
I’m waiting for Peraza to turn into Kyren. 😀
At least Peraza has defensive upside. Potentially elite defensive player that can cover 3 infield positions plus 1B in a pinch.
Could use a Don Baylor type about right now
I was thinking the same thing about Trout being hit by Seattle pitchers. Based on the data available online, Seattle pitchers have hit Trout a total of 13 times during his career. I couldn’t find any data about how many times Trout was knocked down by Seattle pitchers, but I suspect it’s got to be double-digits as well.
Trout’s game is to crowd the plate, and that makes him prone to getting “bruised”. However, taking a pitch in the thigh or backside is not the same as getting hit in the hand, wrist, or head…and Woo did throw heat near Trout’s head.
I was very pleased that Detmers returned the favor to Julio (?) later in the game. We need more of the team to start taking it personally when Trout is thrown at.
Hey Bluto…. I missed the game on Friday night. Did Detmers actually hit Julio with a pitch (I hope !) or did he just brush him back off the plate ?
I believe it was a fastball at chin level, but he did not hit him.
I agree with you – a HBP would have sent a stronger message, but any type of retaliatory action by an Angel pitcher was a welcome sign.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DWsabmxFhFY/?img_index=2
At the knees, behind him
Thanks for the correction. 😀
Seeing this clip I am more convinced that it was not enough…He needed to put one in his ribs. Make it hurt.
I was kind of hoping we could get past that stuff this year I guess not.
Basically, they will keep doing it until you MAKE them stop. If they know that every time they hit Trout either Raleigh or Julio will get hit they’ll think twice about doing it…. This is part of the tradition of baseball.
It is called “protecting” your players.
We don’t have Ohtani, but we have great parking.
https://www.mlb.com/news/shohei-ohtani-gifts-ball-to-fan-who-waited-in-rain