LA Angels Thursday News Crash

10 hours ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

Left fielder never moved. LOL

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https://twitter.com/trashpandas/status/2068744612827586690

7 hours ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

Like his swing. Reminds me of Taylor Ward a bit.

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TrojanBoiler

7 hours ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

Rumor has it the ball still hasn’t landed

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steelgolf

1 hour ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

I can tell you that he will put in the work when it comes to hitting. Villa Park kid that I would see at A2D training facility hitting at least 3 or 4 nights a week, he may have been there more but I was only there 3 or 4 nights a week.

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Turk's Teeth

12 hours ago

Let’s start talking about Austin Gordon a bit. Over his last eight starts in AA, he’s carrying a 1.88 ERA, a 0.83 WHIP and a ,170 opponent batting average. A 5.27 K:BB ratio with transparently excellent command. Averaging 6 innings per start, and doing it again real competition – affiliates for the Brewers, Rays, White Sox, Atlanta – larded with top prospects.

He really turned his story around in early June. He’s got a 2.82 ERA and 1.06 WHIP since that time. Outside of two short outings, it’s been a very strong three month stretch.

Unheralded guy out of Clemson with more of a relief profile when he was drafted in the 4th round. Above average FB and cutter/slider, but no standout third pitch in the Christian Moore draft class. Looks all the world like a third Weaver on the mound – tall, lanky, surfer vibe.

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Turk's Teeth

12 hours ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

Some footage in June, when he started turning things around, with a 10 K performance.

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12 hours ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

His curve also rates as a 50 yes? Seems like he’s figured out how to paint the zone a bit… command over control as they say.

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Turk's Teeth

12 hours ago

Reply to grichmanpoorman

To my eye, more 45 present grade, but could be future 50 grade with more command refinement.

It still looks like a backend starter profile, but more floor and likelihood than a year ago.

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Turk's Teeth

13 hours ago

At this point, I figured P12 would be all over this thread with farm highlights from last night…one hit performances from TGA, Jordan and Dana. A no hitter from Austin Gordon. Hayden Alvarez’s first tater in High-A. Longballs from Munroe, Flores, Grahovac and Willits. Multihit game from Nimmala.

A rare night where all the key prospect arms and bats were strutting their stuff.

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Legend

13 hours ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

Geeez. That’s a good night on the farm!

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Pineapple12

13 hours ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

I was at a work offsite all week and still collecting my bearings after getting home.

Your posts last night informed me on what happened. Gordon is on some kind of special run!

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Turk's Teeth

13 hours ago

Reply to Pineapple12

It was a good night to have MLB TV on the Roku, though my ladyboss nearly killed me for flipping between four affiliates for two hours.

Last edited 13 hours ago by Turk's Teeth

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Pineapple12

12 hours ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

Hahaha I mean she’s been suffering thru A’s hospital ball with you and now Angels baseball is back on the TV.

With our farm improvements are you coming back home after your gap year 🥹?

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Turk's Teeth

12 hours ago

Reply to Pineapple12

I’ll probably keep straddling worlds, since MASH*ball hasn’t deterred her from tuning in next year, and following both teams closely exposes me to more players and prospects.

I’m intrigued with the Moz rebuild, in any case – a dozen years of shitty farms was what detached me to begin with. Much more interesting to watch with a middle-of-the-pack farm on the rise.

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12 hours ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

Yes it was a special night. Special box scores. Sullied only by Lockhart and Thompson in Tri-City. Maybe time release their asses. (Though Thompson is sort of fun to watch pitch… looks like a bowling ball throwing cricket.)

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Turk's Teeth

11 hours ago

Reply to grichmanpoorman

Lockhart has had a hell of a season, and was only drafted in ’24. Think he was a good find in the 13th round.

He was the Quakes’ best reliever by far (1.65 ERA) before his promotion. May through July he only surrendered four runs over 27 outings. He really hasn’t seen any adversity this season until his promotion to High-A, and that Dust Devils defense can be pretty raw.

He cruised through the ninth inning last night, retiring all three hitters quickly. All of his runs last night were surrendered in extras, most unearned due to the ghost runner and a Ruiz error. Lot of soft contact and he still struck out three guys swinging over two.

Thompson on the other hand is just your average mid-20s minor league free agent and org guy. But I don’t really fault any of these dudes for surrendering runs in extras on a hot, humid night late in the season.

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https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/mlb-stadium-looks-virtually-empty-fans-send-clear-message-team-embarrassing

11 hours ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

You’re very correct about Lockhart. Saw that 9 ERA and had an ad hominem reaction.

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Texan44

14 hours ago

Seems like many of the fans came dressed in a disguise of an empty seat.

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Texan44

14 hours ago

Reply to Texan44

Also it was a “getaway day” for two teams that had the next day off.

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tanana40

13 hours ago

Reply to Texan44

Did anyone go to the game? I am wondering if a 1000 people were there or more like 500 or less?

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TrojanBoiler

13 hours ago

Reply to Texan44

Attendance of 25,000 huh? Angels PR staff should get into politics.

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dontbatvlad4th

12 hours ago

Reply to Texan44

I never believe the Angels attendance numbers, but everybody was hiding from the sun in the 200s.

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cookmeister

12 hours ago

Reply to Texan44

It’s a wednesday at 1. People are working, kids are back in school.

Oh ya, and its 100 degrees outside.

Everyone there was in the shade

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Legend

14 hours ago

No. The Giants are not snake bit. See, real POBOGMVPBPs expect most of their team to get injured and have signed spare superstars to come take the place of their heart of the order hitters and starting pitchers. The Giants could do this if their owners cared about winning and Buster Posey was a real baseball man with wrinkles who talks a lot about “his day” and stuff. Luck has NOTHING to do with roster building and success.

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Pineapple12

14 hours ago

Our starters are rolling, the tank is roaring, and the farm is thriving = successful season

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Legend

14 hours ago

Reply to Pineapple12

We are the Patton of poo ball.

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Turk's Teeth

10 hours ago

Reply to gitchogritchoffmypettis

One of your best, gitch.

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YOUknowulovetheIE

10 hours ago

Reply to Pineapple12

I’d consider this a very successful season if they secure a top 3 pick. I have way more faith now that perry is gone and the angels have moz/molly turning things around.

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Senator_John_Blutarsky

15 hours ago

No way there were 25,000 fans (announced attendance) at the day game this week with the Guardians.

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15 hours ago

Reply to Senator_John_Blutarsky

Looked like 5,000 max on TV

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GrandpaBaseball

17 hours ago

Something I read from last night’s postings is the frustration with Neto. Mob mentality is often present here about players and who to send packing. Why did PTP grab Neto in the first place was because we went to many years without a decent SS. Neto is an above average SS, in the top third in MLB and is enduring a rough season. Fits the lineup in the 4th and down spots perfectly. Being a believer in his talents as a 5 tool player believe the best is to come. Guzman is not the answer as a replacement. imho.

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steelgolf

16 hours ago

Reply to GrandpaBaseball

I would slot Neto in the 6,7,or 8 slot until he starts hitting.

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jco

14 hours ago

Reply to steelgolf

The guy is on a 9 game hitting streak and won AL player of the week last week.

he seemed lost at the plate earlier. He doesn’t right now. I prefer him at cleanup over leadoff, but why drop him in the order now.

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TrojanBoiler

13 hours ago

Reply to steelgolf

Over who? He is second on the team in OPS. Why would you bat him in the bottom third of the lineup?

If our team was loaded with offensive talent, then maybe. But on this roster it would be insane to have him hit outside of the top 4.

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Roy Hobbs

11 hours ago

Reply to TrojanBoiler

You are correct. unfortunately, outside of Trout, the rest of the team is pretty weak right now and Neto is the best of a bunch of not so great players. Before people get excited, Neto was a really good player for the last 2 years and has had a rough year all the way around, bad base running, bad fielding, and sub par hitting, at least for him. It doesn’t mean he can’t or won’t regain his form so to speak, or that it’s not a bad idea to trade him as part of the rebuild.

He wasn’t just off for a few weeks or months, it was 4.5 months and now he’s hit good for 2 weeks. I think Neto is a very good player but saying he’s the 2nd best o this team is not a great compliment. This team is bad.

We really have Trout and the bottom of the order. This would be a great team with a deep order if Neto, Schanuel, and Ballesteros were hitting 6-8. This team needs 4 hitters to pair with Trout in the top 5 slots in the order. Even if Meckler was acceptable at lead off, you would still need the 3,4,5 guys following Trout. Might even make more sense to go Trout and then Meckler or Schanuel with other hitting 7th.

We have a few slightly better than average hitters right no, 1 above average hitter, and no stars. On a good team, Siri, Meckler and Grissom would make nice bench players. Even without stars, we would need to add 3 130+ OPS type players to the current roster. Our starting pitching makes us look better than we really are if that’s possible.

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Turk's Teeth

11 hours ago

Reply to TrojanBoiler

He also has the team’s highest ISO and leads in XBHs (by far). He’s the only reasonable pick for Anaheim’s cleanup hitter.

(Batting him leadoff has never made much sense – and his .308 OBP from that position proves the case.)

He’d probably be a #5 or 6 hitter on a first division team, but he’s a middle of the order bat on this club.

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Roy Hobbs

10 hours ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

Absolutely agree

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16 hours ago

Reply to GrandpaBaseball

So he has been pretty darn good over the last few weeks. Here’s what’s wild – he was at a 61+ BTV before the deadline – he’s now only at 44. I get the value is getting him for a playoff run – but he’s a hold for me at that level. Trout at -91 – which would be a joke to give up and would never happen, as he’s still productive. Trout is here to stay.

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Turk's Teeth

11 hours ago

Reply to HalosFanForLife

Trout will never be moved – that conversation really should be over in the media, fan blogs, etc.

Even if he blew out a knee and never took the field again, Arte is basically paying $38M a year for an unanimous first ballot hall of famer whose number will be immediately retired, and who will be the Angels GOAT for a generation.

I’m sure that’s worth the cost to Moreno, whatever MNT manages to output on the field for the next four seasons. Fans should just consider it a known markdown in the budget through 2030 for Trout signing kids balls, showing up to charitable events, and having his face on posters and merch everywhere. Ownership would rather have the man for a lifetime than diminish the tenure with a season or two on the Phillies or elsewhere.

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Texan44

16 hours ago

Reply to GrandpaBaseball

I see Neto, Trout, and Schanuel as “good hitters” on a bad team. All 3 are keepers but need a much better supporting cast. (That means move a couple down in the order with BETTER hitters above them.)

Neto and Suri are crazy makers in the field. One time ESPN highlights, next time A Ball fielders. I just see they need coaching – if they are able to listen. Both could add value to the Angels in the future as both are young.

As to Guzman, he is not as good as Neto at hitting or fielding (currently). However, the mentality of just move him to 3rd or 2nd fails too see the different talents that are required at different positions. He would be my first “trade bait” to see what he would bring. NOT Neto.

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Pineapple12

14 hours ago

Reply to GrandpaBaseball

Neto is a really good baseball player. The hate has gotten way out of control

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13 hours ago

Reply to Pineapple12

Piss Ju Ju.

I still want to trade him. Just because our farm isn’t at the bottom of the septic tank anymore doesn’t mean we are actually close to being a rebuilt team. Not at all.

But he’s a very good player who had a bad 2026 over all. The idea that he should spend his career at the #7 spot in the line up on a good team is stupid. Unless he just falls apart over the next couple seasons that’s just CTPG Guys inner Doyer fan whining his thinkings at us.

He’s a good player who lost control of his K rate for a big chunk of this season. We should trade him because he has value now, which is diminishing, and we have no business paying him down the line.

But I wouldn’t be incensed if they extended him as a “core guy”. Not the move I would make, but also not the worst move ever.

The “Neto is washed” cluck and squawk is right up there near the “Vlad Guerrero is washed” level of BS. And CTPG Guy loves Vlad. He was sitting cross legged in ragged clothes in front of the Angels offices BEGGING the Artes to sign him for very little bonus pool money but instead we signed Baldo. A clear example of how this team is deficient in clearly goodness and stuff.

The Honks are barely aware of Vlad sucking ass…. they just don’t bring him up anymore as example 384 to bitch about the team they love and the step daddy surrogate they hate. Neto was brought in by dad and his guy Perry. Thus he is crap…. till he’s gone, then his not being an Angel anymore will be clear evidence of the head rotting from the fish out as the definition of insanity.

Neto sold out for power. It failed. He likely fields badly because the failure is a distraction. He clearly has the ability to NOT play this badly. He is cheap. He is only blocking guys who are barely prospects. They hit him in the lead off spot because he’s fast and has power and is a solid hitter when not in a slump. Meckler is a solid contact weakling hitter who old men romanticize too much. The Neto sitch is just not that crazy or horrible.

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BannedInLA

9 hours ago

Reply to gitchogritchoffmypettis

My concern is that moving Neto now probably means that we’re selling whilst his stock down. If the club wants to move him, I’d prefer to gamble that is his performance improves next season – e.g., Sell High.

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Legend

7 hours ago

Reply to BannedInLA

Eh. Nothin wrong with that. If SS becomes a hot spot of need over the winter and we get offered two Top 100s plus a couple lotto kids I’d take it, but waiting to see what he does till July isn’t the end of the world.

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FungoAle

7 hours ago

Reply to gitchogritchoffmypettis

Yes, some team wanting to manage payroll may come knocking on Neto and his controllable years. I’d certainly move him in the right trade. Happy he won the little player-o-the-week thing, to help get his name out there again. My opinion might be influenced by the simple fact, I don’t find him likable. Too many times I see him fraternizing with the opposition while his teammate is getting lit up on the mound.

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TrojanBoiler

13 hours ago

Reply to GrandpaBaseball

I haven’t given up on Guzman yet by any means. He’s a 22 y/o rookie.

But I’m with you on Neto. He was probably my favorite player on the team coming into the season. The first several months were really rough but he seems to have worked through it and has been much better lately on offense and defense both. Still at least a league average shortstop at worst and those don’t grow on trees.

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Turk's Teeth

11 hours ago

Reply to TrojanBoiler

Also worth mentioning that most of the advanced fielding metrics think Guzman is average or above average at 3B, and that’s a position he’s only recently learned. The range metrics are positive, and he’s still getting his bearings on transfer and throw accuracy.

Most of the fielding metrics are quite bearish on Neto’s range and defense at SS though, especially his lateral movement toward 1B.

That’s just to say that, if Neto were moved for a strong position player package, Guzman probably has a lot more defensive ceiling at SS, and in terms of the bat, he’s right about where Neto was in his own age-22 season, 250 plate appearances into his career.

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Roy Hobbs

10 hours ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

That is exactly how I feel about moving forward. Guzman is a better fit for the window.

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Turk's Teeth

10 hours ago

Reply to Roy Hobbs

Neto was my guy in that draft year, and I don’t feel the disdain others do during cold spells on a non-contending club – it’s clear he’s a baller who wants to compete, and not competing isn’t fun for him.

But he does have some clear limitations, and the Angels need help all over the outfield, and some near-term help on the infield too.

I just think it makes more sense to get back 3-4 upside position prospects for Neto (provided its a strong package) than concentrate all that value in one place on the infield, when there are rising prospects who can immediately take his place, provided fans are patient with their development.

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Roy Hobbs

8 hours ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

He was a great pick and still is, we just have too many needs as you state.

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dontbatvlad4th

12 hours ago

Reply to GrandpaBaseball

I just can’t stand his low baseball IQ plays on both sides of the ball. Makes some great plays, and then does something stupid. His inability to not swing at off speed below the zone kills me as well.

Last edited 12 hours ago by dontbatvlad4th

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17 hours ago

Not only did the Yankees pick up Fulmer, he threw the 8th inning – no hits/no walks and one k.

Last edited 17 hours ago by HalosFanForLife

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Texan44

16 hours ago

Reply to HalosFanForLife

I wish him well but it was pointless for the Angels to keep him and not see what the young arms have. So on first pass, I thought “that was a mistake” but I fully support looking for the next month at the young guys. At 33 years of age, I think it was the right move for both.

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16 hours ago

Reply to Texan44

Totally agree. But why pick him up August 15th? Seems like more to it. Maybe he wanted nothing to do with the analytics.

Last edited 16 hours ago by HalosFanForLife

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MarineLayer

13 hours ago

Reply to Texan44

Why are we looking at Peralta over Fulmer?

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jco

13 hours ago

Reply to MarineLayer

Peralta is 28 with 6 full years of team control. Fulmer is 33 and will be a free agent at the end of the season or sooner.

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16 hours ago

Reply to HalosFanForLife

Anyone know why he would be on the league minimum, then clear waivers, then get anMLB deal?

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