LA Angels Thursday News Crash

“Angels optimism for ’27” raises a lot of interesting questions. Is Rhett saying the Angels believe they can stop having catastrophic game implosions, or is he just saying they think they will lose less because of the looming lockout. I jest. He is clearly trying to put the best face on things that he can. It’s almost like they look great while they are winning but they look various forms of bad while they are losing. That sentence is an interesting segue into the Anna Karenina theme of Dan Szymborski’s article which adopts less of a Pollyanna tone.

Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday will have wrist surgery. Reds right-hander Tony Santillan will probably have hip surgery. It’s UCL surgery for Giants pitcher Blade Tidwell. Ronald Acuna Jr. fouled a ball off his shin and missed a game. Dylan Cease’s shoulder inflammation has him on the injured list now.

The Mets claimed pitcher Philip Abner off waivers from the Giants. the Guardians designated right-hander Connor Brogdon for assignment. The Braves activated reliever Robert Suarez back from the 60 day IL.

Former White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper passed away at the age of 70.

Photo credit: Rex Fregosi

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RexFregosi
Legend
1 hour ago

Dback eliminated? With 6 runs today in the Top of the First?

Not today pal, not today.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
45 minutes ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

SNEKS! That team’s so much more likable than the Padres. I wish they’d win out….

cookmeister
Trusted Member
1 hour ago

dang. Homie deleted his comments (or they were taken down? idk), and the comment count dropped by 25%. Wild

2pints
Super Member
1 hour ago
Reply to  cookmeister

just noticed that too. I didn’t know we could delete comments. if they were deleted by an admin, thank you.

going to be funny for anyone that logs in now for the first time, thinking we’re all talking to ourselves.

Last edited 1 hour ago by 2pints
cookmeister
Trusted Member
1 hour ago
Reply to  2pints

i hope he deleted them, simply because I don’t think admin ever should unless its hate speech/inappropriate language/threats kinda thing

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
1 hour ago
Reply to  2pints

Admins can delete comments and entire comment threads. So if somebody says something that breaks a rule we can delete that comment and any replies to it will automatically disappear as well.

cookmeister
Trusted Member
1 hour ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

so you’re saying he deleted them

2pints
Super Member
1 hour ago
Reply to  cookmeister

I now see a Delete option in my comment’s settings. So yeah, he likely deleted. Interesting.

cookmeister
Trusted Member
17 minutes ago
Reply to  2pints

he deleted yesterday’s too lollllll

AngelsFanInHell
Super Member
2 minutes ago
Reply to  cookmeister

I have been busy at work and when I glanced at this page this morning, I just immediately closed it. I didn’t want to get wrapped up in it.

I’m not inferring this at all, but I would take things personal here when I would drink and then I would be more offensive than my normal self.

I now live by the motto, “Don’t drink and blog.”

Texan44
Trusted Member
3 hours ago

(This is what I read as reported. If inaccurate, I plead the 5th – Chivas Regal.)

Not trying to prove anything but the 2014 draft was interesting, at least to me. The top 3 were 2 high school pitchers and 1 college pitcher. Astros had 1-1. Nolan Ryan supposedly went to Shepherd, Texas to watch Kolek pitch. (He was throwing over 100 mph in high school) His advice was don’t draft him. Bad mechanics. So the Astros took Brady Aiken. As you can see, eventually several lower prospects turned out to be good and the first two never made it to the majors.

https://www.baseball-almanac.com/draft/baseball-draft.php?yr=2014

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
2 hours ago
Reply to  Texan44

We could have had one 3B for the last 12 years.  🙂 

HalosFanForLife
Super Member
2 hours ago
Reply to  Roy Hobbs

Astros got a good point guard with their second pick.

BannedInLA
Legend
4 hours ago

-9 WAR Susuki?

RexFregosi
Legend
1 hour ago
Reply to  BannedInLA

Expiration date: 09/28/2026

2pints
Super Member
5 hours ago

this is getting kind of sad, honestly

2pints
Super Member
1 hour ago
Reply to  2pints

I swear I wasn’t talking to myself here haha

Texan44
Trusted Member
5 hours ago

As to the draft, seeing how the Angels have the best AA team in the world, I thought it might be interesting to see how the players from last nights game ranked in selection on draft day.

Nimmala – Round 1 Pick #20 (Toronto)
Rodriguez, N – 10 #289
Munroe – 4 #109
Cozart – 2 #48 (Cleveland)
Bartolero – Undrafted ?
Flint – 13 #388
Micheletti – 8 #247 (Toronto)
Thompson – Undrafted ???
Scull – International
Gordon – 4 #110
Minacci – 6 #174

My argument is not anti-draft 1-1. It is the importance of solid scouting department and a solid development department for the drafted/signed players. To me those two are much more important than draft rank.

Last edited 5 hours ago by Texan44
gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Texan44

Even more to your point, where do the Doyers and Yankees draft every year? Or for that matter, the Rays…. though they’ve had some high pick busts

hockey_duckie
Member
3 hours ago

Agreed.

The Dodgers’ farm team has been ranking high despite winning year after year. It’s their scouting, coaching, and development programs that propel their draft picks maximize their potential probability.

They keep trading away prospects, yet still rank high year after year. In the words of Billy Currington, “Must be doing something right.”

Fansince1971
Legend
2 hours ago
Reply to  hockey_duckie

Exactly. The Dodgers do it right at all levels. I may hate them but I also respect them. Current ownership took a flailing baseball Org and turned it into the envy of the League.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Texan44

Soooo… if we only lose 98 games this year then that will lead to our org having a really good over all scouting and development department? Please explain.

2pints
Super Member
4 hours ago

You literally already explained it, sarcasm aside: “We get better waiver odds. Awesome. That is going to payoff I’d bet. Better draft odds for higher pick round 1, cool!! Better pick rounds 2 on, even better.”

Texan44
Trusted Member
3 hours ago
Reply to  Charles Sutton

How did that ransom payment handoff go?

milehigh
Trusted Member
2 hours ago
Reply to  Charles Sutton

Wow. Wonder how Van Gogh’s self portrait would have been judged by these people.

milehigh
Trusted Member
1 hour ago
Reply to  Charles Sutton

Would love it if next time every entry was a drawing of Eeyore.

RexFregosi
Legend
3 hours ago
Reply to  Charles Sutton

Hoping for 100 losses?
Not me.

2pints
Super Member
3 hours ago
Reply to  2pints

we’re not getting hung up, we’re responding to each of your (flawed) points on why them having better draft position takes a back seat to a meaningless game’s outcome in a lost season. that’s how conversations work: you say stuff, we respond, back and forth.

we don’t need to expand any further, you summed it up nicely above. if you’re too obtuse to understand that, cool. but you woke up quite early this morning and chose to continue this conversation, in multiple comments, and now are acting like you’re being picked on while minding your business.

I have no idea what you’re first sentence means, what eggs in what basket? Is winning tonight an egg in a basket? Will you be sitting on it keeping it warm, waiting to puke into its mouth for sustenance?

2pints
Super Member
3 hours ago
Reply to  2pints

you are sad here, your 5am comments clearly show that.

2pints
Super Member
3 hours ago
Reply to  2pints

the point is, at 5am you’re posting about yesterday’s conversation, calling numerous others out by name. now that we’ve all woken up and responded to you, you’re like “why is everyone still talking to me about this???” its bizarre

2pints
Super Member
3 hours ago
Reply to  2pints

I think you may have a legit problem with reading comprehension, because you keep misinterpreting what was written and responding to whatever conversation is going on in your head instead. Its weird.

2pints
Super Member
2 hours ago
Reply to  2pints

I actually have no problem with you wanting wins. What I’ve been reacting to is you being disgusted with those who want better draft position via losses, and then your subsequent various bad reasonings on why hoping for a better draft position via losses is bad.

again, reading comprehension doesn’t seem to be a strength of yours, so not surprised you’ve mangled my arguments in your mind.

Fansince1971
Legend
4 hours ago

From my perspective, at this point in the season and under the circumstances, losing is winning. Avoiding 100 losses is way less important in the long run than top draft position 2nd round onwards.

Now – you raise a good point – draft position is only as good as the people who are drafting. But if you believe that Moz is competent, then providing him better draft position is WAY more important than avoiding 100 losses.

So for the long term benefit – losing is actually winning. It may not feel that way short term – but the long term benefits of even a slightly better draft position is legit.

HalosFanForLife
Super Member
4 hours ago
Reply to  Texan44

Development so important. Become a leader there – your drafts will look better. With a new owner coming in with the cash to do that part right – let’s hope he invests aggressively there. The development needs to breath all the way through the organization where everyone is on the same page. When you draft players that fit the team way of doing things – you get a compounding effect. We see the same teams in the hunt year after year – and it’s not always the big spenders. The Mets spend – but nobody talks about “The Mets’ Way of doing things.”

RexFregosi
Legend
4 hours ago
Reply to  Texan44

2025- Angel draft sucked
2026 – Angels Southern League AA champs with key contributors Bremner, Mahlstedt, Snead, Munroe, and Rodriguez.

Slawinski and Talon and TJ had nice year too.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
1 hour ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

Huge credit to whoever helped Munroe with his swing adjustment last off season. I am trying to find out exactly who that was.

Really trying to get some interviews lined up with some Pandas soon.

cookmeister
Trusted Member
2 hours ago
Reply to  Texan44

100% mean this with all due respect. We get it
The incessant passive aggressive talk gets old. It’s been old. We might not get the best odds, the best picks and we might even nail them and we can ALL sing hallelujah together. We’ll get there. We’ll know, soon too. You’re the one that chose not to scroll past a post you didn’t like and tell people how to be fans Anyway, point is you can get frustrated with the team? It can be just as frustrating reading you all day. You’re a better fan than this. Respectfully, me.

cookmeister
Trusted Member
2 hours ago
Reply to  cookmeister

You’ve made 5 different original comments this morning. All passive aggressive. Some of which calling people out

Did you really go to bed last night just thinking about me?

Fansince1971
Legend
5 hours ago

I am cautiously optimistic about the Kroenke era That said, it’s less about spending loads on free agents (Arte certainly did that without success in the last 15 years) and more about creating a baseball Org with a strong farm, great scouting, strong player development etc. Also – it would be nice to have an owner that doesn’t meddle in baseball issues, doesn’t bring in his buddies to run the team and who is smart enough to leave the baseball decisions to the baseball people.

So it’s a little wait and see for me. We can look at how Kroenke has run his other teams for insight – and I think he generally takes a hands off approach which is reassuring. He seems to leave player and personnel decision making to the folks he has hired to do that.

So – my hope is not for increased spending on Free Agents. It’s for a completely revamped baseball Org that makes competent decisions and creates a foundation for strength and success at all levels of the Org.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Fansince1971

Your lips, Stank’s ears

HalosFanForLife
Super Member
3 hours ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

I would agree. Depending on how the CBA goes, if there’s no major shakeup in International, go build a world class faility in the DR and stop looking like a Motel 6 next to a Ritz Carlton. Get a great development team – find the best in the business – and pay them well – especially at the top levels who have shown they can build a cohesive unit throughout an organization. We need a GM that is a top level manager of baseball operations. That’s the only way a culture will permeate throughout an organization. Save the money – signing one less free agent and watch things change. Free agents are like duct tape.

Last edited 3 hours ago by HalosFanForLife
Fansince1971
Legend
3 hours ago

On this we agree 110%

When/if these things happen will coincide with my starting to get truly optimistic.

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
44 minutes ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

Gotta eat the elephant one bite at a time and it’s hard to see the progress when the snow ball first starts rolling down the hill.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

Did we even play a game last night? I wasn’t watching cause at this point I don’t care since being slightly less loser means nothing in reality as far as I can tell. I listened to the Pandas game and that was it, and if we end up the 2nd worst team this year then HUZZAH! hopefully we get more good Pandas out of it.

But at this point? Night over night? I’ll watch a game if I have nothing better to do. But there is a lot of better out there now that football is on.

By the way, your list of teams. You realize all you have to do is list the teams with the lowest win percentage over six years and then yell “GOTCHA” to make that point right? It ignores, by it’s nature, teams that simply avoid being top five in worst win % over six years aren’t on it…. so…. good fer you?

You, on the other hand, are in a spot where you’re gonna want to cheer like an idiot if the team takes 2 of 3 from the Mariners and “wins” by having 99 losses like you were actually in on some great effort. That is going to be sad. Like the simple guy that used to live in my neighborhood and would lose his shit for joy every time he found a scratched off lottery ticket on the ground because he thought just finding something colorful and shiny meant it was a winner and he was rich. I was like ten years old. It would bum me out.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

HELL YES PANDAS!

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

I don’t think there is a grand plan within the Angels to tank. You’re right, the inducements for it are too slim for a front office to “go for the bottom!”. Rather, the team is just garbage, and as long as it’s garbage some fans have run the numbers. They have ground these numbers up and found that if we lose enough games we gain a razor thin advantage over what we would have had otherwise, and they want that.

Then apparently one of those fans took all those fine sand-like grains of ground up numbers and hurled them into your vagina.

HalosFanForLife
Super Member
3 hours ago

And the leak that you actually did it intentionally would be painful PR. Do I think a GM might tell a manager – hey – we want to get x some reps so we can see what he can do – knowing the odds are stacked against him – and if he’s bad – the benefit is you improve your position? Absolutely. Do I think teams intentionally tank? Not really. Now if a no doubter like Bryce Harper was in the wings – I think the “let’s see what this guy can do” would be increased.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

Thing is, other than maybe Moore who we actually want to get reps, I can’t think of anyone playing now who is a clear insert that is just plain worse than the guy he replaced. Especially not over any period longer than a game or two where a bunch of spazz men bitch that Lowe is playing or something.

HalosFanForLife
Super Member
41 minutes ago

I sure hope we hit our bottom. Watching the promise of our starters – I have to think we did.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

I like to picture that whole pearl thing. It’s nice.

Our masterplan is to let an awful team suck and then see what dusting of positivity comes of it. It took us years to come up with it.

I pretty much never actively want the Angels to lose as the game’s going…. but hell if you haven’t almost got me there.

Pineapple12
Legend
6 hours ago

— Arte sold the team
— Perry was fired
— Our farm system received a facelift and is now widely viewed as top 15
— Trout played 140 games for the first time 2018
— Detmers pitched like an ace, Urena had a breakthrough, Rodriguez bounced back from an injury. Organizational starting pitching as a whole is 📈
— we locked in top lottery odds
— Rocket City won the championship
— did I mention Arte sold the team

This is the most hope we’ve had as a fanbase in over a decade. Arte out, Kroenke in.

Best of luck to those hoping to avoid 100 losses. It clearly means a lot in the grand scheme of things lol

MarineLayer
Legend
6 hours ago
Reply to  Pineapple12

I don’t think Trout playing140 games in CF is much of a positive at the level of this contract in the Ernie Banks role. Maybe Stan will just ignore it and understand it’s a sunk cost and rebuild the team as if it’s not there. Remember we still have half of Rendone’s last year still on the books. Arturo must’ve did that on purpose in order to pay less of it going forward.

Texan44
Trusted Member
6 hours ago

Other than November and end of ST, I am not a fan of waiver wire guys. However, there are exceptions because of the weak roster of another team. I volunteer the Angels. Why did the Angels pick up Meckler? My opinion was he was excess for the Giants but a dire need for Angels. What about Heineman? (Although this shows as a cash transaction after he was DFAd by Blue Jays). He was excess for Toronto but a dire need for Angels.

So my opinion you need a crap team for the waiver wire to be of any good 98% of the time. And YES, the current Angels do qualify. Let’s hope that goes away SOON.

Texan44
Trusted Member
6 hours ago
Reply to  Texan44

This is just an example of one GM (Mike Elias) that loves to use the waiver wire. He started with a “tank” and currently has a lot of injury problems but he must spend half of his time playing with the waiver wire. Albert Suarez can not be optioned to the minors. So Elias DFAs him and he goes through waivers. You have to scroll down to Transactions to see that Suarez has gone through waivers UNCLAIMED by any team 5 times this season.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/suareal01.shtml

Texan44
Trusted Member
6 hours ago
Reply to  Texan44

Only because I am familiar with the Orioles roster construction that I post this as reference. But Elias went from “tank” to waiver claims and yes, they have multiple injury problems. But many of his “purchased” (like Heineman) were DFAd and on the waiver wire. And he has only made it worse claiming all these guys. See how he “acquired” so many on his team.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BAL/baltimore-orioles-salaries-and-contracts.shtml

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Texan44

Exactly. Our roster sucks. Those “dire need” picks are gonna happen either way. But Waiver priority means our dire need picks will be “the best” guys available from the dollar bin. So odds of lucking out and picking a winner, while still thin, are better.

And we want to be in the “odds are slightly better” category for everything. Even a slight bump in draft pool money that allows us to maybe pay of a HS outfielder in the fifth round who will likely not pan out but may become Fred Lynn for example… we need slightly improved odds on many many long shots.

The alternative? I am still waiting for someone to explain it. How does having 67 wins and picking lower down the line in all things help us develop the org more than having 62 wins and picking first or second? Still waiting.

MarineLayer
Legend
6 hours ago

I agree.

Texan44
Trusted Member
5 hours ago

I posted above an example of the Trash Pandas. Just an example. So my base argument is not which place you pick, but who is in charge of picking. And then not who you picked, who do you have that can make him improve. That’s it. A few teams (very few) are able to pick and develop successfully.

2pints
Super Member
4 hours ago

you’re asking questions that have no answers, yet. the team is being sold in the spring, so we can expect a lot of changes throughout the organization once the transaction is completed. you glossing over that and demanding answers now because you’ve decided you’re going to die on this fucking hill this week, for whatever odd reason, isn’t proving your point. its showing your argument is flawed and you’re grasping. you ask who the top 3 prospects are, as if the answer being cloudy today supports your point, when the reality is the answer will change a dozen times throughout next year’s college and HS seasons. the 2027 draft is 292 days away, take a deep breath.

we get it, you feel uber super strongly that you’re a better fan because you’d rather they win a meaningless game tonight than them be able to have better draft position. its a stupid shortsighted argument, but hey, you’re free to keep making it.

2pints
Super Member
4 hours ago
Reply to  2pints

I don’t understand why you’re being such a dick about this. Who here is coming off as Billy Bean because they want the Halos to have the best advantages possible in the draft?

2pints
Super Member
3 hours ago
Reply to  2pints

The second comment on this daily links post is you calling out by name others regarding your anti tanking stance, which it looks like you posted around 5am this morning. now you’re like “why do you all keep talking to me about this?” gimme a break dude, you’re clearly loving this attention lol

2pints
Super Member
3 hours ago
Reply to  2pints

I’m replying to you. If you don’t want to talk to me, don’t talk to me. You literally called me out in your early morning post, now “why do you continue to engage” and “why do people keep talking to me about this?” you’re not a victim, you’re on a sports blog where people discuss things, and you said something that warranted further discussion. If you no longer wanted to discuss it, your early morning comments today show otherwise.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  2pints

Bro. I logged in here at 7am PST and you’d already made a bunch of vague to clear references to this. You woke up this morning with this topic up your ass and out your mouth. You probably got pissed and your cereal today for “tanking” and getting soggy instead of staying crisp. That’s why so many people are pointing at you, you keep dropping your pants.

2pints
Super Member
3 hours ago

I read that too and was like “is this guy f’n serious?”

Last edited 3 hours ago by 2pints
2pints
Super Member
2 hours ago
Reply to  2pints

JFC dude, let it go

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  2pints

Lawson is the top prospect right now. And yes. We could really stand to draft him.

2pints
Super Member
3 hours ago

right, but he asked for the top 3, which I assume will be much different next July than it is right now.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

I’ve got to ask, who is actually TANKING? Like, at what point, compared to the rest of the season, did we “take our quarterback out”? Where are the 37 year old scrub pitchers who just started throwing for us three weeks ago? Where are the big line up changes where we play Murf Mervson instead of Neto while Neto is healthy?

While I’m still waiting for you to explain what I get out of 63 wins instead of 62, I’d also like to know where this tank you are seeing actually is cause all I see is the same pile of garbage I’ve watched for six months now.

toad2065
Trusted Member
2 hours ago

Stupid LABELS will be the death of me. What really happened this season? We gave some of our youngsters the opportunity to play meaningful innings in the bigs. (Development). We fired a GM who is largely responsible for creating a pipeline of young patching but was never allowed to trade for prospects. He was replaced by a guy who has been allowed to trade for prospects and our farm is markedly improved. The team was sold to a group with a great track record of success. I, for one, am optimistic about the Angels’ future.

TANKING my wrinkled ass!

RexFregosi
Legend
7 hours ago

Interesting occurrence on the all-time career WAR list

For Position Players, Mike has caught Jimmie Foxx at #29!!!
(with 91.9 bWAR.

but when you to the all players list that includes Pitchers, Mike is at #43, and trails Foxx who now shows 92.7 bWAR.

Foxx did pitch some, 23.2 innings, so that somewhat explains it, but did Foxx really get 0.8 bWAR by pitching just so few innings? I’ll have to look further.

Reminder that Mike is an all-time great so you can critique him all you want but it’s pretty shortsighted.

Last edited 7 hours ago by RexFregosi
gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  RexFregosi

I like Mike Trout and think he has value still. I don’t understand how highlighting his past performance and how it is slowly overtaking the performances of all time great players and will continue to do so has anything to do with being “short sighted”.

By the same logic it was short sighted to doubt the incredible value of Albert Pujols while he was here, grounding out to third, slowly adding home runs and other lesser stat milestones no one cared about, while the Angels commentators mooned over him and the fans wished he’d cost less.

Trout’s our all time great and will add to that. But that has nothing to do with being short sighted.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  RexFregosi

You wanna look at future pain? Manny Machado hit .218 this year and has a WRC just below league average. He is JUST STARTING the truly painful part of his contract. Seven years of making just under 40M a season.

Trout’s not a guy who will carry a team anywhere now. But at least he’s still well above average and we only pay him a couple more years. That Machado contract. Woof.

MarineLayer
Legend
6 hours ago

Don’t forget the 7 yeats left on Zander Bogarts (sp) contract.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  MarineLayer

Woof woof. Sheesh…. those are some tough times ahead. And they have no starting pitch NOW. They have to be wishing really hard on New Magic Unicorn Owner + Wife. I’m sure she’ll help her clueless dork husband figure all this out…. just like on TV.

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
5 hours ago

When will they ever learn that long term contracts into the 30’s are a complete waste of money.

Texan44
Trusted Member
5 hours ago
Reply to  Roy Hobbs

Half of me wants to bang the table and scream “HOBBS IS CORRECT.” The other half thinks, well if you do these stupid things for a few years, you can sell the team and make billions. This is ambivalence defined.

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend

“If you ain’t first, you’re the Angels”

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
9 hours ago

We are going to be closer to ,500 or better next season by a lot as the Yuts will have more time up this year to build on to and Schanny will have a real chance to put it together. Counting Meck and Grissom and Trouty we have some good pieces to go with the starting staff. The outlook is exciting for ’27.

The more you think about it one hundred “L”s pretty much sucks and having Lowe, Siri, Moore and Guzman as 4 auto outs and a blowpen sucks. 99 loses is bad too, but 100 seems much more like a rattlesnake bite as the scar of it never goes away. Who knew the A’s were this good?

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