The Kids Are Alright Postgame

A mantra around here has been Let the Kids Play. Tonight the kids played and they played well.

The Angels got on the board first with a home run by the resurgent Nolan Schanuel.

Fresh off his bobblehead night, Logan O’Hoppe cashed in an RBI double to score the new Angel Willie Calhoun.

The biggest blow in the game came from Mickey “I Get To Play Everyday Now” Moniak who cracked a three run bomb.

So for tonight, the kids are alright.

Jose Soriano rebounded nicely from his rough start last Saturday, needing only 87 pitches to craft 6 shutout innings. His knuckle curve is a great weapon when it is on. Consistency is the key there.

Up 6-0 heading into the 7th it was time for Angels fans to strap on our seatbelts and get ready for the bullpen to take over. The 6th run came in the form of a Taylor Ward sacrifice fly in the 5th.

The bullpen came through. Amir Garret was clean in the 7th. Somehow Jose Suarez pitched two scoreless frames despite a major mental mistake by Luis Rengifo.

Light up the Halo!

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smithy610
Super Member
11 months ago

Oh, and after Wash says “don’t be that Mickey that thinks he can hit HRs” a day before, Mickey hits a 3-run jack. Of course.

Glad to see Nolan having more barrel and lift in his hits. Great to see him go on a hitting streak after the horrible start to the season. Hoping he can keep it up and maybe he won’t be sent down after all. If he can get to 15 HRs this year with an OPS between .700-.750, that would be a great rookie year for him.

smithy610
Super Member
11 months ago

Some of Wash’s moves and strategies are questionable, but man, he provides some amazing, refreshing answers, maybe not heard from an Angels manager since maybe Soth:

On why Willie Calhoun is his cleanup hitter:

“I took some names and put them in a hat and shook them up and he came out fourth,” Manager Ron Washington said.

After the assembled media chuckled, Washington added: “Seriously. You think I’m joking.”

Washington went on to explain that he actually wrote some names on pieces of paper and threw them on his bed. He also had Jo Adell and Logan O’Hoppe in the mix.

Those players have each shown some power in the major leagues and gotten off to solid starts this season, but Washington said he really didn’t want to give either of them the responsibility of hitting fourth.

“They’re too young,” Washington said. “I tried putting Adell in the top of the lineup and it lasted a day. I tried putting (Zach) Neto in the top of the lineup and it lasted two days. I’m not going to take O’Hoppe and put him in the fourth hole. I’ll hit him fifth or sixth, but for some reason when you put them in one of those spots, they think they’ve got to be special and they don’t. They really don’t. They’ve just got to be who they are. If you can give us base hits there, I’ll take it. You can give us doubles there, I’ll take it. I’m not looking for home runs because I don’t have that kind of team.”

Given all that, what if Washington had picked Adell or O’Hoppe off the bed?

“I’m glad I picked Calhoun, because if I would have picked up one of the kids, I would have changed my mind,” Washington said. “So it was meant to be.”

Last edited 11 months ago by smithy610
BannedInLA
Super Member
11 months ago
Reply to  smithy610

Honestly is such a rare commodity in the public space that when we hear it, we’re off put.

Love Wash for that reason alone.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
11 months ago

We won. I enjoyed watching the game. Soriano pitched instead of throwing. Adell looks settled in. O’Hoppe is…. still good. Rengifo actually, dare I say it, looks a little veterany at times. I enjoyed it.

So lame.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
11 months ago

The kids can play sometimes.

John Henry Weitzel
Editor
Super Member
BannedInLA
Super Member
11 months ago

I’m guilty of recency bias but, Soriano has better stuff than Detmers, who himself. has excellent stuff. Keep this dude in the rotation all year.

The image of Calhoun roaming an MLB is hilarious.

Cowboy26
Legend
11 months ago
Reply to  BannedInLA

As funny as Calhoun roaming an all you can eat buffet?

Angelz4ever
Super Member
11 months ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Not funny for the owners.

Twebur
Legend
11 months ago
Reply to  Angelz4ever

I know Sano Ozempic’ed 75 lbs.

But you know he still can eat. Imagine the damage he and Calhoun could do to a Golden Corral.

BannedInLA
Super Member
11 months ago
Reply to  Twebur

Jose Saurez says hold my beer.

BannedInLA
Super Member
11 months ago
Reply to  BannedInLA

*roaming an MLB Outfield

BannedInLA
Super Member
11 months ago

ATL is 20-9 while Acuna Jr & Olsen aren’t rolling yet. Me jealous.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
11 months ago
Reply to  BannedInLA

The Dodgers get their goop all over the MLB media, but the Braves are just as sick. They seem to just constantly plug guys into the 26 man and they blossom like Blossom.

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
11 months ago

at this pace we’ll finish 142-20.

Fansince1971
Legend
11 months ago

BEST game of the season. Hat tip!

Cowboy26
Legend
11 months ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

Is that allowed?

BannedInLA
Super Member
11 months ago

Wasn’t able to watch or listen, but I checked ESPN when it was 5-0 in the 4th and because I’m superstitious re: sports, I didn’t want to post during the game and jinx it.

The Kiiiiddzzzzz performed today !!!

John Henry Weitzel
Editor
Super Member
11 months ago

comment image

WallyChuckChili
Legend
11 months ago

The Kids Won!

Let the Kids Play!

comment image

Twebur
Legend
11 months ago

That’s Us!

This is the Doyers…
https://youtu.be/9jq_pSH7Bwg?si=pN61P8Zk_jGTdZyO

Angelz4ever
Super Member
11 months ago
Reply to  Twebur

They got that song from Vanilla Ice.

Cowboy26
Legend
11 months ago
Reply to  Angelz4ever

Actually it was a collaboration with David Bowie who is sorely missed on this rendition.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
11 months ago

The guitar player always struck me as a selfish musician.

PedroCerrano
Super Member
11 months ago
Reply to  Angelz4ever

Very self indulgent with his solos.

How many guitar players does it take to screw in a lite bulb?

One, he (she) holds the light bulb and the whole world revolves around him.

Cowboy26
Legend
11 months ago
Reply to  PedroCerrano

As self indulgent as Freddie’s 2 minute long blathering acapellas?

DMAGZ13
Trusted Member
11 months ago

The offense is not terrible, and perhaps not feeling like they need to carry Trout can take some pressure off the young guys. And before someone kills me… dare I say better? Nobody to pitch around. Nobody feeling pressure to get on base for Trout or knock him in. Nobody walking Trout to get to X. They’re just playing Little League (or Pony League actually) now so maybe they can just play. To be honest, we’ve seen all these guys able to physically hit the ball out and far. The question with Schanuel was if he can hit the ball out with a wooden bat. He’s going to get stronger. Just stay true himself. Neto needs to be comfortable just lacing pitches instead of swinging for the fences. Adell just needs to trust the program. They all need to realize they aren’t Judge or Ohtani and be themselves.. they can be better than the sum if their parts.

BannedInLA
Super Member
11 months ago
Reply to  DMAGZ13

I can dig it.

My only small gripe is Shanny at leadoff. Slow guys shouldn’t lead off period.

Come what may standings wise, if Detmers, Soriano, Adell, etc. prove themselves to be good starters. it means we gave a solid foundation to build upon.

Nice.

Pineapple12
Super Member
11 months ago
Reply to  BannedInLA

Schanuel performs best at leadoff. We should probably leave him there and let the kid cook up.

I don’t disagree with your POV btw — I like my leadoff hitter to have speed as well.

Twebur
Legend
11 months ago

Competitive Games Played in a Row Streak

[[ 4 ]]

matthiasstephan
Super Member
11 months ago
Reply to  Twebur

That is a stat I like – you don’t win them all, but if you are always in the game things can happen.

Pineapple12
Super Member
11 months ago
Reply to  Twebur

Good stat

Simba
Trusted Member
11 months ago
Reply to  Twebur

5-16 and 5-11 vs Minnesota were competitive?

Twebur
Legend
11 months ago
Reply to  Simba

3 games against Philly + yesterday = 4

FungoAle
Legend
11 months ago

Soriano clearly in the No. 2 starter role. Just great stuff. Still growing and just hope for good health.

DMAGZ13
Trusted Member
11 months ago
Reply to  FungoAle

Detmers – Soriano – Anderson our 1-2-3 so far…

Twebur
Legend
11 months ago
Reply to  DMAGZ13

If Canning can maintain his uptick in MPH he alright at 4. Not as good as some better than others.

Sandy is💩💩

Pineapple12
Super Member
11 months ago
Reply to  Twebur

Sandy > Canning

TrojanBoiler
Super Member
11 months ago
Reply to  Twebur

DFA Suarez
Sandy to long relief
Silseth #5

Cowboy26
Legend
11 months ago
Reply to  TrojanBoiler

Silseth’s on the 60 day IL and he’snot eligible to pitch in ANY games until June 7th if he doesn’t have a setback.

The biggest problem with Sandy in long relief is his first inning is typically his worst inning so putting in long relief would be just another Suarez.

LHP Kenny Rosenberg is pitching his ass off in AAA for us this this year . In 6 starts hes got a 2.84 ERA with a 1.291 WHIP and a 38/9 K/BB ratio in 38 innings. Those are damn good numbers for the PCL bandboxes.
Even Davis Daniel is starting to settle in after this weeks cup of coffee. he pitched tonight against the Doyers AAA team and pitched 8-1/3 shutout baseball giving up only 4 hits and no walks.

So there are other viable options right now even if we need to wait on Silseth’s recovery.

BannedInLA
Super Member
11 months ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Re: Sandy, why not think outside the box and do a one inning opener and bring him in, in the second inning?

Twebur
Legend
11 months ago
Reply to  BannedInLA

Worth a try. He’s sensitive and weird, might help trigger his inner “opening day starter”.

Someone needs to help him with the box inside and between his ears. So he can start throwing the white ball inside the box where home plate is with more frequency.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
11 months ago
Reply to  TrojanBoiler

Silseth = TMJ

I still think Sandoval will bounce back somewhat and be OK when all is said and done.

He can be like a “single season” Tyler Anderson. Where he looks like crap, a bunch of saggy douche bags on the internet talk loud shit about him, he eventually strings together some good starts, and a bunch of saggy douche bags on the internet never mention him with loud silence.

He’s got about 20 more starts to get his WHIP down by .35 and be serviceable. Then CtPG guy can complain about how he just doesn’t have that “it factor” or what ever knitting circle bullshit realbaseballmanz spreads on his Roman Meal toast when the stats don’t match his outrage, but at least he’ll be a solid starter. Hell, he may even exceed that lofty goal and be meh+.

halofansince1978
Super Member
11 months ago

Shufflebot Please!!

JackFrost
Super Member
11 months ago

Need 3 wins in a row for Shufflebot.

Simba
Trusted Member
11 months ago
Reply to  JackFrost

I think we need to lower the threshold to 2 wins. Not going to see 3 very often.

DowningDude
Legend
11 months ago

Nice team win!!!! Playoffs!

WallyChuckChili
Legend
11 months ago
Reply to  DowningDude

comment image

Angelz4ever
Super Member
11 months ago

Gotta love that 4ever!