This series has been entertaining. First a 10-7 slugfest on Tuesday then a one run nailbiter last night. Tonight was no exception.
After spotting the Rockies a 2-0 lead, the Angels came back thanks to who else but Logan O’Hoppe?
That thing was crushed. If I hadn’t already done Weekend Links it might be highlight of the week.
Fellow kid Mickey Moniak put the Angels ahead with a solid blast of his own.
Taylor Ward extended the lead to 4-2 when he doubled in Nolan Shanuel, who is playing much better as of late.
The trade of Carlos Esteves came to the forefront as Hunter Strickland gave up a 2 out 2 run homer in the top of the 9th to make it 4-4. Crouse gave up the free runner to start the 10th and the Angels were behind heading to the bottom of the 10th.
Taylor Ward appeared to have a walk off home run for a second, but it hooked foul and he ultimately struck out. Willie Calhoun scorched a ball but right at the Rockies first baseman for out number two. Logan O’Hoppe grounded out for the final out.
It was a tough loss but progress is more important than results at this stage.
Signs of life include the leg kick-less Jo Adell absolutely scorching some balls, Ben Joyce pitching another scoreless inning, and quality defense by Zach Neto and O’Hoppe. Also good to see Carson Fullmer get back to MLB and throw a quality start.
Boom shakalaka, https://x.com/JeffFletcherOCR/status/1819251019815240013
Moore is Now on an identical career path as Schanuel . See you in Anaheim in September Christian.
Let’s see what he can do.
I don’t know why but he reminds me of Yoenis Cespedes at the plate. I could be way off though lol
He’s only 20 years Old Perry . No need to rush him.
https://x.com/TaylorBlakeWard/status/1819203165520339050
Rushing kids to the Major Leagues is what this organization does.
I will add…kind of by default because we don’t have a choice.
A GarciaPile update: Kavadas made his debut tonite for the Bees in a losing cause (they snapped a 12 game winning streak) by going 0 for 3 with 2 Ks & 2BBs . the 19 year old Vargas also made his debut for the IE tonight pitching 3 innings in their blow out victory giving up 1 ER 2 hits 2 BBs but striking out 5. No Angel debuts for the Zeferjahn or Matthew Lugo yet
Yeferson Vargas also had a solid debut with the 66ers tonight – 5 Ks over three innings, one ER.
He’s one of the two prospects from the Garcia trade I’m interested in, and it looks like the Angels might continue to test him as a starter for a bit, as they allowed him almost 60 pitches in his first go.
I know Joyce isn’t the gritty vet like strickland is, but why not use him as your closer now? My guess is they’re making him earn it, which to me, he already has.
In his last 16 appearances before tonight, Strickland had a 0.46 ERA a .60 WHIP 2.75 BB/9 vs 8.24K/9 . In Joyce’s last 16 appearances before tonight, he had a 0.00 ERA a .79 WHIP 8 K’s/9 4 BB’s/9
So they’ve been virtually identical.
Moore with his 4th hit, an RBI single. 6 for 11 in his first two games
So 8 total bases tonight? Thats impressive.
Of the three SEC draftees at Inland Empire right now, since last night:
35 plate appearances, zero strikeouts.
Low-A is way too easy for these chaps.
and our 10th pick, Ryan Nicholson, 1b, with a homerun and 5 RBIs, now .600 in 2 games, an OPS of 2.018. Moore’s OPS is 1.674.
Bring them both up! Moore at 2b, Nicholson at either 1b or DH.
ok…ok…jumping the gun a bit but still, gotta like this.
Low-A is definitely quite a step down from first division SEC action. Very interested to see what Moore and Nicholson do at Tri City, and eventually at Rocket City.
Im sure a few of them will have a new home very very soon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye5BuYf8q4o
Drury is only under contract this year. He has been horrible the entire year. Literally nothing to be gained from starting him. Keston was bad at the major league level but has done so well at AAA I’d rather see him at 2B and Stefanic at 3rd.
I was thinking Drury could be a bounce back candidate for next year, but idk, he looks terrible and uninterested.
as I mentioned in the game thread, of the 313 players with a minimum of 180 at-bats, Drury ranks 313th in batting average, 310th in fWAR, 313th in wRC+
Yikes
I have a random bet with some dude on twitter for the Angels final win count. If it’s over 70 wins, I owe this person a dollar per game. If it’s under, they owe me a dollar per game.
Thinking I’m gonna have a nice crisp $5 bill coming my way.
Ugly loss.
Lost a home series to the Rockies. Embarrassing. Oh, and nice pitch down the middle in the 9th.
Nicholson on base at least 4 times for the 2nd night in a row.
Lottery… and 2026