LA Angels Monday News Crash: GI-Man

Jiman Choi is about to begin his 21 months of mandatory military service in South Korea. He hopes to return to the KBO in 2027.

Lance McCullers Jr. is back. I swear. I thought he had retired. The Braves signed left-hander Austin Cox. The Giants just designated right-hander Lou Trivino for assignment. Left-hander Colin Poche just elected free agency rather than accept a minor league assignment in the Nationals organization. Nick Ahmed made a similar move out of the Rangers organization. Leody Taveras is currently on outright waivers.

The Rangers just fired their offensive coordinator Donnie Ecker. Shota Imanaga left a game over the weekend with a hamstring strain. Marlins infielder Otto Lopez has a grade 2 right ankle sprain. Jazz Chisholm Jr. has a right oblique strain and will miss at least a month. Triston Casas has a ruptured left patellar tendon. That can’t be good.

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Eric_in_Portland
Legend
7 days ago

goldang….Canning’s gonna win the Cy Young this year, or at least be in that “conversation”.

FungoAle
Legend
7 days ago

5-1, 2..50 ERA, WHIP needs to come down, 1.39.

BringBackErstadTierHalos
Member

Liked hearing the Locked on Angels guys discuss that the team sees the highest amount of meatballs down the middle and just stares at them go by. So they don’t use analytics to coordinate an offensive game plan i.e. hit-and-run, patience-and-power, etc. they literally just guess on what they should hit like a roulette table and fail most of the time, and they don’t use these analytics since long ago when CJ Wilson was a member of the team because; as he can be quoted saying “they think it’s unnecessary because Vladimir Guerrero never watched replay footage and he didn’t track analytics” BRO, you’re not Vladimir Guerrero, he was a freak of nature, you need a game plan

the Phillies have a patience-and-power approach, Arizona and SF are both using hit & run, Cleveland pressures the defense with heavy contact and low K%, the Angels are just lost there, there’s no unified hitting philosophy, everyone is just praying for a solo HR and not a single person on the team sans Jorge Soler is a 30+ HR player, not even O’Hoppe or Trout anymore, and even if they were a HR team they apparently don’t take the opportunity when the ball is right down the middle of the plate, everyone wants it in their perfect niche, little spot, everyone is scared to hit the ball and get a flyout

Angelz4ever
Super Member
7 days ago

Like accurate numbers and verified data are science (Slaps iPad out of player’s hands)………PFFFFT!!!

“You gotta see the ball, hit the ball, now go out and there and ummmm……do it.”

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Angelz4ever

This just isn’t possible. How can iPads be being slapped when Soth isn’t around?

BannedInLA
Super Member
7 days ago

Trout routinely watches a 1st pitch meatball go by and he’s no longer good enough to hold his own when he’s in the hole count wise.

GonFishin
Trusted Member
7 days ago

Great pod.

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
7 days ago

reading down below, the mentions of Quero and Bush for Giolito. So…

I hadn’t noticed but Quero is up with the White Sox now, In 47 at-bats (small sample…like Kyren’s hot start?) he’s hitting .340 with an .851 OPS and a 149 OPS+. He’s 22 years old now.

Bush is out for the year. Giolito has returned from injury for Boston, 1 game, 6 innings, 3 runs, 7 Ks, 2 walks. Left with the lead, no decision. 5 shutout innings, then 3 runs in the 6th

Angelz4ever
Super Member
7 days ago

With O’ Hoppe in Anaheim, there was nowhere for Quero to play. Kind of like just how we got O’ Hoppe so cheap from the Phillies.

Twebur
Legend
7 days ago
Reply to  Angelz4ever

Other options for Quero…. Position change. DH we need. Position change for O’Hop, both share the catching duties, O’Hop more DH’ing, neither are polished behind the plate…..

Or, don’t make the Giolito trade, make a better trade, do better. Because their is/was room for Quero to play here.

Last edited 7 days ago by Twebur
Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  Twebur

Exactly.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
7 days ago

Okay, let’s play IIHAC) If I Had A Clue:

Pick up Taveras, send Paris to AAA

Soler back to DH, Taveras to RF, .241 is better than what we’ve got from RF for several years.

2002heaven
Super Member
7 days ago
Reply to  Angelz4ever

He’s a catcher not a SS or SP.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
7 days ago
Reply to  2002heaven

Taveras is on OFer.

DowningDude
Legend
7 days ago

GI Man? Gastrointestinal man?
🤣

Angelz4ever
Super Member
7 days ago
Reply to  DowningDude

He’ll be in better shape after basic training.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
7 days ago

I’m glad the Halos decided not to rebuild but compete in ’25, the on-field results are just awesome to see.

Kevin
Member
7 days ago
Reply to  Angelz4ever

They are still rebuilding. The entire bullpen is young. Paris is playing. Adell is playing. The only thing they didn’t do was dump certain vets and become the Rockies or last year’s White Sox on paper before the season started. There is still the trade deadline.

DowningDude
Legend
7 days ago
Reply to  Kevin

I recall the Angel statement that “rebuilding is not in our DNA…”

🤔

steelgolf
Legend
7 days ago
Reply to  DowningDude

So then it’s in their RNA???

Angelz4ever
Super Member
7 days ago
Reply to  steelgolf

It’s in their DFA…

Twebur
Legend
7 days ago
Reply to  Angelz4ever

It’s in their FFA…. Future Farmers of America, cleaning up barns of animal feces 💩💩 both at the little minor league farms and at the big farm ( Big A)… while constantly nursing their prize Pig Trouty back to health. And of course, keep the heard of Sad Donkeys free of disease and try to control the inbreeding.

steelgolf
Legend
7 days ago
Reply to  Angelz4ever

😆😆😆😆😁😁

clover_black
Super Member
7 days ago
Reply to  DowningDude

we don’t rebuild…. we reload

*guitar solo*

steelgolf
Legend
7 days ago
Reply to  clover_black

Yeah, but they are shooting blanks.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
7 days ago
Reply to  steelgolf

The Halos mantra is,

“We don’t die, we mortify!”

All apologies to the movie Colors.

Last edited 7 days ago by Angelz4ever
Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  DowningDude

“Winning is not in our DNA”

Angelz4ever
Super Member
7 days ago
Reply to  Kevin

Yes, the trade deadline will reap us some benefits, first refusal will of course be on the Phillies and Braves.

Tyler Anderson and maybe Jansen will be good trade pieces. I’m leery about trading Neeeeeefo unless it will net something better than expected. Ward can be replaced if traded, but IDK if that is going to happen.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
7 days ago
Reply to  Angelz4ever

Neefo needs to be either traded or extended. No sense in losing him for nothing.

Fansince1971
Legend
7 days ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Please trade and don’t extend

BannedInLA
Super Member
7 days ago
Reply to  Angelz4ever

Rengifo and especially Ward, need to get it going soon at the plate to reap anything of value on the trade front.

GonFishin
Trusted Member
7 days ago
Reply to  Kevin

They are definitely not rebuilding, I don’t know why people keep saying this. Just because they trot out a bunch of unready bullpen arms and call up their prospects after 1 year or less in the minors doesn’t mean they are rebuilding.

Just look at their off-season:
– Signed 30+ year old Kikuchi to 20M per
– Signed Jensen to a 1 year deal
– Got older trading Canning for Soler
– Signed Tim Anderson and Newman.
^None of this screams having a rebuilding plan. I’m cool with the Jensen signing and if Perry can somehow flip Soler for prospects, I can get on board.

I’m not buying this rebuilding story until Wars, Rengifo, and Anderson are on different teams.

YOUknowulovetheIE
Super Member
7 days ago
Reply to  GonFishin

Short term deals because the angels still need to field a roster and have depth in the minors for injuries.

BannedInLA
Super Member
7 days ago
Reply to  GonFishin

Apart from Kikuchi, those are all 1-year deals to fill roster spots as we don’t have enough young talent to fills the positions.

I think they are rebuilding for the most part. The albatross, AKA Trout/Rendon contracts are a major impediment. Along with the whole Ohtani fumble.

Kevin
Member
7 days ago
Reply to  GonFishin

Jensen is a one year deal. Signing him means they can trade him midyear but have a decent arm if the team suddenly turns out ok.

Kikuchi is all about the Asian market and having a veteran who isn’t terrible.

Soler is a favor to Atlanta and the same idea as Jensen. One year left on the deal I believe.

Anderson and Newman are stop-gaps until Moore is ready or Neto got back with the rest of the IF healthy. They haven’t had that.

All of this (except Kikuchi) screams interim pickups in case the team is better than expected. It isn’t. You can expect movement midyear.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  GonFishin

Congratulations. You have just listed a bunch of crap rebuilding teams do. Thanks.

MarineLayer
Super Member
7 days ago

If Texas is willing to fire their hitting guy, why won’t we. Since they DFAd Taveras, why don’t we pick him up and demote Paris.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
7 days ago
Reply to  MarineLayer

Yes, P/U Taveras and send down Paris.

RexFregosi
Super Member
7 days ago

In the AL, only the Yankees have drawn more fans than the Angels per game this year so i think our front office is firing on all cylinders!

Arte has figured out he can still sell tickets without marquee free agents, and these kids are cheap! Fireworks and bobble heads – that’s the real Moneyball.

Mikeal1st
Trusted Member
7 days ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

I had to fact check this one, but its true.

FungoAle
Legend
7 days ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

Since he took over, Arte’s Angels have always been in the upper ranks in the AL attendance.

GonFishin
Trusted Member
7 days ago
Reply to  FungoAle

That says more about us than him.

God I respect us and hate us for that.

BannedInLA
Super Member
7 days ago
Reply to  FungoAle

I think this is due in large part to opposing fan bases visiting Anaheim in relatively large numbers.

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  BannedInLA

Damn near a guaranteed win when playing against the Angels….

DowningDude
Legend
7 days ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

You forgot Star Wars Angels hecho en china kitsch giveaways (Big A Millenium Falcon, anyone?)

😂

I got a post game survey after attending Saturday night and it actually asked me my “per cap” expenditure. Our per cap was $5 per person for food $0 for parking and a whopping $14 per ticket. It was a good value and we had a blast.

714Figgins
Newbie
7 days ago

Brutal year for Triston Casas. Really enjoyed learning more about him in the Red Sox Netflix documentary. Hope he can bounce back next year

RexFregosi
Super Member
7 days ago
Reply to  714Figgins

no surprise here- I won’t be watching any Red Sox doc.

Pineapple12
Super Member
7 days ago

Rocket City’s rotation —

Joel Hurtado (24 years old)
26.2 innings
2.03 ERA
1.24 WHIP
17 strikeouts

George Klassen (23 years old)
25.2 innings
3.86 ERA
1.21 WHIP
34 strikeouts

Sam Aldegheri (23 years old)
27.1 innings
3.29 ERA
1.39 WHIP
29 strikeouts

Mitch Farris (24 years old)
17.1 innings
3.63 ERA
1.38 WHIP
27 strikeouts

Walbert Urena (21 years old)
18.1 innings
7.36 ERA
1.91 WHIP
26 strikeouts
*last 2 starts* –
10 innings, 1.8 ERA, 1.1 WHIP, 14 strikeouts

Another name to watch in Rocket City is 2020 3rd round pick, David Calabrese. He’s repeating AA for a 3rd year in a row and is still only 22 years old. Our MLB outfielders are not producing and we have very little OF depth in the minors.

27 ABs
.259 / .355 / .556
2 HRs
3 SBs (75%)
6 strikeouts vs 3 walks

Mikeal1st
Trusted Member
7 days ago
Reply to  Pineapple12

Nice update

Kevin
Member
7 days ago
Reply to  Pineapple12

Aldegheri looked promising when he was up last year.

Fansince1971
Legend
7 days ago

The way I look at the PM situation is this. Arte clearly provides a budget – somewhere south of $200m. Perry then starts with an $80m hole that he has no responsibility for and cannot do anything about (Trout and Rendon). Then there are all the existing contracts and arbitration issues which probably leaves him around $45m per offseason in total (same challenge we have in the IIWPM game). That’s not a lot to work with these days and compound that with many free agents not wanting to play in Anaheim. So – it’s a very difficult position he is in.

I believe the decision not to trade Ohtani (huge mistake) was a Moreno mandate and I therefore don’t blame Perry. Additionally the numbskull trades surrounding that decision which cost the team Quero etc were also, I believe, insisted on by Arte to try to keep Ohtani. So it’s tough to blame PM for that.

I credit PM for Neto and O’Hoppe as well as Schanuel and Joyce. Much of the future hope of this Org can be credited to PM. He has made some shrewd trades and drafted reasonably well save for the thus far disappointing 20 pitcher draft for which I do blame him since none of the picks are pitching in MLB (yet).

The jury is still out whether PM will be given the green light on trading Rengifo and Ward and Anderson and Jansen and, if so, the return he can negotiate. If he ends up with a bunch of young talented players like he did at the deadline last season, that would be a feather in his cap.

We also need to see who he is allowed to draft at #2. Will he be forced by Arte to go under slot?

The performance of the team was NEVER going to be any good this season under these circumstances . So many bad decisions have led to this and the vast majority fall (in my opinion) on a meddling owner and the lack of a true baseball Org. When you have Carpino, Kuhn and Jolly chiming in on baseball decisions, that is not a recipe for success.

There is also the seemingly poor coaching staff and Arte’s resistance to spending money on modern technology to assist in player development.

Under these circumstances being the Angel Gm is a thankless job set up for failure.

Overall I would give Minasian a B/B- which is not terrible and certainly does not justify his being terminated.

2002heaven
Super Member
7 days ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

Other than Zack Neto what other player deserves a big salary increase?

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  2002heaven

I’d attempt to sign Neto and O’Hoppe to contract extensions. Schnuel is replaceable. I’m not convinced that Soriano is a top-of-the-rotation pitcher who must be kept regardless of the cost. I still think Joyce will have a career where he frequently fights arm and shoulder injuries. His pitching motion is not conducive to a healthy career. Perry has proven it’s not that hard to find hard throwing relievers.

Kevin
Member
7 days ago

They have made quality strides with Soriano. However he had been known for prior arm issues. Hence, any longer term contract extensions need to be discussed carefully and require a much longer period of seeing what he can provide.

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  Fansince1971

I respect the perspectives.

Although I agree Arte likely told Perry to build around Ohtani to make a playoff run in 2023, I do not believe Moreno dictated players by name (i.e. Quero and Bush) to be traded and obtained (i.e. Golito). It’s logical that Perry determined that actual players involved in the trades.

FungoAle
Legend
7 days ago

Then to turn around and Perry waives the players he gave up prospects for. Clownish.

Fansince1971
Legend
7 days ago
Reply to  FungoAle

Short memory. That was done to avoid the luxury tax and most of them were about to become free agents. Again – likely dictated from up high to avoid a large tax charge once it was clear the team was not making a playoff run.

FungoAle
Legend
7 days ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

Good memory, he should have thought two steps ahead before he traded No.2 and a No.4 or No.5 for potential cut-bait. Clownish.

Last edited 7 days ago by FungoAle
Fansince1971
Legend
7 days ago
Reply to  FungoAle

I hated the trades but still believe they were mandates. At some point if you are going to acquire a bunch of players it takes top prospects to do that. In a poor prospect Org that means upper level prospects. I hated the trades at the time and I hate them now. But I blame the guy at the top.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Fansince1971

I hated those trades too. Those were desperate win now for Ohtani moves at their worst. Him getting us under the tax line so we could draft where we are and have the intl pool money we have was a good move. I seriously doubt any of that was PTP’s plan…. but my small angry manhood needs someone to be angry at, so Perry is stupid.

Kevin
Member
7 days ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

Interesting. Pretty kind to Perry also. The Stephenson signing was one of the worst anywhere. Some of the other moves have been less than stellar also. The entire offensive philosophy (HRs, steals, and Ks) reeks of the Braves. When you have a loaded team of talent and superb pitching, maybe that works. Without all of that, it doesn’t seem to work and is lousy to watch.

The constant reliance on young pitchers in the bullpen (except for Kenley) is less than ideal. The inability to find cheap veteran talent for the lineup that doesn’t stink is below the line.

Other than drafting Neto, I’m unsure what there is to celebrate. You can give credit for O’Hoppe but he traded an MLB talent for another MLB talent. I don’t fault the Quero stuff as much as O’Hoppe looks like the lead catcher for the next five years. Quero this would have been traded sometime. Joyce was thought to be overdrafted because he was a late inning reliever only and had prior arm issues. That wasn’t an impressive pick.

Fansince1971
Legend
7 days ago
Reply to  Kevin

With an extremely limited budget and many free agents not willing to sign in Anaheim without a significant premium, or at all, players like Stephenson are who you can get to fill out rosters.

The Klassen and Aldegheri acquisitions at the ‘24 deadline were really good and could paying substantial dividends as soon as ‘26.

O’Hoppe is a young cornerstone catcher with power and a great eye – those are hard to find. Getting him straight up for Marsh (who is having a straight up awful season by the way) looks better and better.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
7 days ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

Oh no, Marsh was Dimaggio reincarnated, at least according to some on this site.

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  Angelz4ever

No, we just loved his wild “Captain Caveman” look

comment image

BannedInLA
Super Member
7 days ago

Brandon Marsh’s stat line thus far:

AB = 46
H = 6
2B = 1
3B = 0
HR = 1
RBI = 6
BB = 7
SO = 16

.130 / .241 / .217 / .458

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  BannedInLA

I watched a couple of Phillies games when Marsh was in the lineup. He looked completely lost at the plate.

BannedInLA
Super Member
7 days ago

And the data supports your eye test.

O’Hoppe is looking like a total steal for the Angele.

FungoAle
Legend
7 days ago
Reply to  Kevin

Well said

TrojanBoiler
Super Member
7 days ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

I feel similarly to you and I am willing to excuse the Ohtani clusterf— as a mandate from Arte. Unfortunately it looks like we will never really know for sure so we can all debate for forever on how much blame Perry really deserves.

Overall, I think PM has done pretty well with the situation he has been boxed into. His trades last year in particular really showed me that he has some savvy to him.

Last edited 7 days ago by TrojanBoiler
gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  TrojanBoiler

I think a lot rides on Washington and the coaches down the line through the org. Perry’s got his manager. Perry got a new fancy training facility. Perr got scouts. Perry got staff. Perry got international scouting. Perry has his boys running the farm teams now.

It’s all built to develop guys and find fast to the MLB talent in a lot of cases. If guys blossom under Wash, and prospects start developing and producing for us, then Perry is the winner. All this bitching about current strategy etc is stupid. It’s not a major focus or failure. What WILL seal Perry’s fate as a loser is if none of these kids he’s letting Wash baby through a couple AAAA seasons actually turns out to be a big part of the next ten years. Perry’s world didn’t kick off till Ohtani left, but it’s rolling now and if it doesn’t start looking like a grower soon he’s toast.

BringBackErstadTierHalos
Member
Reply to  Fansince1971

Probably one of the more level-headed analyses of the Angels front office issues I’ve seen. The Angels will continue to be California baseball’s loveable losers until Moreno sells the team. Anticipate decades of Pittsburgh Pirate tier frustration.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
7 days ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

Well, when Arte said the first digit of an Ohtani free agent contract was going to be a “4”, that showed he had no grasp of reality.

GonFishin
Trusted Member
7 days ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

B/B- is awfully, awfully generous considering he now wears the worst record in franchise history last year. The trade deadline debacle from 2 years ago alone should lower him a full letter grade – that had nothing to do with Arte.

Fansince1971
Legend
7 days ago
Reply to  GonFishin

“ that had nothing to do with Arte”

This is where we disagree. I believe (just me) that the order came down from the top to try to keep Ohtani after the sweep of the Yankees. That led to the deadline acquisitions. Once those failed, the puppet master from on-high insisted the team not be charged the luxury tax which led to getting rid of those same players that had been acquired after a month.

Arguably that f’n Yankee sweep just before the deadline was the worst thing that has happened to the Organization since it led to trying to keep Ohtani (rather than acquiring young talent
for him) AND led to the trade of Quero and other talent out of an Org that could not afford to lose it.

Last edited 7 days ago by Fansince1971
gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  GonFishin

You are wrong.

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend

I don’t think Wash cares what happens to himself. He’s 73 years old and knows he can do what he wants in baseball with or without the Angels (he can retire or continue coaching elsewhere). Wash wants to win, but Wash doesn’t need to win. Wash is not going to fire members of his coaching staff.

If Perry feels he’s on the “hot seat”, he’ll fire Wash and some of the coaches to save his ass.

Arte just gave Perry two more years, and we all know how much Arte loves admitting his mistakes.

IMHO, Perry knew the budgetary constraints Arte has for the franchise and chose to continue as the GM. Perry built the roster and hired Wash. The players own their individual performances and results. Perry owns the team performance and results.

Perry should be held accountable for the outcome of his decisions.

FungoAle
Legend
7 days ago

Bingo on all accounts. One thing for me, I’m tired of hearing about budgetary constraints. Other teams do it with less to build out a roster.

Kevin
Member
7 days ago
Reply to  FungoAle

I agree on budget issues. There are always bargain guys that can produce, especially for other rosters.

RexFregosi
Super Member
7 days ago

so I see stats that rank us around 30th for the major offensive and defensive categories but we are 7th in baseball in average attendance and drawing over 36,000/game.

if the job is to sell tickets, not necessarily win games, Arte probably thinks Perry is doing a great job!

Fansince1971
Legend
7 days ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

I don’t know the season ticket stats. Those sales aren’t affected by team performance once sold. But I would think the ordinary ticket sales will go down significantly in the 2nd half of the season if the team is deeply in a 💩 hole.

Of course lots of summer travelers come to Anaheim for Disney and that probably feeds the ticket sales as a game is another attraction for families visiting Disney over the summer holidays.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
7 days ago

Wash is not to blame but we all know who is to blame when things go South, the manager. I like Tori Hunter, but with no background in managing and the team lead by ningcompoops, Hunter would never get a second to manage taking on this mess. There is no one out there to save us or is there. Who should buy the team and if they did, who should be GM, and finally who should manage our guys?

RexFregosi
Super Member
7 days ago

Yes. Anyone who thinks dismissing Wash is the answer and the path to brighter days is very misguided.

Marcotor
Trusted Member
7 days ago

Erstad is apparently the answer.

From what I read here, he can somehow with his grit and determination scare poorly skilled players into hitting, pitching, and fielding over their abilities. And the highest paid players will not laugh when he tells them to be grittier, grow more stubble, and appear be angry all the time or else!

I still think Torii was part of a succession plan when Washington’s contract ended. But he was “insulted” he would have to coach for a few seasons and sulked his way out the door.

Last edited 7 days ago by Marcotor
gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Marcotor

If only we could find a way to hire Joe Maddon…..

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

Dude. That article you mentioned about Hunter coming in…. that whole site…. bro, can I interest you in some very inexpensive stocks for ground breaking new companies? That site made USA Today look brilliant. SportsSoriesWeMadeUpToday.com

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