Ray Montgomery, who’s been around for several years, apparently fits in.
Luis Robert Jr. is on the ten day injured list with a left hamstring strain.
The Twins designated Jonah Bride for assignment. The Reds released Jeimer Candelario.
The Giants signed Austin Barnes to a minor league deal.
Dennis Santana got suspended four games, reduced to three, for aggressive conduct toward a fan,
Photo credit: Rex Fregosi
If Kade is available, I would draft him at #2. I dont think he is quite as much “no miss” and overpowering as Skenes coming out of LSU but it is close. I would not hesitate to take him at #2.
If Nationals take Kade, it becomes an interesting question. I lean Holliday for the future – but it is not an immediate future. Doyle is an interesting and more immediate impact option. I go with Holliday just because I would love to see him mash in Anaheim in a couple of years (or 3).
To give perspective, there hadn’t been a “Skenes” in the draft since Strausburg in 2009. So yeah. No Skenes in this draft. Likely not the next couple.
Yes. Agreed. So, there is objectively more “risk” taking Kade than Skenes but he is still the obvious pick if he falls to the Angels at #2. It becomes somewhat of a no-brainer.
If the Nationals decide to take Kade, then it is definitely more interesting. I think they will take him so the Org will be left to decide whether developing a 3Bman over the next few years in the minors fits into their plans. Holliday would be an immediate top-100 prospect in the Org.
Hernandez is a potential Skenes in a way that no college pitcher this season is… potentially just as dominant if the chips fall.
The latest interesting wrinkle in the Holliday vs Anderson decision is that both guys now appear to be represented by Boars. New info from BA’s latest mock.
BA’s latest mock sends Anderson to the Nats, but they also say it’s just a guess, basically a coin flip between him and Holliday, with Seth Hernandez and Willits still outside possibilities.
Moreno hates dealing with Boras, so it makes me wonder if he’ll put a thumb on the scale here in motivating s Doyle selection. BA also mentions, as I did in my last article, that Bremner and Ike Irish are possible Angels discount picks if they don’t go Kade or Doyle.
If talent is secondary to “who a player’s agent is”, the Angels don’t deserve the loyalty given by most fans.
And if “XXXX” gets elected I swear to Gah I’m gonna move to Canada or Mexico or something…. so I can find out that unless I bring a big pile of money or some dual citizenship paperwork with me I can’t just move to Canada or Mexico or something. Eretria? Shit. Even they require proof of funds. I may be able to move to Slavbard….
I will say that I’ve been reevaluating Bremner a bit, and think that once you move past the slow start, it’s still a pretty compelling player. All of his underlying metrics were as good or better than last year, and he had double digit punchouts in six of his final seven outings.
My reservations are: he faced lesser competition, and the fastball shape can be problematic. But the secondaries are, well, second to no one. His changeup continues to be a plus-plus pitch.
The track record rivals Arnold’s, and I think he’s a high probability starter who could be as good as Arnold or Witherspoon, and as fast moving, in the end.
Ike Irish, on the other hand, seems like the type of player that the Angels could fetch affordably in free agency, and there are lots of power-oriented OF bats on the table in later rounds. He’s a fine player, but using a #2 pick on him seems a waste,
Yes! Bring the Gaucho home
Plus Bremner is a Gaucho. Honestly, if the Angels “Cheap out” and draft Bremner with #2 but then draft a guy like Quintin Young or Tate Southisene at #47 and a John Slawinski or Briggs McKenzie type HS school hurler in the third and pay those guys to sign. Then draft Jack Quin-Irons in the 4th…. something like that, I’d be happy enough with this cheap out.
Maybe we even luck out and both Josh Hammond falls to 47…. discount Ethan Holliday.
Kade is no Skenes, but I think he’s a safe bet to be a #2 type pitcher on a good staff.
I have a feeling he’ll go #1 overall, in which case there are various routes to go and Doyle should not be one of them IMO.
If we’re going safety, Arnold has been quietly and consistently excellent. I think we’re sleeping on him a bit. And if we’re looking for a discount with upside I love Kyson Witherspoon.
My gut feeling is that Perry goes with the infielder Arquette.
CBS sports, which has slagged us all season, now has us at 18th in their power rankings, up 5 spots since the last rankings, the biggest rise of any team, ahead of the Bosox.
Slow in coming respect, grudging respect, is still respect! And indicates we’re at least being viewed as a middling team
If the team loses 7 of the next 10, they will much more rapidly drop the ranking. If you take a step back from it, it is sort of hilarious. They begrudgingly raise the Angels and willingly drop them.
A pair of nice/encouraging starting pitching performances on the farm yesterday..
– Yeferson Vargas (that’s a silent/nonexistent “J” for those keeping score at home) goes 6+ in the IE with 0 ER, 2 BB, 8Ks. I haven’t read any scouting reports on him this year, but in 2024 “they” were touting a fastball that flashed 98 at age 20. Despite this, he wasn’t included in MLB’s Top 30 prospect list for the team… a fact that speaks a bit louder than than the oft-repeated notion, accelerated by BA, Fangraphs and other Angels-averse echo-chambers, that the org is bereft of prospects, but I digress.
– Ryan Johnson tossed another beauty in high-A: 7 IP, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8K. Quickly evolving into the SP prospect we all hoped. And look at that WHIP: 1.08. Mm. If that doesn’t pop a prospect boner for you, I don’t know what will.
Go team!
Beat me to it today.
Time to promote RJ to AA.
Yup. After some MLB innings he’s got to be thinking these A+ hitters are snack food.
Vargas came back to us from Boston is the Garcia trade. Longenhagen (FG) rated him #28 in the 11/2024 prospect list. The FG synopsis at the time of the Garcia trade was that he’s “undersized hard thrower. Marginal control, most likely a reliever. Grade 35”.
His stats in 2025 are ERA 4.74, FIP 5.23, xFIP 4.91, WHIP 1.61, BB/9 5.17, K/9 8.04, BABIP .323
Yup. He’s a non-prospect… for now. He’s young. He might… GASP…. get better over the next couple years. That would be nice.
Agree. He’s only 20 – there’s still plenty of room and time for growth.
Yesterday’s start notwithstanding, Vargas has taken significant steps back this year. The control is fringe, he’s giving away too many free passes, and he’s getting hit more. The velocity has been inconsistent. In the couple of his starts I watched, it seemed his release point was inconsistent, and he was less in command than he was last fall, when he looked like there might be a long-term swing or backend piece there.
Johnson, otoh, is ready for the AA challenge. He was the one selection the Angels made in the early rounds last year that aligned with my own rankings. He and Drew Beam were the two best college pitchers on the board when the Angels chose in the 2c round – Johnson a consensus Top 50 draft prospect – and both are performing well at High-A. Johnson made BA’s Prospect Hot Sheet today based on his last two starts against Vancouver.
A few games in and I’m not that impressed with Ray’s managing so far. There’s a 90% chance Ron will not be coming back to manage a game ever, meaning we can count the Angels managing job as an open one to fill. Ray must know he’s auditioning for a job, whether here with the Angels, or somewhere else where there will be an opening.
This Nationals series was a very winnable one (similar to the Houston series). Why PH Trout when you got the lead in the 6th? Then when you really needed him towards the end, he’s no longer available. At least you can play Neto in the field.
Bottom of 9th, why no effort to move Moore to 2nd (whether as a straight steal or bunt), but instead cross your fingers that Wade Jr. will somehow get through? But then you give Neto the green light with 2 outs, and he makes the out on the base paths instead.
Bottom of 10th, same thing. Why no effort to move Neto to 3rd, to at least have the option of a sac fly with the next batter?
And Ward, probably one of the more maddening players in recent memory. Bottom of 10th, with a runner on scoring position, and you don’t even swing when you’re down 0-2?! No protect at all?! To compound with his lackadaisical effort on LF. Even if the Angels make a run for it, they should just rip the band-aid and get rid of Ward, once and for all.
To be fair, he didn’t swing at strike 1 or 2. Ward’s a lazy defender, slow, and a bad arm. Time to get better defensively and move on from him after this year.
There’s been several time when Ward stands and watches 3 strikes.
It’s incredibly odd, and I cannot remember any batter that consistently does this (the pitchers, notwithstanding, back when pitchers were allowed to hit).
Generally I agree with your post, esp. the critique of Montgomery. But not about Ward. He was not the reason we lost yesterday, in fact I pointed out to someone else earlier that he had the best game of all our hitters…
Back to Ray; in addition to the points you made, what the hell was he doing with Neto? I am all in favor of giving regulars a rest, esp. coming off injury. But you need to decide if you are in fact resting them, or playing them. You can’t do both ! Yes, I make an exception for a guy pinch hitting in a key spot in 8th or 9th where a hit wins the game. But Ray did not do that with Zach; he hit him in the 7th in a tie game with nobody on base, and then of course he played in the field at short-stop for Newman.
The question is, if he can play the field in a tie game in the 8th, 9th and extras then why couldn’t he start the game at shortstop? Again, are you resting him or playing him? Wash does this same thing and it drives me crazy !
losing Wash really hurts but it hurts even more having Ray in charge.
Bo would have been my choice – he’s managed before. And if you see how Ron manages, he basically is a hands-on CEO but its EY and Bo running most of everything.
THIS JUST IN! Internet fanspert doesn’t like the manager! We lost. The manager did things. Or the player did things. We can’t tell. But there were other things that could have been done and we are gonna act like we are sure they would have been done and they would have worked. Up next, why the manager won’t be transparent and admit he sucks and how it’s a sign of the possum rotting from the head that the FO won’t come out and declare the fan is right about this manager.
Up next. UMBRELLAS! Are they trying to kill you?
Sign up to our Patreon today to receive the five wins a year you were promised by CoachDad if we just got rid of Mike Scioscia!
Agree with all your points.
Additionally, why was Ray giving Neto the day off Sunday (when we were playing the Astros)?
Neto’s a youngster (24-y/o) and we’re playing a 1st place team.
We are fast approaching the draft, It does seem to be that most have a difference of opinion as to which player would benefit the Angels the most. Who do you hope the Angels choose with 2nd pick in the draft class of ’25 and why, this mat change some minds including PTP’s, who does read our mail here.
I’ll start here with my 1st choice being Holliday if available. He could solve fill a gaping hole in the field and the lineup. With no doubt in my mind, he will hit the cover off the ball and be a long term productive 3b with a chance to be better than his father. It would be a shame to miss out on this kid like we have on other players whose fathers were productive major leagers.
EY Jr. didn’t do it for you?
No not really, but the Boone kids, Donte’s kid, Vlad’s kid, Tatis’ kid, all did, Gwynn’s and Biggio’s kids missed though.
Well, we know the Angels met with him. I don’t mind at all if we pick him even though I’d prefer Hernandez or Anderson.
The choice between pitcher and position is a real challenge, at least to my small baseball knowledge. Would I choose a pitcher who could be the #2 or #3 for five to six years or a 3b that could be the good to very good for five to six years?
For me, I would choose the pitcher. There are 3b that might be available from Reds or D-backs or somewhere else. Would be very expensive but could be had.
But trading for or signing a FA pitcher would be quite a bit more expensive, I think. Or maybe sign a FA 3b like Moncada but that can stay on the field more and see if there might be a 3b in the next draft or two.
If we end up with a pitcher that is fine. I am thinking of the line up having a3b that will deliver every night. One pitcher does not turn the franchise around but a great player playing every nite can do wonders with the younger guys in the line up or just coming up. Besides attendance likes Mike Trout types.
Pick 2: Arquette/Holliday
Pick 47: best starting pitcher left on the board
Still need premium IF talent as much as anything.
Pitchers? there are plenty pitchers and they only pitch every 5 days and you need a dozen of them.
I would just counter that, at least in free agency, there are not very many pitchers who the Angels can afford, or who are willing to prioritize Anaheim. They have to overpay, or target lesser arms, and that’s why the draft is the best place to get them for this club.
understood – it’s our trAdition also. I really wanted Max in 2015 but Arte hasn’t paid up for pitching like he has bats.
my head says Hernandez and I’d be happy with an elite college pitcher too
Kade Anderson if he’s available at #2; best player available regardless of position or his monetary demands with our second pick.
My #1 college pick, #2 pitcher pick with Hernandez being #1.
This is NOT the draft to focus on “who can get to the majors fastest”……
I can see either Holliday or Hernandez at #2 to satisfy your view and then one of the many college shortstops at #47,
Honestly, there are not too many college shortstops in the second round zone. Guys like Aloy and Lodise should be off the board at that point, and the other available guys are probably more suited to the torso of the draft.
Second and third rounds are much more dense with college outfielders, athletic high schoolers, and some interesting pitching options.
My top 6 for the first round, pick #2:
Anderson
Hernandez
Witherspoon
Holiday
Arquette
Arnold
We are similar, these guys are all about equal really, I like Arnold because he has the best control but not a lot of ceiling like Holliday and Hernandez and Anderson. I have little knowledge n Witherspoon until the college WS.
My “if they fall to us” picks….
Cade Anderson- Quinten Young or Alex Lodise- Chase Shores or Gavin Turley- Jacob Parker- Jack Quinn-Irons- Mason White/Murf Gray/Brent Iredale
Some interesting second and third rd picks there. Anderson has chatter about being the #1 pk, as Holliday has same. Right now I am in the getting younger mode so, the Holliday and Hernandez kids look good. Anderson is my pk for a college player. I do believe we need help in the lineup and 3b -c-of before pitching.
Do you think Holliday or Hernandez will be up within a couple years? Cause we want the MLB roster younger, with Neto etc at the lead. But Neto will be an five to eight year vet by the time Hernandez may be ready.
I want Hernandez. But he’s not a “get the MLB team young” guy he’s too…. well, young.
Losing the series to the Nats is the reminder that we’re not supposed to have nice things in Arteville.
Stop the hopium. Stop the playoff chatter. Stop pretending that we should be buyers instead of sellers. We need to lose so that we can win.
You could not be more right in your assessment; history tells us that teams that are in constant flux with young talent are the teams that continue to reach the playoffs and World Series. The Angels do not have a playoff team but do possess tradeable players that will help us become solid winners down the road.
Everyone who believes that making the playoffs this season will not see anything but disappointment, not just this playoff season but see how not making trades at the deadline will hamper future development of young talent feeding the Angels of useful talent to led us to a World Series. Ward, Rengifo, Moncada, Anderson and others can bring back younger pieces that will help the team become winners along with freeing up positions to be filled by other young players.
Yep. Agree the whole way.
The only teams that can get away with not doing this are one’s like the Dodgers who can roll a $500MM payroll once in a while and rebuild on the fly.
I don’t mind them trading a few players, but losing 2/3 to the Nats isn’t the nail in the coffin to me believing the angels can’t make the playoffs. Like every year, I’ll be a believer until they get mathematically eliminated.
No idea what happened to the edit option, but that can is supposed to be can’t.
Fixed.
Quick fix. Appreciate it.
We definitely dont need to lose. If you want us to lose, that’s your prerogative and a completely different conversation.
Also, who is championing for us to buy?
And we don’t even get a top pick for being shitty, no point in rooting for that route imo.
Convincing yourself that losing is necessary and actively suppressing your enjoyment is crazy to me lol.
“LFG we lost again, now Perry will forsure trade Ward!!!!” 😂
Yup. And I REALLY want to see trout reach the playoffs and get a hit.
Trout is not going anywhere for years to come, except maybe to the IL.
👍
Sorry to disappoint you, but no one is advocating that outcome.
The year before the Colts drafted Andrew Luck, I was at our final home game when we unexpectedly beat the Texans to drop into a tie for the first overall pick, instead of holding it outright.
We hit a game winning field goal and you could audibly hear the crowd wrestling with whether to cheer or groan. One of the weirdest things I’ve ever experienced.
One of the rare moments where tanking was worth it lol.
I cheered against us in the 2022 finale, which we lost in epic fashion. Led us to getting the #4 pick and Anthony Richardson. Early returns aren’t giving much hope there lol.
Gosh, I miss Luck 😢
By losing some more before the trading deadline would allow for PTP to come to terms with trading guys instead of being buyers, it has nothing to do losing just for the sake of being losers. The Angels making the playoffs does not help the future at all, it makes players another year older and worth a bit less possibly, like Ward for instance. Most here were understanding why I thought it would have been a good idea of trading Shohei at the deadline in ’22 and being in a ton of prospects for another team, that’s how to rebuild when winning the league championship is done. Look at the rebuild of the Royals in ’11-’12 and about same time, same with Houston and of late the Orioles and Tigers, holding on to players getting older has not worked here at all.
You and me both brother!
I’m not “rooting” for the team to lose. The point being made is that it’s a mistake if winning “guides” Moreno and his minions to be buyers at the trade deadline and NOT use marketable assets to build a stronger future. The Angels do not CURRENTLY have the depth of talent at all levels of the org to build a consistent winner.
If the intent of Perry is not to build a team that competes for a championship every season, then he’s not a good GM. Making the playoffs in 2025 means nothing if the team does not have the depth of talent to build a sustainable path to a championship.
But when we finish 4th five of the next six seasons we’ll be able to point to 2025 where we lost in the first wild card round. Won’t that be cool?
Absolutely. It’ll be better than being a teenager seeing boobs for the first time….. 😂
😋
😪 Sounds like too much fun. We can root for the fish to get AB’s in just one game again too. 😪
Yep. I don’t really want to see our team lose any games, but my biggest concern is that we’d stay pat or add a little at the deadline because the FO gets another crazy idea that we have a chance at the playoffs (like the incredibly silly 2023).
We don’t need to lose. We do need to trade players for prospects. This will likely mean we lose more games. But if we win more games for some reason, awesome. If we don’t trade anyone in an effort to win a few more games and finish middling… well, that’s what about all we’ll be able to hope for for a long time to come.
Exactly. If you liked the last 10 years, you’ll be thrilled with the next 10 years of struggle.
But we can shed a tear while singing “Glory Days” reliving the 2025 race to the wild card.
The next 10 years we aren’t even guaranteed playoff runs so why not shoot for them to happen this year?
What happens if next season 2 of the young core tear their ACLs, Soriano goes under a 3rd TJS, and Trout plays 50 games?
Idk, can’t predict the future. I’m enjoying the season right now.
Sure, “you only live once” is always an option. It could be argued that was the approach when Ohtani was not traded and the team was a buyer at the trade deadline. It was a high-risk, high reward approach where Perry Moreno went “all in” in hopes of making a playoff run. It was a gamble that was an epic failure and likely set the franchise back years.
When a team has a strategy and is fully invested in the process to execute the strategy, they trust the process regardless of injuries, meteor strikes, and/or “what other teams do”.
I want the Angels to win consistently. Yes, there are no guarantees – but it’s “loser talk” to focus on all the things that could go wrong to justify deviating from sound fundamentals. Which is why winners have a strategy, they execute the strategy ruthlessly, and they evolve the strategy based on performance/results.
I dont disagree with anything you’re saying.
I need some clarification on the sound strategy the Angels are supposed to be executing this deadline.
Trade Jansen and Ward for middling prospects? Beg teams to give you some not terrible prospects for Rengifo and Anderson? Ok cool.
Our trade assets suck. We are in the playoff race going into July. I don’t understand why we keep doing this same circle every single day. Root for wins and a WC berth, don’t buy, trade Ward. That makes sense to me, but maybe I’m crazy idk
Here. I’ll make it easy for you. We aren’t making the play offs this year. Rest easy.
Why plan at all? (Shoots up an extra big load of heroin, puts on Mazzy Star, pulls up the OCNAVIGATOR.COM on his phone).
That sounds like what some people have told me is the definition of insanity… doing the same thing over and over hoping for different results.
YES! (Snorts line of coke and roars off in his t top camero.
You need dumb trade partners to facilitate such trades. If there aren’t many this time, who do you expect them to trade for ascending prospects? I just don’t see those trades happening if we want them or not.
Wayne Randazzale and Gubi for two examples. They had me yelling at my TV yesterday!
Sounds exactly like a place I grew up in last century:
Autryville
