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LA Angels Thursday News Crash: Pancreatitis

April 23, 2026

TMZ reports that Garret Anderson’s cause of death was acute necrotizing pancreatitis rather than a heart attack.

Jose Soriano is getting rave rave reviews for his torrid start this season. He is getting good attention for fantasy enthusiasts on Rotographs. Let’s hope he is OK.

A lot of teams are going with a strategy involving matchup cards while the Angels are among the teams doggedly sticking with the traditional closer role. Maybe they should re-think that. What say you?

Around Baseball

Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday is getting an MRI for his painful hand. J.T. Realmuto is going on the IL with a lower back injury. Raisel Iglesias is on the 15 day IL with shoulder inflammation.

Lucas Giolito finally got a job. The Braves just designated right-hander Ian Hamilton for assignment. The Phillies re-signed outfielder Pedro Leon to a minor league deal.

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Legend

Turk's Teeth

23 minutes ago

I watched last night’s Ubaldo Soto outing with the Quakes. He struck out nine in five innings, but really should have struck out ten or eleven, and walked no one, as the ump had a ridiculously tight (and inconsistent) zone. It was an issue for both pitchers and a line of running commentary for Fresno’s PBP guy – there were pitches that Trackman showed in the middle of the zone that were called balls, and the eye test said the same.

Just a regular reminder to view MiLB box scores, especially in A ball, with some skepticism, as the umpiring is wildly variable.

In any case, Soto had a lot better command of his curve and change this outing, sequencing and changing speeds with significant polish. His FB is pretty pedestrian at 92-94, but he was working it high and away, and changing speeds and eye level enough to keep the hitters very off balance. He occasionally left a sinker up, grooved a pitch and got hit hard, but it was infrequent.

Like Haley, he has a lot of weapons, some flashing above average, though (also like Haley) none of them exactly plus. I think both are doing it with improving command and sequencing, which makes for a good watch.

Legend

Pineapple12

5 hours ago

Raudi Rodriguez is getting rowdy down in AA!

First 4 games —
16 PA
0 hits
2 walks
8 strikeouts

Last 11 games —
51 PA
.325 / .387 / .600
10 walks
6 strikeouts

HR in b2b games and at least 1 hit in his last 7 starts.

I’ll be damned, a hitting prospect above A ball worth getting excited about! Rada, Moore, Guzman, Raudi — I’d like to get to a point where we need more than 5 fingers to count them em up lol

Super Member

YOUknowulovetheIE

4 hours ago

Reply to Pineapple12

Lines up well with urena’s prime window.

Last edited 4 hours ago by YOUknowulovetheIE

Legend

Pineapple12

4 hours ago

Reply to YOUknowulovetheIE

The baseball world isn’t ready for full on Wally domination

Super Member

BannedInLA

3 hours ago

Reply to Pineapple12

Someone took a healthy dose of White Pills this morning. Nothing wrong with that.

Editor

Legend

Turk's Teeth

2 hours ago

Reply to Pineapple12

Yes, Raudi has had a good week after a very slow start. Of course, when your batting average goes up 41 pts and your slugging 86 pts in a single game, we know we’re in the shallow end of the data pool!

Unfortunately, Nick Rodriguez has faded, and Hayden Alvarez has been slow to ignite.

But Lucas Ramirez and Jake Munroe are follows, and both could probably be tested at higher levels to see if the early results play against stronger competition.

Moore’s recent two-game surge has come in the biggest launching pad of the PCL, Las Vegas, so I’m waiting to see if he sustains that attack in more neutral environments before reading too much into it.

Super Member

HalosFanForLife

6 hours ago

I saw last time you guys don’t see fan posts – I wrote one to review in case you didn’t see it. If you don’t like it – no problem either.

Author

Super Member

Charles Sutton

5 hours ago

Reply to HalosFanForLife

https://crashingthepearlygates.com/2026/04/23/the-hitting-apocalypse-why-the-300-hitter-is-going-extinct-and-the-man-who-saw-it-coming/

Super Member

Roy Hobbs

4 hours ago

Reply to Charles Sutton

This is great. Thank you for posting HFFL and Charles. This is exactly what Steelgolf mentioned I commented on this morning without all the how to and science behind it. In old school vernacular it’s the modern and more sophisitcated version of “hard inside and soft away” to impact the hitters timing. And I never have really understood the logic behind the launch angle love. I read comments from Ted Williams as a youth 50 years ago about how you want your swing angle to match the pitch trajectory as much as possible for the reasons stated in the article.

Trusted Member

Mikeal1st

7 hours ago

“Follow your dreams”… Unless your Arte Moreno, then you should probably do what others are telling you.

“matchup cards”? I say follow the stats. The real world works by them so better information and better outcome. Unless you have MIller… then turn it into an 8 inning game and enjoy the intro.

Legend

JackFrost

7 hours ago

Reply to Mikeal1st

I would agree. If you have the best reliever in the game (Mason Miller) then it makes sense to rely on him and use him consistently. Otherwise some form of “Closer by Committee” is the smartest approach and makes the most sense. Maddon and Friedman were truly revolutionary when they started this in Tampa Bay…

Trusted Member

grichmanpoorman

8 hours ago

Yesterdays start should ice AL Player of the Month for Soriano. Alvarez has been great but not historically great.

Legend

Senator_John_Blutarsky

10 hours ago

Pineapple called it before anyone else: Soriano is an Ace and is having a “Cy” season in 2026. Chuck and the rest of us salute Pineapple!

I’d be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to thank Perry yet again: no lead is safe with this steerpen. Our starters will need to go longer into games unless this improves.

Legend

steelgolf

9 hours ago

Reply to Senator_John_Blutarsky

Nice job Pineapple. I thought Soriano would be better than last year, but never saw this huge leap coming. Is it just experience? Is it an actual really good pitching coach? Whatever it is, a 0.24 ERA this far into the season, and facing good teams, is insane. Every other team in the league is checking his free agency date.

Trusted Member

milehigh

8 hours ago

Reply to steelgolf

I posted a link a couple days ago which showed the change in pitch mix from last season to now. I don’t recall where I saw the link, but suffice to say that the mix is now much more evenly split over all his pitches instead of only the sinker.

Legend

JackFrost

7 hours ago

Reply to steelgolf

He has only given up one single earned run ! This is uncharted territory. By hook or by crook we have to extend him past next year… Perry, start putting money in your GM piggybank !!

Last edited 7 hours ago by JackFrost

Legend

JackFrost

7 hours ago

Reply to Senator_John_Blutarsky

When did Pineapple call it ? Cause I was saying this pretty early. In fact, last year I was saying he had Ace potential. Was Pineapple talking about it last season ?

BTW, we should also note that Pineapple predicted that the Angels would sweep Toronto and added that this stretch of games is going t be “easy” :

On paper, this is the easiest 18-game stretch we will have all year. A good team makes a statement here

So far the first three games didn’t look “easy” at all. Why does he do this ? Always jinxing us…

Last edited 7 hours ago by JackFrost

Super Member

TrojanBoiler

7 hours ago

Reply to JackFrost

A lot of people have been saying for the last couple of years that Soriano has ace potential. He has always been filthy when on, but inconsistent with control at times.

I think maybe John’s point was Pineapple had conviction at the start of this season that this would be the year where it is happening for sure. Not a discussion of a potential but a discussion of now being the time.

Legend

JackFrost

7 hours ago

Reply to TrojanBoiler

Okay, then we can give him credit for the certainty of saying this is the year (if that is how it went down), but not exclusivity, since to your point ALOT of people (including me !) talked about him not only as an Ace but as a Cy candidate… I will have to go back and look at the dates of these comments…

Last edited 7 hours ago by JackFrost

Super Member

BannedInLA

3 hours ago

Reply to TrojanBoiler

I’m in this category. Recognized the ACE potential, but, regarded him as a guy that would probably remain in the “good” category.

Many dude have ACE potential and precious few actually harness said potential. It’s awesome to see that Soriano apparently has.

Super Member

2pints

7 hours ago

Reply to JackFrost

You are seriously the LAST person here to be calling out another’s incorrect predictions. You throw shit at the wall every day, and when you’re sometimes correct, you expect everyone to laud you with praise.

Legend

JackFrost

7 hours ago

Reply to 2pints

Funny, but you only point out the times I am wrong and completely ignore the times I am right.

That’s okay…. I know how you roll now and what your agenda is……

Last edited 7 hours ago by JackFrost

Super Member

2pints

7 hours ago

Reply to JackFrost

When someone makes random predictions all the time, they’re bound to get some right. You’re not some all-knowing future-predictor, even though you like to think of yourself as one.

You taking umbrage with someone saying Pineapple made a good call on Soriano, because you feel like you should be the one to get that praise, is f’n weird dude.

Legend

JackFrost

7 hours ago

Reply to 2pints

So now you’re gonna tell me what I am thinking ? Looks like you view yourself as a mind reader.

What you did not mention is that I admit when I am wrong about something, which alot of people here don’t do. There is nothing wrong with pointing out that you are right about something as long as you as also take ownership of being wrong.

For whatever reason you decided from your very first comment directed at me a couple of years back to attack me for no reason (totally unprovoked), gitchstyle, then when I responded in kind you tried to paint me as the instigator. I see through your tactics and don’t forget those early interactions. People show you who they are early on, and I saw you clearly !

Last edited 7 hours ago by JackFrost

Legend

MarineLayer

6 hours ago

Reply to JackFrost

For what it’s worth, I respect your opinions, which are your own and not groupthink.

Super Member

2pints

5 hours ago

Reply to JackFrost

Oh my, I must’ve really hurt you all those years ago for you to have been hanging on to it for so long. “For whatever reason” I’m just replying to what you write, its a blog. You love to reply to people calling them out and acting high and mighty, yet collapse into your fainting couch when you get some heat for saying ridiculous things.

Legend

Pineapple12

7 hours ago

Reply to JackFrost

Frosty, why so prickly? This isn’t a dick measuring contest to see who can prove they call more things right lol.
I’ve been on the Soriano hype train for years, as have many others with yourself included.

I can’t tell if you’re being serious about me “jinxing” the team or if it’s your humor. Yes, my posts on the Internet have direct impact on a professional sports team performance! I’m actually scared for you if you believe that (hoping you’re joking)

Legend

JackFrost

7 hours ago

Reply to Pineapple12

I do want to give you credit for the Cy Young prognostications…. Back on March 31st (after his second start) you referred to Sori as “CYriano.” So, yeah you do deserve props for that early mention of him in regards to the award…

Last edited 7 hours ago by JackFrost

Super Member

YOUknowulovetheIE

6 hours ago

Reply to Pineapple12

Yeah, there were quite a few of us who thought Soriano could be an ace if he put it together. I also thought kochan would be alot better than he was last year. You win some and you lose some guesses.

Legend

Senator_John_Blutarsky

6 hours ago

Reply to Pineapple12

I started this…maybe this was intended to be a measuring contest…. 🤔

Super Member

Roy Hobbs

4 hours ago

Reply to Senator_John_Blutarsky

Ok, back to work everyone!

Super Member

BannedInLA

3 hours ago

Reply to Pineapple12

Exactly, you guys can cease the whole d*ck measuring thing….. because I’m the most prodigious in this category. Hahaha

Super Member

HalosFanForLife

6 hours ago

Reply to Senator_John_Blutarsky

Pineapple has been spot on with a lot of stuff this year. It was him or Steelgolf that prognosticated us being competitive before the deadline and being buyers then tanking. Boy do I hope the clairvoyance on that prediction is off.

Legend

Angels2020Champs

6 hours ago

Reply to HalosFanForLife

Pretty sure I got dumber from reading all this. I didn’t think it was possible to get secondhand embarrassment from so many different people 👏👏

Legend

Pineapple12

6 hours ago

Reply to Angels2020Champs

😂😂😂 I didn’t ask for the humiliation this time!

Super Member

HalosFanForLife

6 hours ago

Reply to Pineapple12

Where’s Gitcho when we need him? 😂 😂 😂

Last edited 6 hours ago by HalosFanForLife

Legend

Eric_in_Portland

3 hours ago

Reply to HalosFanForLife

I’ll check the Cincy boards….

Legend

Senator_John_Blutarsky

6 hours ago

Reply to Pineapple12

Yeah. Sorry about that.

Legend

Pineapple12

5 hours ago

Reply to Senator_John_Blutarsky

Nah, you’re good man! I appreciate it. For all the bs I post, it’s nice when one finally hits

Super Member

HalosFanForLife

6 hours ago

Reply to Angels2020Champs

LOL – I saw all this after I replied to Bluto.

Trusted Member

KelN90

11 hours ago

Soriano already has eclipsed his bWAR from last year and his ERA+ improved to 1835. He’s 18 times better than league average right now. Absolutely unreal

Legend

JackFrost

7 hours ago

Reply to KelN90

He is now using a Four-seam fastball that is up in the zone. Last year it was predominantly the sinker which was down in the zone. So now he is changing the sight lines of the hitters…