Trade deadline is over, and the Angels are forever changed. Well, not really as much as you think they were. Sure, Soriano is gone, but Logan was below average, Jo Adell’s glove is great, but he again has an OPS+ under 100 and a negative BWAR this season, and the other 4 were RP. So, day to day, things aren’t too different. And hey, with a Soler DFA, Meckler looks to get more playing time.
What will sting is that every 5th day can get really ugly. The Angels rotation has actually been the strongest part of this team, somehow. And today, instead of Soraino, we have G-Rod, who was in Baltimore before being traded to the Angels. He had a good time being back in Maryland. G-Rod went 7 innings, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits, striking out 6 and walking 1. The first Quality Start of his Angels career. See, THIS is what the Angels hoped for when they traded for him.
Too bad the hitters were super unclutch. Despite out hitting the O’s by more than double, the Angels couldn’t string them together, and kept getting picked off. Bruh. Way to waste a good start. Something this team has done so often that I lost track
Highlighted Recap
Yes Angels traded Logan, but also got a new catcher, and he got himself a single in his first AB.
But the first runs was to the O’s as Pete Alonso singled in 2 in the 3rd.
Neto almost was able to get a double play to end the 3rd, but it was just not fast enough.
It could have been worse, but Suzuki was able to say “Hey Siri!” in time to active him and make a catch to end the inning.
Unfortunately, while the Angels did get baserunners, they kept getting picked off. Like Guzman in the 4th.
And Meckler in the 5th.
G-Rod lasted 7 innings, getting even more help from the defense as Neto threw out a runner at home.
Angels did finally score in the 8th, as an error/maybe should have been a hit to 3B got a run across. (was changed to a hit later)
Unfortunately, that was all they got in the 8th. which really sucks as Farris allowed a home run in the bottom of the 8th.
Well, Angels Bullpen was already shitty anyway, no idea what anyone expected. And the Angels being the Angels, they did nothing else. Lost again, unsurprising.
Upcoming
2 more games in Baltimore. And then down to Miami.
Meanwhile in A ball for Rancho Cucamonga…
Willits and Grahovac went b2b 💣 in their respective 2nd career at bats. Talon Haley perfect thru 3 with 4 strikeouts
Willits HR https://x.com/i/status/2084826490852794382
Grahovac HR https://x.com/i/status/2084826732880884063
How great is that? Only two more home stands remaining, plan to check out the new talent.
Zeferjahn on the hill in wrigley.
Sat those blue bitches down in order! Good job Zef
Detmers would have looked good in that uniform. But good to see Zef setting them down in order. Especially as this is the first game of the Doyers’ shiny new toy.
I expect to see a lot more of this for the rest of the year because we saw it all season. Let’s watch the kids play and see if there are any keepers.
And after Detmers, let’s see how our new pitchers TBD work out.
https://www.mlb.com/angels/roster/probable-pitchers
Maybe not Soler’s fault after all
We don’t suck because of Soler, however, we were never going to be good with Soler.
Every at bat allocated to Soler was a wasted opportunity for another player.
Quality tank
Adell, single, double, walk, Cleveland loses anyway.
Solid start by Rodriguez along with Nolan & Meck collecting 2 hits apiece.
That’s all I got.
That’s all they got.
Trout 1 for 4, raised his average slightly!