Hero or Goat - 4/23/2018

[Docwaukee]

Going with Skaggs but lots to like tonight.  

[Docwaukee]

Skaggs with the third pitch tonight.  The difference between him being a middle of the rotation guy and a potential front end guy.  Change was sick tonight peeps.  He's going to get some swing and miss on that going forward.  

[Angel Oracle]

Thought about Skaggs, but have to choose the pitching staff.

How often do the Astros get shut out?

[tdawg87]

Sosh for knowing to bring in Anderson and Middleton to close out the game.

[Jay]

I was worried when Skaggs got into trouble in the first but he really settled down and pitched great.

[101halo]

Want to give to the rook, but Skaggs too much $ tonight. 

[Chuck]

Skaggs #1, Middleton #2. Both of whom I've been critical of. 

Props!

[Troll Daddy]

Maldonado and not because of his throw ... but that was awesome 

[Dick B Back]

Scaggs was the man, but the lead could have easily been blown if not for Anderson and Middleton so I voted for the staff.

[DCAngelsFan]

27 minutes ago, Dochalo said:

Skaggs with the third pitch tonight.  The difference between him being a middle of the rotation guy and a potential front end guy.  Change was sick tonight peeps.  He's going to get some swing and miss on that going forward.  

This.   It's not spectacular-looking - but with that late break, it just disappears under the bat - hard to make contact with and all-but-impossible to do anything with.  If he can reliably command it like tonight, maybe throw it more than 10% of the time. 

But what do I know, was a great outing - was a little nervy in the first inning, but after that, was in command - very pleased to see.  

[stormngt]

Has to go to Skaggs, but great for Anderson on his debut in front of his family and friends.

[AngelsFanSince86]

Definitely Skaggs for a great night pitching and keeping us ahead of a guy who's been one of the best pitchers in baseball so far this year.  However, even more so for the fact our bullpen finally got some sort of rest thanks to pitching a full 7 innings for (i think) only the 3rd time this year.  

[arch stanton]

Has to be Skaggs. It’s huge to get a strong start at the beginning of the road trip and to match a hot pitcher out for out 

[Docwaukee]

1 hour ago, Angel Oracle said:

Thought about Skaggs, but have to choose the pitching staff.

How often do the Astros get shutout?

dude.  he pulled out that third pitch you've been asking for and it was glorious.  His changeup was unhittable.  literally.  no one got a hit off of it.  

[Tank]

voted for the entire pitching staff. skaggs was brilliant tonight, anderson was overwhelming, and middleton nutted up at just the right time. 

[IEAngelsfan]

Although Skaggs pitched very well, Andersen and Middleton had to do their part or the Angels could've easily lost.  I picked the entire pitching staff.

[Angelsfirst]

Skaggs, no doubt. Also, hopefully this gives Shohei a little extra inventive tomorrow to be as good as if not better. 

[Pablo]

Went with the entire pitching staff, but I'll give the silver to Trout. While the team was still scuffling, he was getting on base, running, pushing through. He sets the tempo. And I think he put the fear of God into Cole with his shot up the middle.

 

[Angelsfirst]

I’d like to vote to disqualify entire pitching staff as an option. Thank you.  

[TroutField]

12 minutes ago, Pablo said:

Went with the entire pitching staff, but I'll give the silver to Trout. While the team was still scuffling, he was getting on base, running, pushing through. He sets the tempo. And I think he put the fear of God into Cole with his shot up the middle.

 

Seriously.. I think Cole was relived to still have his head in his shoulders after that shot up the middle. Trouty just missed the fastball in his prior at bat, as well on the fly out to center.

[wopphil]

Skaggs, easy call. Any time your starter throws 7 scoreless, he had done more than anyone else.

[nate]

Skaggs, especially since he was awful the last time out.

[Angel Oracle]

11 hours ago, Dochalo said:

dude.  he pulled out that third pitch you've been asking for and it was glorious.  His changeup was unhittable.  literally.  no one got a hit off of it.  

To be sure, this Skaggs would be a total asset to the team.

[jordan]

I thought Skaggs had one of his best pitching performances I've seen from him.  However, the 9th inning performance by Middleton is what stands out to me.  He couldn't find the strike zone with the first two batters, though I thought he was getting squeezed two or three pitches to the first batter.  Then he allows two men to reach, he maintained composure.  When Nagy went to the mound before the 3rd hitter, Marwin Gonzalez, you could see a confidence in Middleton's eyes that showed me he was going to close this thing out.  He definitely had help with Machete's throw, which was amazing.  But the composure I saw from Middleton gives me a lot of confidence moving forward.