Next 27 Games

[mulwin444]

9-14, -6 Run Differential 

Welcome to the long, slow slide into oblivion 

It's been a long time since I felt the season was over in July but, after a 13-3 start, they are 37-49...this is who they are...they are not going to get better.

Literally the same thing happens every game...Trout walks a lot because the pitchers rarely pitch to him, Upton leaves runners on base, the BP gives up just enough runs to make the game out of reach, Valbuena and Marte strike out a lot, we lose against a left handed starter...I think I see a pattern developing.

This may be the worst team since 1999 when they went 70-92 in Terry Collins last season

I guess it would be fitting

[VariousCrap]

[Angel Oracle]

This team is hot garbage, well a lot of it anyway.

[mulwin444]

10-14, +2 Run Differential

Do you want to screw your Pythagorean record?  Because that's how you screw up your Pythagorean record...

Typical of the Angels season, they suffer back-to-back two run losses and then absolutely destroy the team the next day.

Last night's game, still had the usual pluses and minuses - Upton struck out looking with runners at 2B and 3B yet was one of the few not to get a hit...Ohtani absolutely destroyed a ball yet struck out three other times...Pujols stole third yet was doubled off the next play.

Luckily today, there were more pluses and minuses and you hope that can carry over today into a series split.  

[mulwin444]

11-14, +6 Run Differential 

Even split with the ChiSux, bringing them back to .500 at 52-52, which is the "good".  However, to even think about the playoffs, they need to make a statement and sweep the Ms...even a 2 out of 3 simply won't do.  If they do sweep, though, they could break even during this stretch of games, which started as a sweep on the road against the Red Sox.

Well, based on the offense they put up the last couple of days, they will never be hotter...Calhoun is still hitting with authority, Ohtani has hit one out, Trout has found his power stroke...even Upton drove in runner from 2B...TWICE!

Will they continue to sell or will they resurrect their season?  It all comes down to this weekend.

[WeatherWonk]

17 minutes ago, mulwin444 said:

11-14, +6 Run Differential 

 However, to even think about the playoffs, they need to make a statement and sweep the Ms...even a 2 out of 3 simply won't do.  If they do sweep, though, they could break even during this stretch of games, which started as a sweep on the road against the Red Sox.

 

I think it very likely that the Angels will finish closer to the M's in the standings than they will the A's. The A's are now the favorites for the second WC. 

[70runner]

31 minutes ago, mulwin444 said:

Will they continue to sell or will they resurrect their season?  It all comes down to this weekend.

The way the A's are playing, not sure how they resurrect the season this weekend...

[Lou]

45 minutes ago, WeatherWonk said:

I think it very likely that the Angels will finish closer to the M's in the standings than they will the A's. The A's are now the favorites for the second WC. 

not true 

[Jay]

12 hours ago, mulwin444 said:

11-14, +6 Run Differential 

The good news is you only have to keep this up for 2 more games.

 

[mulwin444]

1 hour ago, Jay said:

The good news is you only have to keep this up for 2 more games.

 

Technically, I miscounted...it should be 28 games since the series is through the weekend.  

Also, this allows me to "vent" in a positive way on a frustrating season.

[VariousCrap]

14 hours ago, Lou said:

not true 

They have the momentum for sure.  I think they end up knocking the M's to third.

[Lou]

2 hours ago, mulwin444 said:

Technically, I miscounted...it should be 28 games since the series is through the weekend.  

Also, this allows me to "vent" in a positive way on a frustrating season.

thread ruined.

nice going, buddy. 

[mulwin444]

8 minutes ago, Lou said:

thread ruined.

nice going, buddy. 

It's what I do best 

 

[mulwin444]

12-14, +7 Run Differential 

Oh, Hell Yeah!

Suck it, Seattle Dipotos!

We just out-Marinered the Mariners and it feels good.

This had all the hallmarks of a typical Angels loss against the Ms with the lost lead and dramatic HRs from guys who seem to only hit HRs against Angels pitchers.  It has that "twist of fate" feel with Briceno having the throwing error to set up the go ahead run at 3B a day after we trade Maldonado.  Then, Gordon steals home because of course he does but...wait...there's a challenge.  And a reversal...what?!

Finally, Walk-off...Kole with some redemption and his average creeps over .200

[WeatherWonk]

On 7/26/2018 at 8:51 PM, Lou said:

not true 

Not untrue, either.

I have read two writers articles this week who feel the A's will overtake the M's. One was an MLB writer and one was an ESPN writer.

Momentum is an intangible that is neither true or untrue. It just is. The A's have it. The M's don't, right now.

[Lou]

I'm going by betting odds. 

[Angel Oracle]

15 hours ago, mulwin444 said:

12-14, +7 Run Differential 

Oh, Hell Yeah!

Suck it, Seattle Dipotos!

We just out-Marinered the Mariners and it feels good.

This had all the hallmarks of a typical Angels loss against the Ms with the lost lead and dramatic HRs from guys who seem to only hit HRs against Angels pitchers.  It has that "twist of fate" feel with Briceno having the throwing error to set up the go ahead run at 3B a day after we trade Maldonado.  Then, Gordon steals home because of course he does but...wait...there's a challenge.  And a reversal...what?!

Finally, Walk-off...Kole with some redemption and his average creeps over .200

Personally, I’m sick and tired of Mike Zunino.  Doesn’t he suck against everyone else in 2018?

[Dick B Back]

34 minutes ago, Angel Oracle said:

Personally, I’m sick and tired of Mike Zunino.  Doesn’t he suck against everyone else in 2018?

And how many lifetime homers does Cruz have against the Angels, 500?

[Stradling]

2 hours ago, Angel Oracle said:

Personally, I’m sick and tired of Mike Zunino.  Doesn’t he suck against everyone else in 2018?

Well you only said sick and tired once, which on the AO scale of sick and tired really isn’t all that sick and tired.  

[mulwin444]

13-14, +13 Run Differential 

If there was any justice in this world, the headline in tomorrow's sports page should read:

"Francisco Arcia Tea-bags the Mariners"

28 years old and he's making the most of his first taste of the show.  Between Arcia and Briceno, the catcher position is wearing the Ms pitchers out to the tune of 4-6, 3 runs, 2 2B 1 HR 6 RBI.

Also, why does Mike seem to hate Noe Ramirez?  If the guy makes it through 1 inning unscathed, he likes to see him get ass-smacked in inning two.

Tough assignment tomorrow, tough lefty on the mound.  Still, Angels clearly have the momentum and the M's are realling and, oh look, just 8 games back now and still two months to play.

Hmmmmm

 

[Tank]

On 7/24/2018 at 9:12 PM, Dick B Back said:

from L to R: sarah jessica parker, john lackey, and sue bird.

[Slegnaac]

13 minutes ago, mulwin444 said:

13-14, +13 Run Differential 

If there was any justice in this world, the headline in tomorrow's sports page should read:

"Francisco Arcia Tea-bags the Mariners"

28 years old and he's making the most of his first taste of the show.  Between Arcia and Briceno, the catcher position is wearing the Ms pitchers out to the tune of 4-6, 3 runs, 2 2B 1 HR 6 RBI.

Also, why does Mike seem to hate Noe Ramirez?  If the guy makes it through 1 inning unscathed, he likes to see him get ass-smacked in inning two.

Tough assignment tomorrow, tough lefty on the mound.  Still, Angels clearly have the momentum and the M's are realling and, oh look, just 8 games back now and still two months to play.

Hmmmmm

 

And Altuve to the DL, so maybe there is hope.

[mulwin444]

13-15, +10 Run Differential

So, we are at the end of this collection of games and up against the trading deadline.  Here are few facts:

On June 26th:

Houston 53-28 

Seattle 49-31 3 1/2 GB

Oakland 42-38 10 1/2 GB

Angels 41-39 11 1/2 GB

On July 30th:

Houston 67-40

Seattle 62-43 4 GB

Oakland 61-46 6 GB

Angels 53-52 13 GB

So, through the course of the last 28 games, we lost a 1 1/2 games to HOU and 1/2 Seattle while, despite the hot streak and surge by OAK (19-8), they only ended gaining 4 1/2 games on HOU (14-12) while Seattle basically treaded water for a month (13-12).  The Angels lost ground because everyone else ahead of them played .500 ball or better.

In the past 28 games, the Angels played against teams who collectively had a .520 winning percentage.  If you remove the first three games against the Red Sox in Boston, where they go their asses handed to them, they had a 13-12 record with a +23 Run Differential.  

The "Hits":

 - Frantic comeback 3-2 win against the Dodgers on 07/06 which started with a 2 out, 2 strike walk to Ohtani by Jansen. 

 - Coming back to beat the Dodgers 4-3 after being down 3-0 on 07/08, with Ohtani's 7th inning solo HR being the difference. 

 - Blowing out the Mariners in 2 of the 3 home games against them July 10 - 12, with 9-3 and 11-2 wins respectively.

 - Beating the Dodgers at home 5-4 on July 14th on a 10th inning Kole Calhoun HR after Blake Parker blew the save in the 9th.

 - Kole Calhoun's Game Winning 10th inning HR against the M's on July 27th

 - Francisco Arcia's 6 RBI game against the M's on July 28th

The "Misses":

 - After fighting back to tie BOS 6-6 on June 27th, Jose Alvarez allows 2 runs after two outs by walking Eduardo Nunez (.289 OBP) and giving up a double to lefthanded hitting Rafael Devers (hitting .220 .257 .597 OPS against lefties in 2018) and an RBI single to Sandy Leon (.218 .268 .603 OPS).  Jake Jewell also broke his leg the following inning covering home plate.

 - Trailing 2-1 in the June 28th game at Boston, Noe Ramirez gives up a 2 run HR to Jackie Bradley (.202 .291 .625 OPS) effectively putting the game out of reach.  Pujols would drive in Mike Trout the next inning to make it 4-2 but Kimbrel closed in out in the 9th.

 - The inability to solve Marco Gonzalez  - 3-0 19 IP 14 H 3 ER 4 BB 18 K 

 - Cam Bedrosian blowing a 2-1 lead in the 7th at Dodgers Stadium July 13th, eventually losing 3-2, while Taylor Cole allowed a go-ahead solo HR to Kiki Hernandez on July 15th, eventually losing 5-3.

 - Getting shutdown at home for 2 games by the Astros, 3-1 and 7-0 on July 20th and 21st respectively

 - Losing the first 2 games of a 4 game series to woeful ChiSux, 5-3 and 4-2.  In the first game, the Angels held a 3-2 going into the 6th when Barria walked the first two batters and Hansel Robles allowed 3 runs to cross with benefit of an infield single and a hit batter with the bases loaded.  In the 2nd game, the Angels were shut down by Carlos Rodon for 7th innings they got to ChiSux BP for 2 runs in the 8th.

 - Felix Pena records only 1 out against the M's on 07/30 while allowing 7 runs.

Surging the last 28 days:

 - Ian Kinsler: .338 .413 .905 OPS

 - Justin Upton: .288 .387 .850 OPS

 - Mike Trout .300 .485 1.056 OPS

 - Kole Calhoun: .291 .348 1.032 OPS

 - Andrew Heaney: 5 GS 2.88 ERA 0.961 WHIP 9.2 K/9

 - Tyler Skaggs: 3 GS 2.50 ERA 1.056 WHIP 7.5 K/9

 - Hansel Robles: 12 G 0.82 ERA 1.182 WHIP 9.8 K/9

 - Justin Anderson: 9 G 1.86 ERA 1.241 WHIP 10.2 K/9

Falling the last 28 days:

 - Andrelton Simmons: .258 .287 .680 OPS

 - Shohei Ohtani: .203 .266 .706 OPS

 - Luis Valbuena: .147 .256 .492 OPS

 - Jefry Marte: .074 .107 .292 OPS

 - Jaime Barria: 4 GS 4.64 ERA 1.172 WHIP 4.2 K/9

 - Noe Ramirez: 10 G 7.15 ERA 1.588 WHIP 9.5 K/9 (5 HR in 11.1 IP)

 - Blake Parker: 8 G 4.32 ERA 1.440 WHIP 8.6 K/9

 - Jose Alvarez: 12 G 3.86 ERA 2.286 WHIP 6.4 K/9

Summation:

While capable of scoring in bunches, the offense is inconsistent and can be shut down almost entirely at times by even the most average left handed starter.  Additionally, a very average BP is often relied upon to hold 1 to 2 run leads, sometimes with inherited runners, to mixed results, contributing to a save percentage of 55%, 28th out of 30 in the entire MLB, over the course of the entire season.  Of note, though, in the last 28 games, the Angels BP only blew a lead greater than 1 run once.  Also, games pitched by starting pitchers other than Skaggs, Heaney, Richards, Barria, and Tropeano resulted in a 2-7 record, so the need of legitimate 5th starter is obvious.

Buy or Sell:  

It is tempting to see the recent surge (4-1 in last 5 games) as a sign that the Angels have turned it around make a play for the 2nd wild card with 2 months left in the season but, as the last 28 games demonstrated, even a smoking hot surge by the A's met with only a 4 1/2 game gain in the standings.  In the end, the same issues remain for the Angels, they need starting pitching as Jaime Barria, at age 21, will be limited on innings at some point and 5th starter, Felix Pena, can't be counted on to be a consistent performer.  The bullpen is equally inconsistent as for solid relief performance by Hansel Robles, Justin Anderson or Taylor Cole it is quickly negated by the the amount baserunners/inherited runners allowed by Bedrosian, Parker, and Ramirez.  Eppler was able to leverage perceived value in the defensive-minded Martin Maldonado into a legit lefthanded SP prospect and, if he is able to accomplish that same feat with the spotty Bedrosian or Parker or a streaking Ian Kinsler, I say he makes the moves necessary to compete in 2019/2020 with an emphasis on starting pitching depth.  An immediate move that could have a positive impact on the offense to finally release the two-headed shit-monster known as Jefry Valbuena, who is currently hitting a robust .206 .256 .607 OPS combined, and promote Taylor Ward and Jose Miguel Fernandez.

 

[Barrett]

Great Job keeping up with this for the whole 28 games!

[fan_since79]

1 hour ago, Barrett said:

Great Job keeping up with this for the whole 28 games!

...and there's the next 28 games where we go 24-4 and get right back into the race!

 

Don't mind me...I'm hallucinating right now.