What or Who has been the biggest surprise in the 2020 Angels season?

[Inside Pitch]

9 hours ago, Chuckster70 said:

While Stassi is clearly in the lead you could argue that both Stassi and Bundy should be in a dead tie for the most surprising Angel early on. 

I picked Bundy because I doubted he would buy into the change. 

Guys that used to throw 100 and then can't struggle with making the changes Bundy has made.  Like I said, at one point I said he was one of the guys I didn't want.  I've never been more glad to be wrong about a guy.   I have a shit ton of respect for him completely buying in and trusting what the data was pointing to.  Again, nothing but respect.

Stassi I just didn't have any real expectations for.  I thought he was better than he showed but last we heard the dude was having hip surgery.  Stassi is likely the bigger surprise because at least there was data saying Bundy had a path to being better, but I openly doubted him so.... I wanted to acknowledge that.  Thus, Bundy gets my vote.

 

[Chuck]

4 minutes ago, Inside Pitch said:

I picked Bundy because I doubted he would buy into the change. 

Guys that used to throw 100 and then can't struggle with making the changes Bundy has made.  Like I said at one point I said he was one of the guys I didn't want.... Here we are.  I've never been more glad to be wrong about a guy.   I have a shit ton of respect for him completely buying in and trusting what the data was pointing to.  Again, nothing but respect.

Stassi I just didn't have any real expectations for.  I thought he was better than he showed but last we heard the dude was having hip surgery.  Stasis is likely the bigger surprise because at least there was data saying Bundy had a path to being better, but I openly doubted him so.... I wanted to acknowledge that.  Thus, Bundy gets my vote.

 

Bundy sure looks a lot like this guy in his starts. He's really redefined himself as a pitcher who doesn't throw hard anymore, much like Maddox when he got later into his career.

I think it was you in another thread @Inside Pitch that said if he could use his secondary pitches more he could be successful. Well we've seen just that in an Angels uniform dating back to his starts in ST in which he was filthy. 

[Angel Oracle]

16 minutes ago, Inside Pitch said:

I picked Bundy because I doubted he would buy into the change. 

Guys that used to throw 100 and then can't struggle with making the changes Bundy has made.  Like I said at one point I said he was one of the guys I didn't want.... Here we are.  I've never been more glad to be wrong about a guy.   I have a shit ton of respect for him completely buying in and trusting what the data was pointing to.  Again, nothing but respect.

Stassi I just didn't have any real expectations for.  I thought he was better than he showed but last we heard the dude was having hip surgery.  Stasis is likely the bigger surprise because at least there was data saying Bundy had a path to being better, but I openly doubted him so.... I wanted to acknowledge that.  Thus, Bundy gets my vote.

 

There were signs of this Bundy in August/September a year ago, drastically reduced HRs allowed and relying somewhat less on the heat.  But, this is something else all together.

I didn't see anything with Stassi, based on his August/September 2019, to expect any change.    Totally wrong about that  

[Jeff Fletcher]

10 hours ago, Chuckster70 said:

I also added an option for Griffin Canning. 

Most of us didn't think we'd even have him this season due to the bad news in ST. 

He has looked great IMO. That includes his summer camp performances. 

I recall a lot of people wanted him to have Tommy John surgery

[AngelsLakersFan]

I'm still more impressed by just how bad the bullpen is. They are some how 3rd in innings and 26th in WAR. 

[Angelsjunky]

On face value its Stassi. But I voted or Bundy because what he's done through 3 starts is more impressive to me than what Stassi has done in 25 PA. Bundy's performance is team changing.

[Pujols4MVP]

Bundy. I expected him to be another one of Epplers meatballers who pitches like a #5 starter but instead the guy has pitched like an ACE for the Angels.

Stassi has been surprising too, i expected a poor mans version of Mathis.

[Dtwncbad]

16 hours ago, Inside Pitch said:

Man am I glad I got this up BEFORE today's game.   

And Michael Scott says. . .

[totdprods]

Fletcher’s defense at SS. He’s been unreal there. Really gives the Angels new options going forward.

[Mark68]

19 hours ago, Chuckster70 said:

While Stassi is clearly in the lead you could argue that both Stassi and Bundy should be in a dead tie for the most surprising Angel early on. 

I voted Stassi's bat, but for me, Bundy is a close second.

[Mark68]

2 hours ago, totdprods said:

Fletcher’s defense at SS. He’s been unreal there. Really gives the Angels new options going forward.

This too. I believe that this will allow us to part ways with Simba this offseason with few regrets.

[aznhockeyguy]

For sure there has been surprise performances, a player gets hot and is well above expectation.  That really doesn't surprise me anymore, small sample sizes are a thing.  So I eliminated every performance vote so far in the season as there's only been a dozen or so games.  Any player can look like Ruth or Cy Young over a small sample size.   My vote so far goes to Maddon's head scratching in game managerial moves.  I don't really understand some of the decision he's made, especially with the pitching and bullpen.  Just really awful. 

[totdprods]

1 hour ago, Mark68 said:

This too. I believe that this will allow us to part ways with Simba this offseason with few regrets.

If Fletcher can hold SS, at least for a year or two, it frees up Simba money, opens a spot for retaining La Stella if he keeps hitting, which could free up Rengifo as trade bait (probably our best piece to offer), keeps Fletcher in the line-up without having to cram him into OF or 3B ABs, etc. 

It dominoes things in a really good way for the Angels. I thought he’d be capable of backing up SS here or there, but his defense has been nothing short of phenomenal through these first couple weeks there. 

[Chuck]

Anyone changing their vote?

[Angel Oracle]

On 8/7/2020 at 9:17 AM, totdprods said:

Fletcher’s defense at SS. He’s been unreal there. Really gives the Angels new options going forward.

If only Rengifo could hit.

[totdprods]

36 minutes ago, Angel Oracle said:

If only Rengifo could hit.

He’s handled himself just fine for his age and having advanced so quickly. 

• Rengifo (age 22-23, first 435 PA): .233/.318/.353/.671, OPS+ of 80, 29 XBH, 44 BB, 98 K
• Aybar (age 22-24, first 626 PA): .262/.298/.348/.646, OPS+ of 70, 35 XBH, 24 BB, 85 K

Rengifo has shown more power, a better eye, less contact (but that’s more a result of this era, as is the increased K%) much quicker developmentally than Aybar did, who went on to have several seasons that averaged out to a very solid player. 

There’s a reason he was looking like a centerpiece in the Stripling/Pederson deal. With his control, if he ticks up offensively just a notch, maybe adds some SB to his game, improves defense with more reps, he’s a really valuable piece for the next 5-6 years to virtually any team.

 

[Slegnaac]

Biggest surprise for me is the 5 - 10 record. I never expected that they would be on a pace to only win 20 games.

[Claude]

The biggest surprise is this. 

[Angels in 2030]

Bad / lack of offensive production 

[eaterfan]

On 8/6/2020 at 11:08 AM, eaterfan said:

I voted for Stassi. Will it last, doubtful, but it's a great story right now. 

I know he's not living up to the contract, but he has a .395 OBP and a 105 OPS+. If this is him playing like crap, wait until he gets hot. He's played good defense at 3rd, too. The difference between a good player and great player is that a great player can contribute even when the balls aren't falling in for hits. Rendon has certainly done that. The money matters, but if we signed Rendon to be a defensive specialist 3B and leadoff hitter and he put up his current stats for $15 million a year, we'd all be pretty thrilled. 

Turns out Rendon is pretty good when he gets hot. 

[Chuck]

Updated! 

I added some options to vote on since the last time I posted this poll. 

[Angel Oracle]

It’s a three way race between Stassi, Walsh, and Mayers.

Bundy showed signs of this after the 2019 ASB, albeit this was a significant step up for him.

Stassi’s 2019 offense was Mathis at his worst, although he exceeded a .700 OPS the year before.

Walsh has been a revelation.   Quieting his swing allowed his wrists to do their work.

Mayers became Mo Rivera this season, even adding Rivera’s money pitch (the cutter).  He either threatened or surpassed the MLB record for consecutive hitless innings by a reliever (14.2).

Edited September 23, 2020 by Angel Oracle

[Chuck]

29 minutes ago, Angel Oracle said:

It’s a three way race between Stassi, Walsh, and Mayers.

Bundy showed signs of this after the 2019 ASB, albeit this was a significant step up for him.

Stassi’s 2019 offense was Mathis at his worst, although he exceeded a .700 OPS the year before.

Walsh has been a revelation.   Quieting his swing allowed his wrists to do their work.

Mayers became Mo Rivera this season, even adding Rivera’s money pitch (the cutter).  He either threatened or surpassed the MLB record for consecutive hitless innings by a reliever (14.2).

I agree. I changed my vote to Walsh. Stassi was a close second.