Gameday Thread: Indians @ Angels (05/17/2021): Ward leading off, Upton benched again, no Fletcher

[rafibomb]

5 minutes ago, rafibomb said:

Upton in left, Ward in center and Rojas in right. Dear god Raisel is going to have to strike out the side.

 

1 minute ago, Angels_Make_Me_Drink said:

You're a god damn genius 

 

[Erstad Grit]

Let's do one of those long winning streaks!

[CaliAngel]

2 minutes ago, cals said:

Wow, I’m beginning to think Maddon might be a genius when it comes to bullpen management.

No.

[Docwaukee]

" How important has been um for you consistency wise to keep the swing that's driving baseballs out of the ballpark"

[Angels 1961]

4 minutes ago, True Grich said:

Baseball is a funny game.

funny how? 

[rafibomb]

Shoutout to the soft-tossers for playing a huge role in this win (Watson, Cishek, Claudio)

[Lou]

Big early lead.

Boring GDT.

Coincidence?

[CaliAngel]

2 minutes ago, Dochalo said:

" How important has been um for you consistency wise to keep the swing that's driving baseballs out of the ballpark"

Can't make this stuff up.

[Angel Oracle]

Iglesias, Mayers, Ciesek, and Claudio are all pitching better recently.

Baby steps

 

 

 

 

 

[Docwaukee]

Thought Maddon did a nice job with managing the pitching staff tonight.  I thought he pulled Sandoval at the right time.  

[Angel Oracle]

1 hour ago, Stradling said:

We need Stassi

Keep Butera and DFA Suzuki?

[Angel Oracle]

Just now, Dochalo said:

Thought Maddon did a nice job with managing the pitching staff tonight.  I thought he pulled Sandoval at the right time.  

And limited pitches for each reliever, with 7 games in 6 days coming.

[Don]

Just now, Angel Oracle said:

And limited pitches for each reliever, with 7 games in 6 days coming.

That’s gonna be tough.

[Dtwncbad]

Angels won and that is the most important thing.

But Ward leading off ultimately meant he got more plate appearances in the game than Rendon, Walsh, and Trout’s spot in the lineup.

Honestly I would lead off Rendon or even Walsh before I put Ward in the top spot.

Edited May 18, 2021 by Dtwncbad

[Angel Oracle]

Why was Lagares pulled for Upton?

[rafibomb]

Just now, Angel Oracle said:

Why was Lagares pulled for Upton?

He George of the Jungle'd the center field wall

[Don]

3 minutes ago, Dtwncbad said:

Angels won and that is the most important thing.

But Ward leading off ultimately meant he got more plate appearances in the game than Rendon, Walsh, and Trout’s spot in the lineup.

Honestly I would lead off Rendon or even Walsh before I put Ward in the top spot.

If Rendon looked healthy I’d actually be good with him leading off. But he’s definitely not 100% with his legs right now.

[Dtwncbad]

Just now, Don said:

If Rendon looked healthy I’d actually be good with him leading off. But he’s definitely not 100% with his legs right now.

Leading off isn’t all about legs.  If he is healthy enough to be in the lineup you should probably feel free to bat him anywhere you need him in the lineup.

[Dtwncbad]

4 minutes ago, Angel Oracle said:

Why was Lagares pulled for Upton?

That sounds dirty.

[Dtwncbad]

Upton came in as a defensive replacement??  You are pulling my Lagares!

[Don]

2 minutes ago, Dtwncbad said:

Leading off isn’t all about legs.  If he is healthy enough to be in the lineup you should probably feel free to bat him anywhere you need him in the lineup.

I get ya. It’s just hard to hit a guy lead off when he looks like he’s hurting running at 3/4 effort.

[Stradling]

15 minutes ago, Angel Oracle said:

Keep Butera and DFA Suzuki?

Yes

[Dtwncbad]

8 minutes ago, Don said:

I get ya. It’s just hard to hit a guy lead off when he looks like he’s hurting running at 3/4 effort.

I don’t really care if he just goes up there hacking.  My main point is I really don’t like having a guy like Ward getting more plate appearances in a game that Rendon, Walsh, and Trout (had he not left with injury) due to trying to insert a substitute leadoff hitter.

If Fletcher is clicking then sure have him leadoff.

If not, don’t stick Ward in there.

Let’s put it this way.  . .

If the Angels were down a run going into the bottom of the ninth, would you want Ward, Ohtani, Trout coming up over any combination of Ohtani, Trout, Rendon, Walsh?

I wouldn’t.  So why go through a whole game like that?

Edited May 18, 2021 by Dtwncbad

[Don]

11 minutes ago, Dtwncbad said:

I don’t really care if he just goes up there hacking.  My main point is I really don’t like having a guy like Ward getting more plate appearances in a game that Rendon, Walsh, and Trout (had he not left with injury) due to trying to insert a substitute leadoff hitter.

If Fletcher is clicking then sure have him leadoff.

If not, don’t stick Ward in there.

Let’s put it this way.  . .

If the Angels were down a run going into the bottom of the ninth, would you want Ward, Ohtani, Trout coming up over any combination of Ohtani, Trout, Rendon, Walsh?

I wouldn’t.  So why go through a whole game like that?

You’re not wrong there. I’m just worried that Rendon isn’t fully healthy, and I hope he doesn’t hurt himself with a lead off sort of mentality. Hopefully that becomes a non-issue in the next few days. To be honest a 1-4 of Rendon, Ohtani, Trout, Walsh would be freaking sick.

[Stradling]

This season Fletcher and Ward have almost the same OBP, Ward has the same amount of walks as Fletcher and one less extra base hit and Ward has played in 25 less games.