OC Register: Angels’ Mickey Moniak has a kindred spirit in Manager Phil Nevin

[AngelsWin.com]

ANAHEIM ― With the first overall pick of the 1992 amateur draft, the Houston Astros selected infielder Phil Nevin from Cal State Fullerton. Nevin reached the majors with the Astros three years later, only to be traded to the Detroit Tigers midway through his first season, in Aug. 1995, for pitcher Mike Henneman.

With the first overall pick in the 2016 draft, the Philadelphia Phillies selected outfielder Mickey Moniak out of La Costa Canyon High School in Carlsbad. Moniak played in just 47 games for the Phillies before he was traded to the Angels on Tuesday.

So when Nevin, now the Angels’ interim manager, said a change of scenery could benefit Moniak, that old baseball cliche bears a little more weight than usual. He’s lived it.

“We were drafted in the same position,” Nevin said Wednesday, when he penciled Moniak into his first starting lineup as an Angel. “Those pressures, you don’t think about it every day. You’re reminded of it once in a while. You can say all you want about ‘that doesn’t matter, there’s no pressure.’ At the end of the day, there is. It’s fan mail, there’s cards, the everyday things, the interviews. Being constantly reminded of that adds pressure to you.”

Moniak started in center field and batted seventh, with Magneuris Sierra stationed in left field and Taylor Ward in right against the Oakland A’s. It was the first time Sierra had started anywhere other than center field since being promoted by the Angels

All 14 of Moniak’s starts for the Phillies this season had come in center field. The Angels were doing their best to keep their newest player comfortable on the field for a day while he slept in his own bed off it.

“Looking back on my time in Philadelphia, I was grateful for it, (being) given a chance as an 18-year-old kid, came up with them, debuted with them. But I think that, you know, for me, I’ve always been a guy that maybe takes a little bit to get comfortable at every level, and once I get comfortable, it’s on from there. So, wasn’t really given that opportunity there, which makes sense. They’re always in a pennant hunt with a lot of money on the field, so just to be here and be told that you’re gonna go out and play and have some fun is huge.”

Moniak, 24, had a solid .859 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) with the Phillies’ Triple-A affiliate this season. But he never found his footing in the majors, going 6 for 46 with only one extra-base hit, a double, and 19 strikeouts.

Nevin remembered seeing Moniak play with and against his son, Tyler, as a high schooler. Seeing another familiar face in the dugout can only help him feel comfortable, Nevin said.

“I know this is a place (Moniak) can relax and just go out and play,” he said.

MEET THE NEW HALOS

The other major league players the Angels acquired at Tuesday’s deadline, pitchers Jesse Chavez and Tucker Davidson, were both added to the active roster. Davidson is scheduled to start Sunday against the Seattle Mariners.

Davidson allowed 11 runs across four games (three starts) this season with the Atlanta Braves. The 26-year-old left-hander completed more than five innings once in 10 major league appearances this season. Davidson had a 3-7 record and 4.59 ERA in 15 starts at Triple-A for the Gwinnett Gladiators.

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Chavez, 38, reported for his second tour of duty with the Angels later Wednesday afternoon. He had a 2.66 ERA in 44 innings out of the Braves’ bullpen this season.

“He’s going to be in that mix with (Aaron) Loup, (Ryan Tepera), (Jose Quijada), (Andrew) Wantz in that back end,” Nevin said. “He’ll get some big outs for us.”

Chavez and Davidson were acquired in the trade that sent closer Raisel Iglesias to Atlanta.

ALSO

Patrick Sandoval, Chase Silseth and Reid Detmers are expected to start the first three games of the Angels’ series in Seattle. Silseth and Detmers will pitch either end of a doubleheader Saturday. … Seattle hasn’t announced its starters beyond left-hander Robbie Ray on Friday. … Outfielder Dillon Thomas was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake.

UP NEXT

Oakland (RHP Paul Blackburn, 6-6, 4.15 ERA) at Angels (RHP Janson Junk, 1-0, 0.00), Thursday, 1:07 p.m., Bally Sports West, 830 AM

View the full article

[TroutField]

“He’ll get some big outs for us” 

 

*looks at the standings and thinks WTFF*

[Docwaukee]

The acquisition of Chavez tells me a lot about what this team is trying to do for the future.  

I have no idea what this team is trying to do for the future.  

[arch stanton]

1 hour ago, Docwaukee said:

The acquisition of Chavez tells me a lot about what this team is trying to do for the future.  

I have no idea what this team is trying to do for the future.  

I just assumed it was a cash offset and a warm body for the rest of this season

[Docwaukee]

22 minutes ago, arch stanton said:

I just assumed it was a cash offset and a warm body for the rest of this season

he makes league min.  

[ScottT]

That's wonderful 

[arch stanton]

4 hours ago, Docwaukee said:

he makes league min.  

Cash offset, 40 man clearance, probably more about what the Braves wanted than what we did. FA at season end

[TroutField]

8 hours ago, Docwaukee said:

The acquisition of Chavez tells me a lot about what this team is trying to do for the future.  

I have no idea what this team is trying to do for the future.  

Save money. 
 

they are showing they really don’t care about winning and money is the driving factor in most decisions. 

[T.G.]

19 minutes ago, TroutField said:

hey are showing they really don’t care about winning and money is the driving factor in most decisions.

BS

[TroutField]

1 minute ago, T.G. said:

BS

Prove it. 
 

the main headline from the deadline is how we saved money from the Iglesias contract. 
 

I would love if they proved me wrong and opened up the checkbook to field a winner before Ohtani leaves. I don’t see it happening. That’s why we sign guys like Harvey and Syndergaard… sure they are expensive, but it’s all smoke and mirrors to act like they are trying to win. All while staying within the budget Arte is okay with, regardless of the on the field results. If they were serious they would have went balls deep after Scherzer, went crazy on the trade market, accepted a good prospect back and ate the 7 million owed to Thor, etc. 

[T.G.]

6 minutes ago, TroutField said:

Prove it. 

I'm not 12 years old and I don't want to argue with one either.

Common sense tells you that your statement about the Angels "not caring about winning" is dumb.

[Jeff Fletcher]

9 hours ago, Docwaukee said:

The acquisition of Chavez tells me a lot about what this team is trying to do for the future.  

I have no idea what this team is trying to do for the future.  

He has pitched well this season and the Angels need bodies in the bullpen since Warren and Bradley are out. 

[TroutField]

44 minutes ago, T.G. said:

I'm not 12 years old and I don't want to argue with one either.

Common sense tells you that your statement about the Angels "not caring about winning" is dumb.

Lol 

[arch stanton]

57 minutes ago, TroutField said:

Lol 

To be fair, it is a pretty ridiculous take

[Angel Oracle]

11 hours ago, Docwaukee said:

he makes league min.  

Cash offset for next season and beyond, to hopefully use the remaining money due Iglesias through 2025 to instead shore up another area(s) of need in addition to re-signing Ohtani

That’s my takeaway from the trade, regarding the cash discussion.

Edited August 4, 2022 by Angel Oracle

[Angel Oracle]

4 hours ago, TroutField said:

Save money. 
 

they are showing they really don’t care about winning and money is the driving factor in most decisions. 

To be fair, Chavez has a 2.11 ERA and 1.23 WHIP so far this season with the Braves, and pitched well in 2021 as well.

Edited August 4, 2022 by Angel Oracle

[Jay]

Drafted first overall, kind of a bust.

Maybe being back home in OC will give him a boost.

 

[AngelsFaninGA]

21 minutes ago, Angel Oracle said:

To be fair, Chavez has a 2.11 ERA and 1.23 WHIP so far this season with the Braves, and pitched well in 2021 as well.

Wouldn't be surprised if they see him as a key piece to the bullpen next year as well, which means he'll immediately fall off a cliff like Loup and Tepera and put up a 5 ERA

[jsnpritchett]

7 minutes ago, Jay said:

Drafted first overall, kind of a bust.

Maybe being back home in OC will give him a boost.

 

It has worked for Jose Rojas! 

[Taylor]

24 minutes ago, Angel Oracle said:

To be fair, Chavez has a 2.11 ERA and 1.23 WHIP so far this season with the Braves, and pitched well in 2021 as well.

He also fills the old guy void left by Pujols.

[Deek]

4 hours ago, TroutField said:

Save money. 
 

they are showing they really don’t care about winning and money is the driving factor in most decisions. 

Uh... you have to save money to make a run at retaining Ohtani - which only increases your chances of winning...

[TroutField]

5 hours ago, Deek said:

Uh... you have to save money to make a run at retaining Ohtani - which only increases your chances of winning...

You aren’t going to win by penny pinching with Ohtani on the team. 
 

have you missed the past 5 years? 

[TroutField]

5 hours ago, Angel Oracle said:

To be fair, Chavez has a 2.11 ERA and 1.23 WHIP so far this season with the Braves, and pitched well in 2021 as well.

And he’s a FA at the end of season… 

[TroutField]

7 hours ago, arch stanton said:

To be fair, it is a pretty ridiculous take

Okay. Explain to me. 
 

we have been “on the cusp” of winning for years now and Arte says we will go above our budget “for the right player” not “to win and be competitive”  

 

Fool me once… 

 

I’ve been waiting to be competitive since 2009, one lucky season in 2014 doesn’t change anything. Low budget FA signings and one big splash here and there is not a way to build a team. The hard payroll budget has hindered us over and over again. The Mets said fuck it and went crazy with payroll to be competitive and GUESS WHAT?? they are in 1st. Moreno has the money to invest and make us good if he wanted to, he doesn’t want to do it. 

[Stradling]

7 hours ago, arch stanton said:

To be fair, it is a pretty ridiculous take

It’s really fucking dumb.