Gameday Thread: A's @ Angels (9/28/22): Lorenzen on the mound, O'Hoppe catching, hitting 8th

[daygloman]

Light up the Halo!

[Duren, Duren]

Lot of pathos out there.

Moniak in tears with his career questionable while a young rookie gets all the accolades for an impressive debut. The human emotional factor underlying the game at two extremes. 

Can Hargett be a full time closer? Many one pitch (non fastball)  specialists have been all time great relievers. Hoyt Wilhelm with his knuckle ball. Elroy Face with his fork ball. Mike Marshall with his screwball. And the list goes on and on. 

I wouldn't call Harget a one pitch specialist, though his curveball seems to be his best weapon. He is what they used to call a 'junkball' pitcher. Different angles, release points, elbows and knees in motion, and very smart mixing speeds and locations. Control is his biggest issue, but he seems to have improved on that since his return. Whether he can stay in that closer role next year remains to be seen. But so far he has surprised positively.

The bullpen seems to be as solid as it has been over the last couple of months. Not elite, but fairly steady and versatile. Iglesias really hasn't been missed over that time. I would still like to see some upgrade next year. Not sure if Loup can be consistent with all his wear and tear.  And Wantz and some of the fringe players are question marks. But it isn't shaping up as a disaster area either.

[Blarg]

I got to spend a little time talking to Angelswin Senior writer David Salzer tonight. Good to catch up with him and he's going to be working on an article real soon, you'll have to wait for the topic.

[Blarg]

2 hours ago, Swordsman78 said:

So whats your point?  Was this anyone's fault that Moniak got on base via HBP?

He didn't get on base, dimwitted one. He left the game with the count 0-2. Adell was brought in to finish out the count. 

[Swordsman78]

6 hours ago, Trendon said:

 

 

  because Nevin is trying to manage for his own job next season.

The Angels need Nevin more than Nevin needs the Angels.

[Ace-Of-Diamonds]

1 hour ago, Slegnaac said:

That must really hurt.

l practically grew up at a bowling alley. late one night one of the balls got stuck underground in the ball return tunnel. To get the ball you open the hatch and with another ball you roll it into the stuck ball to free it. The problem was the ball wasn't in the tunnel but was in the pit. Just as l was getting ready to roll the ball, the stuck ball freed itself and smashed my hand between the 2 balls, my middle is still wider and flatter than the rest.

[Blarg]

44 minutes ago, CaliAngel said:

And hope Adell suddenly doesn't suck???

No, hoping you will quit sucking. 

[Lou]

1 hour ago, CaliAngel said:

Take a week off watching Angels baseball, and still wondering why Adell is getting at bats...2 more years and he'll get it?...right???

Sigh..

The only reason he was playing is because Moniak got hurt. 

[Stradling]

1 hour ago, CaliAngel said:

And hope Adell suddenly doesn't suck???

Obsess much?  Tool. 

[BTH]

2 hours ago, Swordsman78 said:

So whats your point?  Was this anyone's fault that Moniak got on base via HBP?

My point was that it was a bad matchup that Nevin could’ve avoided.

Bases loaded, 0 outs, and they got 0 runs that inning.

[Stradling]

6 hours ago, Trendon said:

My point was that it was a bad matchup that Nevin could’ve avoided.

Bases loaded, 0 outs, and they got 0 runs that inning.

That’s bad execution more than poor management 

[Swordsman78]

7 hours ago, Trendon said:

My point was that it was a bad matchup that Nevin could’ve avoided.

Bases loaded, 0 outs, and they got 0 runs that inning.

There are different philosophies in developing players.   Some managers like to put guys in uncomfortable spots to help them develop and see if they can overcome adversity.

Some managers manage players like the card game called "War". 

Probably neither method is 100% correct 100% of the time.   But pretty sure the players relish the chance to compete especially when its difficult.

[Blarg]

I'm sure Moniak is cherishing his time off with his family about now.

[Tank]

10 hours ago, CaliAngel said:

And hope Adell suddenly doesn't suck???

in that case, make it six months.

[BTH]

10 hours ago, Stradling said:

That’s bad execution more than poor management 

It was poor management to have Moniak bat in that spot instead of Adell.

But it was bad execution by O’Hoppe and Soto. (I’m gonna give Adell as pass since he had to come in with an 0-2 count rather than getting a clean count)

[Ace-Of-Diamonds]

11 hours ago, Stradling said:

That’s bad execution more than poor management 

3 K's with the bases loaded. A squeeze may have worked if someone with bunting skills was up, but it was going to be a force at the plate, so...

[Stradling]

2 hours ago, Trendon said:

It was poor management to have Moniak bat in that spot instead of Adell.

But it was bad execution by O’Hoppe and Soto. (I’m gonna give Adell as pass since he had to come in with an 0-2 count rather than getting a clean count)

It was the sixth inning of a game you are up by two.  You don’t put in a worse defensive team for a slightly better chance of scoring another run. 

[BTH]

3 hours ago, Stradling said:

It was the sixth inning of a game you are up by two.  You don’t put in a worse defensive team for a slightly better chance of scoring another run. 

Why not?

Moniak’s wRC+ vs. LHP this season is -35.

Adell’s wRC+ vs. LHP this season is 66.

 

Imo, there was more than “a slightly better chance of scoring another run.”

I’d rather take the risk of bad defense coming back to bite me in an attempt to tack on more runs rather than play it safe by keeping the best defensive lineup intact.

[Stradling]

8 hours ago, Trendon said:

Why not?

Moniak’s wRC+ vs. LHP this season is -35.

Adell’s wRC+ vs. LHP this season is 66.

 

Imo, there was more than “a slightly better chance of scoring another run.”

I’d rather take the risk of bad defense coming back to bite me in an attempt to tack on more runs rather than play it safe by keeping the best defensive lineup intact.

If Adell doesn’t strike out as often as he does then I’d agree with you, but sadly he does. So yea, slightly. 

[BTH]

3 hours ago, Stradling said:

If Adell doesn’t strike out as often as he does then I’d agree with you, but sadly he does. So yea, slightly. 

But Moniak strikes out more than Adell, so it’s not like you’re going from someone with a 20% K% to someone with a 37.8% K%.

You’re going from someone with a 39.3% K% to someone with a 37.8% K%.