Has your assessment of the Angels changed from where it was before the season started?

[gurn67]

6th is runs scored, is better than I would have predicted. 20th in runs allowed is worse than I predicted. I thought the starting pitching would be better. Anderson's been awful other than his first start. I thought he would definitely be better. I thought Detmers would pitch better too. I didn't have much faith in Suarez, but he's been absolutely horrible other than one start.

If someone had told me they'd be 20-18 at this point before the season, I would have thought that sounds about right.

I don't know if I've ever seen an Angels' team that's been as bad as this one at holding early leads though. The offense gives the starters a 2,3,4 run lead, and it seems like most of the time the starters just give it right back up. The pitching's been horrible with runners in scoring position and 2 outs. 25th highest WHIP in those situations.

[Inside Pitch]

16 hours ago, Trendon said:

38 games in, they’re 20-18.

Has your assessment of the Angels changed from where it was before the season started?

6-13 against opponents above .500

14-5 against opponents below .500

Anyone that has ever read my posts likely knows the defensive issues are my biggest gripe.  The annoying thing is that it's more often thank not self inflicted wounds -- they haven't set up or been bad defensively so much as they have just flat out butchered stuff they usually make essentially "Rengifoed" stuff.  It's been annoying.  Drury is likely the worst defensive player on the team and he's been passable overall.  

The disparity in W/L records isn't pretty but they were competitive in all but three of those games .vs +500 teams (Yankee finale, Texas series).   They have IMO beaten themselves more often this year than they have been beaten up -- not that it makes it any easier to swallow but it's a hell of a lot easier to fix.

Matt Thaiss has basically saved the catching situation so far -- his framing metrics have actually surprised me.  He's had his issues but I think people have to be happy with how he's performed.  Neto has been better defensively than advertised -- more importantly his baseball IQ has been a strength, the complete opposite of Rengifo in that sense.  My hope is that they spend this month and June figuring out what they need to fix and putting together a plan for how to do it.  

What I don't want them to do is to make some futile lets risk everything to try to win and keep Ohtani type effort.  

 

[HeavenlyHalos]

SP & Defense - much worse than I expected

Bullpen - better than I expected

Offense - meeting expectations

 

With the above in mind, I would have to say worse than I expected

[Taylor]

12 hours ago, Swordsman78 said:

I am one of the few guys on this thread that have any understanding of the subject matter.

Did you go to Hofstra?

[Revad]

4 hours ago, Inside Pitch said:

What I don't want them to do is to make some futile lets risk everything to try to win and keep Ohtani type effort. 

If that happens it would be Artie’s doing, I imagine.  Now if they could get an ace with at least 2024 control that might be a good idea.  Might have to go over the tax but lots of money comes off next year. 

Edited May 12, 2023 by Revad

[REDneck]

Has anyone took a look at the AL East standings? The Yankees are in last place and have a better record than us.

The team is going to have to start playing better baseball, if they have any chance of hanging with Texas and Houston for the division or competing with the East teams for a wild card.

Sooner rather than later, we're almost a quarter way into the season at this point.

[Inside Pitch]

35 minutes ago, REDneck said:

Has anyone took a look at the AL East standings? The Yankees are in last place and have a better record than us.

That entire division has been feasting on the AL Central, possibly the worse division in MLB.  Everyone in the AL East has played at least 10 games .vs the Central save for the Red Sox are just under at 9, and every team in the AL East except the Yankees is at least 5 games over .500 .vs the AL Central.

The nice thing about the more balanced schedule is that it will all eventually even out.  

 

[Blarg]

I'm going to the Guardians vs Angels game tonight. Hopefully the Centeal is as woeful as described. 

[Revad]

4 minutes ago, Blarg said:

I'm going to the Guardians vs Angels game tonight. Hopefully the Centeal is as woeful as described. 

Keep your attention on a win tonight and have a great time!

[Blarg]

Great time assured. Front row seats behind the plate and the forecast changed from 60% rain to zero. 

[ten ocho recon scout]

8 hours ago, Inside Pitch said:

 

The disparity in W/L records isn't pretty but they were competitive in all but three of those games .vs +500 teams (Yankee finale, Texas series). 

 

Was gonna mention that yesterday, but thought it would come off as "loser talk". But I see it the same way. The Texas series was embarrassing. And if we're being honest should have been a sweep. But that seems to be the lone one we looked over matched. The rest of the series we've played, at least that I've watched, have seemed closer than the record shows. A few things going our way and we gave a far better record.

 

8 hours ago, Inside Pitch said:

 

What I don't want them to do is to make some futile lets risk everything to try to win and keep Ohtani type effort.  

 

I still say we stop taking the pill and let him get us pregnant.

[ten ocho recon scout]

Just for perspective, the Padres are .500, and the Mets and Phillies are both below it.

I think all 3 teams are better than we are, and will end up with better records, playoffs etc

But just pointing out even the really good teams lose games they shouldnt.

Edited May 13, 2023 by ten ocho recon scout

[Jay]

If the Angels had won one more of their first 38 they would project to 90 wins which would be in line with expectations. They just need to figure out some stuff.

[The Ghost of Bob Starr]

Nevin 10-year deal.  Get er done Jer- er, Per. 

[NrM]

Worse than expected considering we've been mostly healthy. Obviously losing Logan O'hoppe hurts and Walsh has been out but outside of that nothing serious.

[Inside Pitch]

13 hours ago, Taylor said:

Did you go to Hofstra?

[Jay]

On 5/11/2023 at 12:43 PM, Jay said:

I figured they were about a 90-win team before the season started. I think they are better than their current record so my opinion hasn't changed.

With tonight's win (40-32) the Angels are projecting to 90 wins.

 

[Blarg]

[Stradling]

They are great, until they lose, then they’ve always sucked. 

[fan_since79]

I originally thought they might win 82 games. I'm raising that projection to 88 wins now. 

The revamped bullpen has been a nice surprise. Now if Trout could only get going...

[Stradling]

20 minutes ago, fan_since79 said:

I originally thought they might win 82 games. I'm raising that projection to 88 wins now. 

The revamped bullpen has been a nice surprise. Now if Trout could only get going...

My opinion has been from the get go that it’s an 88-90 win team has constructed.  If they are playing like an 88-90 win team at the deadline, they’ll upgrade the roster to get them to 90-92 wins. The reason I quoted you is I believe in order to even get to 88 Trout has to be at least 85% of being Trout. He can’t have results like this all year and have the team expect to win those 88+ games. 

[Erstad Grit]

I thought before the season started they'd be a WC team and still believe that. 

However, what I had no idea at season start was how important Neto is.  Seems to me his health will be a very important component. 

[Ace-Of-Diamonds]

On 5/11/2023 at 11:39 AM, mmc said:

No, I thought they were improved but still not a playoff team and I still think that

how about now?

[Angelsjunky]

At 40-32, they're about where I expected them to be before the season, when I predicted 90-92 wins. Right now they're on pace for 90-72.

The reminder is that it is a long season. Two weeks ago the Angels were at .500 and it looked pretty bad. Two weeks from now they could be at 50-35 or 44-41.

 

[T.G.]

I know it's cliche, but I'm just enjoying the season one game at a time. 

I still believe they're bound for the postseason.  We'll see how it plays out.