Our Picks

Finally catches Mays for 5th spot!

Congrats Albert!

Gameday Thread: Angels vs. Rockies (9/11/2020)

Could Walsh be halo answer for 1B for now and 2021? Another reason to sit Albert and let's give Walsh regular ABs.

I have to say that I'm very disappointed in him as a manager of the Angels and concerned about him as manager going forward. I was talking to a respected member and friend from here yesterday and he told me that Maddon's actions are essentially going to lead to getting Billy Eppler fired. 

Pros: In terms of keeping the clubhouse loose and building a solid culture he's top notch. He's a great players coach. He also has experience in the postseason and getting two different teams there. That is saying something. I also like how Maddon is not afraid to promote a prospect and bench a veteran

Cons: Maddon has had many questionable moves with regards to the bullpen, pitching staff, lineup configurations and defensive alignments. If you've watched most of the games this year Victor Rojas has questioned several of his moves on the air. These decisions have negatively affected the Angels in the standings. He also seems to fail to call plays where a bunt or hit and run are in order and then there's this....

The last two days in using Matt Thaiss at 2B and LF for the first time in his minor league & major league career in what are must win games in this short season was the tipping point for me. There were a few guys who could have been promoted from LB to step right in after Barreto was sent to the IL. They've played 2B and SS for the majority of their careers. While I didn't think Thaiss could be any worse than La Stella there, boy was I dead wrong. Defense matters! 

While I will grade him with a D now due to it being his first year with new personnel, if the Angels fail to make the playoffs next year or don't have a winning season at the very least, he gets an F. 

I didn't think it could get worse than Brad Ausmus but it has and that's a shame because I was super stoked when Joe Maddon signed with the Angels to become our manager.

Here's hoping he changes my mind and he gets an A after a full 162 game season next year.

You can come back to this thread and change your vote at the end of the season, but place your grades for how you think he's done to this point for now. 

I mean he failed at 2B in his very first game there, what can go wrong in LF? 

Gameday Thread: Angels vs. Rangers (9/8/2020)

This is the team I thought would be here the full season. They started off dreadful and no one can argue against that. But they’ve turned it on of late! Can we make a historic run and make the playoffs? Once you get in everything is wiped clean and it’s any ones game. What do you think AngelsWin faithful? I’m starting to believe it’s possible...

Was there a defining moment that grabbed your attention or when you fell in love with baseball? What ultimately led to you becoming a fan of the #Angels or another team? 

I'll add mine below. 

--

Mine was in the summer of 1979, I was 9-years old. My dad always had Angels games playing on the radio or on the TV. I fondly remember trips to the store or camping when my dad had the game on the radio. His reactions to what was going on in the game was loud & full of emotions.

I will never forget his passion when the Angels were in pursuit of their very first playoff berth in 1979 he would chant "Yes We Can. Yes We Can." That really tugged at my heart. I listened & watched every game from July through the playoffs that year. Was a fan ever since!

When Bobby Grich hit that walk-off home run against Yankees star lefty Ron Guidry on July 15th, I became a fan! The rest was history! Some 25 years later I built what became one of the most popular baseball fan sites on the net, AngelsWin.com.

What a fun ride! Go Halos!

I'd like to hear your story.

Interview Conducted By David Saltzer, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer

Here at AngelsWin.com, we have been wondering what life is like for the Minor Leaguers working out at the Long Beach facility. It’s got to be very difficult for those players, going through the same routines, trying to stay in shape, ready to join the parent club at a moment’s notice, all while facing the same players each and every day.

One of our favorite stories in the Long Beach complex is that of Jose Rojas. Having grown up locally in Anaheim, and played for Vanguard University, he’s a versatile player who shows a strong bat. He can play 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and the outfield. Seeing him make it to the majors would be a wonderful success story for the local kid who made it.

We recently caught up with Jose to find out how he’s doing, what life is like in the Long Beach training facility, and how he’s working hard to make his baseball dreams come true.

Please click on the image below to watch our interview with Angels prospect Jose Rojas.


AngelsWincom Interviews Jose Rojas August 10 2020 from AngelsWin.com on Vimeo.

Downloadable Lineups sheet for scorecard people!

👇
9-6 lineups.pdf

Lineup for game one of the doubleheader today. 

Gameday Thread: Angels vs. Astros (Sept 4th, 2020)

The Angels have a chance of having four starters to finish the season with an ERA under 4.00, which in the American League is saying something. 

As of right now...

Bundy: 2.47 ERA

Barria: 2.63 ERA

Heaney: 3.89 ERA

Canning: 4.04

The Angels could make it 5 if they promoted Felix Pena (1.86) to the rotation. He seems to have had success both in the bullpen and rotation when healthy. I like him. 

Honestly I would love to see Detmers and Rodriguez up here this month to get 2-3 starts a piece, and maybe use Yan as a long reliever or groom him as a late inning reliever? 

Gameday Thread: Angels vs. Padres (9/03/2020)

Gameday Thread: Angels vs. Padress (9/02/2020)

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — It’s the end of an era for Twins fans, as longtime announcer Bert Blyleven is performing his final regular broadcast for the team Wednesday night.

The team said he is transitioning from his role in the broadcast booth to a “special assistant position” with the club, which will include “engaging with fans and partners by making special appearances on behalf of the organization throughout the year.”

https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2020/09/02/bert-blyleven-broadcasting-final-broadcast-for-twins-wednesday-night/?fbclid=IwAR3gN5H91YRFup4BjKX_bbycMykH5-MnbYYwZX9y5yBf778RR-QeqeKT7DM

Griffin Canning's arsenal has always intrigued me. What I noticed this year is that all of his pitches don't have much separation in terms of velocity. I was curious if his pitches were similar to his rookie year so I went to baseball savant to check for myself. It seems like the separation from his fastest average pitch and his lowest have narrowed from year one to year two.

Fastball Avg Velo/Spin-rate

2019: 93.9 mph/2,335

2020: 92.5 mph/2,337

Slider Avg Velo

2019: 88.9 mph/2,506

2020: 88.6 mph/2,371

Curveball Avg Velo

2019: 82.0 mph/2,425

2020: 86.0 mph/2,581

Changeup Avg Velo

2019: 89.1 mph/1,671

2020: 87.5 mph/1,806

There's a lot of interesting things going on in my opinion. For starters his average fastball velocity is down this year from 93.9 to 92.5 this season. Secondly, his velocity from his fastball is not much of a difference from his changeup at only about 5 mph in both 2019 and 2020. Lastly, he is throwing his curveball at a considerably faster velocity this year than last, from 82.0 mph last season to 86.0 mph this season. On the other hand his spinrate on his curveball has increased from 2,425 to 2,581. It also appears that his slider has lost considerable spin from year 1 to 2. All in all his separation from his average fastest pitch (92.5 mph) to his slowest (86.0) is only around 6 mph. Would he be more successful if his pitches were at a bigger velocity separation similar to last season? The closest comp I have found is Felix Hernandez in terms of his fastball and changeup velocity. Felix's average difference from his fastball to his changeup is generally around 4 mph. However, his curveball clocked in at around 80 mph. Would it not be easier for hitters to time his pitches when all of them are bunched around the same velocity?

Here are a couple of videos comparing his curveball from 2019 to 2020

 

 

Brian Goodwin traded to the Reds for Packy Naughton and a PTBNL

What do you think should happen (vote), and will happen (discuss)?

I'm voting QO, 1-2 year contract offer. What I think will happen is QO, no contract offer.

I'm fine going with Fletcher and Barreto/Rengifo in some form or fashion, with a hopefully maturing Jahmai Jones in AAA and maybe a cheap journeyman UT signed as insurance. But I also think the team is better with Simmons and don't think we should take his defense for granted. I'm also reasonably optimistic he'll hit closer to 2017-18 than previous years.

I kind of already know where this is going......

Gameday Thread: Angels vs. Mariners (8/31/2020)

We are now only 2 weeks away from the trade deadline so I figured it was time to make the thread.  In here, talk about all trade deadline rumors, speculation, trades, and discuss which players you’d like to see the Angels go after.

Jason Castro traded to the Padres

I Know this isn't the lineup jpg Chuck prefers but there wasn't a game day thread late.

 

EDIT: Added the updated lineup card with Bemboom - John Taylor

 

Gameday Thread: Angels vs. Mariners (8/29/2020)