AngelsWin.com

ANAHEIM — In recent summers, when the Angels needed to make upgrades via trade, they were handicapped by a thin farm system.
This time, thanks to General Manager Billy Eppler’s focus on upgrading the system, the Angels have what is considered to be one of the most improved organizations in baseball.
In order to get an objective analysis of the state of the Angels’ farm system, to understand which prospects should be untouchable, which ones are valuable trade chips and which ones might be overrated, we consulted a scout.
It is just one scout’s opinion, but he is an unbiased professional who has covered the Angels’ system for years, giving him history with all their key prospects.
So far this year, he has seen all four of the Angels’ full-season clubs: low-A Burlington (Iowa), high-A Inland Empire, Double-A Mobile (Ala.) and Triple-A Salt Lake City.
The scout, who requested anonymity because his club does not allow him to publicly share his reports, agrees the system is improved, overall.
“You can see they’re making a conscious effort to get better, athletic players,” he said.
Going for more athletic, “toolsy” players has been an emphasis of Eppler since his first draft in 2016. Under Jerry Dipoto, the Angels leaned more toward college players who might have been closer to the big leagues, even without ceilings as high.
Sign up for Home Turf and get 3 exclusive stories every SoCal sports fan must read, sent daily. Subscribe here. While the scout said the young position player group is impressive, he said there are still only three pitchers he likes.
A rundown of some of the most notable players:
Jo Adell: The 19-year-old was the Angels’ first-round pick in 2017. A center fielder, Adell has already risen through three levels, from short-season rookie ball to low-A to high-A. He is widely considered the top prospect in the farm system.
“He’s still a ways away,” the scout said. “He looks beautiful in a uniform, but they were dominating him with the fastball. He’s got some timing issues he needs to straighten out. The swing is going to have to tighten up. The power is mistake power right now. … He’s going to end up being a corner outfielder.”
Brandon Marsh: The Angels’ second-round pick in 2016, Marsh missed his first season with a back injury. Marsh, 20, started at Orem (Utah) last year, so he has just barely played one full season so far. Marsh has also risen to high-A.
“Oh, I love that guy. He’s better than all of them. He can mash. He hits with power. He plays with a chip on his shoulder. He’s got some swag. He’s the best guy, for me, out of all those guys. Adell might have the highest ceiling because of the all the gifts he has, but this guy is already a better hitter than (Kole) Calhoun. He may get (to the majors) next year, at the end of the year.”
Griffin Canning: The former UCLA and Santa Margarita High right-hander didn’t pitch in the minors in 2017 after the Angels took him in the second round, because the organization felt he needed a break from his heavy workload in college. So far in his first three months of professional baseball, the 22-year-old was quickly promoted out of high-A to Double-A. He’s started two combined no-hitters already. The Angels are moving him quickly, but being cautious with his pitch-counts.
“Their best pitcher. He’s got it all. It’s just a matter of him being humbled a little bit and learning to pitch with more moxie. He’s got all the stuff. He’s going to be a fast mover. He’s going to get (to the majors) quickly.”
José Suarez: The 20-year-old lefty from Venezuela has posted big strikeout numbers this season, rocketing from high-A to Double-A to Triple-A already.
“I have him as a 3-4 type starter. He can really pitch. With him, (Jaime) Barría, (Tyler) Skaggs and if (Andrew) Heaney stays healthy, the Angels have some guys who can pitch. I’m more excited about those guys because those flamethrowers don’t last anymore. He touched 95 mph, but he pitched more at 91.”
Joe Gatto: The last of the three pitchers in the organization this scout expected to be a productive major leaguer, Gatto has moved slowly through the system since he was the Angels’ second-round pick in 2014. Gatto, 23, didn’t reach Double-A until a month ago.
“He can pitch a little bit. His velo was down a little bit, but he was at 96. I always liked him. I think he’s a serviceable bottom-of-the-rotation guy. He’ll be (in the majors).”
Matt Thaiss: The Angels took Thaiss with their first-round pick in 2016 and immediately took him from behind the plate and put him at first base. Thaiss, 23, began this season at Double-A and was recently promoted to Triple-A, where he got off to a hot start.
“He can swing it. He looks comfortable at first base. He’s going to be a big leaguer. I think he’ll hit for more power (than he’s shown) because he’ll get comfortable. He can make adjustments. It’s quite obvious the adjustments he’s made in his swing.”
Jahmai Jones: The Angels took Jones with their second pick in 2015. An outfielder in his first three pro seasons, Jones moved this year at high-A to second base, a position he played in high school. Jones, 20, is thought to profile better there than the outfield because he wasn’t good enough defensively to play center and didn’t hit for enough power to play the corners.
“His swing is somewhat robotic. I put a 40 (grade) on him, which is the next step up from an up-and-down guy. You can’t say he’d be a utility player, because he can only play one position. He can’t go to his left. He can’t throw from angles. He’s going to struggle (defensively at second).”
Jesus Castillo: Lightly regarded when the Angels got him in the Joe Smith trade in July 2016, Castillo rose fairly quickly through the Angels’ system. Castillo, 22, made enough of an impression to be added to the 40-man roster last winter. He’s been at Double-A this season.
“Non-prospect. He was throwing 84-89, with a little curveball and a changeup. Not much life in his presentation. Limited arm speed. I didn’t like him at all. Not very deceptive.”
Luis Rengifo: The Angels got Rengifo from the Tampa Bay Rays for C.J. Cron just before spring training. A shortstop, Rengifo, 21, started at high-A and was already moved to Double-A.
“He can mash, from both sides. He’s like Ketel Marte, with more pop.”
Taylor Ward: The Angels’ top pick in 2015, Ward was believed to be an advanced defensive catcher with a bat that could come. This season the Angels moved Ward, 24, to third.
Although the scout missed seeing Ward this year, because he was injured at the time, he said he’s not surprised the Angels abandoned catching: “I hated his disposition.”
David Fletcher: A sixth-round pick out of Loyola Marymount in 2015, Fletcher earned his first big-league promotion last week. A Cypress High product, Fletcher, 24, has often been compared to David Eckstein, who was one of his favorite players while growing up in Orange County.
“I like little guys that play big. He’s gritty. Scioscia has got to love him. He’s good at both short and second. His swing can get a little big, but I’m OK with that. He’s a baseball player. You win with guys like that. I’m not saying he’s going to hit first or bat .300, but he’s going to be a great piece.”
UP NEXT
Angels (Tyler Skaggs, 6-4, 2.81) vs. Blue Jays (TBA), Thursday, 7 p.m., Fox Sports West, KLAA (830 AM)
Related Articles
Mike Trout sparks Angels to second win in their last nine games, 5-4 over Diamondbacks In Jordyn Adams and Jeremiah Jackson, Angels drafted a pair of friends Diamondbacks hand Angels their 7th loss in 8 games Angels’ Kole Calhoun saw DL stint as a welcome mental, physical breather Angels’ Chris Young homers again, taking advantage of his increased opportunities View the full article

ANAHEIM — In recent summers, when the Angels needed to make upgrades via trade, they were handicapped by a thin farm system.
This time, thanks to General Manager Billy Eppler’s focus on upgrading the system, the Angels have what is considered to be one of the most improved organizations in baseball.
In order to get an objective analysis of the state of the Angels’ farm system, to understand which prospects should be untouchable, which ones are valuable trade chips and which ones might be overrated, we consulted a scout.
It is just one scout’s opinion, but he is an unbiased professional who has covered the Angels’ system for years, giving him history with all their key prospects.
So far this year, he has seen all four of the Angels’ full-season clubs: low-A Burlington (Iowa), high-A Inland Empire, Double-A Mobile (Ala.) and Triple-A Salt Lake City.
The scout, who requested anonymity because his club does not allow him to publicly share his reports, agrees the system is improved, overall.
“You can see they’re making a conscious effort to get better, athletic players,” he said.
Going for more athletic, “toolsy” players has been an emphasis of Eppler since his first draft in 2016. Under Jerry Dipoto, the Angels leaned more toward college players who might have been closer to the big leagues, even without ceilings as high.
Sign up for Home Turf and get 3 exclusive stories every SoCal sports fan must read, sent daily. Subscribe here. While the scout said the young position player group is impressive, he said there are still only three pitchers he likes.
A rundown of some of the most notable players:
Jo Adell: The 19-year-old was the Angels’ first-round pick in 2017. A center fielder, Adell has already risen through three levels, from short-season rookie ball to low-A to high-A. He is widely considered the top prospect in the farm system.
“He’s still a ways away,” the scout said. “He looks beautiful in a uniform, but they were dominating him with the fastball. He’s got some timing issues he needs to straighten out. The swing is going to have to tighten up. The power is mistake power right now. … He’s going to end up being a corner outfielder.”
Brandon Marsh: The Angels’ second-round pick in 2016, Marsh missed his first season with a back injury. Marsh, 20, started at Orem (Utah) last year, so he has just barely played one full season so far. Marsh has also risen to high-A.
“Oh, I love that guy. He’s better than all of them. He can mash. He hits with power. He plays with a chip on his shoulder. He’s got some swag. He’s the best guy, for me, out of all those guys. Adell might have the highest ceiling because of the all the gifts he has, but this guy is already a better hitter than (Kole) Calhoun. He may get (to the majors) next year, at the end of the year.”
Griffin Canning: The former UCLA and Santa Margarita High right-hander didn’t pitch in the minors in 2017 after the Angels took him in the second round, because the organization felt he needed a break from his heavy workload in college. So far in his first three months of professional baseball, the 22-year-old was quickly promoted out of high-A to Double-A. He’s started two combined no-hitters already. The Angels are moving him quickly, but being cautious with his pitch-counts.
“Their best pitcher. He’s got it all. It’s just a matter of him being humbled a little bit and learning to pitch with more moxie. He’s got all the stuff. He’s going to be a fast mover. He’s going to get (to the majors) quickly.”
José Suarez: The 20-year-old lefty from Venezuela has posted big strikeout numbers this season, rocketing from high-A to Double-A to Triple-A already.
“I have him as a 3-4 type starter. He can really pitch. With him, (Jaime) Barría, (Tyler) Skaggs and if (Andrew) Heaney stays healthy, the Angels have some guys who can pitch. I’m more excited about those guys because those flamethrowers don’t last anymore. He touched 95 mph, but he pitched more at 91.”
Joe Gatto: The last of the three pitchers in the organization this scout expected to be a productive major leaguer, Gatto has moved slowly through the system since he was the Angels’ second-round pick in 2014. Gatto, 23, didn’t reach Double-A until a month ago.
“He can pitch a little bit. His velo was down a little bit, but he was at 96. I always liked him. I think he’s a serviceable bottom-of-the-rotation guy. He’ll be (in the majors).”
Matt Thaiss: The Angels took Thaiss with their first-round pick in 2016 and immediately took him from behind the plate and put him at first base. Thaiss, 23, began this season at Double-A and was recently promoted to Triple-A, where he got off to a hot start.
“He can swing it. He looks comfortable at first base. He’s going to be a big leaguer. I think he’ll hit for more power (than he’s shown) because he’ll get comfortable. He can make adjustments. It’s quite obvious the adjustments he’s made in his swing.”
Jahmai Jones: The Angels took Jones with their second pick in 2015. An outfielder in his first three pro seasons, Jones moved this year at high-A to second base, a position he played in high school. Jones, 20, is thought to profile better there than the outfield because he wasn’t good enough defensively to play center and didn’t hit for enough power to play the corners.
“His swing is somewhat robotic. I put a 40 (grade) on him, which is the next step up from an up-and-down guy. You can’t say he’d be a utility player, because he can only play one position. He can’t go to his left. He can’t throw from angles. He’s going to struggle (defensively at second).”
Jesus Castillo: Lightly regarded when the Angels got him in the Joe Smith trade in July 2016, Castillo rose fairly quickly through the Angels’ system. Castillo, 22, made enough of an impression to be added to the 40-man roster last winter. He’s been at Double-A this season.
“Non-prospect. He was throwing 84-89, with a little curveball and a changeup. Not much life in his presentation. Limited arm speed. I didn’t like him at all. Not very deceptive.”
Luis Rengifo: The Angels got Rengifo from the Tampa Bay Rays for C.J. Cron just before spring training. A shortstop, Rengifo, 21, started at high-A and was already moved to Double-A.
“He can mash, from both sides. He’s like Ketel Marte, with more pop.”
Taylor Ward: The Angels’ top pick in 2015, Ward was believed to be an advanced defensive catcher with a bat that could come. This season the Angels moved Ward, 24, to third.
Although the scout missed seeing Ward this year, because he was injured at the time, he said he’s not surprised the Angels abandoned catching: “I hated his disposition.”
David Fletcher: A sixth-round pick out of Loyola Marymount in 2015, Fletcher earned his first big-league promotion last week. A Cypress High product, Fletcher, 24, has often been compared to David Eckstein, who was one of his favorite players while growing up in Orange County.
“I like little guys that play big. He’s gritty. Scioscia has got to love him. He’s good at both short and second. His swing can get a little big, but I’m OK with that. He’s a baseball player. You win with guys like that. I’m not saying he’s going to hit first or bat .300, but he’s going to be a great piece.”
UP NEXT
Angels (Tyler Skaggs, 6-4, 2.81) vs. Blue Jays (TBA), Thursday, 7 p.m., Fox Sports West, KLAA (830 AM)
Related Articles
Mike Trout sparks Angels to second win in their last nine games, 5-4 over Diamondbacks In Jordyn Adams and Jeremiah Jackson, Angels drafted a pair of friends Diamondbacks hand Angels their 7th loss in 8 games Angels’ Kole Calhoun saw DL stint as a welcome mental, physical breather Angels’ Chris Young homers again, taking advantage of his increased opportunities View the full article

By @totdprods
Here’s a midseason snapshot of what the Angels prospects and minor league depth have done to this point of the season.
STARTING PITCHERS
Jose Suarez (20, LHP, A+/AA/AAA):
11 GS, 47.1 IP, 46 H, only 1 HR allowed, 15 walks, 75 strikeouts (14.3 K/9!), 1.29 WHIP, 2.85 ERA
Griffin Canning (21, RHP, A+/AA):
10 GS, 44.2 IP, only 20 hits allowed, 2 HR allowed, 21 walks, 51 strikeouts, 0.92 WHIP, 1.21 ERA – 2018 AA All-Star
John Lamb (27, LHP, AAA):
12 GS, 46 IP, 46 hits allowed, 12 walks, 51 strikeouts, 1.26 WHIP, 3.72 ERA
Luis Pena (22, RHP, AA):
11 GS, 54 IP, 41 hits allowed, 25 walks, 59 strikeouts, 1.22 WHIP, 4.50 ERA
Jose Rodriguez (22, RHP, AA):
11 GS, 53 IP, 58 hits allowed, only 3 HR allowed, 16 walks, 50 strikeouts, 1.40 WHIP, 4.58 ERA
Worth watching…
Joe Gatto (23, RHP, A+):
11 GS, 50.1 IP, 54 hits allowed, 24 walks, 56 strikeouts, 1.55 WHIP, 5.54 ERA
Luis Madero (21, RHP, A):
10 GS, 44.1 IP, 41 hits allowed, 3 HR allowed, 8 walks, 35 strikeouts, 1.11 WHIP, 3.05 ERA
Felix Pena (28, RHP, AAA):
8 GS, 26 IP, 24 hits allowed, 12 walks, 34 strikeouts, 1.38 WHIP, 4.15 ERA (as a starter)
RELIEVERS
Jeremy Rhoades (25, RHP, AA/AAA):
19 G, 35 IP, 25 H, 2 HR allowed, 5 walks, 26 strikeouts (14.3 K/9!), 0.86 WHIP, 1.80 ERA
Jake Jewell (25, RHP, AA/AAA):
20 G, 32 IP, 34 hits allowed, only 1 HR allowed, 15 walks, 30 strikeouts, 1.53 WHIP, 2.53 ERA
Ryan Clark (24, RHP, A+/AA/AAA):
20 G, 28 IP, 23 hits allowed, 0 home runs allowed, 10 walks, 38 strikeouts, 1.18 WHIP, 1.61 ERA (converted to bullpen this year)
Tyler Stevens (22, RHP, A+/AA):
20 G, 30.2 IP, 24 hits allowed, 3 HR allowed, 8 walks, 39 strikeouts, 1.04 WHIP, 2.05 ERA
Daniel Procopio (22, RHP, A+/AA):
15 G, 24 IP, 16 hits allowed, zero HR allowed, 18 walks, 38 strikeouts, 1.42 WHIP, 3.75 ERA
Connor Lillis-White (25, LHP, AA):
15 G, 27.1 IP, 24 hits allowed, only 1 HR allowed, 15 walks, 38 strikeouts, 1.42 WHIP, 3.95 ERA
Worth watching…
Matt Custred (24, RHP, A+/AA):
18 G, 29.2 IP, 15 hits allowed, zero home runs, 19 walks, 33 strikeouts, 1.15 WHIP, 3.03 ERA
Greg Mahle (25, LHP, AA):
18 G, 24 IP, 14 hits allowed, zero home runs, 9 walks, 24 strikeouts, 0.96 WHIP, 1.88 ERA – allowing lefties to a .083 BAA through 10 innings (one hit) with 2 BB and 12 K
Adrian Almeida (23, LHP, A+/AA):
19 GS, 30.2 IP, 19 hits allowed, only 1 HR allowed, 27 walks, 41 strikeouts, 1.50 WHIP, 2.64 ERA
CATCHERS
Juan Graterol (29, b:R/t: R, C, AAA):
24 G, 96 PA – .322/.3437/.378/.725 with 5 doubles, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts, 32% CS%
Francisco Arcia (28, L/R, C, AA/AAA)
15 G, 59 PA – .364/.386/.473/.859 with 2 HR, 2 walks, and 9 strikeouts, 17% CS%
Michael Barash (23, R/R, AA):
39 G, 161 PA – .208/.346/.300/.646 with 6 doubles, 2 HR, 27 walks, 32 strikeouts, 17% CS%, 2018 AA All-Star
Jack Kruger (23, R/R, A+):
47 G, 211 PA – .291/.389/.385/.773 with 8 doubles, 3 HR, 26 walks, 27 strikeouts, 24% CS%
Worth watching…
Keinner Pina (21, R/R, A):
36 G, 155 PA – ..248/.303/.298/.601 with 5 doubles, 1 triple, 11 walks, 38 strikeouts, 41% CS%
CORNER INFIELDERS
Matt Thaiss (23, b:L/t:R, 1B AA/AAA):
52 G, 233 PA – .294/.357/.519/.876 with 15 doubles, 3 triples, 9 home runs, 20 walks, 42 strikeouts, .993 FP%
Taylor Ward (24, R/R, 3B, AA/AAA)
45 G, 192 PA – .335/.437/.512/.949 with 8 doubles, 7 home runs, 30 walks, 35 strikeouts, 8 for 9 in SB attempts, .919 FP% – 2018 AA All-Star
Jared Walsh (24, L/L, 1B, RF, RP, A+/AA):
53 G, 232 PA – .290/.388/.632/1.020 with 13 doubles, 1 triple, 17 home runs, 34 walks, 64 strikeouts, .993 FP% – also pitched 3 G, 3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
Jose Miguel Fernandez (30, L/R, 1B, 3B, 2B, AAA):
53 G, 226 PA – .345/.412/.562/.973 with 12 doubles, 1 triple, 10 home runs, 20 walks, 19 strikeouts, .995% (1 error)
Worth watching…
Zach Houchins (25, R/R, 3B, RF, 1B, AA/AAA)
40 G, 155 PA – .301/.342/.462/.803 with 6 doubles, 1 triple, 5 home runs, 8 walks, 34 strikeouts – .990 FP%
Jose Rojas (25, L/R 1B, 3B, 2B, DH, AA):
36 G, 148 PA – .288/.365/.492/.857 with 5 doubles, 2 triples, 6 home runs, 16 walks, 34 strikeouts – .949 FP%
Dustin Ackley (30, L/R 1B, LF, 2B, DH, AAA):
25 G, 102 PA – .337/.431/.488/.920 with 4 doubles, 3 home runs, 14 walks, 9 strikeouts – .995 FP%
MID-INFIELDERS
David Fletcher (24, R/R, SS, 2B, 3B, AAA):
52 G, 246 PA – .350/.396/.580/.976 with 24 doubles, 5 triples, 6 home runs, 15 walks, 17 strikeouts, 6 for 8 in SB attempts, .981 FP%
Luis Rengifo (21, S/R, SS, A+/AA):
53 G, 245 PA – .329/.424/.467/.891 with 13 doubles, 5 triples, 2 home runs, 31 walks, 25 strikeouts, 26 for 27 in SB attempts, .963 FP%
Jahmai Jones (20, R/R, 2B, A+):
49 G, 227 PA – .249/.348/.426/.774 with 7 doubles, 5 triples, 6 home runs, 27 walks, 46 strikeouts, 7 for 10 in SB attempts, .953 FP%
Kaleb Cowart (26, S/R, SS, RF, 3B, 2B, AAA):
35 G, 162 PA – .302/.352/.456/.808 with 12 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 11 walks, 34 strikeouts, .951 FP%
Leonardo Rivas (20, S/R,SS, 2B, A):
51 G, 238 PA – .241/.380/.340/.720 with 7 doubles, 3 triples, 2 home runs, 42 walks, 53 strikeouts, 5 for 9 in SB attempts, .964 FP%
Worth watching…
Nolan Fontana (27, L/R, 2B, DSL)
19 G, 87 PA – .266/.430/.453/.883 with 7 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 19 walks, 18 strikeouts .977 FP%
Roberto Baldoquin (24, R/R, SS, 3B, 2B, A+)
21 G, 87 PA – .316/.395/.487/.882 with 2 doubles, 4 triples, 1 home run, 8 walks, 22 strikeouts, 3 for 3 in SB attempts, .970 FP%
Julio de la Cruz (17, R/R, A+/AA):
3 G, 13 PA – .273/.385/.636/1.021 with 1 double, 1 home run, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts – very good debut last year as a 16-yr old
Hutton Moyer (25, S/R, DH, 3B, 2B, SS, AA):
31 G, 133 PA – .205/.256/.393/.649 with 3 doubles, triple, 6 home runs, 8 walks, 44 strikeouts, 7 for 11 in SB attempts, .989 FP% – started red hot and crashed
OUTFIELDERS
Jo Adell (19, b:R/t: R, CF, RF, LF, A/A+):
38 G, 166 PA – .267/.331/.533/.865 with 9 doubles, 2 triples, 9 home runs, 14 walks, 45 strikeouts, 7 for 8 in SB attempts, .938 FP%
Brandon Marsh (20, L/R, RF, CF, LF, A/A+):
50 G, 227 PA – .266/.352/.392/.744 with 14 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 27 walks, 59 strikeouts, 8 for 8 in SB attempts, 3 assists, .966 FP%
Torii Hunter, Jr. (23, R/R, LF, CF, RF, A)
46 G, 207 PA – .274/.362/.391/.753 with 8 doubles, 5 triples, 1 home run, 26 walks, 55 strikeouts, 14 for 16 in SB attempts, 2 assists, 1.000 FP%
Michael Hermosillo (23, R/R, CF, RF, LF AAA)
40 G, 187 PA – .265/.387/.477/.865 with 4 doubles, 4 triples, 7 home runs, 21 walks, 56 strikeouts, 7 for 10 in SB attempts, 6 assists, .971 FP%
Jabari Blash (28, R/R, RF, LF, CF, AAA):
42 G, 180 PA – .327/.417/.737/1.154 with 17 doubles, 1 triple, 15 home runs, 19 walks, 55 strikeouts, 5 assists, .972 FP%
Worth watching…
Rymer Liriano (27, R/R, CF, RF, LF, AAA):
40 G, 163 PA – .264/.340/.569/.909 with 4 doubles, 2 triples, 12 home runs, 5 for 5 in SB attempts, 16 walks, 52 strikeouts, 6 assists, .976 FP%
Sherman Johnson (27, L/R, LF, 2B, 3B, SS, RF, AAA):
12 G, 48 PA – .286/.354/.738/1.092 with 3 doubles, 2 triples, 4 home runs, 5 walks, 9 strikeouts, .950 FP%
Zach Gibbons (24, R/R, LF, RF AA):
42 G, 162 PA – .283/.352/.338/.690 with 6 doubles,1 triple, 16 walks, 17 strikeouts, 3 assists, .985 FP% – 2018 AA All-Star
View the full article

By @totdprods
Here’s a midseason snapshot of what the Angels prospects and minor league depth have done to this point of the season.
STARTING PITCHERS
Jose Suarez (20, LHP, A+/AA/AAA):
11 GS, 47.1 IP, 46 H, only 1 HR allowed, 15 walks, 75 strikeouts (14.3 K/9!), 1.29 WHIP, 2.85 ERA
Griffin Canning (21, RHP, A+/AA):
10 GS, 44.2 IP, only 20 hits allowed, 2 HR allowed, 21 walks, 51 strikeouts, 0.92 WHIP, 1.21 ERA – 2018 AA All-Star
John Lamb (27, LHP, AAA):
12 GS, 46 IP, 46 hits allowed, 12 walks, 51 strikeouts, 1.26 WHIP, 3.72 ERA
Luis Pena (22, RHP, AA):
11 GS, 54 IP, 41 hits allowed, 25 walks, 59 strikeouts, 1.22 WHIP, 4.50 ERA
Jose Rodriguez (22, RHP, AA):
11 GS, 53 IP, 58 hits allowed, only 3 HR allowed, 16 walks, 50 strikeouts, 1.40 WHIP, 4.58 ERA
Worth watching…
Joe Gatto (23, RHP, A+):
11 GS, 50.1 IP, 54 hits allowed, 24 walks, 56 strikeouts, 1.55 WHIP, 5.54 ERA
Luis Madero (21, RHP, A):
10 GS, 44.1 IP, 41 hits allowed, 3 HR allowed, 8 walks, 35 strikeouts, 1.11 WHIP, 3.05 ERA
Felix Pena (28, RHP, AAA):
8 GS, 26 IP, 24 hits allowed, 12 walks, 34 strikeouts, 1.38 WHIP, 4.15 ERA (as a starter)
RELIEVERS
Jeremy Rhoades (25, RHP, AA/AAA):
19 G, 35 IP, 25 H, 2 HR allowed, 5 walks, 26 strikeouts (14.3 K/9!), 0.86 WHIP, 1.80 ERA
Jake Jewell (25, RHP, AA/AAA):
20 G, 32 IP, 34 hits allowed, only 1 HR allowed, 15 walks, 30 strikeouts, 1.53 WHIP, 2.53 ERA
Ryan Clark (24, RHP, A+/AA/AAA):
20 G, 28 IP, 23 hits allowed, 0 home runs allowed, 10 walks, 38 strikeouts, 1.18 WHIP, 1.61 ERA (converted to bullpen this year)
Tyler Stevens (22, RHP, A+/AA):
20 G, 30.2 IP, 24 hits allowed, 3 HR allowed, 8 walks, 39 strikeouts, 1.04 WHIP, 2.05 ERA
Daniel Procopio (22, RHP, A+/AA):
15 G, 24 IP, 16 hits allowed, zero HR allowed, 18 walks, 38 strikeouts, 1.42 WHIP, 3.75 ERA
Connor Lillis-White (25, LHP, AA):
15 G, 27.1 IP, 24 hits allowed, only 1 HR allowed, 15 walks, 38 strikeouts, 1.42 WHIP, 3.95 ERA
Worth watching…
Matt Custred (24, RHP, A+/AA):
18 G, 29.2 IP, 15 hits allowed, zero home runs, 19 walks, 33 strikeouts, 1.15 WHIP, 3.03 ERA
Greg Mahle (25, LHP, AA):
18 G, 24 IP, 14 hits allowed, zero home runs, 9 walks, 24 strikeouts, 0.96 WHIP, 1.88 ERA – allowing lefties to a .083 BAA through 10 innings (one hit) with 2 BB and 12 K
Adrian Almeida (23, LHP, A+/AA):
19 GS, 30.2 IP, 19 hits allowed, only 1 HR allowed, 27 walks, 41 strikeouts, 1.50 WHIP, 2.64 ERA
CATCHERS
Juan Graterol (29, b:R/t: R, C, AAA):
24 G, 96 PA – .322/.3437/.378/.725 with 5 doubles, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts, 32% CS%
Francisco Arcia (28, L/R, C, AA/AAA)
15 G, 59 PA – .364/.386/.473/.859 with 2 HR, 2 walks, and 9 strikeouts, 17% CS%
Michael Barash (23, R/R, AA):
39 G, 161 PA – .208/.346/.300/.646 with 6 doubles, 2 HR, 27 walks, 32 strikeouts, 17% CS%, 2018 AA All-Star
Jack Kruger (23, R/R, A+):
47 G, 211 PA – .291/.389/.385/.773 with 8 doubles, 3 HR, 26 walks, 27 strikeouts, 24% CS%
Worth watching…
Keinner Pina (21, R/R, A):
36 G, 155 PA – ..248/.303/.298/.601 with 5 doubles, 1 triple, 11 walks, 38 strikeouts, 41% CS%
CORNER INFIELDERS
Matt Thaiss (23, b:L/t:R, 1B AA/AAA):
52 G, 233 PA – .294/.357/.519/.876 with 15 doubles, 3 triples, 9 home runs, 20 walks, 42 strikeouts, .993 FP%
Taylor Ward (24, R/R, 3B, AA/AAA)
45 G, 192 PA – .335/.437/.512/.949 with 8 doubles, 7 home runs, 30 walks, 35 strikeouts, 8 for 9 in SB attempts, .919 FP% – 2018 AA All-Star
Jared Walsh (24, L/L, 1B, RF, RP, A+/AA):
53 G, 232 PA – .290/.388/.632/1.020 with 13 doubles, 1 triple, 17 home runs, 34 walks, 64 strikeouts, .993 FP% – also pitched 3 G, 3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
Jose Miguel Fernandez (30, L/R, 1B, 3B, 2B, AAA):
53 G, 226 PA – .345/.412/.562/.973 with 12 doubles, 1 triple, 10 home runs, 20 walks, 19 strikeouts, .995% (1 error)
Worth watching…
Zach Houchins (25, R/R, 3B, RF, 1B, AA/AAA)
40 G, 155 PA – .301/.342/.462/.803 with 6 doubles, 1 triple, 5 home runs, 8 walks, 34 strikeouts – .990 FP%
Jose Rojas (25, L/R 1B, 3B, 2B, DH, AA):
36 G, 148 PA – .288/.365/.492/.857 with 5 doubles, 2 triples, 6 home runs, 16 walks, 34 strikeouts – .949 FP%
Dustin Ackley (30, L/R 1B, LF, 2B, DH, AAA):
25 G, 102 PA – .337/.431/.488/.920 with 4 doubles, 3 home runs, 14 walks, 9 strikeouts – .995 FP%
MID-INFIELDERS
David Fletcher (24, R/R, SS, 2B, 3B, AAA):
52 G, 246 PA – .350/.396/.580/.976 with 24 doubles, 5 triples, 6 home runs, 15 walks, 17 strikeouts, 6 for 8 in SB attempts, .981 FP%
Luis Rengifo (21, S/R, SS, A+/AA):
53 G, 245 PA – .329/.424/.467/.891 with 13 doubles, 5 triples, 2 home runs, 31 walks, 25 strikeouts, 26 for 27 in SB attempts, .963 FP%
Jahmai Jones (20, R/R, 2B, A+):
49 G, 227 PA – .249/.348/.426/.774 with 7 doubles, 5 triples, 6 home runs, 27 walks, 46 strikeouts, 7 for 10 in SB attempts, .953 FP%
Kaleb Cowart (26, S/R, SS, RF, 3B, 2B, AAA):
35 G, 162 PA – .302/.352/.456/.808 with 12 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 11 walks, 34 strikeouts, .951 FP%
Leonardo Rivas (20, S/R,SS, 2B, A):
51 G, 238 PA – .241/.380/.340/.720 with 7 doubles, 3 triples, 2 home runs, 42 walks, 53 strikeouts, 5 for 9 in SB attempts, .964 FP%
Worth watching…
Nolan Fontana (27, L/R, 2B, DSL)
19 G, 87 PA – .266/.430/.453/.883 with 7 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 19 walks, 18 strikeouts .977 FP%
Roberto Baldoquin (24, R/R, SS, 3B, 2B, A+)
21 G, 87 PA – .316/.395/.487/.882 with 2 doubles, 4 triples, 1 home run, 8 walks, 22 strikeouts, 3 for 3 in SB attempts, .970 FP%
Julio de la Cruz (17, R/R, A+/AA):
3 G, 13 PA – .273/.385/.636/1.021 with 1 double, 1 home run, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts – very good debut last year as a 16-yr old
Hutton Moyer (25, S/R, DH, 3B, 2B, SS, AA):
31 G, 133 PA – .205/.256/.393/.649 with 3 doubles, triple, 6 home runs, 8 walks, 44 strikeouts, 7 for 11 in SB attempts, .989 FP% – started red hot and crashed
OUTFIELDERS
Jo Adell (19, b:R/t: R, CF, RF, LF, A/A+):
38 G, 166 PA – .267/.331/.533/.865 with 9 doubles, 2 triples, 9 home runs, 14 walks, 45 strikeouts, 7 for 8 in SB attempts, .938 FP%
Brandon Marsh (20, L/R, RF, CF, LF, A/A+):
50 G, 227 PA – .266/.352/.392/.744 with 14 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 27 walks, 59 strikeouts, 8 for 8 in SB attempts, 3 assists, .966 FP%
Torii Hunter, Jr. (23, R/R, LF, CF, RF, A)
46 G, 207 PA – .274/.362/.391/.753 with 8 doubles, 5 triples, 1 home run, 26 walks, 55 strikeouts, 14 for 16 in SB attempts, 2 assists, 1.000 FP%
Michael Hermosillo (23, R/R, CF, RF, LF AAA)
40 G, 187 PA – .265/.387/.477/.865 with 4 doubles, 4 triples, 7 home runs, 21 walks, 56 strikeouts, 7 for 10 in SB attempts, 6 assists, .971 FP%
Jabari Blash (28, R/R, RF, LF, CF, AAA):
42 G, 180 PA – .327/.417/.737/1.154 with 17 doubles, 1 triple, 15 home runs, 19 walks, 55 strikeouts, 5 assists, .972 FP%
Worth watching…
Rymer Liriano (27, R/R, CF, RF, LF, AAA):
40 G, 163 PA – .264/.340/.569/.909 with 4 doubles, 2 triples, 12 home runs, 5 for 5 in SB attempts, 16 walks, 52 strikeouts, 6 assists, .976 FP%
Sherman Johnson (27, L/R, LF, 2B, 3B, SS, RF, AAA):
12 G, 48 PA – .286/.354/.738/1.092 with 3 doubles, 2 triples, 4 home runs, 5 walks, 9 strikeouts, .950 FP%
Zach Gibbons (24, R/R, LF, RF AA):
42 G, 162 PA – .283/.352/.338/.690 with 6 doubles,1 triple, 16 walks, 17 strikeouts, 3 assists, .985 FP% – 2018 AA All-Star
View the full article

By @totdprods
Here’s a midseason snapshot of what the Angels prospects and minor league depth have done to this point of the season.
STARTING PITCHERS
Jose Suarez (20, LHP, A+/AA/AAA):
11 GS, 47.1 IP, 46 H, only 1 HR allowed, 15 walks, 75 strikeouts (14.3 K/9!), 1.29 WHIP, 2.85 ERA
Griffin Canning (21, RHP, A+/AA):
10 GS, 44.2 IP, only 20 hits allowed, 2 HR allowed, 21 walks, 51 strikeouts, 0.92 WHIP, 1.21 ERA – 2018 AA All-Star
John Lamb (27, LHP, AAA):
12 GS, 46 IP, 46 hits allowed, 12 walks, 51 strikeouts, 1.26 WHIP, 3.72 ERA
Luis Pena (22, RHP, AA):
11 GS, 54 IP, 41 hits allowed, 25 walks, 59 strikeouts, 1.22 WHIP, 4.50 ERA
Jose Rodriguez (22, RHP, AA):
11 GS, 53 IP, 58 hits allowed, only 3 HR allowed, 16 walks, 50 strikeouts, 1.40 WHIP, 4.58 ERA
Worth watching…
Joe Gatto (23, RHP, A+):
11 GS, 50.1 IP, 54 hits allowed, 24 walks, 56 strikeouts, 1.55 WHIP, 5.54 ERA
Luis Madero (21, RHP, A):
10 GS, 44.1 IP, 41 hits allowed, 3 HR allowed, 8 walks, 35 strikeouts, 1.11 WHIP, 3.05 ERA
Felix Pena (28, RHP, AAA):
8 GS, 26 IP, 24 hits allowed, 12 walks, 34 strikeouts, 1.38 WHIP, 4.15 ERA (as a starter)
RELIEVERS
Jeremy Rhoades (25, RHP, AA/AAA):
19 G, 35 IP, 25 H, 2 HR allowed, 5 walks, 26 strikeouts (14.3 K/9!), 0.86 WHIP, 1.80 ERA
Jake Jewell (25, RHP, AA/AAA):
20 G, 32 IP, 34 hits allowed, only 1 HR allowed, 15 walks, 30 strikeouts, 1.53 WHIP, 2.53 ERA
Ryan Clark (24, RHP, A+/AA/AAA):
20 G, 28 IP, 23 hits allowed, 0 home runs allowed, 10 walks, 38 strikeouts, 1.18 WHIP, 1.61 ERA (converted to bullpen this year)
Tyler Stevens (22, RHP, A+/AA):
20 G, 30.2 IP, 24 hits allowed, 3 HR allowed, 8 walks, 39 strikeouts, 1.04 WHIP, 2.05 ERA
Daniel Procopio (22, RHP, A+/AA):
15 G, 24 IP, 16 hits allowed, zero HR allowed, 18 walks, 38 strikeouts, 1.42 WHIP, 3.75 ERA
Connor Lillis-White (25, LHP, AA):
15 G, 27.1 IP, 24 hits allowed, only 1 HR allowed, 15 walks, 38 strikeouts, 1.42 WHIP, 3.95 ERA
Worth watching…
Matt Custred (24, RHP, A+/AA):
18 G, 29.2 IP, 15 hits allowed, zero home runs, 19 walks, 33 strikeouts, 1.15 WHIP, 3.03 ERA
Greg Mahle (25, LHP, AA):
18 G, 24 IP, 14 hits allowed, zero home runs, 9 walks, 24 strikeouts, 0.96 WHIP, 1.88 ERA – allowing lefties to a .083 BAA through 10 innings (one hit) with 2 BB and 12 K
Adrian Almeida (23, LHP, A+/AA):
19 GS, 30.2 IP, 19 hits allowed, only 1 HR allowed, 27 walks, 41 strikeouts, 1.50 WHIP, 2.64 ERA
CATCHERS
Juan Graterol (29, b:R/t: R, C, AAA):
24 G, 96 PA – .322/.3437/.378/.725 with 5 doubles, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts, 32% CS%
Francisco Arcia (28, L/R, C, AA/AAA)
15 G, 59 PA – .364/.386/.473/.859 with 2 HR, 2 walks, and 9 strikeouts, 17% CS%
Michael Barash (23, R/R, AA):
39 G, 161 PA – .208/.346/.300/.646 with 6 doubles, 2 HR, 27 walks, 32 strikeouts, 17% CS%, 2018 AA All-Star
Jack Kruger (23, R/R, A+):
47 G, 211 PA – .291/.389/.385/.773 with 8 doubles, 3 HR, 26 walks, 27 strikeouts, 24% CS%
Worth watching…
Keinner Pina (21, R/R, A):
36 G, 155 PA – ..248/.303/.298/.601 with 5 doubles, 1 triple, 11 walks, 38 strikeouts, 41% CS%
CORNER INFIELDERS
Matt Thaiss (23, b:L/t:R, 1B AA/AAA):
52 G, 233 PA – .294/.357/.519/.876 with 15 doubles, 3 triples, 9 home runs, 20 walks, 42 strikeouts, .993 FP%
Taylor Ward (24, R/R, 3B, AA/AAA)
45 G, 192 PA – .335/.437/.512/.949 with 8 doubles, 7 home runs, 30 walks, 35 strikeouts, 8 for 9 in SB attempts, .919 FP% – 2018 AA All-Star
Jared Walsh (24, L/L, 1B, RF, RP, A+/AA):
53 G, 232 PA – .290/.388/.632/1.020 with 13 doubles, 1 triple, 17 home runs, 34 walks, 64 strikeouts, .993 FP% – also pitched 3 G, 3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
Jose Miguel Fernandez (30, L/R, 1B, 3B, 2B, AAA):
53 G, 226 PA – .345/.412/.562/.973 with 12 doubles, 1 triple, 10 home runs, 20 walks, 19 strikeouts, .995% (1 error)
Worth watching…
Zach Houchins (25, R/R, 3B, RF, 1B, AA/AAA)
40 G, 155 PA – .301/.342/.462/.803 with 6 doubles, 1 triple, 5 home runs, 8 walks, 34 strikeouts – .990 FP%
Jose Rojas (25, L/R 1B, 3B, 2B, DH, AA):
36 G, 148 PA – .288/.365/.492/.857 with 5 doubles, 2 triples, 6 home runs, 16 walks, 34 strikeouts – .949 FP%
Dustin Ackley (30, L/R 1B, LF, 2B, DH, AAA):
25 G, 102 PA – .337/.431/.488/.920 with 4 doubles, 3 home runs, 14 walks, 9 strikeouts – .995 FP%
MID-INFIELDERS
David Fletcher (24, R/R, SS, 2B, 3B, AAA):
52 G, 246 PA – .350/.396/.580/.976 with 24 doubles, 5 triples, 6 home runs, 15 walks, 17 strikeouts, 6 for 8 in SB attempts, .981 FP%
Luis Rengifo (21, S/R, SS, A+/AA):
53 G, 245 PA – .329/.424/.467/.891 with 13 doubles, 5 triples, 2 home runs, 31 walks, 25 strikeouts, 26 for 27 in SB attempts, .963 FP%
Jahmai Jones (20, R/R, 2B, A+):
49 G, 227 PA – .249/.348/.426/.774 with 7 doubles, 5 triples, 6 home runs, 27 walks, 46 strikeouts, 7 for 10 in SB attempts, .953 FP%
Kaleb Cowart (26, S/R, SS, RF, 3B, 2B, AAA):
35 G, 162 PA – .302/.352/.456/.808 with 12 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 11 walks, 34 strikeouts, .951 FP%
Leonardo Rivas (20, S/R,SS, 2B, A):
51 G, 238 PA – .241/.380/.340/.720 with 7 doubles, 3 triples, 2 home runs, 42 walks, 53 strikeouts, 5 for 9 in SB attempts, .964 FP%
Worth watching…
Nolan Fontana (27, L/R, 2B, DSL)
19 G, 87 PA – .266/.430/.453/.883 with 7 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 19 walks, 18 strikeouts .977 FP%
Roberto Baldoquin (24, R/R, SS, 3B, 2B, A+)
21 G, 87 PA – .316/.395/.487/.882 with 2 doubles, 4 triples, 1 home run, 8 walks, 22 strikeouts, 3 for 3 in SB attempts, .970 FP%
Julio de la Cruz (17, R/R, A+/AA):
3 G, 13 PA – .273/.385/.636/1.021 with 1 double, 1 home run, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts – very good debut last year as a 16-yr old
Hutton Moyer (25, S/R, DH, 3B, 2B, SS, AA):
31 G, 133 PA – .205/.256/.393/.649 with 3 doubles, triple, 6 home runs, 8 walks, 44 strikeouts, 7 for 11 in SB attempts, .989 FP% – started red hot and crashed
OUTFIELDERS
Jo Adell (19, b:R/t: R, CF, RF, LF, A/A+):
38 G, 166 PA – .267/.331/.533/.865 with 9 doubles, 2 triples, 9 home runs, 14 walks, 45 strikeouts, 7 for 8 in SB attempts, .938 FP%
Brandon Marsh (20, L/R, RF, CF, LF, A/A+):
50 G, 227 PA – .266/.352/.392/.744 with 14 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 27 walks, 59 strikeouts, 8 for 8 in SB attempts, 3 assists, .966 FP%
Torii Hunter, Jr. (23, R/R, LF, CF, RF, A)
46 G, 207 PA – .274/.362/.391/.753 with 8 doubles, 5 triples, 1 home run, 26 walks, 55 strikeouts, 14 for 16 in SB attempts, 2 assists, 1.000 FP%
Michael Hermosillo (23, R/R, CF, RF, LF AAA)
40 G, 187 PA – .265/.387/.477/.865 with 4 doubles, 4 triples, 7 home runs, 21 walks, 56 strikeouts, 7 for 10 in SB attempts, 6 assists, .971 FP%
Jabari Blash (28, R/R, RF, LF, CF, AAA):
42 G, 180 PA – .327/.417/.737/1.154 with 17 doubles, 1 triple, 15 home runs, 19 walks, 55 strikeouts, 5 assists, .972 FP%
Worth watching…
Rymer Liriano (27, R/R, CF, RF, LF, AAA):
40 G, 163 PA – .264/.340/.569/.909 with 4 doubles, 2 triples, 12 home runs, 5 for 5 in SB attempts, 16 walks, 52 strikeouts, 6 assists, .976 FP%
Sherman Johnson (27, L/R, LF, 2B, 3B, SS, RF, AAA):
12 G, 48 PA – .286/.354/.738/1.092 with 3 doubles, 2 triples, 4 home runs, 5 walks, 9 strikeouts, .950 FP%
Zach Gibbons (24, R/R, LF, RF AA):
42 G, 162 PA – .283/.352/.338/.690 with 6 doubles,1 triple, 16 walks, 17 strikeouts, 3 assists, .985 FP% – 2018 AA All-Star
View the full article

Interview Conducted by David Saltzer, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer
There’s no doubt that the Angels organization is resurgent. As we approach the 2018 draft, the Angels have rebounded from their nadir two years ago, and are on a path to a much higher organizational ranking.
One of the many emerging players in the Angels organization is Brandon Marsh, a left-handed outfielder with the Inland Empire 66ers. Drafted in the 2nd round of the 2017 draft, Marsh has the tools that make scouts drool and organizations covet. He can hit for average and power, has plenty of speed, and plays all of the outfield positions.
This season, Brandon has been on an accelerated pace. After getting some time with the Major League club in Spring Training, he blew through his initial assignment with the Burlington Bees, posting a .295/.390/.470 line in 34 games, he’s now starting to heat up with the High-A Inland Empire 66ers. There, he’s paired with two other top Angels prospects, Jo Adell and Jahmai Jones.
Below are three at-bats by Brandon Marsh in the May 27th game. Unfortunately, it was a tough game for the 66ers, as they were no-hit for 8 and 2/3rds innings. But, as noted, Marsh has been heating up, and has posted a 4 for 5 performance on June 3rd.

Brandon Marsh Batting May 27 2018 from AngelsWin.com on Vimeo.
Seeing Jones, Adell, and Marsh all in the lineup should have any Angels fan excited. And, imagining a future outfield with Marsh, Trout, and Adell is something that should have Angels fans very excited. Making the drive out to San Bernadino to see and meet these players is something that So. Cal. fans should definitely do.
Please click below to watch our interview with Brandon Marsh, and get to know a little bit about how him as a person and how his season has been going.

Brandon Marsh Talks with AngelsWin May 27 2018 from AngelsWin.com on Vimeo.

Dan Duffy from Philadelphia is both an amazing artist of word art, but also a huge sports fan. Specifically a fan of the greatest baseball player in the game, Mike Trout.
“First off, he’s going to be one of the greatest to ever play the game, so I knew I was always going to do a Mike Trout piece. The image is handwritten with his batting stats (Date, Team, Hits, At Bats, HRs, Walks) from every game of his 2014 MVP season, the first season his greatness was *officially* recognized by the league. Second, I’m from Philly and he is revered here…he grew up in nearby Millville, NJ.
While growing up – local weather stations always referred to that area as Vineland, NJ (A larger town). But after Trout entered the majors – the local weather stations switched it to Millville – Trout LITERALLY put his hometown on the map. Not only is he the face of baseball – everyone I run into who knows him has nothing but great things to say about him and his family as well.
I figured this would be an interactive piece of art for Angels fans to try and find the games they had attended that season!” 
This is an amazing piece of artwork to own for both Angels & Baseball fans alike. Whether it’s framed and hung on the wall in your house, man-cave or work office or desk, I encourage you all to pick up a print today!
Below are your print options, shipping info and a link to purchase a print:
Print Options: $39.99- Unframed Fine Art Print 16″ x 20″ (Standard Size) $199.99- Double Matte + Framed Print – 22″ x 26″ FREE U.S. Shipping Ships within 3-5 business days. Order your print here! 
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By David Saltzer, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer
Over the past two years, the Angels organization has taken a giant step forward in terms of its prospect rankings. One of the many players leading to this improvement is Jo Adell, who is considered by most, including AngelsWin.com, to be the top prospect in the Angels organization.
Drafted in the 1st round of the 2017 draft (10th overall), Adell has moved rapidly through the Angels organization, and recently was promoted to High-A ball with the Inland Empire 66ers. It’s easy to see why: he hits for power and average, is one of the fastest runners in the organization, has a powerful arm, and fields well.
What stood out most when interviewing him was how mature Adell is. With all the accolades that have been heaped upon him, he seems to be taking it all in stride. Like his teammate Jahmai Jones, it’s easy to see how Adell will become a fan favorite not only for his on-the-field performances, but for how approachable he will be off the field.
Below are the first three at-bats by Jo Adell on May 27, 2018. Unfortunately, it was tough day for the 66ers as the team was no-hit for 8 2/3rds innings. In his last at-bat, which was not recorded, with two outs and Jones on via a walk, Adell delivered a 2-run opposite field homerun to breakup the no-hitter and shutout in one blow.
With the way that Adell has been improving, and with how aggressively the Angels have been promoting their prospects, Angels fans should definitely make the drive out to San Bernadino soon to see Adell and others, and have a chance to meet him before he arrives in Anaheim. You’ll be glad you did.
Click below to watch our interview with Jo Adell.

 

By David Saltzer, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer
Over the past two years, the Angels organization has taken a giant step forward in terms of its prospect rankings. One of the many players leading to this improvement is Jo Adell, who is considered by most, including AngelsWin.com, to be the top prospect in the Angels organization.
Drafted in the 1st round of the 2017 draft (10th overall), Adell has moved rapidly through the Angels organization, and recently was promoted to High-A ball with the Inland Empire 66ers. It’s easy to see why: he hits for power and average, is one of the fastest runners in the organization, has a powerful arm, and fields well.
What stood out most when interviewing him was how mature Adell is. With all the accolades that have been heaped upon him, he seems to be taking it all in stride. Like his teammate Jahmai Jones, it’s easy to see how Adell will become a fan favorite not only for his on-the-field performances, but for how approachable he will be off the field.
Below are the first three at-bats by Jo Adell on May 27, 2018. Unfortunately, it was tough day for the 66ers as the team was no-hit for 8 2/3rds innings. In his last at-bat, which was not recorded, with two outs and Jones on via a walk, Adell delivered a 2-run opposite field homerun to breakup the no-hitter and shutout in one blow.
With the way that Adell has been improving, and with how aggressively the Angels have been promoting their prospects, Angels fans should definitely make the drive out to San Bernadino soon to see Adell and others, and have a chance to meet him before he arrives in Anaheim. You’ll be glad you did.
Click below to watch our interview with Jo Adell.

 

TORONTO — For 13 years as a catcher with the Dodgers, Mike Scioscia shared a dugout with venerable manager Tommy Lasorda. In all of that time, Scioscia said he never imagined becoming a manager, let alone the milestone he’s about to reach.
“When I was playing,” Scioscia said, “I was so consumed with playing that you don’t think about what the next step is.”
The next step is passing Lasorda.
As the Angels open a series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, Scioscia has 1,596 regular season victories as the Angels manager. Lasorda won 1,599 games with the Dodgers.
Lasorda also said he never thought of Scioscia, the player, becoming a manager, but once he did, he knew he’d be a good one.
“I was worried about him him beating me out,” Lasorda said by phone on Monday. “It took a better man than me. He is great. I am happy for him. He is one of the greatest managers and greatest players that God ever put on this earth. I’m so proud of him.”
Sign up for Home Turf and get 3 exclusive stories every SoCal sports fan must read, sent daily. Subscribe here. Scioscia, 53, bristles at any talk about his personal record. He is quick to say “these aren’t my wins,” acknowledging they are product of work by the players, the coaches and the front office.
He also said he still doesn’t feel he’s in the class with Lasorda, who won two World Series in his 21 years leading the Dodgers and has been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
“Just knowing what Tommy did for the Dodgers, what my role is here, you can’t compare,” Scioscia said. “What Tommy did for the Dodgers’ organization is special. I certainly don’t put myself in that boat, but having the opportunity to be here as long as I have is something I do not take for granted.”
Scioscia certainly could not have envisioned this when he was hired to manage the Angels in November 1999, during the Bill Clinton administration. Today, the Angels have prospects who weren’t even born then.
Scioscia has managed the Angels for 19 years. No other big league manager has had his current job longer than the 12 seasons Bruce Bochy has led the San Francisco Giants. Kansas City’s Ned Yost is third, in his ninth season.
Both Bochy (24 seasons) and Buck Showalter (20) have managed more years than Scioscia, but with different teams.
Holding one job for so long is virtually unheard of today. Only San Antonio Spurs coach Greg Popovich, who has held his position since 1996, can top Scioscia among coaches or managers in the four major sports. Even Bill Belichick got his current coaching job with the New England Patriots a few months after the Angels hired Scioscia.
Scioscia’s job security has certainly been helped by the fact that owner Arte Moreno gave him a guaranteed 10-year contract in January 2009, after they had won a World Series and four division titles in his first nine years.
That contract expires at the end of this season. Although there has been no word of an extension, there’s also no indication from Scioscia, Moreno or general manager Billy Eppler that either side is looking to end the relationship.
While some Angels fans have been critical of Scioscia during a drought that has seen them miss the playoffs in seven of the previous eight years, those around him believe he still does a good job.
Mike Scioscia, seen giving a fist bump to Angels starting pitcher Andrew Heaney, right, is within four victories of surpassing mentor and former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda in career managerial wins. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)“It’s something to celebrate,” said Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch, who is in his sixth season with a second team. “In today’s era, as soon as one thing goes wrong there seems to be a calling for the head of the manager. He’s been able to stand the test of time, to be good at it, to have different style teams, different general managers. That’s a challenge in itself and a testimony to how well-rounded he obviously is and how successful he’s been. I have a lot of respect for him.”
Ian Kinsler, who has played for four managers in his 13 years, said he appreciates what Scioscia brings to the table.
“Experience is something you can’t really replace,” the Angels’ second baseman said. “He’s seen a lot of games, been part of pressure games, World Series games, playoff games. For me, a manager with a tremendous amount of experience is always somebody that you try to pay attention to.”
Scioscia was no doubt paying close attention to Lasorda, the only manager he had during a playing career that went from 1980 to 1992, so it’s no surprise there are similarities.
Angels third base coach Dino Ebel was a manager in the Dodgers farm system late in Lasorda’s time as the big league manager. He worked more closely with Lasorda when he left the dugout to work in the front office. Ebel then joined the Angels as Triple-A manager in 2005 and was added Scioscia’s major league staff in 2006.
“I’m lucky to have the chance to work with, for me, two Hall of Fame managers,” Ebel said. “A great baseball mind with Tommy, and a great baseball mind with Mike. He doesn’t forget anything, and Tommy never forgot anything.”
Much of what Scioscia does is pulled from the Dodgers organizational philosophies under Lasorda, most notably encouraging aggressive baserunning.
The strongest links, however, go beyond in-game strategies.
“It’s the way he handles a clubhouse,” said Angels first base coach Alfredo Griffin, who played with Scioscia under Lasorda and has coached with Scioscia throughout his entire tenure with the Angels. “He makes everybody come together. That, for me is the way to manage a group of men for a long time. That’s what Tommy did and that’s what Mike does… You have to have a group come together and work together and feel like they are a family.”
Lasorda agreed that managing the clubhouse is the most important job, beyond knowing when to use a pinch-hitter or change pitchers.
“A good manager is someone the players have respect for and that will allow them to have a free hand,” Lasorda said. “That’s the combination you need. You need happy players.”
The manager also has to set the tone for the clubhouse, starting with a confidence and drive to win every game. Scioscia said those were two of Lasorda’s biggest strengths, and not just in the dugout.
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Angels end losing streak behind strong outing from Shohei Ohtani Angels send Rene Rivera to the DL, making room for Jose Briceno’s debut Angels’ hitting woes continue against Rays in season-worst fifth consecutive loss Shohei Ohtani’s batting-practice blast at Angel Stadium measured 513 feet Angels’ woes continue against Rays with 8-3 loss “I’ve seen him in his younger days, in Vero Beach, playing one-on-one basketball games against guys that were way better than him, and he was going as hard as he could because he wanted to win,” Scioscia said. “Every ballgame he was in, every pitch, there was never any feeling of being intimidated by another team. You always felt you were going to play well and win every day.”
Lasorda, however, had a lighter side that Scioscia doesn’t, according to Griffin: “Tommy jokes around. Mike doesn’t do that. He jokes around, but not the way Tommy used to. Not even close.”
Scioscia said he still talks to Lasorda occasionally, and his former manager still has suggestions for him.
“He supported me incredibly as a player,” Scioscia said. “I know he wants us to do well, but he’s very quick to point out, not as well as the Dodgers. He’s made that very clear.”
UP NEXT
Angels (Garrett Richards, 4-2, 3.47) at Blue Jays (J.A. Happ, 5-3, 4.15), Tuesday, 4 p.m., Fox Sports West, KLAA (830 AM)
View the full article

By David Saltzer, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer
In a stunning 6-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal law banning states from legalizing sports betting. The decision in Murphy v. NCAA clears the way for many states to legalize and regulate the estimated $150 billion annual sports betting industry (including legal and illegal gambling). Many states are expected to rush into the process of legalizing this industry to tax a mostly underground and offshore industry (it is estimated that only about 3% of all sports bets are placed in Las Vegas).
Normally, AngelsWin.com fans would say “great, but why are you talking about this on a baseball website?”. Well, this has everything to do with baseball, and in particular, with the Angels.
Under the current baseball schedule, travel is a major factor and affects teams differently. Some teams, such as the Angels, have years in which they put on close to 50,000 miles in travel to complete the season. Other teams put on less than half of that. The difference in travel has become a factor in how well teams perform, and has led to many changes such as afternoon “getaway” days that affect attendance. Owners and players would rather have a greater chance to win a game and play in front of a smaller crowd than to do the opposite.
This needs to stop. Baseball needs to realign the divisions and teams to remove travel as a competitive advantage for some teams and disadvantage for others. It has become a true disadvantage for teams in the American League West, almost all of whom tend to log the most, or nearly the most miles in a given season. Constantly rushing to and from airports, late night arrivals, hotel transfers, time zone changes, etc. takes a toll on a player. It can and does affect the outcome of games. It can and does affect the overall standings throughout a season.
At the same time, baseball needs to expand to 32 teams to make scheduling far easier and to make an 8-division format equal for all teams. The question, though, has always been where can baseball expand? It’s fairly clear that any realignment and expansion team would have to be located in a western city and state.
For a while, Portland has been long suggested as one destination. But, as a fan, I am very skeptical of how well Portland can sustain a Major League team. And the last thing baseball needs is another struggling or failing team with low attendance.
It’s not as if Portland hasn’t had a a baseball team. Several times, Minor League baseball has expanded to or located a team in Portland during its history. In one of its most recent attempts, the Pacific Coast League allowed a team to relocate to Portland from 2000. It lasted until 2010. During that time, the team typically finished in the bottom half of league attendance and struggled to survive economically. After the 2010 season, the Portland AAA team was sold and relocated.
So, if Portland isn’t the answer, where in the west could MLB expand? My answer is Las Vegas.
Think about it, millions of Americans from all over the country go to Las Vegas every year. There already are plenty of reasons to do so. The city has the hotel and food accommodations to handle any influx of fans. All it needs is an indoor stadium or one with a retractable roof if the owners and fans would prefer. It’s not as if such a stadium hasn’t been built or that it’s too difficult to build a site located near the city.
Imagine for fans, if in addition to all the other fun things to do in Vegas, they could also go to see a series with their favorite baseball team? How much of a draw would that be? Imagine a weekend series with the Angels or Dodgers. How many of us would make that drive or catch that flight in order to watch our team? Las Vegas has often struggled with family friendly events and entertainment ideas, but what is more family friendly than baseball? The advertising and commercials write themselves . . . Come to Vegas to catch a game  with [insert team name] and enjoy so much more.
The argument against putting a Major League team in Las Vegas has always been that the risk of gambling was too great for the players and coaches in Las Vegas to expand there. Baseball does not like gambling, or even the appearance of gambling on the sport, especially by the players. Pete Rose serves as a good reminder about that.
But, that’s where this recent Supreme Court comes into play. If states can (and in all likelihood will) legalize sports betting to increase tax revenue, then how will they be any different than Las Vegas? Again, according to sources, only about $4.8 billion out of an estimated $150 billion in total sports bets were placed legally in Las Vegas (the rest were bet illegally). And, according to sources, as many as 32 states are prepared to legalize sports betting.
With that many states vying to legalize sports betting, it will affect Major League Baseball whether MLB wants it or not. Some of the biggest states, such as New York, California, and Illinois have large budget issues that could be eased by a new source of revenue such as sports gambling. Politically, it’s a lot easier to legalize gambling under the guise of solving the budget crunch rather than raising taxes elsewhere or cutting services.
If states start legalizing sports betting, MLB will have an interesting decision: abandon teams like the Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Dodgers, Angels, Giants, etc. to maintain the separation between legalized gambling or develop new ways to deal with the perceived threat to their business. My guess is that there is no way that MLB will abandon those franchises, so, it will have to develop a plan and guideline for how to handle the perceived threat of legalized gambling that would deal with it in any state and under any scenario.
So if MLB (along with all the other sports leagues) will have to develop a guideline to handle legalized gambling, shouldn’t that cover them for a team in Las Vegas? It’s not as if Las Vegas has more organized crime than New York or Chicago. And, with only about 3% of all sports bets placed in Las Vegas, it means that 97% is currently happening, and most likely will continue to happen, elsewhere. That means that other players and teams are far more likely to fall pray to the negative influences of gambling in other places than Las Vegas. Why should MLB abandon Las Vegas to the NFL, which is already planning on relocating a team to the region?
In a separate piece, I will outline my ideas on how to radically realign baseball and balance the schedule. But, one big factor in my plan is placing a team in Las Vegas. With the ruling in Murphy v. NCAA, I believe that becomes a far more likely scenario.
Let’s hear from you, the fans. Would you want a team located in Las Vegas? How many of you would plan a trip to Las Vegas to coincide with a homestand with your favorite team playing there?
View the full article

By David Saltzer, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer
In a stunning 6-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal law banning states from legalizing sports betting. The decision in Murphy v. NCAA clears the way for many states to legalize and regulate the estimated $150 billion annual sports betting industry (including legal and illegal gambling). Many states are expected to rush into the process of legalizing this industry to tax a mostly underground and offshore industry (it is estimated that only about 3% of all sports bets are placed in Las Vegas).
Normally, AngelsWin.com fans would say “great, but why are you talking about this on a baseball website?”. Well, this has everything to do with baseball, and in particular, with the Angels.
Under the current baseball schedule, travel is a major factor and affects teams differently. Some teams, such as the Angels, have years in which they put on close to 50,000 miles in travel to complete the season. Other teams put on less than half of that. The difference in travel has become a factor in how well teams perform, and has led to many changes such as afternoon “getaway” days that affect attendance. Owners and players would rather have a greater chance to win a game and play in front of a smaller crowd than to do the opposite.
This needs to stop. Baseball needs to realign the divisions and teams to remove travel as a competitive advantage for some teams and disadvantage for others. It has become a true disadvantage for teams in the American League West, almost all of whom tend to log the most, or nearly the most miles in a given season. Constantly rushing to and from airports, late night arrivals, hotel transfers, time zone changes, etc. takes a toll on a player. It can and does affect the outcome of games. It can and does affect the overall standings throughout a season.
At the same time, baseball needs to expand to 32 teams to make scheduling far easier and to make an 8-division format equal for all teams. The question, though, has always been where can baseball expand? It’s fairly clear that any realignment and expansion team would have to be located in a western city and state.
For a while, Portland has been long suggested as one destination. But, as a fan, I am very skeptical of how well Portland can sustain a Major League team. And the last thing baseball needs is another struggling or failing team with low attendance.
It’s not as if Portland hasn’t had a a baseball team. Several times, Minor League baseball has expanded to or located a team in Portland during its history. In one of its most recent attempts, the Pacific Coast League allowed a team to relocate to Portland from 2000. It lasted until 2010. During that time, the team typically finished in the bottom half of league attendance and struggled to survive economically. After the 2010 season, the Portland AAA team was sold and relocated.
So, if Portland isn’t the answer, where in the west could MLB expand? My answer is Las Vegas.
Think about it, millions of Americans from all over the country go to Las Vegas every year. There already are plenty of reasons to do so. The city has the hotel and food accommodations to handle any influx of fans. All it needs is an indoor stadium or one with a retractable roof if the owners and fans would prefer. It’s not as if such a stadium hasn’t been built or that it’s too difficult to build a site located near the city.
Imagine for fans, if in addition to all the other fun things to do in Vegas, they could also go to see a series with their favorite baseball team? How much of a draw would that be? Imagine a weekend series with the Angels or Dodgers. How many of us would make that drive or catch that flight in order to watch our team? Las Vegas has often struggled with family friendly events and entertainment ideas, but what is more family friendly than baseball? The advertising and commercials write themselves . . . Come to Vegas to catch a game  with [insert team name] and enjoy so much more.
The argument against putting a Major League team in Las Vegas has always been that the risk of gambling was too great for the players and coaches in Las Vegas to expand there. Baseball does not like gambling, or even the appearance of gambling on the sport, especially by the players. Pete Rose serves as a good reminder about that.
But, that’s where this recent Supreme Court comes into play. If states can (and in all likelihood will) legalize sports betting to increase tax revenue, then how will they be any different than Las Vegas? Again, according to sources, only about $4.8 billion out of an estimated $150 billion in total sports bets were placed legally in Las Vegas (the rest were bet illegally). And, according to sources, as many as 32 states are prepared to legalize sports betting.
With that many states vying to legalize sports betting, it will affect Major League Baseball whether MLB wants it or not. Some of the biggest states, such as New York, California, and Illinois have large budget issues that could be eased by a new source of revenue such as sports gambling. Politically, it’s a lot easier to legalize gambling under the guise of solving the budget crunch rather than raising taxes elsewhere or cutting services.
If states start legalizing sports betting, MLB will have an interesting decision: abandon teams like the Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Dodgers, Angels, Giants, etc. to maintain the separation between legalized gambling or develop new ways to deal with the perceived threat to their business. My guess is that there is no way that MLB will abandon those franchises, so, it will have to develop a plan and guideline for how to handle the perceived threat of legalized gambling that would deal with it in any state and under any scenario.
So if MLB (along with all the other sports leagues) will have to develop a guideline to handle legalized gambling, shouldn’t that cover them for a team in Las Vegas? It’s not as if Las Vegas has more organized crime than New York or Chicago. And, with only about 3% of all sports bets placed in Las Vegas, it means that 97% is currently happening, and most likely will continue to happen, elsewhere. That means that other players and teams are far more likely to fall pray to the negative influences of gambling in other places than Las Vegas. Why should MLB abandon Las Vegas to the NFL, which is already planning on relocating a team to the region?
In a separate piece, I will outline my ideas on how to radically realign baseball and balance the schedule. But, one big factor in my plan is placing a team in Las Vegas. With the ruling in Murphy v. NCAA, I believe that becomes a far more likely scenario.
Let’s hear from you, the fans. Would you want a team located in Las Vegas? How many of you would plan a trip to Las Vegas to coincide with a homestand with your favorite team playing there?
View the full article

On Sunday, a mom and her 9-year-old daughter will hold up a sign at the Angels game. That’s no big deal, right? Just another Mother’s Day sign at the ballpark.
On one side, their poster will reveal a message to Shohei Ohtani in Japanese: “I’m Your Biggest Fan.” Jennifer Pimentel and her daughter Aneesa love watching Ohtani play.
The other side of the poster will say, “Hi Hal.”
Sometimes, the important stuff in life is on the other side.

Angels fan Hal Cardin, 92, listens as caregiver Jennifer Pimentel reads the sports page to him at his home in Ontario. He is in failing health and has poor eyesight. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, SCNG)

Angels fan Hal Cardin, 92, listens as caregiver Jennifer Pimentel reads the sports page to him at his home in Ontario. He is in failing health and has poor eyesight. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, SCNG)
Sound The gallery will resume inseconds
Angels fan Hal Cardin, 92, who has poor eyesight, keeps up with his favorite team with the help of his caregiver, Jennifer Pimentel, who reads to him the sports pages, at this home. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, SCNG)

Angels fan Hal Cardin, 92, listens as caregiver Jennifer Pimentel reads the sports page to him. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, SCNG)
Show Caption of
Expand Unexpected role
In August of 2016, Jennifer Pimentel, 39, of Ontario, was out of work.
She was a trained chef who spent some time cooking in Marseille, France. Pastries are her specialty. She makes an Irish cheesecake with Guinness in the crust. She makes maple bacon ice cream from scratch.
So she was looking for a cooking job when she heard John Loureiro needed a personal chef.
She went for an interview at his home in Ontario.
“When I went inside, I said hello to the gentleman sitting on the couch,” said Jennifer, whose personality is as bubbly as champagne.
The gentleman on the couch was Hal Cardin. He’s 92, and he’s Loureiro’s father-in-law. The job indeed involved cooking, but mostly it involved caring for Hal.
“It was the right hours and good pay, so I said I’m going to give this a try,” Jennifer said.
Read all about it
When you take care of Hal Cardin, you start with making breakfast, a big breakfast. Jennifer calls it the “breakfast of doom.” Biscuits and gravy. Sausage. Potatoes. Fried eggs. That’s the normal fare. Sometimes, Hal requests salted caramel pecan pancakes.
When breakfast is done, Jennifer grabs the newspaper.
When you take care of Hal Cardin, whose eyes don’t cooperate like they used to, you read to him. The only topic: Angels baseball. Every single day. Every single word. Jennifer reads the game stories, the feature stories, the standings, the transactions and any note about the Angels.
Hal loves Mike Trout, who, he said, “hits the hell out of the ball.”
Here is how Jennifer Pimentel’s attitude about baseball – before she met Hal – could be described in one word: hatred.
“The only thing worse than baseball was golf and curling,” Jennifer said. “It was boring. I didn’t even know what the announcers were saying.”
She grew up in a family of Dodger fans. So when she started reading the newspaper about the Angels every day, she didn’t want to tell them.
Her father, Jack, is a big baseball fan. But he never talked to his daughter about the sport because she didn’t like or understand it. And then, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and it became even more difficult for him to talk.
Lot to learn
Jennifer not only found herself learning about the Angels, but also about Hal.
Hal Cardin was born in Illinois and came to California in 1940. After Pearl Harbor was bombed, Hal joined the Navy.
He self-published a book, “The Road to Deimos and Beyond,” about his experiences aboard the USS Deimos, an ammunition cargo ship.
On June 23, 1943, the Deimos was struck by a Japanese torpedo in the Pacific Ocean. Hal Cardin was lifted off the ground in the blast. He landed on the deck of the ship.
He found his way to a lifeboat, but his commanding officer ordered him to make room for the injured. So he jumped into the oil-slicked water. Hal swam alongside the lifeboat until he found floating debris onto which he could hang.
Hal was saved by a passing destroyer.
Hal had a long career in the accounting departments at McDonnell-Douglas and Kwikset. He has three children, Kelly, Keith and Theresa. His wife, Marylou, died years ago.
Hal lives with his daughter Theresa and her husband John. His days consist of watching Fox News and the Angels.
“I was quite a ballplayer,” he said.
He sits on his couch wrapped in an Angels blanket.
“He asks me to marry him three times a week,” Jennifer said.
Passionate fan
As she got to know Hal and the Angels, Jennifer found herself growing in fondness for both.
“I found myself secretly rooting for the Angels,” Jennifer said, hiding her newfound love from her Dodger-loving family.
She loves Ohtani, Trout and Blake Parker. And she finds herself rooting hard, yelling at the TV, “WHY AREN’T THEY REVIEWING THAT PLAY?”
“Now I kind of annoy people because I’m a walking encyclopedia of ridiculous baseball facts,” she said.
She really knows her baseball. She can discuss wins against replacement and on-base plus slugging.
And she noticed something else.
“I can talk to my dad,” she said. “Baseball is something easy to talk about. We have something to connect on. Baseball has done something good for me and my family.”
Request from the heart
Theresa Loureiro thought it would be a nice gesture to give Jennifer a Mother’s Day gift.
Angels tickets.
“There is not a better place for a mother to be,” Jennifer said.
Sadly, Hal isn’t able to get to the ballpark anymore. But Jennifer wasn’t satisfied with just accepting the gift. She wanted to pay it forward, she said.
She did a Google search, found an email address for Angels announcer Victor Rojas and wrote to him:
“Is there any way possible, that on the Mother’s Day game, that you could give a shout out to Hal? Maybe say ‘perhaps one of the oldest Angels fans, a WWII vet of the Navy, and all around great dude. … thanks for the support Hal Cardin?’  Heck I don’t know. That’s your department.
“But I’ll be at that game. With my daughter. There’s nowhere I think more appropriate for this mother to spend that day than with her best girl, watching the best team, in the best sport … Ya see, Hal is wheelchair bound and at his age, spending the 45 minutes in the car to get there and then 3-4 hours in the wheelchair at the stadium…..not feasible. It would wear him out, he’d be uncomfortable, and I don’t want to do that to him.
“I don’t know if the old guy has too many more ball games left. And I’d like to help create a happy memory for him that getting a shout out on live TV would make, if you’re able to help.”
She ended her email with this line: “P.S. Hal is on hospice care, which is why I feel the urgent need to bring some smiles to this Vet’s face.”
The next day, Victor Rojas replied, “I’d love to help out, especially for an Angels fan.”
Jennifer wrote him back: “OMG OMG OMG Thank you so Much! Thanks a billion.”
“I was shocked,” Jennifer said.
This week, she’s making the sign.
She asked a friend to help her translate “I’m your biggest fan” in Japanese characters. “Google translate doesn’t always work,” she said.
The other side will be the easy part.
View the full article

On Sunday, a mom and her 9-year-old daughter will hold up a sign at the Angels game. That’s no big deal, right? Just another Mother’s Day sign at the ballpark.
On one side, their poster will reveal a message to Shohei Ohtani in Japanese: “I’m Your Biggest Fan.” Jennifer Pimentel and her daughter Aneesa love watching Ohtani play.
The other side of the poster will say, “Hi Hal.”
Sometimes, the important stuff in life is on the other side.

Angels fan Hal Cardin, 92, listens as caregiver Jennifer Pimentel reads the sports page to him at his home in Ontario. He is in failing health and has poor eyesight. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, SCNG)

Angels fan Hal Cardin, 92, listens as caregiver Jennifer Pimentel reads the sports page to him at his home in Ontario. He is in failing health and has poor eyesight. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, SCNG)
Sound The gallery will resume inseconds
Angels fan Hal Cardin, 92, who has poor eyesight, keeps up with his favorite team with the help of his caregiver, Jennifer Pimentel, who reads to him the sports pages, at this home. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, SCNG)

Angels fan Hal Cardin, 92, listens as caregiver Jennifer Pimentel reads the sports page to him. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, SCNG)
Show Caption of
Expand Unexpected role
In August of 2016, Jennifer Pimentel, 39, of Ontario, was out of work.
She was a trained chef who spent some time cooking in Marseille, France. Pastries are her specialty. She makes an Irish cheesecake with Guinness in the crust. She makes maple bacon ice cream from scratch.
So she was looking for a cooking job when she heard John Loureiro needed a personal chef.
She went for an interview at his home in Ontario.
“When I went inside, I said hello to the gentleman sitting on the couch,” said Jennifer, whose personality is as bubbly as champagne.
The gentleman on the couch was Hal Cardin. He’s 92, and he’s Loureiro’s father-in-law. The job indeed involved cooking, but mostly it involved caring for Hal.
“It was the right hours and good pay, so I said I’m going to give this a try,” Jennifer said.
Read all about it
When you take care of Hal Cardin, you start with making breakfast, a big breakfast. Jennifer calls it the “breakfast of doom.” Biscuits and gravy. Sausage. Potatoes. Fried eggs. That’s the normal fare. Sometimes, Hal requests salted caramel pecan pancakes.
When breakfast is done, Jennifer grabs the newspaper.
When you take care of Hal Cardin, whose eyes don’t cooperate like they used to, you read to him. The only topic: Angels baseball. Every single day. Every single word. Jennifer reads the game stories, the feature stories, the standings, the transactions and any note about the Angels.
Hal loves Mike Trout, who, he said, “hits the hell out of the ball.”
Here is how Jennifer Pimentel’s attitude about baseball – before she met Hal – could be described in one word: hatred.
“The only thing worse than baseball was golf and curling,” Jennifer said. “It was boring. I didn’t even know what the announcers were saying.”
She grew up in a family of Dodger fans. So when she started reading the newspaper about the Angels every day, she didn’t want to tell them.
Her father, Jack, is a big baseball fan. But he never talked to his daughter about the sport because she didn’t like or understand it. And then, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and it became even more difficult for him to talk.
Lot to learn
Jennifer not only found herself learning about the Angels, but also about Hal.
Hal Cardin was born in Illinois and came to California in 1940. After Pearl Harbor was bombed, Hal joined the Navy.
He self-published a book, “The Road to Deimos and Beyond,” about his experiences aboard the USS Deimos, an ammunition cargo ship.
On June 23, 1943, the Deimos was struck by a Japanese torpedo in the Pacific Ocean. Hal Cardin was lifted off the ground in the blast. He landed on the deck of the ship.
He found his way to a lifeboat, but his commanding officer ordered him to make room for the injured. So he jumped into the oil-slicked water. Hal swam alongside the lifeboat until he found floating debris onto which he could hang.
Hal was saved by a passing destroyer.
Hal had a long career in the accounting departments at McDonnell-Douglas and Kwikset. He has three children, Kelly, Keith and Theresa. His wife, Marylou, died years ago.
Hal lives with his daughter Theresa and her husband John. His days consist of watching Fox News and the Angels.
“I was quite a ballplayer,” he said.
He sits on his couch wrapped in an Angels blanket.
“He asks me to marry him three times a week,” Jennifer said.
Passionate fan
As she got to know Hal and the Angels, Jennifer found herself growing in fondness for both.
“I found myself secretly rooting for the Angels,” Jennifer said, hiding her newfound love from her Dodger-loving family.
She loves Ohtani, Trout and Blake Parker. And she finds herself rooting hard, yelling at the TV, “WHY AREN’T THEY REVIEWING THAT PLAY?”
“Now I kind of annoy people because I’m a walking encyclopedia of ridiculous baseball facts,” she said.
She really knows her baseball. She can discuss wins against replacement and on-base plus slugging.
And she noticed something else.
“I can talk to my dad,” she said. “Baseball is something easy to talk about. We have something to connect on. Baseball has done something good for me and my family.”
Request from the heart
Theresa Loureiro thought it would be a nice gesture to give Jennifer a Mother’s Day gift.
Angels tickets.
“There is not a better place for a mother to be,” Jennifer said.
Sadly, Hal isn’t able to get to the ballpark anymore. But Jennifer wasn’t satisfied with just accepting the gift. She wanted to pay it forward, she said.
She did a Google search, found an email address for Angels announcer Victor Rojas and wrote to him:
“Is there any way possible, that on the Mother’s Day game, that you could give a shout out to Hal? Maybe say ‘perhaps one of the oldest Angels fans, a WWII vet of the Navy, and all around great dude. … thanks for the support Hal Cardin?’  Heck I don’t know. That’s your department.
“But I’ll be at that game. With my daughter. There’s nowhere I think more appropriate for this mother to spend that day than with her best girl, watching the best team, in the best sport … Ya see, Hal is wheelchair bound and at his age, spending the 45 minutes in the car to get there and then 3-4 hours in the wheelchair at the stadium…..not feasible. It would wear him out, he’d be uncomfortable, and I don’t want to do that to him.
“I don’t know if the old guy has too many more ball games left. And I’d like to help create a happy memory for him that getting a shout out on live TV would make, if you’re able to help.”
She ended her email with this line: “P.S. Hal is on hospice care, which is why I feel the urgent need to bring some smiles to this Vet’s face.”
The next day, Victor Rojas replied, “I’d love to help out, especially for an Angels fan.”
Jennifer wrote him back: “OMG OMG OMG Thank you so Much! Thanks a billion.”
“I was shocked,” Jennifer said.
This week, she’s making the sign.
She asked a friend to help her translate “I’m your biggest fan” in Japanese characters. “Google translate doesn’t always work,” she said.
The other side will be the easy part.
View the full article

On Sunday, a mom and her 9-year-old daughter will hold up a sign at the Angels game. That’s no big deal, right? Just another Mother’s Day sign at the ballpark.
On one side, their poster will reveal a message to Shohei Ohtani in Japanese: “I’m Your Biggest Fan.” Jennifer Pimentel and her daughter Aneesa love watching Ohtani play.
The other side of the poster will say, “Hi Hal.”
Sometimes, the important stuff in life is on the other side.

Angels fan Hal Cardin, 92, listens as caregiver Jennifer Pimentel reads the sports page to him at his home in Ontario. He is in failing health and has poor eyesight. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, SCNG)

Angels fan Hal Cardin, 92, listens as caregiver Jennifer Pimentel reads the sports page to him at his home in Ontario. He is in failing health and has poor eyesight. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, SCNG)
Sound The gallery will resume inseconds
Angels fan Hal Cardin, 92, who has poor eyesight, keeps up with his favorite team with the help of his caregiver, Jennifer Pimentel, who reads to him the sports pages, at this home. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, SCNG)

Angels fan Hal Cardin, 92, listens as caregiver Jennifer Pimentel reads the sports page to him. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, SCNG)
Show Caption of
Expand Unexpected role
In August of 2016, Jennifer Pimentel, 39, of Ontario, was out of work.
She was a trained chef who spent some time cooking in Marseille, France. Pastries are her specialty. She makes an Irish cheesecake with Guinness in the crust. She makes maple bacon ice cream from scratch.
So she was looking for a cooking job when she heard John Loureiro needed a personal chef.
She went for an interview at his home in Ontario.
“When I went inside, I said hello to the gentleman sitting on the couch,” said Jennifer, whose personality is as bubbly as champagne.
The gentleman on the couch was Hal Cardin. He’s 92, and he’s Loureiro’s father-in-law. The job indeed involved cooking, but mostly it involved caring for Hal.
“It was the right hours and good pay, so I said I’m going to give this a try,” Jennifer said.
Read all about it
When you take care of Hal Cardin, you start with making breakfast, a big breakfast. Jennifer calls it the “breakfast of doom.” Biscuits and gravy. Sausage. Potatoes. Fried eggs. That’s the normal fare. Sometimes, Hal requests salted caramel pecan pancakes.
When breakfast is done, Jennifer grabs the newspaper.
When you take care of Hal Cardin, whose eyes don’t cooperate like they used to, you read to him. The only topic: Angels baseball. Every single day. Every single word. Jennifer reads the game stories, the feature stories, the standings, the transactions and any note about the Angels.
Hal loves Mike Trout, who, he said, “hits the hell out of the ball.”
Here is how Jennifer Pimentel’s attitude about baseball – before she met Hal – could be described in one word: hatred.
“The only thing worse than baseball was golf and curling,” Jennifer said. “It was boring. I didn’t even know what the announcers were saying.”
She grew up in a family of Dodger fans. So when she started reading the newspaper about the Angels every day, she didn’t want to tell them.
Her father, Jack, is a big baseball fan. But he never talked to his daughter about the sport because she didn’t like or understand it. And then, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and it became even more difficult for him to talk.
Lot to learn
Jennifer not only found herself learning about the Angels, but also about Hal.
Hal Cardin was born in Illinois and came to California in 1940. After Pearl Harbor was bombed, Hal joined the Navy.
He self-published a book, “The Road to Deimos and Beyond,” about his experiences aboard the USS Deimos, an ammunition cargo ship.
On June 23, 1943, the Deimos was struck by a Japanese torpedo in the Pacific Ocean. Hal Cardin was lifted off the ground in the blast. He landed on the deck of the ship.
He found his way to a lifeboat, but his commanding officer ordered him to make room for the injured. So he jumped into the oil-slicked water. Hal swam alongside the lifeboat until he found floating debris onto which he could hang.
Hal was saved by a passing destroyer.
Hal had a long career in the accounting departments at McDonnell-Douglas and Kwikset. He has three children, Kelly, Keith and Theresa. His wife, Marylou, died years ago.
Hal lives with his daughter Theresa and her husband John. His days consist of watching Fox News and the Angels.
“I was quite a ballplayer,” he said.
He sits on his couch wrapped in an Angels blanket.
“He asks me to marry him three times a week,” Jennifer said.
Passionate fan
As she got to know Hal and the Angels, Jennifer found herself growing in fondness for both.
“I found myself secretly rooting for the Angels,” Jennifer said, hiding her newfound love from her Dodger-loving family.
She loves Ohtani, Trout and Blake Parker. And she finds herself rooting hard, yelling at the TV, “WHY AREN’T THEY REVIEWING THAT PLAY?”
“Now I kind of annoy people because I’m a walking encyclopedia of ridiculous baseball facts,” she said.
She really knows her baseball. She can discuss wins against replacement and on-base plus slugging.
And she noticed something else.
“I can talk to my dad,” she said. “Baseball is something easy to talk about. We have something to connect on. Baseball has done something good for me and my family.”
Request from the heart
Theresa Loureiro thought it would be a nice gesture to give Jennifer a Mother’s Day gift.
Angels tickets.
“There is not a better place for a mother to be,” Jennifer said.
Sadly, Hal isn’t able to get to the ballpark anymore. But Jennifer wasn’t satisfied with just accepting the gift. She wanted to pay it forward, she said.
She did a Google search, found an email address for Angels announcer Victor Rojas and wrote to him:
“Is there any way possible, that on the Mother’s Day game, that you could give a shout out to Hal? Maybe say ‘perhaps one of the oldest Angels fans, a WWII vet of the Navy, and all around great dude. … thanks for the support Hal Cardin?’  Heck I don’t know. That’s your department.
“But I’ll be at that game. With my daughter. There’s nowhere I think more appropriate for this mother to spend that day than with her best girl, watching the best team, in the best sport … Ya see, Hal is wheelchair bound and at his age, spending the 45 minutes in the car to get there and then 3-4 hours in the wheelchair at the stadium…..not feasible. It would wear him out, he’d be uncomfortable, and I don’t want to do that to him.
“I don’t know if the old guy has too many more ball games left. And I’d like to help create a happy memory for him that getting a shout out on live TV would make, if you’re able to help.”
She ended her email with this line: “P.S. Hal is on hospice care, which is why I feel the urgent need to bring some smiles to this Vet’s face.”
The next day, Victor Rojas replied, “I’d love to help out, especially for an Angels fan.”
Jennifer wrote him back: “OMG OMG OMG Thank you so Much! Thanks a billion.”
“I was shocked,” Jennifer said.
This week, she’s making the sign.
She asked a friend to help her translate “I’m your biggest fan” in Japanese characters. “Google translate doesn’t always work,” she said.
The other side will be the easy part.
View the full article

On Sunday, a mom and her 9-year-old daughter will hold up a sign at the Angels game. That’s no big deal, right? Just another Mother’s Day sign at the ballpark.
On one side, their poster will reveal a message to Shohei Ohtani in Japanese: “I’m Your Biggest Fan.” Jennifer Pimentel and her daughter Aneesa love watching Ohtani play.
The other side of the poster will say, “Hi Hal.”
Sometimes, the important stuff in life is on the other side.

Angels fan Hal Cardin, 92, listens as caregiver Jennifer Pimentel reads the sports page to him at his home in Ontario. He is in failing health and has poor eyesight. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, SCNG)

Angels fan Hal Cardin, 92, listens as caregiver Jennifer Pimentel reads the sports page to him at his home in Ontario. He is in failing health and has poor eyesight. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, SCNG)
Sound The gallery will resume inseconds
Angels fan Hal Cardin, 92, who has poor eyesight, keeps up with his favorite team with the help of his caregiver, Jennifer Pimentel, who reads to him the sports pages, at this home. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, SCNG)

Angels fan Hal Cardin, 92, listens as caregiver Jennifer Pimentel reads the sports page to him. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, SCNG)
Show Caption of
Expand Unexpected role
In August of 2016, Jennifer Pimentel, 39, of Ontario, was out of work.
She was a trained chef who spent some time cooking in Marseille, France. Pastries are her specialty. She makes an Irish cheesecake with Guinness in the crust. She makes maple bacon ice cream from scratch.
So she was looking for a cooking job when she heard John Loureiro needed a personal chef.
She went for an interview at his home in Ontario.
“When I went inside, I said hello to the gentleman sitting on the couch,” said Jennifer, whose personality is as bubbly as champagne.
The gentleman on the couch was Hal Cardin. He’s 92, and he’s Loureiro’s father-in-law. The job indeed involved cooking, but mostly it involved caring for Hal.
“It was the right hours and good pay, so I said I’m going to give this a try,” Jennifer said.
Read all about it
When you take care of Hal Cardin, you start with making breakfast, a big breakfast. Jennifer calls it the “breakfast of doom.” Biscuits and gravy. Sausage. Potatoes. Fried eggs. That’s the normal fare. Sometimes, Hal requests salted caramel pecan pancakes.
When breakfast is done, Jennifer grabs the newspaper.
When you take care of Hal Cardin, whose eyes don’t cooperate like they used to, you read to him. The only topic: Angels baseball. Every single day. Every single word. Jennifer reads the game stories, the feature stories, the standings, the transactions and any note about the Angels.
Hal loves Mike Trout, who, he said, “hits the hell out of the ball.”
Here is how Jennifer Pimentel’s attitude about baseball – before she met Hal – could be described in one word: hatred.
“The only thing worse than baseball was golf and curling,” Jennifer said. “It was boring. I didn’t even know what the announcers were saying.”
She grew up in a family of Dodger fans. So when she started reading the newspaper about the Angels every day, she didn’t want to tell them.
Her father, Jack, is a big baseball fan. But he never talked to his daughter about the sport because she didn’t like or understand it. And then, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and it became even more difficult for him to talk.
Lot to learn
Jennifer not only found herself learning about the Angels, but also about Hal.
Hal Cardin was born in Illinois and came to California in 1940. After Pearl Harbor was bombed, Hal joined the Navy.
He self-published a book, “The Road to Deimos and Beyond,” about his experiences aboard the USS Deimos, an ammunition cargo ship.
On June 23, 1943, the Deimos was struck by a Japanese torpedo in the Pacific Ocean. Hal Cardin was lifted off the ground in the blast. He landed on the deck of the ship.
He found his way to a lifeboat, but his commanding officer ordered him to make room for the injured. So he jumped into the oil-slicked water. Hal swam alongside the lifeboat until he found floating debris onto which he could hang.
Hal was saved by a passing destroyer.
Hal had a long career in the accounting departments at McDonnell-Douglas and Kwikset. He has three children, Kelly, Keith and Theresa. His wife, Marylou, died years ago.
Hal lives with his daughter Theresa and her husband John. His days consist of watching Fox News and the Angels.
“I was quite a ballplayer,” he said.
He sits on his couch wrapped in an Angels blanket.
“He asks me to marry him three times a week,” Jennifer said.
Passionate fan
As she got to know Hal and the Angels, Jennifer found herself growing in fondness for both.
“I found myself secretly rooting for the Angels,” Jennifer said, hiding her newfound love from her Dodger-loving family.
She loves Ohtani, Trout and Blake Parker. And she finds herself rooting hard, yelling at the TV, “WHY AREN’T THEY REVIEWING THAT PLAY?”
“Now I kind of annoy people because I’m a walking encyclopedia of ridiculous baseball facts,” she said.
She really knows her baseball. She can discuss wins against replacement and on-base plus slugging.
And she noticed something else.
“I can talk to my dad,” she said. “Baseball is something easy to talk about. We have something to connect on. Baseball has done something good for me and my family.”
Request from the heart
Theresa Loureiro thought it would be a nice gesture to give Jennifer a Mother’s Day gift.
Angels tickets.
“There is not a better place for a mother to be,” Jennifer said.
Sadly, Hal isn’t able to get to the ballpark anymore. But Jennifer wasn’t satisfied with just accepting the gift. She wanted to pay it forward, she said.
She did a Google search, found an email address for Angels announcer Victor Rojas and wrote to him:
“Is there any way possible, that on the Mother’s Day game, that you could give a shout out to Hal? Maybe say ‘perhaps one of the oldest Angels fans, a WWII vet of the Navy, and all around great dude. … thanks for the support Hal Cardin?’  Heck I don’t know. That’s your department.
“But I’ll be at that game. With my daughter. There’s nowhere I think more appropriate for this mother to spend that day than with her best girl, watching the best team, in the best sport … Ya see, Hal is wheelchair bound and at his age, spending the 45 minutes in the car to get there and then 3-4 hours in the wheelchair at the stadium…..not feasible. It would wear him out, he’d be uncomfortable, and I don’t want to do that to him.
“I don’t know if the old guy has too many more ball games left. And I’d like to help create a happy memory for him that getting a shout out on live TV would make, if you’re able to help.”
She ended her email with this line: “P.S. Hal is on hospice care, which is why I feel the urgent need to bring some smiles to this Vet’s face.”
The next day, Victor Rojas replied, “I’d love to help out, especially for an Angels fan.”
Jennifer wrote him back: “OMG OMG OMG Thank you so Much! Thanks a billion.”
“I was shocked,” Jennifer said.
This week, she’s making the sign.
She asked a friend to help her translate “I’m your biggest fan” in Japanese characters. “Google translate doesn’t always work,” she said.
The other side will be the easy part.
View the full article

On Sunday, a mom and her 9-year-old daughter will hold up a sign at the Angels game. That’s no big deal, right? Just another Mother’s Day sign at the ballpark.
On one side, their poster will reveal a message to Shohei Ohtani in Japanese: “I’m Your Biggest Fan.” Jennifer Pimentel and her daughter Aneesa love watching Ohtani play.
The other side of the poster will say, “Hi Hal.”
Sometimes, the important stuff in life is on the other side.

Angels fan Hal Cardin, 92, listens as caregiver Jennifer Pimentel reads the sports page to him at his home in Ontario. He is in failing health and has poor eyesight. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, SCNG)

Angels fan Hal Cardin, 92, listens as caregiver Jennifer Pimentel reads the sports page to him at his home in Ontario. He is in failing health and has poor eyesight. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, SCNG)
Sound The gallery will resume inseconds
Angels fan Hal Cardin, 92, who has poor eyesight, keeps up with his favorite team with the help of his caregiver, Jennifer Pimentel, who reads to him the sports pages, at this home. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, SCNG)

Angels fan Hal Cardin, 92, listens as caregiver Jennifer Pimentel reads the sports page to him. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, SCNG)
Show Caption of
Expand Unexpected role
In August of 2016, Jennifer Pimentel, 39, of Ontario, was out of work.
She was a trained chef who spent some time cooking in Marseille, France. Pastries are her specialty. She makes an Irish cheesecake with Guinness in the crust. She makes maple bacon ice cream from scratch.
So she was looking for a cooking job when she heard John Loureiro needed a personal chef.
She went for an interview at his home in Ontario.
“When I went inside, I said hello to the gentleman sitting on the couch,” said Jennifer, whose personality is as bubbly as champagne.
The gentleman on the couch was Hal Cardin. He’s 92, and he’s Loureiro’s father-in-law. The job indeed involved cooking, but mostly it involved caring for Hal.
“It was the right hours and good pay, so I said I’m going to give this a try,” Jennifer said.
Read all about it
When you take care of Hal Cardin, you start with making breakfast, a big breakfast. Jennifer calls it the “breakfast of doom.” Biscuits and gravy. Sausage. Potatoes. Fried eggs. That’s the normal fare. Sometimes, Hal requests salted caramel pecan pancakes.
When breakfast is done, Jennifer grabs the newspaper.
When you take care of Hal Cardin, whose eyes don’t cooperate like they used to, you read to him. The only topic: Angels baseball. Every single day. Every single word. Jennifer reads the game stories, the feature stories, the standings, the transactions and any note about the Angels.
Hal loves Mike Trout, who, he said, “hits the hell out of the ball.”
Here is how Jennifer Pimentel’s attitude about baseball – before she met Hal – could be described in one word: hatred.
“The only thing worse than baseball was golf and curling,” Jennifer said. “It was boring. I didn’t even know what the announcers were saying.”
She grew up in a family of Dodger fans. So when she started reading the newspaper about the Angels every day, she didn’t want to tell them.
Her father, Jack, is a big baseball fan. But he never talked to his daughter about the sport because she didn’t like or understand it. And then, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and it became even more difficult for him to talk.
Lot to learn
Jennifer not only found herself learning about the Angels, but also about Hal.
Hal Cardin was born in Illinois and came to California in 1940. After Pearl Harbor was bombed, Hal joined the Navy.
He self-published a book, “The Road to Deimos and Beyond,” about his experiences aboard the USS Deimos, an ammunition cargo ship.
On June 23, 1943, the Deimos was struck by a Japanese torpedo in the Pacific Ocean. Hal Cardin was lifted off the ground in the blast. He landed on the deck of the ship.
He found his way to a lifeboat, but his commanding officer ordered him to make room for the injured. So he jumped into the oil-slicked water. Hal swam alongside the lifeboat until he found floating debris onto which he could hang.
Hal was saved by a passing destroyer.
Hal had a long career in the accounting departments at McDonnell-Douglas and Kwikset. He has three children, Kelly, Keith and Theresa. His wife, Marylou, died years ago.
Hal lives with his daughter Theresa and her husband John. His days consist of watching Fox News and the Angels.
“I was quite a ballplayer,” he said.
He sits on his couch wrapped in an Angels blanket.
“He asks me to marry him three times a week,” Jennifer said.
Passionate fan
As she got to know Hal and the Angels, Jennifer found herself growing in fondness for both.
“I found myself secretly rooting for the Angels,” Jennifer said, hiding her newfound love from her Dodger-loving family.
She loves Ohtani, Trout and Blake Parker. And she finds herself rooting hard, yelling at the TV, “WHY AREN’T THEY REVIEWING THAT PLAY?”
“Now I kind of annoy people because I’m a walking encyclopedia of ridiculous baseball facts,” she said.
She really knows her baseball. She can discuss wins against replacement and on-base plus slugging.
And she noticed something else.
“I can talk to my dad,” she said. “Baseball is something easy to talk about. We have something to connect on. Baseball has done something good for me and my family.”
Request from the heart
Theresa Loureiro thought it would be a nice gesture to give Jennifer a Mother’s Day gift.
Angels tickets.
“There is not a better place for a mother to be,” Jennifer said.
Sadly, Hal isn’t able to get to the ballpark anymore. But Jennifer wasn’t satisfied with just accepting the gift. She wanted to pay it forward, she said.
She did a Google search, found an email address for Angels announcer Victor Rojas and wrote to him:
“Is there any way possible, that on the Mother’s Day game, that you could give a shout out to Hal? Maybe say ‘perhaps one of the oldest Angels fans, a WWII vet of the Navy, and all around great dude. … thanks for the support Hal Cardin?’  Heck I don’t know. That’s your department.
“But I’ll be at that game. With my daughter. There’s nowhere I think more appropriate for this mother to spend that day than with her best girl, watching the best team, in the best sport … Ya see, Hal is wheelchair bound and at his age, spending the 45 minutes in the car to get there and then 3-4 hours in the wheelchair at the stadium…..not feasible. It would wear him out, he’d be uncomfortable, and I don’t want to do that to him.
“I don’t know if the old guy has too many more ball games left. And I’d like to help create a happy memory for him that getting a shout out on live TV would make, if you’re able to help.”
She ended her email with this line: “P.S. Hal is on hospice care, which is why I feel the urgent need to bring some smiles to this Vet’s face.”
The next day, Victor Rojas replied, “I’d love to help out, especially for an Angels fan.”
Jennifer wrote him back: “OMG OMG OMG Thank you so Much! Thanks a billion.”
“I was shocked,” Jennifer said.
This week, she’s making the sign.
She asked a friend to help her translate “I’m your biggest fan” in Japanese characters. “Google translate doesn’t always work,” she said.
The other side will be the easy part.
View the full article

What a special moment for Albert Pujols, his family, friends and teammates last night at Safeco Field.
Pujols has joined some exclusive company. Here’s everything you need to know about Pujols and what he has accomplished on his path to 3,000 hits.
First off, in case you missed it.
Albert Pujols has joined an elite group as the 32nd player all-time to log 3,000 career hits and the first since Adrián Beltré, who collected his on July 30, 2017 vs. Baltimore. Pujols also joins Beltré as the only natives of the Dominican Republic to reach the plateau. Pujols is the fourth player all-time to collect 3,000 hits and hit 600 home runs, joining Hank Aaron (3,771 H/755 HR), Willie Mays (3,283 H/660 HR) and Alex Rodriguez (3,115 H/696 HR). He becomes the 12th player in Major League history to record 3,000 hits through his first 18 seasons and is the second player in an Angels uniform to become part of this club, along with Rod Carew (Aug. 4, 1985).
 

Became the 32nd player all-time to reach the 3,000 hit mark and first since Adrián Beltré, who collected his 3,000th hit July 30, 2017 vs. Baltimore. Joins Adrián Beltré as the only natives of the Dominican Republic to reach the 3,000 hit plateau. Pujols, who is in his 18th big league season, is just the 12th player to reach the milestone in their first 18 seasons. Has joined Stan Musial and Alex Rodriguez as only players with 3+ MVP Awards and 3,000 hits. Joins Rod Carew (Aug. 4, 1985 vs. Minnesota) as the only players to log their 3,000th hit in an
Angel uniform. At 38 years, 108 days, is the 10th youngest player to reach the 3,000 hit mark. View the full article

By David Saltzer, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer
One of the many joys of having children is that as they grow up, you can have much deeper conversations about things, and they can understand so much more. The passions that you have can become their passions, and you can teach them about why you love the things that you do.
When my sons woke up Sunday morning, they started working on sorting and organizing their baseball card collections. Like them, when I was young, I had a decent sized baseball card collection, and still have some of my favorite cards.
At lunch, one of my sons asked me “Dad, who would you say were the best Angels players in Angels history?” One of my twins decided to take it to another level (because the best isn’t good enough for him) and asked me who were the most legendary Angels players.
At first we had to decide what “legendary” meant because lots of players could be legendary for positive or negative things. We decided that to be a legendary Angels player, a player had to play a substantial portion of his career with the Angels and be forever associated with the team and a position.
Once we had the definition in place, we spent the rest of the lunch we discussed who would in my 25-man roster. It was not an easy process as there were many players up for consideration. There were many positional battles, and sometimes players had to be moved to make it all work out (or at least work out in a way that made me happy). Some players who had great years with the Angels ultimately had to be cut. Towards the end, it got brutal, to be honest.
Ironically, and unbeknownst to us, at the same time, Topps Beckett Media is doing its 30 Teams in 30 Weeks as it counts down to the most Legendary Lineup for every Major League baseball team. You can check out their lineup for the Angels here. When I came up with my team, I had no idea who would be on their team, as their team wasn’t unveiled until today.
Since today is an off-day today, let’s discuss my team. Who did I leave off of your list? Who did I get right? Compare my list to the Topps Becket Media list. Which one is better? Where did they get it right and I got it wrong? And, if you want to have fun, you can start making your own Angels legendary lineup. Here’s a reference that will surely help.
Catcher: Bob Boone
This wasn’t easy. For me, it came down to Boone and Bengie Molina. Both were incredible, but I consider Boone a bit better defensively. Since catching is a defensive position, that tilts the scale over Molina’s better offense. It really is close between these two. Since all teams really need two catchers, Molina will make it on the bench, and the two of them will split the season with each playing about half the games. That way, they both will be rested, and will both be that much better.
First Base: Wally Joyner
When I think of an Angels 1B, I can’t help but think of the joy and fun that Wally brought to Anaheim. If you were an Angels fan in the mid 80s to early 90s, all you heard at times was: Wally! Wally! Wally! Albert Pujols is the best first baseman to ever play the position for the Angels, but Wallyworld will forever be synonymous with the Angels. That’s legendary. I heavily debated Rod Carew, but in the end, I thought that Carew would be associated more with the Twins than the Angels as he played far more seasons there and had more of his hits with them.
Second Base: Bobby Grich
This was the second easiest position to decide for me (if you can’t figure out the easiest one, then you haven’t been paying attention as an Angels fan). Sure, he spent the first part of his career with Baltimore, but, Grich was part of the Angels first three playoff appearances and played the majority of his career with the Angels. He was part of the big spending spree by Gene Autry, and put up offensive numbers from a position that at the time generally was not known for much offense. The only other choice who garnered any consideration was Howie Kendrick. While he was a great player, and has the 8th best batting average and 5th most doubles for any qualified Angels player, Grich had the overall better Angels career in my opinion.
Shortstop: Jim Fregosi
I never got to see him play, but I’ve seen footage. And, before he passed, I got to meet him a few times. In talking with veterans from the era, he was the real deal. An All-Star almost every year he was a Halo, he has to be the choice. The only real competition at the position for me was Andrelton Simmons. I’ve said on many occasions that Simba’s defense is worth the price of admission, and I mean it. If he continues for about 5 more years as an Angel at the level he’s playing, he may surpass Fregosi to be the most legendary Angels shortstop. His defense is amazing, and fans will discuss it for years. But, he needs more time to become legendary. So, for now, that honor still resides with Fregosi.
Third Base: Troy Glaus
This position came down to two people: Troy Glaus and Doug DeCinces. Comparing the two, Glaus had better overall numbers as an Angel Glaus bests DeCinces in HRs, doubles, and OB%. And, most importantly, Glaus was part of our only World Series win. DeCinces did help the team reach the playoffs twice, but, also spent the majority of his career in Baltimore. Like Carew, DeCinces will probably always be more associated with another team rather than the Angels whereas Glaus and the 2002 team will become the stuff of legends.
Right Field: Tim Salmon
Any legendary Angels team has to have the King Fish. He spent his entire career with the Angels, during the free agent era, and leads the team in homeruns hit as an Angels. When you’re known as Mr. Angel, you are the icon. But he had a lot of competition. Thank goodness there is a DH spot to help make this all work out. Sure, Vlad is our first-ever Hall of Famer, but the legend belongs to Salmon (don’t worry Vlad will make the team elsewhere). Vlad definitely has the stronger arm in the field, but Salmon was the more consistent defender. And, since it is a legendary team, Mr. Angel gets the nod in Right Field for me.
Center Field: Mike Trout
Ummmm . . . this was the easiest decision of all. It helps that he’s the best baseball player in his generation, and keeps getting better every year. This was by far the easiest position to decide.
Left Field: Garret Anderson
Okay, I know a lot of fans have mixed feeling on GA. But, as the last several years have shown, having a consistent presence in the lineup is a very valuable thing. How many left fielders have we gone through to get to a consistent level of play from that position since GA left? Fans underestimate consistency, but for fun, go through the historical offensive stats for the Angels. GA ranks in the top-5 players in almost every single category. Year after year, GA went out there and put up solid numbers. He wasn’t the most flashy, he did sing his own praises, he just did his job on the field, and he was good at it. I’d take that any day in my lineup. It might not be the most exciting legend, but, it sure did get the job done.
DH: Vladimir Guerrero
Okay, this one was tough. How can I not place the first-ever Angels Hall of Famer on the legendary team? His numbers were unreal. His style was unreal. When he first came to the Angels, the entire stadium would hush during his at bats. He brought an electricity that has only been matched by Shohei Ohtani. But, by choosing him, I had to exclude every other player whom I could have placed here. Names like Downing, Baylor, Reggie, Erstad. Those weren’t easy choices. One could make a strong case for any of those players. But, in the end, Vlad has to be on the team, and as I said in the Right Field discussion, King Fish starts in the field, so Vlad gets the DH spot.
Rotation: 1. Nolan Ryan 2. Frank Tanana 3. Chuck Finley 4. Jered Weaver 5. Mike Witt. 6. Shohei Ohtani
The first decision I had to make was whether to go with a 4-man, 5-man, or 6-man rotation. And, before I get ripped too much for including Ohtani on this list, think about this: this is the iconic list. For the next 30 years, any broadcast involving a team using the 6-man rotation will forever discuss the Angels and Ohtani. Any team that has a player who tries to be a 2-way player will forever include a discussion of Ohtani. I know it’s only been a month, but if he becomes the player and we become the team for the discussion of an issue, that, by its own definition, is legendary. So, Ohtani has to be on the list. He’s already become legendary with his pitch velocity, his exit velocity, and his running speed. Plus it really helps the team to have his left-handed bat off the bench!
As for the others, they are mostly self-explanatory. I’ll take Mike Witt with his perfect game and combined no-hitter as my #5 starter. He has the 4th most wins in our team’s history and the 4th most strikeouts. There are others, and you can pick them from other eras, but, he is one of my favorite players, and he’s who I’d want to see on the mound.
As for Nolan Ryan, it’s always bothered me that he isn’t more associated with the Angels. I remember when and how he left, and it wasn’t pleasant. But, his numbers for the Angels were unreal. In an era when batters did not like to strike out (unlike today), he set a record that will most likely never be broken–383. He had 5 seasons with more than 300 strikeouts with the Angels, and oh yeah, 4 no-hitters. How he isn’t considered our preeminent pitcher is astounding. I still blame Bavasi for that. Any Angels fan from that era will forever talk about him, so he is by far-and-away, our most legendary pitcher.
Closer: Frankie Rodriguez
In 2002, the Angels added K-Rod to the postseason roster, and forever altered the team’s dynamics. Frankie set the single-season record for Saves as an Angel. Sure, Percival had more saves, but, in the end, when K-Rod had his stuff, he was electric. Sure Percival had “the stare”, but for me, Frankie was the more legendary closer.
Bullpen: 1. Troy Percival 2. Bryan Harvey 3. Scot Shields 4. Jim Abbott
I’m going to go with a 5-man bullpen so that I can fit other position players on my iconic team. So, all the other dominant closers for the Angels have a spot here. And, we are including the rubber-armed Scot Shields. Having him to go 1 or more innings multiple times a week made our bullpen so much more effective.
And, before I get too much grief for putting Jim Abbott in the bullpen, yes, I know he was a starter, not a reliever. But, he is by far one of my all-time favorite players. His story is so compelling. And, the Angels really don’t have any major standout lefties from the pen. So, humor me as a writer here for giving him a spot in my pen. It’s my legendary team, you can debate me with your choices in the discussion. But, his story will forever be tied with the Angels. He is part of our lore, and as such, has to make the team.
Bench: 1. Brian Downing 2. Darin Erstad 3. Bengie Molina 4. Chone Figgins
With the roster choices that I’ve made, I only have a 4-man bench. I couldn’t leave Brian Downing off of the team, but he lost out in left field to GA. And, as iconic as he was as the Angels DH for so many years, he lost that battle to Vlad. He’s too legendary of an Angel to leave off the team, so he has to be one of my batters on the bench.
With Erstad, I can think of 26 words that will forever justify him on the team. They are: “Here’s the pitch to Lofton. Fly ball, center field. Erstad says he’s got it. Erstad makes the catch! The Anaheim Angels are the champions of baseball!” Who still doesn’t get chills whenever they hear that? And, if we ever need a team meeting to motivate the players, he’s the guy I want in the clubhouse.
Bengie Molina was discussed in the Catchers section.
Chone Figgins. Yes, we’re getting Figgy with it. Sure, he wasn’t the same once he left us, but, he could play 3B, SS, 2B, and the OF. He is the epitome of a utility player. He could work a walk and steal a base. If I’m making a true team, I need a true utility player. In a pinch, Erstad could cover 1B, which means that all the remaining positions have to be covered by one player. And for me, that’s Figgins.
Okay, there’s my team. As I said, it’s an off day. Go ahead, criticize mine and make your own. Compare it to the Topps Becket Media roster. No matter what, you’ll have fun. And, the more you dig into it, the more you’ll see how difficult it is to do. Yet, at the same time, the more you dig into it, the more you’ll enjoy it.
We have an off-day today, so let’s debate. Where do you agree with me? Where do you disagree? What do think of the Topps Beckett Media lineup?
View the full article

By David Saltzer, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer
One of the many joys of having children is that as they grow up, you can have much deeper conversations about things, and they can understand so much more. The passions that you have can become their passions, and you can teach them about why you love the things that you do.
When my sons woke up Sunday morning, they started working on sorting and organizing their baseball card collections. Like them, when I was young, I had a decent sized baseball card collection, and still have some of my favorite cards.
At lunch, one of my sons asked me “Dad, who would you say were the best Angels players in Angels history?” One of my twins decided to take it to another level (because the best isn’t good enough for him) and asked me who were the most legendary Angels players.
At first we had to decide what “legendary” meant because lots of players could be legendary for positive or negative things. We decided that to be a legendary Angels player, a player had to play a substantial portion of his career with the Angels and be forever associated with the team and a position.
Once we had the definition in place, we spent the rest of the lunch we discussed who would in my 25-man roster. It was not an easy process as there were many players up for consideration. There were many positional battles, and sometimes players had to be moved to make it all work out (or at least work out in a way that made me happy). Some players who had great years with the Angels ultimately had to be cut. Towards the end, it got brutal, to be honest.
Ironically, and unbeknownst to us, at the same time, Topps Beckett Media is doing its 30 Teams in 30 Weeks as it counts down to the most Legendary Lineup for every Major League baseball team. You can check out their lineup for the Angels here. When I came up with my team, I had no idea who would be on their team, as their team wasn’t unveiled until today.
Since today is an off-day today, let’s discuss my team. Who did I leave off of your list? Who did I get right? Compare my list to the Topps Becket Media list. Which one is better? Where did they get it right and I got it wrong? And, if you want to have fun, you can start making your own Angels legendary lineup. Here’s a reference that will surely help.
Catcher: Bob Boone
This wasn’t easy. For me, it came down to Boone and Bengie Molina. Both were incredible, but I consider Boone a bit better defensively. Since catching is a defensive position, that tilts the scale over Molina’s better offense. It really is close between these two. Since all teams really need two catchers, Molina will make it on the bench, and the two of them will split the season with each playing about half the games. That way, they both will be rested, and will both be that much better.
First Base: Wally Joyner
When I think of an Angels 1B, I can’t help but think of the joy and fun that Wally brought to Anaheim. If you were an Angels fan in the mid 80s to early 90s, all you heard at times was: Wally! Wally! Wally! Albert Pujols is the best first baseman to ever play the position for the Angels, but Wallyworld will forever be synonymous with the Angels. That’s legendary. I heavily debated Rod Carew, but in the end, I thought that Carew would be associated more with the Twins than the Angels as he played far more seasons there and had more of his hits with them.
Second Base: Bobby Grich
This was the second easiest position to decide for me (if you can’t figure out the easiest one, then you haven’t been paying attention as an Angels fan). Sure, he spent the first part of his career with Baltimore, but, Grich was part of the Angels first three playoff appearances and played the majority of his career with the Angels. He was part of the big spending spree by Gene Autry, and put up offensive numbers from a position that at the time generally was not known for much offense. The only other choice who garnered any consideration was Howie Kendrick. While he was a great player, and has the 8th best batting average and 5th most doubles for any qualified Angels player, Grich had the overall better Angels career in my opinion.
Shortstop: Jim Fregosi
I never got to see him play, but I’ve seen footage. And, before he passed, I got to meet him a few times. In talking with veterans from the era, he was the real deal. An All-Star almost every year he was a Halo, he has to be the choice. The only real competition at the position for me was Andrelton Simmons. I’ve said on many occasions that Simba’s defense is worth the price of admission, and I mean it. If he continues for about 5 more years as an Angel at the level he’s playing, he may surpass Fregosi to be the most legendary Angels shortstop. His defense is amazing, and fans will discuss it for years. But, he needs more time to become legendary. So, for now, that honor still resides with Fregosi.
Third Base: Troy Glaus
This position came down to two people: Troy Glaus and Doug DeCinces. Comparing the two, Glaus had better overall numbers as an Angel Glaus bests DeCinces in HRs, doubles, and OB%. And, most importantly, Glaus was part of our only World Series win. DeCinces did help the team reach the playoffs twice, but, also spent the majority of his career in Baltimore. Like Carew, DeCinces will probably always be more associated with another team rather than the Angels whereas Glaus and the 2002 team will become the stuff of legends.
Right Field: Tim Salmon
Any legendary Angels team has to have the King Fish. He spent his entire career with the Angels, during the free agent era, and leads the team in homeruns hit as an Angels. When you’re known as Mr. Angel, you are the icon. But he had a lot of competition. Thank goodness there is a DH spot to help make this all work out. Sure, Vlad is our first-ever Hall of Famer, but the legend belongs to Salmon (don’t worry Vlad will make the team elsewhere). Vlad definitely has the stronger arm in the field, but Salmon was the more consistent defender. And, since it is a legendary team, Mr. Angel gets the nod in Right Field for me.
Center Field: Mike Trout
Ummmm . . . this was the easiest decision of all. It helps that he’s the best baseball player in his generation, and keeps getting better every year. This was by far the easiest position to decide.
Left Field: Garret Anderson
Okay, I know a lot of fans have mixed feeling on GA. But, as the last several years have shown, having a consistent presence in the lineup is a very valuable thing. How many left fielders have we gone through to get to a consistent level of play from that position since GA left? Fans underestimate consistency, but for fun, go through the historical offensive stats for the Angels. GA ranks in the top-5 players in almost every single category. Year after year, GA went out there and put up solid numbers. He wasn’t the most flashy, he did sing his own praises, he just did his job on the field, and he was good at it. I’d take that any day in my lineup. It might not be the most exciting legend, but, it sure did get the job done.
DH: Vladimir Guerrero
Okay, this one was tough. How can I not place the first-ever Angels Hall of Famer on the legendary team? His numbers were unreal. His style was unreal. When he first came to the Angels, the entire stadium would hush during his at bats. He brought an electricity that has only been matched by Shohei Ohtani. But, by choosing him, I had to exclude every other player whom I could have placed here. Names like Downing, Baylor, Reggie, Erstad. Those weren’t easy choices. One could make a strong case for any of those players. But, in the end, Vlad has to be on the team, and as I said in the Right Field discussion, King Fish starts in the field, so Vlad gets the DH spot.
Rotation: 1. Nolan Ryan 2. Frank Tanana 3. Chuck Finley 4. Jered Weaver 5. Mike Witt. 6. Shohei Ohtani
The first decision I had to make was whether to go with a 4-man, 5-man, or 6-man rotation. And, before I get ripped too much for including Ohtani on this list, think about this: this is the iconic list. For the next 30 years, any broadcast involving a team using the 6-man rotation will forever discuss the Angels and Ohtani. Any team that has a player who tries to be a 2-way player will forever include a discussion of Ohtani. I know it’s only been a month, but if he becomes the player and we become the team for the discussion of an issue, that, by its own definition, is legendary. So, Ohtani has to be on the list. He’s already become legendary with his pitch velocity, his exit velocity, and his running speed. Plus it really helps the team to have his left-handed bat off the bench!
As for the others, they are mostly self-explanatory. I’ll take Mike Witt with his perfect game and combined no-hitter as my #5 starter. He has the 4th most wins in our team’s history and the 4th most strikeouts. There are others, and you can pick them from other eras, but, he is one of my favorite players, and he’s who I’d want to see on the mound.
As for Nolan Ryan, it’s always bothered me that he isn’t more associated with the Angels. I remember when and how he left, and it wasn’t pleasant. But, his numbers for the Angels were unreal. In an era when batters did not like to strike out (unlike today), he set a record that will most likely never be broken–383. He had 5 seasons with more than 300 strikeouts with the Angels, and oh yeah, 4 no-hitters. How he isn’t considered our preeminent pitcher is astounding. I still blame Bavasi for that. Any Angels fan from that era will forever talk about him, so he is by far-and-away, our most legendary pitcher.
Closer: Frankie Rodriguez
In 2002, the Angels added K-Rod to the postseason roster, and forever altered the team’s dynamics. Frankie set the single-season record for Saves as an Angel. Sure, Percival had more saves, but, in the end, when K-Rod had his stuff, he was electric. Sure Percival had “the stare”, but for me, Frankie was the more legendary closer.
Bullpen: 1. Troy Percival 2. Bryan Harvey 3. Scot Shields 4. Jim Abbott
I’m going to go with a 5-man bullpen so that I can fit other position players on my iconic team. So, all the other dominant closers for the Angels have a spot here. And, we are including the rubber-armed Scot Shields. Having him to go 1 or more innings multiple times a week made our bullpen so much more effective.
And, before I get too much grief for putting Jim Abbott in the bullpen, yes, I know he was a starter, not a reliever. But, he is by far one of my all-time favorite players. His story is so compelling. And, the Angels really don’t have any major standout lefties from the pen. So, humor me as a writer here for giving him a spot in my pen. It’s my legendary team, you can debate me with your choices in the discussion. But, his story will forever be tied with the Angels. He is part of our lore, and as such, has to make the team.
Bench: 1. Brian Downing 2. Darin Erstad 3. Bengie Molina 4. Chone Figgins
With the roster choices that I’ve made, I only have a 4-man bench. I couldn’t leave Brian Downing off of the team, but he lost out in left field to GA. And, as iconic as he was as the Angels DH for so many years, he lost that battle to Vlad. He’s too legendary of an Angel to leave off the team, so he has to be one of my batters on the bench.
With Erstad, I can think of 26 words that will forever justify him on the team. They are: “Here’s the pitch to Lofton. Fly ball, center field. Erstad says he’s got it. Erstad makes the catch! The Anaheim Angels are the champions of baseball!” Who still doesn’t get chills whenever they hear that? And, if we ever need a team meeting to motivate the players, he’s the guy I want in the clubhouse.
Bengie Molina was discussed in the Catchers section.
Chone Figgins. Yes, we’re getting Figgy with it. Sure, he wasn’t the same once he left us, but, he could play 3B, SS, 2B, and the OF. He is the epitome of a utility player. He could work a walk and steal a base. If I’m making a true team, I need a true utility player. In a pinch, Erstad could cover 1B, which means that all the remaining positions have to be covered by one player. And for me, that’s Figgins.
Okay, there’s my team. As I said, it’s an off day. Go ahead, criticize mine and make your own. Compare it to the Topps Becket Media roster. No matter what, you’ll have fun. And, the more you dig into it, the more you’ll see how difficult it is to do. Yet, at the same time, the more you dig into it, the more you’ll enjoy it.
We have an off-day today, so let’s debate. Where do you agree with me? Where do you disagree? What do think of the Topps Beckett Media lineup?
View the full article

By Greg Bird, AngelsWin.com Staff Reporter
Welcome back to Inside Edge after a very long hiatus. First I’d like to thank Chuck for pulling me back in to writing for AngelsWin after a long stint on the DL. I’d also like to thank Billy Eppler for giving an Angel fan hope again. This is not to say I didn’t like the person that was our former GM, he was a ‘good dude’ but his moves just lacked the true inspiration of Eppler’s. With my first short article this Greg Bird returns from the DL for the Halos (not the evil empire) and he will be focusing on a recent hot topic, Andrelton Simmons the hitter.
There has been a flurry of recent articles about Simmons’ and his countryman Gregorius’ turn arounds at the plate. In the Athletic Simba’s general improvements at the plate were covered in depth. I suggest a subscription there for some good content. Another good piece I saw was in The Ringer and it talked a lot about both Simmons’ and Gregorius’ increase in patience. In that second article there was a very intriguing quote from Simmons about a text he received from Eppler about, “how good I am when … I’m actually swinging at pitches I’m good at hitting.”
This quote got me wondering about what that text was all about and if the numbers bear out that he actually made a change in his swing pattern as suggested by Eppler. If Simmons did make a real positive change then it could mean this new above average hitter is our new normal for him through 2020 and beyond. This would also mean that we can trust that whatever happens with personnel moves in the future that Eppler has an even better process as a GM than previously thought.
Eppler traded for Simba in 2015. At that time it was common knowledge that Simmons was a light hitting but superb fielding shortstop. As others have mentioned and multiple sources reported at the time he was also a good contact hitter.
Andrelton swung at a lot of pitches that lead to more outs earlier in his career. His swing percentage hovered around the 47% mark earlier in his career. It is down around 45% now. Being able to make consistent contact and with umpires calling borderline strikes it likely encouraged him to swing at more borderline pitches. These were pitches that he just couldn’t really do much with. His underlying excellent ball to bat skill also likely played a part in his continuing to swing at those pitches even though it was not producing the results he wanted.
Simmons career contact percentage is 87.9%. This has remained relatively unchanged throughout his entire career with a fluctuation in 2015. That year it jumped to 89.3% which did result in a temporary increase in BABIP and Batting Average but it has been an unsustainable increase. That year he also showed very little power with a .660 OPS, the second lowest of his career. Simmons contact rate has fallen back in line with his career norms in the high 87% range and is not now the cause of his great renaissance.
What has changed? Do the numbers show anything different? According to Simmons he has changed which pitches he swings at now. That would mean he has fundamentally changed his approach at the plate. Can we see that in the data? Let’s look at two heat maps that tell us what percentage of pitches in each zone that Simmons is swinging at or has swung at in the past.

Let’s start with his approach in 2015, the last full year before he joined the Angels. We can see that on pitches just outside of the strike zone he would swing at about 33% of them. He would do this on both the high and low pitch. These pitches are sometimes called a strike and I’m sure he felt he had to protect the plate. He would swing at pitches down and away at right around the same percentage of the time, anywhere from 29%-37% of the time. He swung at pitches in the furthest outside part of the strike zone at a 49% clip. And he also swung at pitches just inside at a 48%-53% rate.

I point those out because those are the areas both in and out of the zone that Simba has seemingly changed the most. If we now compare his 2015 swing percentage to his 2018 heat map we can see exactly how much he changed his approach. This season he has only swung at about 5% of pitches just outside the zone. He is currently only swinging at 9%-18% of down and away pitches both in and out of the zone. He is only offering at 33%-38% of pitches in the outside part of the zone. And he is only swinging at around 35% of pitches on the inside part of the plate.
These are significant changes of between 15%-25% in his swinging percentage. It then seems that Eppler convinced Simmons in that text that pitches just inside or just outside the zone were not pitches that he could handle well. He probably told Simmons that he could reach them and make contact but not really be successful on that contact. It also looks like pitches in the zone but away or down and away were not his strong suite either.
He likely did this by showing him what he should hit, and not just what he shouldn’t. Let’s look at what Simba does hit well.
If we go back and look at his average on different parts of the zone we will start to see what Simmons does handle well. On pitches down and away he is batting a measly .214. On outside pitches he is batting between .159 and .190. And finally on down and in pitches he is hitting .200. These are the pitches he is not swinging at. In most other zones he is hitting .275 or better with up and in strikes being his hottest zone at a scorching .417.
If we look even deeper at his exit velocities we see his weakest contact comes outside down and away at a paltry 77.5 MPH. His lowest exit velocity in the zone is down and away again at 81.1 MPH. While his hottest zones (middle-middle, middle-up, middle-away, and up-away) all hovering around 90 MPH. This likely the zones Eppler suggested he focus on trying to hit.
What we can see from all of this is a concerted effort from Andrelton to change which pitch he offers at. He now seems to be hunting pitches he can do damage with and letting go pitches he really can’t do much with, even if it means letting the umpire call it a strike. This type of change in his approach seems eminently sustainable. It seems his newfound success is predicated on both pitch recognition and better decision making, two things that bode well for his future as a hitter.
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Angels sensation Shohei Ohtani continues to amaze.
He didn’t do that from the mound in Friday’s game against the Yankees, but he did do something that is unique to him, that no other pitcher in the league could pull off.
Ohtani came to the plate in the second inning of the game, and he hit a 97.1 mph fastball from Luis Severino into the stands.

Wow.
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HOUSTON — The numbers – on the scoreboard and the radar gun – indicate Cam Bedrosian may be on the way back.
With Keynan Middleton unavailable Tuesday night after pitching three days in a row, Cam Bedrosian picked up the final four outs to record his first save of the season.
Over his past two games, he’s struck out four and hasn’t allowed a run in 2 1/3 innings. Also, his velocity, which had been an issue, seems to be coming back. Bedrosian has thrown his 10 hardest pitches of the year in his past two outings, including hitting 96 mph for the first time Tuesday.
“I am trying not to look (at the velocity), but people have mentioned a few higher numbers,” Bedrosian said Wednesday. “I think it’s just mechanical and getting where I need to be. Everything is starting to sync up now and feel better.”
Bedrosian had been one of the most enigmatic of the Angels relievers over the past few years. At times he’s looked like he had the stuff to be a dominant closer. Other times, at least partly because of injuries, he was inconsistent.
Further clouding his status, Bedrosian lost some velocity. He had averaged 96 mph with his fastball during his breakthrough season in 2016. He missed the end of that season with injuries, though. He also missed about half of 2017 with a groin injury, and when he returned he was throwing 93-94 mph, and the velocity still hadn’t returned through the early weeks this season.
Bedrosian had said he felt last year’s drop was because of lingering issues from his groin injury, and early this year it was just a mechanical problem.
Now, after two consecutive encouraging outings, he’s hoping to be on the way back.
“I think the past couple outings have been good steps,” he said. “I’ve been working my butt off with things, mechanically, physically, just anything I can to get right, and I think it’s starting to pay off.”
Apparently he had risen enough in the eyes of Manager Mike Scioscia that he got the call for the game’s most important outs when Middleton was out. Bedrosian retired the only batter he faced in the eighth, and then he worked around a walk to pitch a scoreless ninth, securing the one-run victory.
“That’s huge to get something like that, to help the team out in a big situation like that,” he said. “It’s a big confidence booster, not just for me but for everybody. That’s a good point for us as a team to scrap in a game like that and get a win.”
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HOUSTON — The Blister Watch could be over.
A day after Shohei Ohtani threw 98 pitches without issue, Manager Mike Scioscia said Ohtani is confident he will not have a problem with the blister again this season.
Scioscia said Ohtani told him the skin has now toughened to a callus, which is a good sign based on his history.
“Shohei really feels if he goes out and pitches and it feels good, then it doesn’t bother him the whole season,” Scioscia said.
Scioscia would not confirm when Ohtani’s next start will be, but if they stay on the current schedule he would pitch Tuesday at home against the Baltimore Orioles.
Ohtani would then be available to hit all three days against the New York Yankees this weekend. The Yankees are starting Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka and CC Sabathia, in that order.
Obviously, if Ohtani starts at DH against Tanaka on Saturday, it would be a mega-event in Japan. Ohtani is more likely to start Friday and Saturday, against the right-handed pitchers, than Sunday against the left-handed Sabathia.
ALSO
Blake Wood (elbow impingement) and Matt Shoemaker (strained forearm) are making progress, Scioscia said Wednesday. Shoemaker has been throwing, but he’s not ready to get on the mound. Wood is expected to be back in about a week…
The Angels used all six of their allotted mound visits for the first time Tuesday night. The visits are limited as part of baseball’s new rules to improve the pace of play. Scioscia said the Angels have had no issues with the rules. Although they played the final two innings with no remaining visits, he said they wouldn’t have done anything differently. They used three in the seventh inning alone, with rookie Justin Anderson on the mound. “Even though we rifled through them, they were all necessary,” Scioscia said. “I think they did have an impact on things. Justin Anderson was a little sideways on things and was able to finish the inning.”
UP NEXT
Angels (Andrew Heaney, 0-1, 9.64) vs. Yankees (Luis Severino, 4-1, 2.32), Friday, 7 p.m., Fox Sports West, KLAA (830 AM)
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Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani can really rake, but he can also throw gas, too, which is what makes him such a sensational, once-in-a-generation type of player.
Ohtani nearly broke the radar gun during Tuesday’s game against the Astros, when he threw a fastball that clocked almost 101 mph.