thebloob

52 minutes ago, SoCalDucksFan said:

A mediocre team with 2 of the greatest players so far this century.  Just think what would have been possible had there been a halfway decent supporting cast.

Assuming ohtani wins MVP this year, since 2014 the Angels will have had 5 MVPs, 1 playoff appearance and zero playoff wins.

7 minutes ago, Blarg said:

This is the Astros. Up by five they send the runner all the way from second base, like they really need those extra runs. And do it once again. 

I’m sure if the Angels promise to stop trying to score runs they would be happy to stop also. 

6 hours ago, Ender said:

We just have cheapskate owners who don't wanna spend money in Free Agency. 

Spending lots of money in free agency is not necessarily great.  See the Angels for an example. 

MLB definitely has mission accomplished.  On these boards people talk of meaningful games for a .500 team.  Only the third wild card makes that possible.  How long until MLB expands that even more until everyone but the 3-4 worst teams thinks they are in it until the end. 

The worrisome numbers:

10-3

31

the Angels are 10-3 against the A’s, royals, and cardinals(don’t let the name fool you this year) the three worst teams in the league.  That means they are 11-17 against anyone else. 
 

to bring up a nightmare for many go back and look at Albert pujols age 31 season and the subsequent decline.  That is the biggest trout fear that he actually ages normally or old injuries slow him down. 

On 7/18/2022 at 3:04 PM, Clark W Griswold said:

WBC is next March so will Trout’s back be OK by then?

We Angels fans have to be really happy about this. He can’t play a full season any more but he’s signing up for more baseball.  I’m as patriotic as anyone but this guy does not need to be playing any extra games.

But we will all love it if he gets to hit against Ohtani so theres that I guess.

Except in true Angels fashion Trout will hit a dribbler in front of the pitcher and tear his Achilles running it out and ohtani will slip while trying to field it and tear his ACL. 

14 minutes ago, m0nkey said:

Albert Pujols is 2-3 tonight with another homer and his OPS is .884 now lol.  Took a pitch like a foot above the strikezone out for the homer

If he qualified, this would be tied for 11th in the majors with mookie betts and just above ohtani. 

How about earlier realization that it may have been a great platoon.  Albert looking good since leaving the angels because he hits almost all lefty pitching.  The dodgers unlocked that simple puzzle. 

1 hour ago, m0nkey said:

Albert Pujols has 2 home runs tonight and has 6 in his last 24 at bats 

As he sits as I type this his ops is 0.858.  His highest in 10 years as an angel was 0.859 in 2012. 

Yet the analytics for defensive shifts are so effective they feel the need to ban them. 

Any team that walks Suzuki up a run in the 9 th should lose. Should be automatic. 

I’m sure in a few years MLB will expand the playoff field to 12 teams per league.  That’ll make it easier. 

When you connect it to the trout thread a similar question is that if you could go back in time seeing what the last 4-5 years have brought would you trade Trout?  There’s no guarantee they would be better but that couldn’t have been worse. A lot of talk is about lack of depth and depth comes from the minors, the angels may have been able to restock the minors back then by trading him. I still think the angels can get a haul in the off season of even a couple good pieces next year if they are losing.  I worry most about an injury making him lose all value. 

Again a time where despite all his advantages having obtain setting the rotation at 6 days creates an issue.   It’s these guys would definitely be on innings limits and with a short bullpen due to 6 starters having guys that cannot go deep will really strain the bullpen.  At least one might be best served as a barria type. Once a week 4 innings to cover a starter that gets beat up early.  At this point the best bet seems to be shut everyone down and ensure fresh start next year. 

I feel like forearm issues always seem to end up being UCL issues. 

6 minutes ago, eligrba said:

Exactly how do muscles naturally heal?

Do you really want to get into the physiology of the bodies natural mechanisms of healing. If you want to get into steroids the issue is that they are potent anti inflammatory medications.  The healing process involves inflammation to bring the proper cells to heal.  Steroids inhibits that.  

1 hour ago, fan_since79 said:

Yawn...

Wake me when they have a date for the surgery. 

 

I’d almost rather it be a surgery injury.  Then there is a timeframe for healing.  Back injuries can be the worst because they can nag and recur and not always be “fixed”. 

44 minutes ago, CaliAngel said:

I agree. 

He's hit a rough patches like any closer does and there was a game where I thought he was pitching well but he just got beat, and that is going to happen. The balls just fell. 

Besides those couple of games he is a guy I trust going into the 9th with a lead of 3 runs or less. He's 15 for 18 in save opportunities. 

Other Notable Closers on Competitive teams:

Asstros: Pressly 19/22

Braves: Jansen 22/26

Doyers: Kimbrel 15/18

Stankees: Holmes 16/18

So he's basically right where the other guys are.

This team needs some semblance of consistency, and if there's anyone that provides that, he is that guy. If we ever get a goddamn lead and need it to be held, I can't think of anyone else on the team I'd want to put out there in the 9th.

Look at the numbers for those other guys. The only real comp when you look outside the saves is kimbrel and he’s been a dumpster fire this year.  Ask Dodgers fan if they will feel good in the World Series if they have to count on kimbrel to save close games.  The others all have winning records, ERAs much better than iglesias, and lower WHIP.  Save numbers can be very misleading about how good someone is.  

The problem is not should they trade him but is it worth it right now.  He is pitching terribly and has a big contract, who would give up anything for him right now, that’s selling at the low point.  At best the Angels would have to pick up a significant amount of his contract.  

32 minutes ago, Jason said:

Not much has gone right this season and they are out of it so I don’t have issue if the guys find the hat fun. 

Truly competitive athletes don’t take joy in moral victories when they are getting beat badly in a game and the season is going down the tubes.

I have to add myself to those that will question any player that misses almost a weeks worth of games that count, then plays on an exhibition, I’m wondering what his priorities really are.  If he cannot play tonight he should go home and rest.  

28 minutes ago, Stradling said:

He’s going to get more money elsewhere

I don’t think so. He may make more money over his career but if you knock it down to 10 years that’s an AAV of 44 million per year.  Soto is great but his track record is only 3 years long, he didn’t have the long record of trout at the bargaining table.  Any team that empties their minors for this is just dumb.  If the angels have proven anything over the past 10 years is that you need more than a couple of superstars to be successful, only in the NBA can you get away with that.  If I’’m a GM I go 8 for 320 with options.  

27 minutes ago, Angel Oracle said:

Stasis still does well behind the plate, but has lost it at the plate, back to pretty much pre-2020 Stassi.

Would Arte consider re-signing Ohtani AND Syndergaard AND signing Contreras to a 3 year deal as a bridge to Quero?

Contreras catches 2/3 of the games and fills in for Walsh at 1B when needed?

He’s always been a solid offense guy and decent to solid behind the plate.

Only making $6.7 million this season

Contreras is making 9.6 million this year and is an unrestricted free agent.  A big hitting catcher will fetch a premium price and lots of teams could use a more offensive catcher so lots of competition. 

Gotta say it’s a bit concerning on the tail of an injury that cost him almost an entire season to be complaining about his lower half.  Chronic leg problems can be an issue for aging sluggers, I think the Angels have seen this movie. 

He called Albert Pujols for tips on how to show up every year in the best shape of his life.