Duren, Duren

Seven runs and a loss. Eight runs and a loss the other night. Against a bottom feeding team at home after a big high against the Dodgers. It is what It is. Which is primarily starting pitching. The Angels are pathetic, worst in the league with innings per starter. Doesn't that make the problem evident? All the angst over specific at bats by certain players wouldn't be necessary as much if the pitching didn't make it necessary to score a ton of runs every game. The entire staff is being decimated by being forced into high pressure situations game after game. Relievers standing by, waiting to warm up early, the chain reaction of using multiple pitchers every game, starters expecting the hook and rarely surviving half a game. Improve the starters and the ripple effect will help everywhere. And batters won't be forced to bear all the responsibility.

The Angels will have to finish this season up strong to have an appeal to Cole. He will probably have many teams offering different, creative packages to him. Term, dollars, method of spreading the payments, outside baseball and post playing career options. As well as showcasing community and residential benefits. And selling the team as one with championship potential. A lot will depend on his individual preferences. Obviously some things will matter more than others. And his accountants will examine every detail of each proposal. Homegrown familiarity is the one advantage the Angels have that other teams can't offer. And we don't know how big a factor that will be. As far as competitiveness goes, there are reasonable positive arguments to be made. A deep, explosive offensive nucleus that should remain intact more or less for some years. A better than average defensive team. A handful of youngish but promising pitchers still progressing. The chance to play the rest of his career with Trout. And likely multiple years with Ohtani in his dual roles. Of course there will be other teams more championship ready in the immediate present, but signing a long term deal implies patience. I would make a very serious offer, but not cross the line where it handicaps the team past the luxury tax. Of course, if he is signed it means roster shuffling but no one should become fixated on a pitcher who has been good most of his career and is now having a peak season.

Trout expects progress. Think he will be happy as he ages if the team doesn't seriously contend? The mantra from the baseball media is always about his lack of playoff exposure. Believe me, decades from now when people not even born now look at his career the lack of playoff participation will factor into his reputation. Not demeaning his talent, but as a sympathetic enigma. People wondering 'what if ' he had that critical opportunity to play in the most important games. Look up Ernie Banks. Or Gary Carter with the Expos and with the Mets. Playoff exposure or the lack thereof matters 'Nuff said.

Don't get fixated on big name free agents. They will have multiple offers. And from teams more playoff ready. It will take a big overpay if there is a bidding war. Maybe if Cole wins the W.S. this year he will be more inclined to a hometown contract. A fairly poor analogy, but maybe somewhat similar is Leonard winning with the Raptors and choosing a hometown franchise. The Angels will have to demonstrate they are close enough to contend seriously in the next couple of years to attract a prime veteran free agent.

Why change pitchers now? Tropeano's value after giving up 7 was eating innings. He 'settled down' and probably could have gone through another inning or two without more catastrophic damage. Still down by 5 anyway. Now we'll have the usual chain reaction when some extra rest would have been useful. The Angels have the worst innings per starter in baseball and keep burning up relievers.

Better have this reality check now than coast to the deadline after the Dodger games. No chance to continue with any delusions of grandeur. 17 runs allowed against the worst team in 20 innings? Tough for the fans there. Reminds me of the game I attended last year when Seattle scored 7 in the first. Tropeano is just who he is. But at this point keep him in all nine innings. Helps his ERA possibly and saves everyone else. Probably his only game in the majors this year so let him work!

https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2019-starter-pitching.shtml One of the biggest problems is innings per start. A mere 4.2 . Worst overall! The league average is 5.3, which in itself perhaps is the most revealing indictment of contemporary strategies and roster construction. It's as if the 'workhorse' paradigm has intentionally been shunned. The few current inning eaters are almost seen as freaks of nature, with expectations of an immanent physical breakdown. Baseball is still baseball. Despite extreme advances in nutrition, training, stats analysis, attention to detail like pitch count, rest and so on, the human body isn't much different now than it was decades ago. It was common to see starters regularly pitch 180 plus innings, regularly go into the sixth, seventh and beyond. I think current strategy really under appreciates the mental side of pitching. Starters were expected to go longer, and paced themselves accordingly. Not just physically but mentally. They approached batting orders not expecting to be bailed out early. Even when in a close game. That meant not showing every pitch to each batter or the same batter during different at bats. They tried for an economy of pitches, depending on game situation. Of course bullpens were used differently then and not as micro managed for strict specialization. There were closers of course, but not always saved for one inning. It's almost laughable now how there are specialists for a seventh, eighth and ninth inning. If starters now were trained and expected to go longer, the entire bullpen philosophy would have to be adjusted. So much of the problem is mental. Lowered expectations mean a starter doesn't think about seeing a batter more than two, maybe three times a game. And as soon as he is in even minor trouble, his mindset subconsciously reverts to anticipating being pulled. Believe it or not, fans used to get excited about potential complete games. A form of enjoyment and appreciation of a well crafted and executed performance.

Utterly insane game. Once more, inner diamond defense a big problem. Could have been a great comeback, even if butt ugly, but Canning kept falling apart. A dink single with two strikes and he throws a fat pitch over the heart of the plate? After having his ass saved the inning before. What a regression. How humiliating in the end. One two three from the heart of the order against a position player? Not only that, he has no heat at all. Some fielders throw ninety. This guy looked like Hoyt Wilhelm. Who has been dead for decades. And not even knuckleballs. Just softball lobs. Stinking umps also surface again to become deciding factors.

Deferred gratification is a sucker's game. Not caring about having a chance to make any playoff spot because the team isn't at World Series caliber defeats the whole point of being a fan. So what? You try every year to give fans maximum effort and play as hard as possible. Only one team become a champion. So is following all the others a waste of time because they weren't good enough? You never know when opportunity will knock. All the best long term plans and years of preparation and maneuvering can become undone at any time. Unexpected injuries, slumps, failure to meet expectations, Choke jobs, ad infinitum. And even near perfect team construction leaves many fans disgruntled when their team doesn't win it all. Look at the Dodgers. Despite all the consecutive playoff appearances they still haven't provided the ultimate reward. And may never, despite the best system and brains (allegedly). Their fans can look at the glass as half empty or half full. Gratitude for quality teams year after year. Despondency for never being champs. Since the odds of winning it all are tough, I prefer to enjoy the positives and hope for meaningful games in crunch time. Going deep is a bonus at this stage of Angel history. Expectations will rise when they deserve to, but having a team provide entertainment and progress as much as possible makes the present season worthwhile. So many fun and intriguing stories this year. Shadowed by the gravity of the Skaggs tragedy. Since then the team has displayed a certain nobility and collective ethos worth appreciating. Sure, pitchers will be bombed, hitters will slump, prospects will be enigmatic along the way. But this season is special in a unique way. Also why I want Calhoun to remain through the year. He as much as anyone typifies the character of this group. And that core deserves to bring this drama to closure.

Remember, there are many other teams scouting, assessing, making judgments about their needs and whether to make short or long term moves. For any deal, the Angels will likely have competitors angling for the same player. Much better to be a seller at the deadline if you have reasonable assets and a plan beyond this season. Pitching was addressed just before this season in a desperate manner with the high risk gamble on the three damaged free agents. Obviously it was just a one year attempt to bridge through, hoping something good materialized. It went about as terrible as humanly possible. At this point Eppler has to weigh short term versus long term. What will the standings look like July 31? If he feels like going all in for a Stroman, Lynn, Leake or equivalent then the contract factor means all kinds of future shuffling at multiple positions. But with the farm system on the rise he has some assets to play with. Both as trade bait or internal promotion. My gut feeling is that he will stay disciplined, nibble around for bargains and not make any major moves. So far his signature has been evolution from within, not blockbuster moves. Other teams will be more desperate so it's unlikely he will have a winning hand for most of the big names.

I would do that. But Toronto is expecting multiple bids, and hope the deal becomes a major part of their rebuild. The usual big market and front running teams will be out there. And their fans expect some of the names they've been hearing. But you never know until you try. Stroman would instantly become the Angels Ace.

All Stroman talk 24/7 on the Toronto stations. The poor guy is interviewed every single day, with the same answers to the same questions. They expect a big return for him, so I doubt the Angels will be a major player.

Economy of pitches! Nice bounce back for Robles. Sweeping the Dodgers for the season during their best year. A great boost to go kick some bottom feeders asses.

Dodger broadcasters really have a sense of entitlement. Somewhat surprised when things don't go their way, but confident they still will pull the game out. With their record I suppose that's the way the season has gone so far.

Wow! What a series for Kole. Now someone drive him in.

Dodger announcers supporting yappy Roberts strike call, saying the ump having a bad night. "Taking the bat out of Belinger's hands.". Precious Ballinger can never be wrong. No comment about him taking strike three down the middle. What damned babies.

Man, Upton really messed up that at bat. From 3 - 1 to another weak arm swing that he mistimed. And the Dodgers keep the pressure up.

Pederson is kind of their equivalent to Calhoun. Similar batting and power numbers. Strong pull hitters who are streaky. Lots of strikeouts. Good fielders with strong arms.

So much for a smooth transition to the bullpen. Dodger hitters have become more patient and selective.

Upton has generally disappointed since his initial return. Often behind in the count, all arm swing little core stability. I would try to get Goodwin in for a week or two in a row and see what happens. Upton's contract may become the new Pujols watch if he doesn't snap out of this slump long term.

Damned distracting seeing Mary Hart fondling an infant all night. Her group seem to be at most games but rarely pay attention to what is happening. Socializing or checking their phones.

Bullpen with a two run lead. In theory, not a bad position to be. But four long innings. Or more?

Risky leaving Barria in but got away with it. Nice outing, good for his confidence. Somehow he finessed his way through five with just one big mistake. Don't see him as a rotation regular yet but making progress.

Kole destroying soft pitches. Dodger announcers saying "he'd look good in blue." Obviously this will heat up the rumor talk.

Kole keeps making his case as indispensable. Much better timing the inside curves and turning a weakness into a strength.