EDinTUSTIN

Right? It is always an adventure with Estevez out there in a save situation.

Light up that halo.

Light up that halo.

Adrianza is a good call as a late-inning defensive replacement, but in that type of situation in the 9th inning, two on base with no outs, he needs to be pinch hit for. Thaiss or Drury have had plenty of at-bats this season; Adrianza has not. The biggest disappointment is Trout again not coming through when it counts the most. People keep harping about how we should trade him for a cache of young, blue-chip talent from a playoff-caliber team. Sorry to spill the beans, but none of those teams are going to give up any young talent for him -- Oh, they would take Mike Trout in a heartbeat, who wouldn't -- but not for the return that the Angels would need. That ship sailed at least four years ago. The reality is, at this point in his career, he is still a very good player, but he is no longer a franchise-type player. Playoff-caliber teams typically don't make big trades during the season for players like Mike Trout. They already have talented players, and they don't want to give up the talent that it would take to land him, not to mention taking over that huge salary. Look, like many people, I would love to see Trout and the Angels go to the World Series before his career ends. I sincerely hope that happens.  But Arte and company decided to let our best player walk on over to the next county northwest of us and sign with the Dodgers, and now we are screwed for the near future as we got nothing in return but a "What could've been."

Run differential

Really excited to see what Adrianza can contribute. He may only have a .659 OPS in 1550 career ABs, but he's just 34 years old. This might be the year he unlocks another gear.

Either would be preferable to Suarez. I think we have seen enough of him -- and Cisneros as well. 

He plays hard and tries, and he is one of our very, very few clutch hitters. However, he simply has no talent for defense. Limited range, poor lateral movement, and hands of stone. He doesnt have the size and power as the archetypical DH, but maybe that is what he should be doing. It is not as if we have a Silver Slugger-caliber DH on our roster now.

Those guys are more like three-year-old scratch-offs that have already been used and thrown away.

Today? Lol. You're too kind. What day or game was it any different is more appropos.

True that, also for those who double quote.

It’s gotta be easier than framing them for Buck Naked. 

This, at least for the foreseeable future. I think he will continue to improve at first base, also. He seems to have the requisite soft hands needed and seems to be aware of positioning.

I am looking forward to seeing Soriano's next start. He flat-out has great stuff. Will that translate to long-term success at this level? Time will tell, but I liked what I've seen for the most part. If he can control that great stuff that he has and develops the requisite stamina to go at least 7 innings, the future could be bright for this young man -- and in turn, for the Angels as well.

I know, right? I am still waiting for at least one of the several underachievers to get sent down, benched, or waived. He can absolutely can start with Hicks. Other than his throwing arm, Hicks absolutely brings nothing positive to the team. He is worthless.

I wonder that as well, plus the prevalence now in youth baseball of young boys increasingly throwing more breaking pitches, which I think is foolhardy -- or ignorant -- of the adults in charge. A lot of pro pitchers pitched a significant amount of innings, incurring wear and tear on developing muscles, bone plates, ligaments and tendons, and cartilage in their shoulders, arms, and elbows by the time they graduate from high school. When I watch the LLWS in Williamsport, you see it all the time. A lot of pitchers in pro ball have been pitching since they were young boys, and often doing so with poor throwing mechanics, fundamentals, and with well-meaning, but ill-trained and poor coaching. All of this is bearing bitter fruit, and has been for the past couple of decades now.

If they do they sure aren't good at being disciplined enough to get it done. 
Neto still swinging at pitches 6 inches off the plate just rubs me the wrong way. Hicks getting playing time over Adell is just absurd at this point. 
3 batters in the starting lineup with BA's under .200, I thought Wash said he'd be holding these guys accountable. 
New series tomorrow, we should be able to sweep the Reds. 

Good post Duren, Duren. Excellent points and analysis. A lot of the greats, Nolan, Seaver, Gaylord Perry all pitched a long, long time -- Perry until he was 44 -- and they pitched quality ball up to the end -- without ever really having a sore arm or any significant arm injury. Some of it is genetics, most likely, but more of the fact that they pitch correctly, stretch and take care of their arms and bodies, and use the right muscles to generate power. All of them were hard throwers as well.

I wonder that as well, plus the prevalence now in youth baseball of young boys increasingly throwing more breaking pitches, which I think is foolhardy -- or ignorant -- of the adults in charge. A lot of pro pitchers pitched a significant amount of innings, incurring wear and tear on developing muscles, bone plates, ligaments and tendons, and cartilage in their shoulders, arms, and elbows by the time they graduate from high school. When I watch the LLWS in Williamsport, you see it all the time. A lot of pitchers in pro ball have been pitching since they were young boys, and often doing so with poor throwing mechanics, fundamentals, and with well-meaning, but ill-trained and poor coaching. All of this is bearing bitter fruit, and has been for the past couple of decades now.

I am looking forward to seeing Soriano's next start. He flat-out has great stuff. Will that translate to long-term success at this level? Time will tell, but I liked what I've seen for the most part. If he can control that great stuff that he has and develops the requisite stamina to go at least 7 innings, the future could be bright for this young man -- and in turn, for the Angels as well.

LOL You got a point there, Blarg.

Yes, that is true enough, but sliding head first into an armored catcher is a bit more hazardous. I just chalk that up to a good throw from the outfielder and an even better throw from the relay man to home plate, which the catcher snapped down a quick, accurate tag. 

Good post Duren, Duren. Excellent points and analysis. A lot of the greats, Nolan, Seaver, Gaylord Perry all pitched a long, long time -- Perry until he was 44 -- and they pitched quality ball up to the end -- without ever really having a sore arm or any significant arm injury. Some of it is genetics, most likely, but more of the fact that they pitch correctly, stretch and take care of their arms and bodies, and use the right muscles to generate power. All of them were hard throwers as well.

I am in the camp that thinks that the Angels could've used that money for something else. Thought so from the beginning of this particular move. Stephenson had 3/4 of a very good year, but had been rather pedestrian throughout most of his career, otherwise. I just didn't get the hoopla over him. I mean, it would've been great if he wasn't injured and was occupying the spot of a Suarez, but really, the money used to acquire him could've had been used elsewhere.

He came up pretty big today and made some important contributions. I think he is learning the MLB game and tendencies of pitchers and situations and will be a quick study. I am thinking that he will use those experiences as a tool for growth, and he will be all the better for it. He seems to have a good baseball IQ. The Angels didn't ruin him or anybody. Yes, the Angels have made a lot of scouting mistakes and made bad acquisitions over the years; that much is obvious. However, they didn't ruin anybody. Every player in pro baseball, minors or MLB, are adults; they have to do the work to make themselves better if they have the talent to do so. They can either cut it or they can't. The players that failed did so simply because they were not talented enough to be major league players. The mistakes on the Angels part -- and those mistakes are legion and glaring -- is getting the wrong players, overpaying for players past their prime, and in depleting the farm system with ludicrous free agent acquisitions.