Just Sayin

It would depend on if Maddon sought out Nevin or Minasian did. I don’t recall any issues with the previous third base coach for the Angels. Why make a change? Nevin was FIRED as a third base coach for lacking judgement. He took a lot of heat in NY. For baserunners getting blown down at the plate or not being sent when they should have been sent. But to be fair, everybody in NY takes heat for one reason or another. Look....it isn’t like we had some glaring deficiency in the third base coaching box in 2021 to warrant hiring a “hot shot third base coach” who had just been fired from the Yankees to replace that individual So yeah, Minasian had more in mind than “upgrading” the third base coaching box. And I’m not so sure it was an “upgrade”... I would say he had Maddon on a short leash and wanted one of his cronies to be in position when he pulled the plug. If you’re gonna fire a guy then fire him. Don’t be chickenshit about it. I just don’t agree with a GM recruiting or hiring assistant coaches for a manager. Period. Minasian has his front office staff and it isn’t like Nevin or Maddon are involved in the hires for Minasians staff. The team played pretty well after the initial shock of Maddon’s firing wore off. I give Nevin a mulligan for his first 20 games or so because of that. I think I’m being reasonable in doing so. A 12-game losing streak is definitely grounds for dismissal. It’s a long season though. Let’s say you lose 12 straight but rattle off a couple 6-8 game winning streaks over the course of the long season. Every team “gets hot” a couple of times over 162 games. The 12-game losing streak then officially becomes a wash. In MLB, no matter how great you are you’ll still probably lose a third of your games. And no matter how bad you are, you’ll still probably win a third of your games. It’s what a manager does with that other third that defines him as a manager. Many have stated here that the Angels have the two best players in baseball. I don’t think I would argue that. But you can’t tell me Nevin or Maddon had anything to do with either of those two players being what they are. I’m not an Orioles fan. But I have definitely “admired” the job done by Hyde managing them this season. He basically had nobody of note on that roster. They won 52 last year. And went 83-79 this season. That’s quite a turnaround. And he was able to pull this off without the two best players in the game. Did Hyde have something to do with that? You would have to be the judge on that question. I’m just not seeing Nevin as the “miracle worker” many hope he will be. And I’m not really down with the way he inherited the gig. Just sayin ....

My understanding is that Minasian hired Nevin after Nevin was fired as the Yankees third base coach to be the new third base coach for the Angels. I am guessing when I say Minasian bounced the idea off Maddon before hiring him. But he may not have. I don’t know. All I can say is that if I am managing a ball club and someone other than myself selects a member of my staff of assistant coaches, that’s just not going to sit right with me. Probably wouldn’t sit right with very many managers as well. Pretty easy to connect the dots here. It’s a chickenshit way of blowing a guy out and an even more chickenshit way of being handed the reins.

73-89 Maddon 27-29 Nevin 46-60

He’s listened to the coaches. There was a story written about what they did with him at the plate. His swing is a lot more compact. He’s hitting a lot of “2-irons” now. A little bit more selective and swinging at fewer bad pitches. They want him hitting low line drives and keep telling him the power will come. And that a home run is a home run whether it’s in the first row or the 50th row. That’s good advice to ANY hitter. He’s listened. Bottom line? he has listened. He doesn’t bitch about anything. He doesn’t care where the hell they play him. He’s just looking to play and help the team out any way he can. He hustles. Dude is a battler. He’s getting as much as he can out of what God gave him. I can’t honestly say that about the other two candidates we have for left field. It’s not even close. He may end up as a full-time infielder. Who knows? But if there is a log-jam in the infield next year and he gets squeezed out, you got a gamer right there named Luis Rengifo who will figure it out and do the job and then some as a corner outfielder. Success is a chemical reaction that takes place when preparation is mixed with opportunity. Gotta love this guy. He isn’t a 1/1 and he didn’t get a 4.376 million dollar signing bonus. And he’s kicking both of their asses because he was prepared for the opportunity.

Personally ....I’d say they’re giving Rengifo a look at corner outfield positions because he has shown he can hit, and that he can be an everyday player, and that he can do it from both sides of the plate. Some say he doesn’t belong out there but I say he could pull it off. I think he could outplay Adell in left field right now. We have options in the infield. And depth. If Soto pans out and Rendon and Fletcher stay healthy next season why would you leave a proven bat like Rengifo’s out of the lineup? If it was my call I’d give the left field spot to Rengifo next season. I’d tell him it’s his job to lose. It keeps his bat in the lineup, it eliminates the need for everybody’s “dream platoon” of Adell and Moniak ....(which opens another roster spot). (let both those guys go please) Rengifo’s numbers offensively have been pretty darn good. It’s not easy to find a .270 hitter these days and I think he can beat those numbers next season. He’s got some pop in his bat as well. Runs well. He brings far more value to the ball club than Adell or Moniak (or both). Rengifo can fit into a lot of slots defensively. That’s why I believe they’re giving him a look in the outfield right now. I may be wrong, but if that IS the reason then I agree with the move. I say it needs to happen.

It’s a rather sorry state of affairs when 71 wins on the season would reach some kind of “milestone” (???) .... I mean ....really?

Ichiro

Right or wrong Maddon is entitled to his opinions. He should be allowed to voice those opinions as well. He is no longer employed by the organization. Who cares what he says now? He’s gone. I would still say that in his career, overall, he was a successful manager. He won a World Series and took another team to a World Series. Not many managers can say they’ve done that. It didn’t work out with this particular team these last few years and subsequently he was fired. But one cannot argue he did not succeed with other teams. I like analytics. I like people who know how to manage people, too. Both have a place in the game. I’m not looking to get into a pissing match over which is more important. They’re both important. But ......I am guessing there is a huge void between the analytics staff and the on-field coaches and players and manager. And probably across the league. Why? Well ....If I was an analytics guy and was presenting information to someone like Joe Maddon or Phil Nevin or anyone for that matter who has played the game professionally (which I can’t say I ever accomplished) I would present the information to them sans any chip on my shoulder....nor would I lay claim to or even pretend to being the smartest guy in the room. The information would be presented respectfully and as “suggestions” and not as “mandates” from on-high. Sure, I would be approaching the aforementioned with the full intention on SELLING them on doing everything that I am suggesting. In fact, I would be looking to pull as many strings as I can regarding how the team is managed on the field that is humanly possible. So......YES.....eventually I would be looking for a “buy-in” from Maddon or Nevin or whomever. But given the fact that I’m just some guy carrying around a laptop and wearing a T-shirt and jeans and flip flops I would probably approach it with the idea of making a “buy-in” HIS idea....instead of MY IDEA. It’s called a reverse-sale. It may take some time, but a little respect goes a long way. When you’re selling, you sell YOURSELF first, THEN your product. Sadly, most people have that “bass-ackwards” I am guessing it may not have been the information that Maddon was rejecting, but possibly the attitude of those presenting it to him. Perhaps Maddon might have been thinking “WTF are you doing in my dugout? I’m sorry but you do not belong in here” A baseball diamond and a dugout are sacred grounds. They need to be treated as such. Analytics is based on history, although it is recent history. Since the inception of the game, fewer than 20,000 people have played in a major league game. Approach those who have done so with caution. They earned it. It’s a small little club that the analytics folks will never be a part of. It’s a lot easier to run some reports on a computer than it is to manage a ball club to a World Series title ....or to be one of the fewer than 20,000 who have donned a uniform. Don’t kid yourselves, the players and coaching staff know this. You can’t blame them for having an “us against them” mentality, if it exists. The overall history of the game is just as important as the recent history, and simply acknowledging it all will probably serve the analytics team well when approaching sacred grounds and those who have earned the right to walk there. “damn Phil that still blows my mind you uncorked 41 bombs that one season!....whew! You were ON FIRE!!!” now....ummm....if I may....wanna see some reports for tonight’s game?”

Jo Adell is one player on a roster of many. Nothing more and nothing less. The Angels organization has signed Adell to a contract and they can put him in or out of the lineup as they please. If he’s in the lineup I hope he does well. If he isn’t I don’t lose any sleep over it. I don’t know why anyone would, either. I don’t need any answers from Nevin or Minasian. That’s their decision. They signed him. They pay him. He’s getting paid for whatever he does or doesn’t do. I’m guessing they haven’t bounced any of the checks they pay to him. I think the organization struck out by selecting him in the draft. He may have hit some tape-measure 575 foot home runs in high school with an aluminum bat against some high school pitching, but that’s a far cry from Division 1 college ball and it doesn’t warrant that early of a selection in the draft. The hype surrounding him since he was signed has been exactly that. Hype. If we can risk a moment of honesty here perhaps it will be easy to admit that he hasn’t exactly lived up to the hype....has he? I would guess the Angels certainly haven’t seen a return on their investment. I’m guessing they’d like to see an ROI from him. Adell has had plenty of looks this year. He is 100% healthy. You’re getting the very best version of Jo Adell right now. He has not been “courageously” battling off some nagging injuries although those in his corner might not want to hear that. There is zero pressure on Adell. The team is not expected to win. Zero pressure. It’s not like he’s stepping up to the plate each plate appearance with the game and the Division Title on the line....although those in his corner might not wanna hear that. Let it go dude. It isn’t going to happen. It may with another team, but it isn’t going to happen. Are we to place him into the lineup every day until he breaks Cal Ripkins record to see if he pans out? We all know the answer to that but let’s be honest here....that’s pretty much what a lot of you are asking for. There are no reasons apart from his performance on the field that have limited his opportunities. No “outside influences”.... He is one of many players on the roster. Nothing more, nothing less.

Hey at least Rendon went yard LEFT-HANDED when he faced a position player on the mound earlier in the season during a blowout

He is a tremendously dangerous hitter during blowouts and the opposition has a position player on the mound to preserve their bullpen. I’m guessing that by today’s standards, this alone could justify a ten-year extension at roughly 38 million a year.

Okay. We’ve dropped nine out of the last 10.....and we are currently riding an embarrassing little five-game losing streak. Now ....over the next nine games we get to play: Three against Toronto... Three against the Yankees... Three against the Astros.... Let me do some quick napkin math here. 5 + 9 = 14 Is it possible this could happen TWICE in one season? I’m glad Ohtani will get the ball maybe once or twice over this little stretch here to maybe stop the bleeding. But the way things have been going.....

Maybe Minasian thought they had really cool looking baseball cards. He relies on that kind of stuff and has quite a collection

What’s Perry gonna do now?

What a disgusting way to lose a baseball game

Jo Adell over the last seven days is 2 for 13 with NINE strikeouts.

While you’re at it...why don’t you get his thoughts on where he hits in the lineup and what are his thoughts on handling the bullpen for the upcoming game?

Minasian bears some responsibility in all of this, too. He has publicly acknowledged this as well. Raising one’s hand and saying “my bad” shouldn’t give him a get-out-of-jail-free card. Maybe it will but it wouldn’t surprise me if he, too, gets canned. If I was to rate his performance in two words or less I would say “underwhelming”.....

Let’s face it. Nobody is “pitching around” Adell. As of late, they’ve had him hitting in the six-hole. Pretty much all the guys we send up to hit 7-8-9 are right around the Mendoza line. So.....they aren’t pitching around him. They are going RIGHT AT HIM. He has struck out 67 times already in 172 AB’s. (38.9%) He is not striking fear into any opposing pitcher. Ever watch the pitchers throw warm-up pitches between innings? How the pitcher signals to the catcher what pitch he wants to throw? I wouldn’t be surprised if someone does it someday when Adell is at the plate. yes....it’s THAT bad. you can say “but....but....but there’s lotsa guys who strike out as often as he does” Not guys who run like Adell does. What would his batting average be if he just hit some routine ground balls in (let’s say) half of the K’s he’s had? or even a few chinkers? dunkers? full-swing bunts? Or some BS “seeing-eye” ground balls that somehow get through? If there are runners aboard he probably won’t hit into very many double plays. Having him on-base after hitting into a fielders choice is of greater value than having him make that long walk back to the dugout and taking a seat. He would probably beat out a few of those routine ground balls. Maybe more than a few. The “just go up and crush it outta the stadium” game plan isn’t working with him. It’s even rare when he does go yard. From what I’m researching right now he has 11 career home runs in 423 AB’s. -_- He has an opportunity to be a very disruptive hitter to opposing pitchers and defenses. If he would just put the ball in play. All that speed is a-goin’ to waste when he makes a rare home run trot. Would love to see him have an impact. contact contact contact and run like a demon. Everyone loves to talk about his exit velocity. It’s good ...yeah. No one is questioning that. If he would just start making solid contact when he steps to the plate. Just hit the ball hard somewhere. Doesn’t have to reach the parking lot. All of a sudden line drives and routine fly balls might find the stands. Better than taking that long walk back to the dugout and taking a seat again. I’m not talking about turning him into a slap-hitting, banjo-hitting middle infielder kind of hitter. Just get him hitting the ball hard somewhere. Anywhere. If he fails to hit behind a runner and hits a bullet to the left side and into a double play then don’t get on his ass about it. That’s a good problem to have. A guy who runs well and hits the ball hard somewhere on a regular basis. The home runs will come. Shorten up his swing a little and let his legs do the rest. He could actually be a really fun guy to watch play. First things first. As hard as I am on ya here Jo....I’m actually pulling for ya! SO LET’S GO!!!!!

Whoops sorry ...shout-out to Duren-Duren for knowing about Strat-O-Matic!!!

Strat-O-Matic? That’s a cult of which I am a PROUD member. Since ‘72. Unless someone wears the “Strat” (as we used to call it) badge....they have no credibility with me! This guy “Ron Mexico” just “gets it!” I’ll never forget during the ‘81 strike season when ESPN had no games to cover. EVERYBODY was jonesin’ to watch a game. So what does ESPN do? They bust out STRAT! A couple of fans of each team “managed” the game. Televised! Managers looking over the player cards. Wearing the caps of the teams they were “managing” Mano a Mano! Televised rolls of the dice (sadly none in slow-motion) I remember the first youth-league manager job I had (at age 19)... The players were age 15-17... ”do you have any experience managing?” The League supervisor asked me “I’ve managed thousands of games in Strat-O-Matic” I told him. Dude looked at me like “WTF?” It was a volunteer job and it wasn’t like they had a line out the door for candidates. I guess that answer was good enough for him. We won it all by the way... STRAT!!!!

Ichiro

I’m not an Oriole fan. They did lose 110 games last season. That can be a little injurious.... They are in what is arguably the toughest division in the American League. That, too can “leave a mark” I’m guessing they weren’t picked to win that division? Let alone earn a playoff spot? They still haven’t clinched anything, but they’ve exceeded the expectations of “the experts” They also SOLD at the trade deadline. Trey Mancini is no slouch nor is Jorge Lopez last I checked. One would think that would weaken their roster. Maybe a few oriole fans may tell you that was actually worse than an injury because neither player will be back. Yet they’re still chugging along. Why? Maybe they just give a f*** It’s a rather harsh thing to say, but maybe that indeed is the case. It’s not an easy thing to find this day. A lineup “riddled” with players who give a f*** You can’t deny they are over-achieving. They may tank. Losing Mancini and Lopez at the trade deadline certainly didn’t help them out in the short term. They’ve already exceeded their win total in 2021 with 45 games still left to play. I wish I could point to some positive things we have done this season. But I honestly can’t. I’m not an Oriole fan. I’m an Angel fan. Since 1969. But give credit where credit is due. I can tip my cap to the O’s. I have no problem with that. They’ve earned it. Perhaps we could all learn something by taking note of and watching what they’ve done. Again....with the LOWEST payroll.

Orioles have the lowest payroll in the American League....(possibly the majors as well?) and are vying for a wild card spot. That, to me is exciting. Where was Baltimore predicted to finish in their division? The season is far from over, but that team isn’t backing down to anybody. Good things happen with a tight-knit group. But were they already “tight-knit” when they were assembled as a team? Or did the coaching staff create the appropriate environment? With all the egos a coaching staff must deal with at that level, I like to think environment plays as big a factor as anything else. When do you pat ‘em on the back? Or when do you give them a kick in the ass? It all starts at the top. Some people like to call it “culture”.... Whatever. It’s up to the coaches to create that environment based on their personnel. It’s up to the players to buy in. Class is in session in Baltimore. Lowest payroll. That guy has ‘em playing some ball!!!! A manager or coach needs to be able to look himself in the eye when the season ends and be honest and ask himself “did I honestly get more out of this ballclub than was expected?” You either did or you didn’t. Nobody cares who got injured or who got traded before the deadline. You either did or you didn’t. It goes to show that the star-studded lineups aren’t always the path. You think the O’s are all geared-up in the clubhouse right now getting ready for whoever they’re playing tonight? HELL yes they are. They’re talking about it. They’re loving every minute of this. Have we got that going on in our clubhouse?

I had a hard time when I found out Santa Claus wasn’t real back at age seven. I really did. But I learned that people will ask you if you “believe” in something when there is very little (if any) evidence of something being “true” or “real”..... The “believers” in Jo Adell have made quite a few excuses for him. I don’t understand why. Why can’t we just look at the numbers? Or some of the replays? It’s okay to see things as they are. IMHO? Bust..... Hope I’m wrong....and will genuinely be happy if people one day tell me “see? you should have believed!” But I’ve already been burned on that Santa Claus deal. Many have dubbed Adell (from day one when he was drafted) as literally “the second coming of Christ” I’m starting to see why. Because waiting for him to come around has literally been as slow, if not slower....than “The second coming of Christ” I’m just sayin’