ispy45

So in situations where Ausmus has actually thought his starter deserved a shot at the third time through the order his pitchers have gotten lit up to the tune of a .974 OPS, and you would suggest he aught to try it more often when he didn't think his starters deserved that chance?

Up until July 24th (game 2 of the Dodgers' series), the Angels were still a competitor for the 2nd WC spot so they managed their pitchers accordingly:
Game 1 against BALT: Jose Suarez pitched into the 5th innning, getting one out, but gave up back to back singles and was pulled on his 80th pitch, just the beginning of the third time through the order and tied 1-1
Game 2 against BALT: Nick Tropeano gave up 7 runs in the 1st two innings and was kept in there through 5 inning because the BP was exhausted from the previous night's game
Game 3 against BALT: Dillon Petters gave up 5 runs (2 earned) in 4 innings
Game 4 against BALT: Felix Pena gives up 4 runs (1 earned) in 5 innings...Orioles scored 3 of their 4 runs in the top of the 5th, after two were out and third time through the order
Game 1 against DET: Jaime Barria gives 3 runs (2 earned) in 5 innings...was pulled at 84 pitches at third time through the order
Game 2 against DET: Griffin Canning pitches 6 shutout innings at 93 pitches
Game 3 against DET: Suarez gives up 4 runs in 4.1 IP and is removed in 5th at 84 pitches leaving the base loaded, 1 out, third time through the order
Game 1 against Indians: Angels try Taylor Cole as opener, since he'd been successful before and he gives up 4 runs in 0.1 Inning, Dillon Petters pitches the rest of the game 7.2 Innings, only giving up 3 more runs on 104 pitches
Game 2 against Indians: Pena pitches 1.2 perfect innings before blowing out his knee
Game 3 against Indians: Jaime Barria gives up 3 runs in 3.2 Innings at 89 pitches and third time through the order
Game 1 against Reds: Angels try Taylor Cole again as opener, gives up 5 runs in 1st inning, Sandoval pitches 5 IP 2 ER at 96 pitches
Game 2 against Reds: Suarez gives up 6 runs in 5 innings at 91 pitches (gave up 3 runs in the 1st and 3 in the 4th)
Game 1 against Red Sox: Peters goes 6 innings 3 runs 97 pitches, Angels get shutout by Sale
Game 2 against Red Sox: Barria goes 5 IP gives 5 runs on 99 pitches
Game 3 against Red Sox:  Heaney, just coming off the IL, gives up 1 run in 3.1 IP at 74 pitches
Game 4 against Red Sox: Sandoval pitches 4.2 IP gives 4 runs on 95 pitches, left with the bases loaded in the 5th with Red Sox at third time through the line-up
Game 1 against Pirates: Suarez gives 6 runs (4 earned) in 3 IP on 69 pitches
Game 2 against Pirates: Canning gives up 4 runs in 4 innings and 80 pitches
Game 3 against Pirates: Peters goes 6 IP 2 ER on 94 pitches
Game 1 against While Sox: Heaney goes 7 IP 3 runs 90 pitches
Game 2 against White Sox: Sandoval goes 4.1 IP 3 Runs on 74 pitches, pulled in 5th after striking out the White Sox lead-off hitter in his third appearance
Game 3 against White Sox: Noe Ramirez opens, gives up 1 R in 1.1 IP, Suarez goes 4 IP 4 runs on 82 pitches
Game 4 against White Sox: Canning goes 7 IP 1 Run on 101 pitches
Game 1 against Rangers: Peters goes 4 IP 5 runs (4 earned) on 106 pitches, he loaded the bases with no outs in the 5th third time through the order before being pulled
Game 2 against Rangers: Heaney goes 8 IP 1 Run on 108 pitches
Game 3 against Rangers: Barria goes 5 IP 2 runs on 77 pitches, gave up both runs in the 5th, third time through the order.
Game 4 against Rangers: Sandoval goes 3.1 IP 4 runs on 8 hits 74 pitches
So, in the past 25 games, they've only used the opener three times, a lot of guys are averaging close to 20 pitches per inning, and seem to be getting into trouble third time through the order.  The pitcher are starting without an opener for the most part so Aumus and company seem to be 1) limiting the opener use and 2) letting them pitchout of trouble when they can with mixed results
Based on the starters available (Pena and Canning are no longer an option), I'm not sure how they could have handled them much better.

Thanks @mulwin444 for doing the work.  This is why actually looking at what happening versus making judgements based on results is super important.  

Another day another thread full of the regular bitches.  

The batter hit the catcher in the head with his backswing before the throw 

Fletcher is no where near Simmons quality of play in the field.

Where's the thread on Mike Trout striking out with the bases loaded and one out?

Except that it amazingly was created after the pop out. Coincidence? Hardly.

Its farther than far fetched. Literally 0% chance they would even entertain the thought of it. They would laugh and hang up

They're not going to trade an ace-caliber starter for a guy who's hitting .230 and is a free agent after the season. Perhaps Calhoun could be included in the deal, but it would take a lot more than just him.

There's about a 0.00000000% chance the Indians make that trade.

He and his family came into my work today (AT&T).
 
- Seems to be doing well. 
- His wife was surprised that I knew who he was, which I actually didn't realize it until after I asked for his ID.
- He was surprised I knew that he had been traded to us by the Padres and that he ended up with the Rangers.
- He said he's done with baseball.
- He agreed with me when I mentioned that I thought he should have made the All-Star game when he had 0.00 ERA at the All-Star break that season, but he commented that he knew he had no chance since managers select the pitchers and that Ron Washington would never pick him.
- He brought up the Skaggs tragedy and was saddened by it like all of us.
- He mentioned he's not keeping with baseball as much as he'd like to and was interested to know how Pujols was doing, and seemed genuinely happy when I told him he was having a bit of an up year.
- He was curious what happened with Garrett Richards and took a little bit of a jab at the Padres when I told him he's currently signed with the Padres.
- He asked about Ohtani and whether he was pitching again already.
- He saw on iPhone case that said "long hair don't care" and commented that Jered Weaver would always say that.
- Asked for my card and said he'd ask for me if he ever stops by.
 
All in all was pretty random but cool to encounter an ex-Angel at work.

If you can then it is going to be for someone that makes $15 million or so a year.  You are not getting a young major league starting pitcher with controllable years for Kole.  You are getting prospects or a well compensated pitcher that a team would like to get out of the contract.

Nah, most overlooked is Hansel Robles.

Nah, most overlooked is Hansel Robles.

Suarez was facing the top of the order for the third time in less than four innings. If you have some foolish idea he was being effective then there is no amount of logic that would convince you that after walking the #8 hitter then hitting the next batter wasn't cause to remove him. 

I am buying a Robles Jersey.

So if they offered dick you would have accepted? 

He said he didn't care about the money. It's obviously worth something to him.
Why is this so difficult for people to grasp? 

do we still hate Lucroy?  asking for a friend..... and why isn't LaStella hitting cleanup?.......  he leads the team in RBIs and homers

He can play first, right?

That was on Trout. Bour would have been out. You guys would have been complaining why did Bour go to home plate after being tagged out.
 
 
 

You can't effectively judge Cozart after 4 games. 

Yes.  It did.  Everything went right.
It continues to be a happy memory.
But in terms of roster planning, I aim higher.

Sorry to be a buzz kill but any and all "reminds me of 2002 team" comments are kind of an eye roller for me.
Believe me that season was incredibly fun and satisfying and great.
But the reality is that roster was just OK.  So when I read "reminds me of 2002 team" all I really hear in my head is "reminds me of an OK roster."
The good news is an OK roster CAN win a WS.  We saw it.  You just gotta make the postseason.