JUNE 30: Ohtani is “healthy” and ready to take on both pitching and hitting duties when camp re-opens, per GM Billy Eppler (via Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com, on Twitter).
JUNE 25: Angels manager Joe Maddon gave some good news on right-hander/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani yesterday, telling reporters that the two-way star will be utilized similarly to how he would in a normal 162-game season (Twitter link via MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger). That will line Ohtani up to pitch once per week as part of what Maddon expects to be a six-man Angels rotation.
The delayed start to the season looks to have given Ohtani ample time to fully recover from both his 2018 Tommy John procedure and last September’s left knee surgery. The Halos can now deploy him as their primary DH on days when he doesn’t pitch — and enjoy the benefit of a bat that has produced a career .286/.352/.531 slash — and consider him the highest-upside pitcher in their rotation.
We haven’t seen Ohtani on a big league mound since Sept. 2, 2018, but in that rookie year he worked to a 3.31 ERA with averages of 11 strikeouts, 3.8 walks and 1.05 home runs allowed per nine innings pitched. He’s still only totaled 51 2/3 frames as a pitcher in the Majors, but there’s plenty of reason to be bullish on the 25-year-old’s future in the rotation.
Maddon also said he’s “very” hopeful that fellow right-handers Griffin Canning and Felix Pena will be ready for the new Opening Day (Twitter link via The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya). Canning has been progressing through a throwing program after receiving an ominous elbow diagnosis back in Spring Training (“chronic changes” to the UCL and acute joint irritation). He was cleared of any tearing in his problematic ligament, though, and has had no setbacks since receiving an injection.
Pena, meanwhile, tore his ACL while covering first base last August. He underwent surgery that came with a recovery timetable of up to nine months, and it seems he’s progressed through that rehabilitation process without much issue. While he was questionable for the original opener, the 30-year-old swingman should be a solid multi-inning piece for the Angels now that he’s healthy and could even start some games. He’s made 24 starts in the past two seasons and pitched seven hitless innings of relief against the Mariners in last year’s memorable and emotional combined no-hitter.
Ohtani and Canning will be joined southpaw Andrew Heaney and newcomers Julio Teheran and Dylan Bundy in a revamped Halos rotation. Pena could be in the mix for the sixth spot to which Maddon alluded, although there will likely be several names in that competition. Matt Andriese, Patrick Sandoval, Jaime Barria, Jose Suarez, Dillon Peters and old friend/non-roster invitee JC Ramirez could all be considered. And regardless of who is tabbed to round out the unit come July 23-24, the Angels’ overwhelming rash of injuries in recent years serves as a reminder that depth is key and a rotation outlook can change in a hurry as health troubles arise.
DarkSide830
short season should help Angels more than anyone else with that glass rotation.
RunDMC
I wouldn’t be that surprised to see their rotation take major strides this way. Teheran should provide quality innings, esp in front of that defense (Simba, Trout). FWIW, Teheran’s 2 best years were in front of Simba.
Will be interesting to see Heaney/Canning/Pena/Bundy. Could be some surprises.
Padres458
No, they will suck.
AngelDiceClay
Being a Padre fan You would think you would know a bad team having watching The Friars. But again you’re wrong amigo.
Halo11Fan
Exactly. When is the last time the Padres finished over 500?
They write more smack than any bad team in baseball.
Eatdust666
2010, they went 90-72 but finished 2 games behind the Giants for the NL West and 1 game behind the Braves for a Wildcard spot, despite the fact that they had a 6.5 game lead in the NL West and were 27 games over .500 on August 25 at 76-49, but lost 23 out of their last 37 games, including a 10 game losing streak from August 26 to September 5 and had only winning streak longer than 2 games during that pathetic stretch (September 6-September 8).
Halo11Fan
OK. so you have to go ten years to get to a 500 season. The most games they won since that is 76.
Wow, if you think that makes the Padres look better, you’re wrong.
AngelDiceClay
Oh boy 1 season in the last 10
A'sfaninLondonUK
This news rather ties Uncle Albert to first base for 50 of the 60 games – or the foreseeable future.
Not forgetting Rufus the dog either.
I’m an A’s fan hoping Ohtani will be a success too. Hard to believe, but true…
Halo11Fan
Albert is still an above average first baseman. I realize it’s hard to believe, but it’s true.
A'sfaninLondonUK
Is that a per dollar price, above average? And please call him Uncle out of respect.
prov356
And AP has been an RBI stud as an Angel. In 8 seasons as an Angel, he’s averaged 93.25 RBIs. When you back out the 3 seasons with under 600 plate appearances (injured), he averaged 105 RBIs. Regardless of all the stat minutia available today, RBIs are what win games.
Halo11Fan
No. It’s statcast outs above average where they review every play. Including ball speed. where the player is positioned and how fast the runner is.
It’s the most accurate system available.
Halo11Fan
That has more do to with him hitting behind Trout.
In this lineup, he should be batting 7th.
scottn59c
“We’re so sorry…Uncle Albert…but we haven’t heard a bloody thing ALL DAY….”
Halo11Fan
Ram On. How did I miss that reference.
A'sfaninLondonUK
Hahaha – that’s funny. Thank you for observing. He wore an ear trumpet as you’ll remember.
My argument is whether the Halos got value for money for the contract, however you value it – because IMHO – things like shirt sales counts.
Personally I don’t think so because I think that sort of money should have pushed them deep into a post season with Trout on board, whereas I think they have a similar number of post season successes to my team in the last decade.
Not a big fan of the rocks either. While we’ve all got our quirks and kinks, why do you build a ballpark and think – oooh – let’s have a rockery over there, darling, and perhaps a nice water feature here?
Eatdust666
Exactly, I’ll take that statistic over batting average any day. So yeah, if I am giving an option to have a hitter that has a batting between .250 and .270 with 30+ bombs and 100+ rbis or one that hits between .280 and .300 with 10-20+ bombs and 70+ rbis, I’m taking the guy with more power, which will also likely draw more walks, though some big power guys don’t walk much.
Joggin’George
RBIs May win games but the player credited with them is only partially responsible for them and so, as a stat RBIs are terrible for judging individual player value
Warisalie
don’t you guys know? Pujols only hit 93 rbi because mike trout! Even when other people do something good it’s still all about mike trout. It’s not because old man albert hit 294 with risp it’s because mike trout! The trout jock riding fan club never lets up lol. We know you can’t get an rbi unless someone’s on base bro! We know. Nobody said it’s the end all be all stat…. nobody. All he did was point out his rbi prowess. Now I know you guys are going to come burn my house down and the mob will throw rocks at me because I dare say trouts name. Smh. He’s the best in the game, but I’d be more impressed if he hit his way on base. He’s only on base because he walks all the time. But did you know what trouts avg with risp was last year? .297….. a whopping .003 better than that old worthless dog that nobody gives any credit to(pujols). I guess people don’t evaluate clutch because that’s why big AL always hit middle of order til now.( he’s a geezer and can barely run give him some credit already ).
Warisalie
You can’t talk with halo fan. If it’s not war or stat cast he won’t want to hear it. Been down this road with him before, him and the mob will beat you up for giving any credit to Pujols. Albert only gets rbis because of trout. Trout is the goat. Trout is the secret father of every man on earth, he invented the time machine just to go back and knock our mothers up. Trout is the messiah. Even when he dies he will return one day. Just ask halofan.
prov356
Warisalie – You’re a weird dude.
Halo11Fan
There are better stats than RBIs.
It’s pretty darn easy to look at situation stats to support your argument.
averagejoe15
Stat minutia, RBIs win games…lol. Good players win games and RBIs are a terrible way to evaluate player ability.
Heck even going off your argument, RBIs don’t win games, runs themselves do, and you don’t necessarily even have to bat in a run to score – i.e. Errors, balking/walking in runs, stealing home, etc. So shouldn’t you prefer Runs as your flawed stat of choice?
wild bill tetley
Defensive teams would rather walk a player than to allow that player to hit a dribble for an RBI. Walks to not translate into runs.
I’ll go out on a limb and say there were more RBI’s by fly outs and ground outs than runs scored on balks and stealing home combined. That could be a stretch!
AngelDiceClay
ForDisney was responsible for the rocks. They owned the team at the time of the ballpark renovation. It may be a issue with you. But its better than what other ballparks have in CF.For the record Colorado has a something similar at Coors field.
AngelDiceClay
Who’s your dealer Hunter S Thompsom?
dirkg
Keep in mind Uncle Albert would be hitting 6th (or later) in this revamped lineup. So the expectations should be to show up and play solid 1B and drive in runs when needed. And please for the Love of God stay out of double plays.
Based on Maddon’s initial discussions in ST, this was the lineup Bleacher Report and others had published…
2B Tommy La Stella
CF Mike Trout
3B Anthony Rendon
DH Shohei Ohtani
LF Justin Upton
1B Albert Pujols
C Jason Castro
RF Brian Goodwin
SS Andrelton Simmons
…with David Fletcher cycling through 2B, SS, 3B, OF, and perhaps 1B giving player days off…
Halo11Fan
And Adell being in RF as soon as his year of service time is not a factor.
Angels & NL West
Maddon did not do this in Spring Training games, but what do you think of Fletcher and LaStella fulltime at 2B and 1B, respectively? Ohtani would be the primary DH when available. Albert would get his ABs at DH, PH and limited time at 1B.
dirkg
You and I may like that idea, but Albert wouldn’t. He’s made it very clear he’s going to fulfill his commitment of 10 years with the Angels and will play through 2021.
…
I played golf with one of the head Angel Stadium groundskeepers and he said that Albert is a powerful voice in that clubhouse. Trout is relatively quiet, but Albert is not. I think the Angels know Albert’s value goes way beyond his on-play performance (clubhouse and the community).
…
I also think that was one of the reasons they couldn’t wait to bring in Maddon; Joe has the experience and gravitas to be able to work with Albert in showing him his overall value while lessening his importance on the field (giving more days off, lower in the lineup, etc.).
(OMG IT’S NICE TO TALK BASEBALL AGAIN)
Warisalie
Agreed Albert hits into a ton of double plays ( most ever ) but that comes with actually trying to hit the ball. It’s that old school mentality of not wanting to strikeout ( never struck out 100 times in a season in his whole career ). But that hurts the team sometimes. I agree with you. However he will be hitting 5 sometimes because we all know upton can’t stay healthy.
angelsinthetroutfield
Disagree. It could be argued that the lack of an adequate Spring Training warmup puts fragile arms at greater risk.
I think one of the NL Central teams are the biggest benefactor. Not only do the get to add another bat to the lineup but they also get more games vs inferior competition (PIT, DET, KC)
DarkSide830
i doubt this is the case. these guys have been throwing to some degree since March. i think they’ll be both fairly ready but also a bit fresh health-wise.
bkbkbkbk
There’s very little research that shows correlation to an extended ST and arm injuries.
Halo11Fan
The Angels, Yankees, and a few other teams are really helped, but I.M.O the A’s are the team that is helped the most.
They have four very talented pitchers, three were injured, one is coming off PEDs. No one threw many innings last year. Now they will pitch the entire season.
AngelDiceClay
And the best player on the planet. Thank you thank you thank you.And the best 2 way player on the planet
wild bill tetley
Gotten you zero playoff wins. You are welcome.
Halo11Fan
wildbilltetley.
So what? Trout is the best player since Willie Mays and time will tell if he turns out to be better than Willie Mays.
AngelDiceClay
Its okay if your jealous. I understand
The Human Rain Delay
I hate the Angels, so it pains me to say but Trout will be the best baseball player ever when all is said and done
angelsfan4life
Heaney will most likely be the Angels worst starting pitcher.
Halo11Fan
You’re going to have to explain that to me. His big peripherals are top notch, including 11 Ks per nine innings.
californiaangels
I forgot its been a while, but does the team with more Ks win?? I thought it was who had more runs but I could be wrong
Joggin’George
Peripherals. Peripherals such as K rate are often indicators of future success.
Halo11Fan
K Rate, Swinging Strike rate. How often a batter fails to make contact with a pitch in the strike zone.
Almost all of the great pitchers have that in common. Heaney falls just outside the elite range.
bkbkbkbk
Don’t feed the trolls
angelsfan4life
Heaney and Bundy have similar career ERA, Bundy was pitching in a division of nothing but hitter friendly parks. Heaney pitching in a pretty much neutral home ballpark has a career ERA under 4 at home, but his career road ERA is almost 6. He has games where he looks good, but he has more games where he looks like he is pitching for the homerun derby.
Halo11Fan
There are better ways to judge a young pitchers future than looking at ERA.
Heaney has 438 lifetime innings. Bundy has 614. Those 180 innings are a big deal.
I’ll look at the peripherals.
Eatdust666
Yes, but he also gave up 8.8 hits per nine innings and 1.9 home runs per nine innings.
Halo11Fan
He sure did. He’s making the mistakes young pitchers make.
Which is why he’s not a borderline elite pitcher but a pitcher with borderline elite stuff.
Eatdust666
Yeah and of course there’s definitely room for improvement
Val4christ23
Your wrong hes our best pitcher along with ohtani. You may not like him but he’s the best pitcher we got. Heaney and ohtabim oh yeah cannin too. Heaney may be the opening day starter. Yay
Halo11Fan
He can’t explain why. He’s a fan, he made a Pavlovian response.
It’s what fans do.
angelsfan4life
Can’t explain why, he has an ERA of almost 6 on the road for his career. Heaney and Bundy have basically the same amount of service time in the majors. Bundy has almost 200 career more innings pitched. I compare Heaney and Bundy, because no one would ever say Bundy is a border line elite pitcher.
DTD_ATL
I’m honestly surprised that a 6 man rotation isn’t a very common thing, especially for teams with a lot of young or fragile arms.
Metfan1964
Why is easy, money- if a pitcher is in a 6 man rotation they play less games- and salaries would take a hit.
HubcapDiamondStarHalo
(bats eyes innocently) But surely, if they were working fewer innings, pitchers would take less money, right?
layventsky
Unless you’re a premier closer or Andrew Miller.
Angels & NL West
HubcapDiamondStarHalo – Does your name derive from the T Rex song “Bang a Gong”? What does it mean?
HubcapDiamondStarHalo
That’s indeed the source I swiped it from. I’ve wanted a hubcap diamond star halo for most of my life; however, I have zero idea what it means.
averagejoe15
Counter-point – If they are pitching fewer games with more rest they may pitch better to offset the loss of innings.
Joggin’George
It’s comfort level, I think… some pitchers say that an extra day rest messes with their ability to throw off speed… but I can see the 6 man coming in the near future, although they’d probably need to add another roster spot in order to accommodate
HubcapDiamondStarHalo
That’s gonna be interesting to see, because as mentioned above, good pitching is expensive*, and I can see the argument of “why plug a below par hurler into the rotation just for the sake of going six-man?”
*For that matter, fair or even mediocre pitching is expensive…
M.C.Homer
Even Corbin (who had TJ) and Clevinger (who has had trouble staying healthy) seem to have been stung by the curse. Even after both traded away by the Angels.
Yeah, gotta be Nolan Ryan controlling the voodoo doll, still angry at Buzzie…I’m convinced. Yup.
AngelDiceClay
Why would Ryan be mad at Buzzie for letting him sign with the Astros in his home state of Texas and make more money than the Angels were offering?
M.C.Homer
Because he should have been an Angel for life.
Buzzie insulted him with that famous comment that he could replace Ryan with a couple other pitchers. If I was Ryan, I would have left too, angry.
Ryan still holds that Grudge. He felt betrayed. He wanted to stay to play for the Cowboy and bring him home a championship! He was a loyal Angel, and unexpected some loyalty back. He won’t come back for any Angel Hall of Fame activities because of this. He was my idol, out of all the pain I’ve ever experienced of being an Angel fan, this has to be the worst one. It still stings in my mind 40 years later.
Halo11Fan
And Ryan insulted Fregosi and was 100% wrong.
Fregosi went to bat for Ryan, but Ryan went public and said he didn’t. Fregosi didn’t go public until years later. Fregosi didn’t hold a grudge.
Ryan wasn’t all that good in 1978-79. He also insisted on a four man rotation, which hurt Tanana. Tanana doesn’t hold a grudge.
Ryan is human being. He made mistakes and so did Bavasi.
Yankees98
This whole season is going to be so weird, and with the limited workloads of the pitchers in 2020, I am really hoping that we don;t see a rash of pitching injuries in 2021.
Old User Name
I wouldn’t doubt there will be fallout from this season lasting the next two, maybe three seasons.
Halo11Fan
I would think just the opposite. You are asking starting pitchers to go 60 innings and not 150 innings.
HubcapDiamondStarHalo
I’m wondering about position players as well. We’re not all that far away from the same amount of down time as the players normally experience in the offseason. There was what, three weeks worth of organized activity for the players since the beginning of last November? Even with spring training part deux, I’m fearful of a lot of pulls and strains.
californiaangels
Canning will get TJS by September . no doubts there
I feel tho this shortened season could really help the Angel’s out pitching wise. help ease ohtani , heany usually comes out if spring dinged up. Pena should be ready. a few young guys should be fresh and ready to make an impact, and if not swap one out for the other.
Halo11Fan
“Canning will get TJS by September . no doubts there..”
What must it be like to have no doubt?
DarkSide830
you understand what a hyperbole is, right? I agree – id be quite willing to put a good bet down on Canning needing TJS. 98% of the pitchers whose injury progression has followed what the headlines have suggested end up needing the surgery.
Halo11Fan
Maybe. If you ask me if he’s going to get TJ surgery, Probably yes.
If you ask me if it’s going to be by September, I’d wouldn’t bet on it.
If someone says they have no doubt, I’d call them a fool.
prov356
Dark – that’s not hyperbole. That’s a prediction.
prov356
Angels are looking good all the way around with the extra down time. The rotation was the main concern as always and the time helped everyone heal. Canning is the main concern now as the injections don’t usually equate to long term health without getting surgery eventually.
Brac2brac
Good till you recall Trout’s wife is pregnant. He ain’t playing this year till after the child is born.
prov356
Oh, when did he tell you that?
Halo11Fan
Trouts playing. What we don’t know is how much time is he going to miss.
He’s going to a hospital. He’s leaving town. And he’s going to have to be quarantined for a period of time before he’s allowed to play again.
Does he miss a week? Ten days? No one has a clue.
Warisalie
Omt ….. mike the god might not play this year? Halo fan will jump off a bridge. Matter of fact it’s not even omg anymore it’s omt…. trout has replaced god. Only mike could have a kid and be there for the birth but yet be at the stadium simultaneously walking his way on base. He’s like screw face from that corny Steven segal movie( he’s got a lot of them I know).
AngelDiceClay
Warisalie
Whos your favorite team,? I’m guessing by your disdain of Trout being on the Angels its either The A’s or M’s
DarkSide830
any team with a workable #6 option should do a 6 man rotation this year, or at least do the tandem starter thing the Mets were going to before Thor went down.
Joggin’George
I see your point but most teams are lucky to have just 5 viable options
Halo11Fan
Remember the four man rotation?
Joggin’George
Those were the days…
Halo11Fan
My golden years of baseball were between 1969 and 1976.
Fast games. Contact ball. Four teams made the playoffs. The Yankees couldn’t buy Championships… and the four man rotation. And of course the 75 World Series.
Those were the years.
M.C.Homer
So wait, you’re saying those were the days and citing the 4 man rotation as part of that?
I took it as you were criticizing that same thing in an earlier comment about Nolan Ryan.
But yeah man, Tanana was a stud for sure. Electric up to 1978. Too bad it went down that way. Tanana and Ryan then the cryin.
Halo11Fan
How long have you been a fan? No insult, I’m just wondering if you remember the 70s.
In the early 70s most pitchers were fastball and curve and of course you had parts of the lineups you could pitch around.
The game changed to no weak spots in the lineup, teams figuring out how to use the DH, pitchers who threw four pitches.
You could no longer coast through a lineup and you needed more than two pitches. It’s why they had to go to a five man rotation. And since Ryan was still a two pitch pitcher, he didn’t care.
Ryan’s ERA + his first two years with the Angels 125. His ERA his last two years 105. Ryan probably could have used the extra day.
whyhayzee
I like / dislike the 6 man rotation idea.. It’s fine when your starter gives you 6 innings of good quality but I think you have a problem if one or two of your pitchers can’t get out of the third inning. It starts to put a strain on the bullpen to pick up too many innings. Maybe the answer is to use the starter who only gives you 3 innings as a relief option about 3 days later. I always feel like the key to success is not having to overuse your bullpen. Sometimes that is dealt with by veteran innings eaters soaking up less stressful innings for the more valuable arms to stay fresh. Every team needs a couple of those guys on their staff. Not a popular job.
FattKemp
Why are they wasting a spot on a 6th guy? In a 5 man, someone would start 12 games max. 130 pitches/start should be the minimum. The 6th, 7th, 11th guys can sub in when someone gets hurt. 6 guys? What’s the point?
prov356
Fatt – 130 pitches per start? When was the last time that happened?
Halo11Fan
Not one Angels pitcher pitched 100 innings last year. This is not the most healthy staff in the world.
Eatdust666
That’s true, but hey, look at the bright side, they didn’t have someone that was suspended due to domestic violence, unlike my team (Yankees), stupid German.
scottn59c
I’m stoked to hear Ohtani is coming back. As a Giants fan, I don’t really get to see him much, but he’s one of the most extraordinary and talented players the game has seen in a long time, and it was a bummer to lose him for an extended period right after he broke into American baseball. Wishing him a good year!
rocky7
Don’t like to throw stones, but if a .285 hitter with 40 bombs through what 210 games, with 51 total innings pitched is the most extraordinary and talented players you have seen in a long time…..you frankly haven’t watched any baseball in quiet some time…..you’re missing seeing games in which there are some really great players who have far exceeded those stats for sure.
Halo11Fan
I don’t look at RBIs, but I do look at situational stats.
Pujols last year with RISP. 294/362/551.
That can’t be discounted.
Warisalie
Dude you sure didn’t want to cite that stat line a few weeks ago when we got into it over mike the god. Those stats were bouncing right off you. Glad you came to see the light. Now I won’t troll you so much
Joggin’George
You can troll me. I think batting average with runners in scoring position is completely useless stat that measures nothing useful for future predictions.
Warisalie
Future predictions? Sure. But we weren’t talking about the future we were talking about what already happened. So now stats aren’t any good u less they measure the future? Got it. Lol
Halo11Fan
He is the most talented. He pitches 100 MPH. Is the fastest player on the team and hits the ball the furthest.
Babe Ruth couldn’t even do that. He’s the most talented player I’ve even seen. But I didn’t watch Mays and Mantle too much. You didn’t get a chance to watch them too much in the mid 60s.
jdgoat
Agreed. He’s the most exciting player in the league, and it’s not really close. I cant wait for his first season where the arm is completely healthy. It’s going to be crazy how much value he could contribute.
Halo11Fan
JD Goat, he’s clearly the most interesting player in baseball.
I can’t take my eyes off him.
prov356
Ohtani once parallel parked a train.
toooldtocare
I agree. Has great baseball instincts. My Rangers are still dumbfounded that he didn’t sign with them.
toooldtocare
Also, I’d trade 2 Joey Gallos for him
Angels & NL West
With Ohtani, Heaney and Canning healthy, this is the Angels best rotation in several years. They will be aided by a great infield defense, great pitch framer in Castro and a deceptively strong bullpen. They will also benefit from three competent long men in Andriese, Pena and JC Rameriz.
Regarding Ohtani, keep in mind he has only thrown approximately 75 total innings the last three years; 2017-25, 2018-50 and zero last year. As a result, even in a short season his pitch count and innings be monitored closely.
Halo11Fan
I like the Angels Chances.
It’s clearly the best staff since the Weaver and Lackey days.
Javia
I can see that you fans are very excited about the Angel’s rotation, but I must say that I do not really get it. I saw all off-season so many Angel’s fans complaining about how management didn’t do anything to improve the rotation, and now it is great? I see 4 starters with mid to high 4 lifetime ERAs, one of whom has major arm health issues. You can talk peripherals all you want, but it all comes down to how many runs you give up per game and none of those 4 are any good at that. Julio Teheran has an excellent mid 3 lifetime ERA, but his best days are surely behind him if he was just allowed to walk. Counting on anything but 4.50-5.00 ERAs from these guys is just wishful thinking at this point.
I love Ohtani. He can definitely be one of the best pitchers in baseball and yes, he is absolutely it’s most exciting player(right there with Trout, Acuna and Tatis). I just don’t think he can do it all on his own. I see one great pitcher and a big group of cast-offs and last-chancers. Sorry.
Angels & NL West
Wheeler, Ryu, Kluber, etc would have looked pretty good in an Angels uniform. Nobody is going to mistake this collection of arms for the 90s Braves. Angels fans are just happy that its nearly July and no one has gone down with TJ surgery yet. That’s a big win for us after the past 4 years.
This rotation is surrounded by pieces that will make them better and they will need to rely on them. As noted previously; elite infield defense, elite pitch framing, solid backend of the bullpen and nice long relief options. And a good looking lineup 1-9 that should score runs.
If the rotation takes advantage of the help surrounding them, they can get thru a lineup twice in 5ish innings. The bullpen and offense will have to do the rest.
The Angels don’t have a top rotation, but with the components surrounding them, they may not need to be.
Warisalie
Mike is not exciting to watch. I have seen him walk enough already, that’s all he does. I’m waiting for him to turn into Richard Simmons(slowly walks to first base curling 5 lb weights bopping to 90s music)
Javia
Please. When the Angels are on TV, baseball fans may go to the kitchen or the bathroom when any of the other 8 players is up at bat. Never with Mike Trout.
AngelDiceClay
Really? Rendon and Ohtani not worth watching? When did sniffing glue become hip again?
AngelDiceClay
Another jealous fan.
M.C.Homer
I’m a little surprised to see that Detmers has not signed yet. I’m sure the Angels would have liked to put him on the 60 man list that is coming due shortly.
AngelDiceClay
He made the remark AFTER Ryan signed with the Astros.
Halo11Fan
Ryan looked to be in the decline. He was no longer an elite pitcher.
Most teams make mistakes signing such players. Ryan turned out to be the exception.
By the way… Without looking it up, does anyone remember Ryan’s Regular season out in an Angel uniform? For him, It might have been unique.
M.C.Homer
Love Angel history.
Can you please re phrase the question?
“Season out”
I’d like to take a guess.
Halo11Fan
Ryan picked off a runner at second base to end his regular season Angel career.
That was the game that really won the West. One of the best games I’ve seen.
M.C.Homer
The Avatar sure doesnt look like it…but you sound just as knowledgeable with your Angel history as Roger…
M.C.Homer
Correction: Avatar doesnt look like him…
Brac2brac
Lol. Season starts late July and she’s due in August. CA and AZ infection rates are raging right now. He’s really rolling the dice that he’ll escape exposure which would mean missing the birth.
He’ll get special treatment from the hospital for sure, but it’s guaranteed that he’s worried about not being there. Also worried about going home every night if they are together in CA.
mdunkel
Is he going to Japan and pitch? He won’t be pitching in the USA this year. These guys are dreaming of they think there will be a season.
Halo11Fan
How you people know everything is beyond me.
I wish people like you made betting odds. I’d make a fortune.
TheLawAbides
Ohtani is great pitcher and possibly an ace but I just want to let everyone to know he’s also always pitching on extra days of rest and to look up all ace pitchers on extra days of rest
shortytallz
That is one bad rotation. yikes