Here are three things worth monitoring today…
1. Fourth of July:
Since it is the Fourth of July, that means there’s a whole lot going on, including an entire day of baseball action. It gets started early with the Reds and Nationals kicking things off at 10:05am Central, and will go deep into the night with the Pirates and Dodgers starting at 8:10.
Naturally, there’s more than just the on-field action for fans to enjoy. There will be plenty of fireworks, food and festivities of all kinds as America celebrates its 247th birthday.
2. Trout wrist injury:
Angels outfielder Mike Trout departed last night’s game with an apparent injury. He later told reporters, including Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register, that he was getting X-rays on his left wrist. “I’m just praying the results come back clean,” Trout said. “It doesn’t feel great. Hopefully it’s just a sprained wrist.”
Needless to say, any kind of significant injury to Trout would be a serious blow to the Angels. With Shohei Ohtani set to hit free agency in a few months, the club is hoping to make the playoffs this year, both to break their own drought that dates back to 2014 and show Ohtani they can put a winning team around him in order to convince him to stay. Losing their other superstar for any amount of time would obviously hamper those efforts. Though if the issue is minor, the timing would be fairly fortunate since the upcoming All-Star break would allow Trout to take a few days off to recuperate.
3. Skubal back on the hill:
The Tigers are expected to send left-hander Tarik Skubal to the mound as their starter in today’s game. This would be his first time in a major league game in almost a full year, as his last appearance was August 1 of 2022. He posted a 3.52 ERA in 21 starts last season before requiring flexor tendon surgery that has kept him out of action until now.
The Tigers also recently welcomed back Matt Manning and have Eduardo Rodriguez potentially coming back tomorrow, making their starting rotation the healthiest it has been in quite a while. Those pitching injuries have contributed to a lackluster 37-46 record but that only puts them 4.5 games off the lead in the weak American League Central. If the stabilized rotation helps them win a few extra games, they could get right back in the race. Like the Angels, the Tigers haven’t made the playoffs since 2014, the longest active droughts in the league. Skubal is on the 60-day injured list and will require a corresponding 40-man move in order to be activated.
I caught a trout once. It didn’t have any wrists.
You and your fish stories.
Sounds fishy to me
Happy Independence Day, everyone. Good thing we kicked out those British. Only problem is that we shouldn’t have let them stay in North America. We should have driven them out of Canada as well.
“We” tried during the War of 1812, and got a bloody nose.
@rodcannon
So, does that mean that was the beginning of the end of the American Empire? We win our independence and want to remove the British from North America and we give up? That’s weak! We should have doubled down and raised the American flag in London.
The British are very popular and very welcome in America.
@avenger65
I’m still upset with them. I will never forgive them for their treatment of our people in the colonies.
The USA wasn’t strong enough in 1812 to conquer Great Britain. Besides, our ancestors were preoccupied with taking the American West from the Indians.
Can we just stay out of politics? If you want to talk politics, go to twitter. I’d say go to facebook, but only one side is presented.
As evil as they were for taking over dozens of countries and trying to colonize them, the British still freed their slaves long before the US did.
And California did so much earlier than Texas did.
@Halo11Fan
I’m on topic, as point # 1 is about Independence Day. What’s wrong with me being patriotic? Should I just sit in my corner and keep to myself?
The Mayflower had rats. I want restitution.
Read it again. It’s just a date.
@Halo11Fan
Do you live in the U.S.?
@miltpappas
Animals have been moving around earth.
Side note, before plants were as numerous as they are now, they were polluting the air with oxygen that destroyed the environment for the existing creatures. So, O2 is a pollutant.
I use to live in California, I escaped.
July 4th is a traditional baseball date. Here it’s used as a date. There are plenty of places to talk politics. Why here? Are you telling me you can’t find a more appropriate venue?
@Halo11Fan
I’m not talking politics. I’m talking about July 4th as independence day. That’s what I grew up with when I was a kid. July 4th = Independence Day. I think you’re the one bringing politics into it.
Plenty of place to talk about that stuff. Such thoughts eventually devolve.
@Halo11Fan
I’m talking Independence Day, which is July 4th. You don’t need to read my posts if you don’t want to hear about Independence Day on July 4th.
Mute works. Unmute tomorrow. Or don’t.
But sequeing to your hatred of the British 400 years ago is a bit weird, mate.
Except you’re the one who turned Independence day into the revolutionary war, the war of 1812, your hatred of the British during those two wars, and the evils of oxygen. Don’t keep hiding behind July 4. You have more of an agenda than that.
Southpark: Blame Canada!
> Canada!
I like your ginger ale!
Independence Day is the greatest of all holidays. Without it none of what we have would be possible and a lot of what others around the globe have achieved would have been similarly impossible. We rightfully feel proud of America on this day and all that comes with being an American. It’s a privilege to live in the greatest nation on earth.
I choose Easter. I’m really sure the vast majority of Founding Fathers would also choose Easter.
Absolutely, Halo.
@Halo11Fan
The Founding Fathers would be looking at the mess we currently have and say, Oh well, we tried but things don’t always work out how they should have.
I think the Founding Fathers didn’t believe it lasted as long as it did.
I think the amendments they would change a little is the second and would insist rights begin at conception, if they could have gotten it ratified, they would have made slavery illegal.
I think they would ban Democrats from nominating Supreme Court Justices that circumvent The Constitution. I’m kidding, but I think they would be appalled by the three activist judges.
Don’t forget the soldiers who repelled the Germans in WW I and the Nazis and their allies in WW II. They stopped our enemies from trying to take this country away from us. That’s why the soldiers in WW II were called “The Greatest Generation”, because they were.
I wonder if the US offered Mexico a chance to join the US, if they would? Break it up into 32 more states… they would have quite a bit of power in congress.
I was thinking more along the lines of give California back to them. Not offer, but force it upon them.
The biggest state economy in the U.S. that sends the most federal tax to D.C.? Nope.
All the red states that live off of federal welfare might have to take less.
Facts are your friend…..
The 5th biggest economy in the world, except for the rest of the US, China, Japan, and Germany,
Because tech companies move there. It was a great place to live, now people escaping.
Out of all the states, California won the gene pool lottery. Now like many many people who win the lottery, they are screwing up what should have been.
It’s still growing.
It’s also a fact that ordinary average tax-paying folks are escaping California in droves.
I’d rather see them take Texas. There’s some weird things going on there.
We made a huge mistake by not annexing Baja long ago.
Get better soon, Mike!
The Angels are playing terrible. On the field. Yet again. MLB is not Rotisserie League.
Like the Cardinals and a few others, they’re moving guys away from their natural positions and asking them to play elsewhere to get a bat in the line-up. They’re sitting good defensive players. Their defense is constantly giving away games as it did last night. Fletcher messed up what should have been a DP in the first, the Angels found themselves behind 3-0 because of it. Got a stat for that? Andrew Velazquez should have been out there – who cares what he hits. SS is primarily a defensive position.
And for the 2nd year in a row the Angels have guys that are playing 1B that can’t play the position (and probably never did). Hunter Renfroe follows Brandon Drury who followed Matt Duffy from last year – and there are others…Gio Urshela, etc.
Ohtani has always asked that Velazquez play SS when he pitches. Of course he’s gone. Defense supports pitching and pitching wins. Ohtani knows that. Perry Minasian came from the Braves and should know better – they’d never do things like this. When Freeman left they got Olsen to replace him. It’s not just hitting. They understand how important a quality defensive 1B is to the infielders and pitcher.
The Angles have been difficult to watch all year.
I wonder what the Mets could get from the Angles for Alonso…
Sounds like all the wrong angles…
LOL
Yes, a real Gold Glover there.
Pete is a free agent after 2024. He has one of the fieriest desires to win of any player I watch in MLB (although not enough to concentrate and clean-up his defense). He would never sign with a team like the Angels to play with them past 2024.
What do you expect when half their team is hurt?
@Samuel Walsh was injured to start the season, they had to start someone at 1B. After his return they tried to play a natural 1B there and he just could not perform. I have trouble faulting them there. I would fault them more if Walsh was still playing 1B daily.
Sure hope Trout has a minor injury…I’m sure it will come out that he’s been battling this for the last month or so and the reason for his struggles. But if he is hurt then makes no sense to NOT trade Ohtani and get as much as you can from a desperate team like the Dodgers or a fringe contender. We aren’t out of it yet…but things haven’t looked good the last week or two and this is typically around the time of the year when I stop caring about the Halos and sadly pivot to being ready for football. Hope I’m wrong….cause I’m over cheering for the Dodgers in the post season.
Exactly right. If Trout is going to miss significant time, and they get good talent back, they have to trade Ohtani.
DGHalos714;
Pease…..
They trade Ohtani mid-season and fans stop buying tickets for the rest of 2023, and season ticket holders cancel for 2024. It will take that franchise a minimum of 5 years to recover.
Samuel, not just for you but everyone…
how do we know Shohei wants to stay?
How do we know he wants to leave?
Many RUMORS flying around Angels employees that he does indeed want to stay but has NOT been engaged by the Angels to discuss it.
That sounds crazy.
I know this much about him, he loves a challenge and if he leaves the Angels without winning something it will be a failure in his mind. He also has said he wants to win one with Trout. Ohtani strives to keep his word.
But this man thinks differently than the rest of us. It’s rediculous for any of us to predict what he is thinking. He also comes from a much more disciplined and honorable society
M.C.Homer;
I agree.
But right now he’s not only the best baseball player in the world – he’s the most recognized player from any team sport in the world.
I just can’t see him staying with a team that can’t make the payoffs. And he’s voiced that concern.
The Angels have been patched together for years, with guys playing out of position and name veterans being brought in that are past their prime and have major holes in their game (MLB is a young man’s sport). Add in that Mike Trout looks a bit better than ordinary in 2023 and isn’t getting any younger or healthier.
This man was on the big stage in the WBC this Spring. I’m sure he’d like to build on that. MLB has expanded playoffs – 20% of the teams make the cut. A miracle can happen and the Angels get in this Fall. But I don’t see them getting past the first round if they do.
Am not buying any rumor that Ohtani wants to stay but the Angels haven’t approached him. That’s doesn’t ring true.
Samuel it has become common in baseball for teams to patch holes by transitioning players. Many of these players were already transitioned from college,HS, or MiLB teams and are simply going back to a position they already know. Anyone who has played the sport for any length of time has played multiple positions. I played SS nearly my whole childhood. In college I found myself in the OF. I can say first hand playing OF timing a ball is much easier then playing off of reflexes in IF.
The Angels have approached Ohtani but he’s being repped by CAA who have made it clear he won’t resign before hitting the market.
Can’t argue with much of that.
So Many thoughts about Shohei from everyone here.
But only Shohei knows what he wants.
Tigers3232;
Well, I don’t see the teams that have built quality organizations – Rays, Braves, Astros, etc. that move players around for any length of time to positions they haven’t played before at the major league level because a guy got hurt. They pretty much have backups figured out going into the season and during the season as their players in the minor leagues are progressing. There are exceptions – but even then they’ll work with the player in the minors or in the majors playing the position in practice before games.
–
As for Walsh – he was hurt last year. The Angels should have had a back-up ready to play in case he got hurt again (as he did), and not someone that’s a utility player with little or no experience at 1B in the major leagues….especially when Matt Duffy cost them games playing 1B in 2022.
Samuel you might want to look again at especially the Rays and the Astros to an extent. They both have and do shuffle players to get talent in lineup. While Albies was injured Braves were even doing it a bit at 2B. They are a bit of an anomaly as they have nearly every position spot locked up with young talent. They are by far the exception not the rule when it comes to position player stability. What they have done locking up young position players is unprecedented in today’s game.
Trout and a Ohtani never had a full season together and I doubt they ever will.
The Angels spent a lot of money this off-season and the only person Perry brought in that’s currently helping the team is Estevez. They really do need to clean house, and that includes trading Ohtani.
They can’t get rid of the owner, so what’s the point of suggesting it?
So, what you’re saying is, let’s tear the team down and rebuild it around Trout and the mostly-injured Rendon. While you’re waiting another five years or so to see a competitive team on the field, think about 2023 when there was three months left in the season and you gave up on them. They had enough time to go on a Phillies-like hot streak, or maybe they fell flat on their faces. I know people think that analytics can predict the future, but they can’t. One away or another, just be patient and see what happens.
Of course wait three weeks, but start preparing.
What are the options? Fail again and lose Ohtani?
Without Trout and right now without a bullpen, shortstop, secondbasemam, first baseman, a decent outfield, and catching issues, yes.
If you tell me something magical will happen and those pieces start performing at above average MLB level and not mediocre at best major league players, I’ll change my opinion. But without Trout, I don’t see it.
65 – While I don’t necessarily agree with a total tear down, this roster does not have what it takes as it is constructed to get to October. That’s not my speculation, that’s evidenced by watching every game and seeing them fail at the small things (hitting with RISP for example). It begins with the decisions Nevin makes every night. Like last night bringing in a rookie reliever in a high leverage situation when we needed a hold.
If we have a chance this year, it will come from a dramatic move at the deadline to truly address pitching. If that means trading Ohtani for a haul of pitchers, then so be it. My first desire is to win, whether its with Ohtani or after trading him.
Nevin is not a good manager. Perry is not a good GM. Arte is not a good owner.
The best we can hope is they can obtain the level of mediocre.
If you want the Angels to address pitching, then you’ve already got a great start with Ohtani, so why would you want the LAA to trade arguably the best pitcher in the game?
Avenger – if a rebuild takes 5 years after trading Ohtani, then how long does it take after letting him walk via FA?
The Angels are treading right around .500 and they have a much tougher schedule in the second half. They beat up on OAK, KC, STL, WAS (combined 14-5) in the first half.. The schedule after the break is not nearly as kind. Even with a healthy Trout, a getting a WC spot is going to be tough.
Sure, give it a few weeks.. see the extent of Trout’s injury, see how the club plays, and maybe some interesting trades materialize. But if this club is around .500 at the deadline, it seems foolish to go all-in for 2023.
You can get talent that is close to major league ready.
It won’t take five years. Get the right talent and it might take one. And the best part, no more six man rotation.
Instead of walking as a FA, maybe they’ll sign him. Why not? You could say Moreno won’t spend that kind of money even for Ohtani, but maybe he will. who knows what the hell he’s thinking. The Dodgers haven’t been shy about going after him, The Giants, Padres, Mariners might take a shot. But ultimately it comes down to where Ohtani wants to be. I would bet he already knows. Wherever he goes, he’ll get his money.
Very excited to have Skubal back. Please cut Tyler Nevin! With him, Erod, Manning and Lorenzen we have a pretty solid rotation. Brieske is back soon too and hopefully Olson won’t be out too long. Leaves in a much better spot than we were two weeks ago. Add in Greene and Baddoo on offence and we could have an interesting 2nd half.
Honestly on the Nevin thing. Surely he’s the one going down and hopefully away…..another organization would be ideal
When Greene and Badoo return I’d expect Nevin and Marisnick to be sent down. Getting the rotation stabilized w Skubal and E-Rod helps tremendously as should allow Harris/Hinch to to reshape the bullpeen too. We shall see but looks like the 2nd half is shaping up to be very interesting for the Olde English D!
Brieske has been molded into a short-inning reliever (which wouldn’t have been my idea), but Olson should be available soon. Faedo already had his first rehab game with AAA Toledo, he could provide depth like Wentz (who might rebound after some time at AAA). A rotation of Rodriguez/Skubal/Lorenzen/Manning/Olson hopefully is good enough to make decisions at the trade deadline very difficult…
Gruß,
BSHH
Yup. As I said earlier…I’m sitting next door to Petco wondering what happened last night??
Were those the Angels or imposters? I mean even Shohei looked like Vlad Sr swinging at garbage in the dirt. The team had too many swings at bad pitches then too many called strikes.
No discipline. 13 lobsters? Ugly.
And Trout? Bizarre. I was about 20 yards away, Just a normal swing hurt his wrist. He did not get hit by a pitch as some news outlets are reporting.
The pen has reverted to form, they are pretenders. I’ve been saying for months this team will go as far as the pen will carry them.
Barria is a sixth starter. Sandoval is disappointing. Anderson should have never gotten a three year contract.
Without Trout, there are too many sub standard players.
Neto and O’Hoppe are such a huge part of this team.
I was wondering why they didn’t set up the net in front of the Angels pitchers on the mound last night.
Sure looked like batting practice
Angels hit a home run with Neto, but failed miserably with Bachman; there highest draft pick this century.
“The team had too many swings at bad pitches then too many called strikes.
No discipline. 13 lobsters? Ugly.”
Sadly, these are the Angels. But this goes back years. It’s part of their baseball philosophy to “hack away”. Didn’t the Dodgers recently have a 3 pitch inning versus the Angels? There’s times when their approach works on dumb pitchers who haven’t realized that the Angels swing at every pitch. Extremely frustrating.
I’d like to see them swing at those called strikes a little more….especially with 2 strikes, no excuse
And let me tell you something the cameras on tv did not catch. Trout’s reaction and body language after Tatis triple. 1/2 shook his head, shoulders sagged, then head looked at ground. I felt it too. This team doesn’t have it.
Dejected, I’ve never seem him do that
If Trout and others are dejected, it’s up to the manager to turn them around. There’s a few things Nevin can do to take the player’s minds off of bb for a day or two; 1) Take them bowling 2) Have a players-only picnic 3) Flip a house 4) play a game that doesn’t involve anything resembling a stick. My suggestion is water polo. I guarantee you’ll see a happier, more motivated team.
Ohtani is going to the Dodgers after this season. Easiest prediction ever.
Yankees
I’m a Yankee fan, and under no illusions he’s going anywhere away from the west coast. Dodgers, maybe SF.
When it’s believed a player would rather be on the east coast or west coast, it seems like the player always does the opposite. (ie Scherzer)
What happened to Trout’s wrist? HBP?….injured playing defense? Why do the writers never mention how an injury happens?
Could be anything, but at best it’s a strain, at best it’s two weeks. Adell will be brought up.
> What happened to Trout’s wrist?
ESPN:
Trout fouled off an 0-1 pitch from Nick Martinez leading off the inning and immediately shook his left arm. He briefly returned to the batter’s box before backing away and signaling to the dugout that he needed assistance. Angels manager Phil Nevin and a trainer came out to check on the slugger, and he was removed from the game; Mickey Moniak finished the at-bat, a strikeout that was charged to Trout.
espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/37957131/angels-mike-trout…
Adding insult to injury in a literal way
@Hemlock
Too bad they didn’t have Mickey Mantle finish off the AB.
Or if they had Mantle, Trout wouldn’t have gotten injured in the first place because he could take a game off every so often. They rode him pretty hard this year and this is what they get in return.
So if Moniak would have hit a home run, would it have been credited to Trout?
Same for Ks and BBs
Fouling off a pitch. Not hbp.
I was there 20 yards away from him.
He did not get HBP. He just hit a foul ball, nothing out of the ordinary until Trout reacted in obvious pain AFTER the swing.
Is this going to be the second half career slide for Trout similar to Pujols ? Same age range for that Anaheim contract. Plus with Ohtani aiming for the bleachers every swing and being historically successful at it, how does that mess with Trouts Head ? Ohtani is the best player in baseball period. Trout isn’t even the best hitter anymore.
Trout has three advantages. He won’t be a victim of the shift. He can run. And he isn’t relegated to DH and first.
Pujols would have been a valuable player if just two of those things wete true.
Does anyone else feel the Angels announcers curse the Angels? In the first Boagarts was referred to as one that the Padres “were handing out hundred million contracts to” Bam. 3 run homer. Like the Angels don’t? Then when Mederos entered the game they brag how the Angels have draft picks play now and the Padres have “no home grown talent”. Bam! First 3 men get on base and long inning. Later Bachman gives up the triple. All game long they say how “you would be surprised by the crowd how much they’re underperformed” or even flash a graphic about the 4 teams that have “underperformed” this year. Who does that? And haven’t they underperformed the last 5 yrs? Bush league telecasts. Announcers
Curses or not, I tend to listen to other teams’ broadcasters when watching or listening to Angels games on any of the MLB apps.
Really? Gubby is good. When he’s paired with the A team it’s one of the better teams.