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Man these days are determined to do this the hardest way possible. Over the last 7 games the Angels have played 3 extra-inning contests, scored a total of 59 runs, played 67 innings, used 52 pitchers, gone 5 consecutive games lasting more than 3 hours, 49 minutes, and survived yet another back and forth slug-fest where Eduardo Paredes loaded the bases with a 1-run lead gifted by a pinch-hitting Ben Revere, and then managed to hang on for the 8 to 7 victory.
But didn't Garrett Richards look promising? 1 run on 4 hits over 3.1 innings. Let's hope he is back for reals, because the LAA pitching staff is really starting to fracture right at this moment.
These guys are making it exhausting to be fans. It wears one out. But then, I say for the 1000th time, this is meaningful baseball in September, which is all bonus, people! And it's going to beat the shit out of reading my boring ass in December.
Overall it was a good day. The Yankees lost. The Twins lost. The Mariners and Royals lost and are fading away. The Orioles did pull out a win, but that is how the Yankees lost. The Angels are a 1/2 game into the final Wild Card spot, and 2 1/2 games behind the Yankees.
Have some Cardiac Links:
A Little Bit of Angels News
Well this is embarrassing. The candidate from Anaheim representing the Angels in a bid for The Roberto Clemente Award is a guy who doesn't play in Anaheim anymore. MLB announced that they have nominated Cameron Maybin. "In such a very short period of time, Cam made a tremendous impact within our community," said Angels Vice-President, Communications, Tim Mead. "At the outset of spring training, Cam stated he wanted to do whatever possible to assist our Community Relations department and organizational programs. He never wavered from that commitment and we remain grateful for his contributions.". Good for Cam, but kinda uncomfortable for those guys who are still Halos.........
Peter Gammons is a little pissy about Mike Scioscia needing to burn through so many pitchers on Monday. Gammons is not alone. Quick to whine about a Mike Scioscia trying to win a playoff spot, I did notice that Gammons has not been as quick to comment on the Yankees and Red Sox cheating. As of this moment, nothing posted on his own news site..........
Wow, I didn't even think about this. Brandon Phillips has played a long time. When he started, he was playing alongside Omar Vizquel. The point of the link is that now he is playing alongside Andrelton Simmons, which is amazing. But what is amazing to me is that this means that Phillips is a bridge all the way back to 1989. Bert Blyleven and Brian Downing were still playing with the Angels in 1989, it was that long ago. That is a very story arc of amazing shortstops...........
Josh Mayhood's Library of Mike Trout Hagiography
As the Angels' official social media account pointed out, Trout had a pretty good week last week. What I find amazing is how Mike is pushing the pitching and defense and drawing BB's to marry to his hitting. Over his last 12 games he has 17 walks to pair with his 13 hits and this is allowing him to hold his OPS for the season at 1.125 going into last night's game. That is a monster leap over the official MLB leader of Giancarlo Stanton, 1.038...........Look at his BBR summary. He leads in OBP, SLG and OPS..........
Trout now has 417 PA's, putting him at an even 3.00 across the team's 139 games. Look to around September 15/16 for him to 'qualify'.
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Everywhere In Baseball
Hurricane Irma has the potential to slam into Florida this upcoming weekend. Beyond all of the more important catastrophes at risk, for which we need to prepare, this might also impact next week's scheduled home games for Tampa Bay, including Wild Card playoff results. Starting next Monday, they are set to play MFY, BoSux and ChiSux at The Trop. maybe some of those could get moved to Minute Maid Park in Houston?...........
The Red Sox...CHEATING? Wha..? I can think of exactly zero people I know that would find such a thing surprising..........And now we go to the best use of the Internet: free twitter humor..........But, honestly, isn't this pretty lame? I'm not talking about the obvious snark concerning the underwhelming Apple Watch, but the whole process? It would be far sneakier to embed some wireless receiver into a wrist band that pulsed against the skin depending on what somebody watching a TV monitor observed. That would be as direct from the catcher to the batter as tech could be. If you are going to cheat by using high tech, you have an IT staff. At least get it right..........Maybe, though, the Red Sox were just watching MLB.tv Premium "on every device"!..........But, really, it's not a big deal. Everybody does it...........
Denny McClain wants more history made out of his career. Many might not agree, but read the article and just feel yourself cringe at the way that pitchers were abused before the players got their shit together..........
The DBacks rolled out a pretty ballsy super shift against DJ LeMahieu over the weekend. It almost looks like comic-book baseball..........
Give them credit. MLB has clearly learned from the Frank McCourt debacle. They are committed to doing their due diligence this time in figuring out the funny business behind the business of Derek Jeter & crew buying the Marlins...........
Well bust my buttons! Justin Verlander got himself off to a good start with Houston, holding the Mariners to 1 run over 6 innings in his debut. But Cameron Maybin got himself off to an even greater start, smashing a 2-run go-ahead, winning home run in the 7th inning...........
Yankee fans, or perhaps more accurately baseball writers who are not too far in the closet Yankee fans, have been searching high and low for a reason on which they can lay blame for Aaron Judge regressing all over their slobber fest. They found it. Just like the Tigers fans and scribes who wanted to blame Kate Upton for Justin Verlander getting longer in the tooth of his career, the Aaron Judge blame game can be turned to the wiles of another female of interest. I mean, really, look at her in that first picture. Doesn't she just reek of lording witchcraft powers upon poor Aaron and draining him of his ability to crush baseballs over mountaintops?..........Because, as everyone knows, this is precisely what always happens to our heroes............
Pay attention to your Doyers friends. They may need an intervention soon. Just as recently as August 25th they had a 21-game lead over the Diamondbacks. Right now that lead is still large, but it's been cut to 11.5 games. The Dodgers have lost 10 of 11, while the DBacks have won 12 in a row.
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The Duffle Bag
Petco Park will again be converted into a 9-hole golf course this fall. Angels Stadium should do this. Turn the huge and vacant off-season parking lot into the world's largest mini-golf course. 200 yard putts for charity!...........Huh. It turns out the players do, indeed, give a shit............An old (but updated) tale about Halo Jack Howell hitting a home run off a broken bat, stunning Vin Scully..........Bryce Harper has hair. I do not. So who am I to mock Bryce Harper?.........Taylor Davis is making a name for himself. By making a face of himself.............
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Jordan Serena Destiny Watch
Season's over folks. Time to retire The Watch............
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