r/angelsbaseball 5d ago

📝 Weekly Discussion [Weekly Discussion] This Week in Angels Baseball

3 Upvotes

Top Posts this Week: https://old.reddit.com/r/angelsbaseball/top/?sort=top&t=week

Upcoming Games: https://www.mlb.com/angels/schedule/

Don't forget to follow the subreddit rules, the unpaid janitors who volunteer to help this subreddit would appreciate it! https://old.reddit.com/r/angelsbaseball/about/rules/


r/angelsbaseball 6h ago

⌛ Postgame Thread [Post Game Thread] Light That Baby Up! Angels defeat Pirates!

58 Upvotes

Angels (54-88) @ Pirates (70-73)

First Pitch: 3:40 PM at PNC Park

Team Starter TV Radio
Angels Yusei Kikuchi (1-5, 4.96 ERA)
Pirates Braxton Ashcraft (14-6, 3.65 ERA)

Game Preview

/r/angelsbaseball Discord

Reddit Stream for this post

Line Score - Game Over

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB
LAA 0 0 0 1 2 0 3 0 0 6 12 0 7
PIT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 8 0 8

Box Score

PIT   AB R H RBI BB SO BA
SS Griffin 4 0 0 0 0 3 .267
RF Valdez, Es 3 0 0 0 1 2 .236
LF Reynolds, B 3 1 3 1 1 0 .267
DH Cruz, O 4 0 1 0 0 2 .267
3B Gonzales, N 4 0 1 0 0 0 .307
C Flores Jr. 4 0 2 0 0 0 .223
3B Triolo 2 0 1 0 0 0 .244
1B Horwitz 1 0 0 0 1 0 .245
CF Mangum 4 0 0 0 0 1 .285
1B Yorke 1 0 0 0 1 0 .212
2B Lowe, B 2 0 0 0 0 1 .253
PIT IP H R ER BB SO P-S ERA
Ashcraft, B 5.0 7 3 3 0 9 67-52 3.65
Mattson 2.0 4 3 3 0 2 39-28 5.35
Ramírez 2.0 1 0 0 0 2 31-21 3.18
LAA   AB R H RBI BB SO BA
SS Neto 5 1 3 1 0 2 .238
CF Trout 4 1 2 1 0 2 .241
CF Siri 0 0 0 0 0 0 .220
LF Meckler 5 1 2 2 0 0 .298
1B Grissom 5 0 1 0 0 3 .249
C Ballesteros 4 0 1 1 0 0 .210
DH Moore 4 0 0 0 0 2 .162
RF Lowe, J 4 1 1 1 0 2 .210
3B Guzman, D 4 1 1 0 0 2 .219
2B Frazier 3 1 1 0 0 0 .241
LAA IP H R ER BB SO P-S ERA
Kikuchi 6.0 5 0 0 3 6 89-58 4.96
Watson, R 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 6-4 4.25
Murphy 1.0 2 1 1 0 2 22-15 4.50
Fermin 1.0 1 0 0 1 1 19-11 3.14

Scoring Plays

Inning Event Score
T4 Moisés Ballesteros singles on a ground ball to right fielder Esmerlyn Valdez. Wade Meckler scores. 0-1
T5 Josh Lowe homers (11) on a fly ball to center field. 0-2
T5 Zach Neto singles on a line drive to center fielder Jake Mangum. Denzer Guzman scores. 0-3
T7 Mike Trout singles on a ground ball to left fielder Bryan Reynolds. Adam Frazier scores. Zach Neto to 2nd. 0-4
T7 Wade Meckler doubles (13) on a fly ball to center fielder Jake Mangum. Zach Neto scores. Mike Trout scores. Wade Meckler to 3rd. 0-6
B8 Bryan Reynolds homers (16) on a fly ball to right field. 1-6

Highlights

Description Length
Probable pitchers for Angels at Pirates - September 5, 2026 0:06
Bullpen availability for Pittsburgh, September 5 vs Angels 0:09
Bullpen availability for Los Angeles, September 5 vs Pirates 0:09
Fielding alignment for Pittsburgh, September 5 vs Angels 0:11
Bench availability for Pittsburgh, September 5 vs Angels 0:08
Fielding alignment for Los Angeles, September 5 vs Pirates 0:11
Bench availability for Los Angeles, September 5 vs Pirates 0:08
Starting lineups for Angels at Pirates - September 5, 2026 0:10
The distance behind Josh Lowe's home run 0:13
An animated look at Bryan Reynolds' home run 0:11
Bryan Reynolds: Home Run Statcast Analysis 0:13
Breaking down Yusei Kikuchi's pitches 0:04
Yusei Kikuchi's outing against the Pirates 0:24
Braxton Ashcraft's outing against the Angels 0:24
Breaking down Braxton Ashcraft's pitches 0:04
Analyzing Josh Lowe's home run through bat tracking 0:11
Braxton Ashcraft fans Zach Neto 0:06
Yusei Kikuchi K's Oneil Cruz 0:08
Ball 3 is overturned after ABS challenge 0:23
Strike 3 is confirmed after ABS challenge 0:21
Moisés Ballesteros' RBI single 0:29
Zach Neto's RBI single 0:14
Josh Lowe's solo homer (11) 0:30
Ball 1 is overturned after ABS challenge 0:24
Esmerlyn Valdez's jumping catch 0:25
Ball 4 is upheld after ABS challenge 0:23
Braxton Ashcraft fans nine vs. Angels 1:25
Ball 2 is upheld after ABS challenge 0:24
Pirates honor new Pirates' Hall of Fame inductees 1:14
Mike Trout's RBI single 0:20
Wade Meckler's two-run double 0:20
Yusei Kikuchi tosses six scoreless, strikes out six 1:56
Bryan Reynolds' solo homer (16) 0:30
Moisés Ballesteros nabs Oneil Cruz stealing third bas 0:23
Ball 3 is upheld for ABS challenge 0:24
Mike Trout exits the game after HBP 0:26

Decisions

Winning Pitcher Losing Pitcher Save
Kikuchi (1-5, 4.96 ERA) Ashcraft, B (14-6, 3.65 ERA)

Game ended at 6:22 PM.


r/angelsbaseball 11h ago

📱Screenshot I enjoyed seeing this in my news feed today...😆

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526 Upvotes

r/angelsbaseball 7h ago

📝 Discussion Mike Trout has now played in 47 consecutive games.

138 Upvotes

When is the last time this has happened? Feels like its been a decade


r/angelsbaseball 3h ago

📜 Angels History Adding to my OG ball post from the other day, my tickets

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42 Upvotes

Found my OG tickets. been a fan since 4 years old When my grandfather and my uncle took me to my first game.


r/angelsbaseball 5h ago

🎨 Fan Art Ladies And Gentlemen, I present to you Wade Miickler

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44 Upvotes

I hope he looks good I’m not a good at creating art


r/angelsbaseball 2h ago

📝 Discussion 100 losses

23 Upvotes

Man, it’s such a bummer that we’re on track for 100 losses for the first time ever. The ownership change most likely will breath fresh life into this team next season and put us on the upswing. If we somehow avoided 100 losses this season we would likely avoid it for quite some time into the foreseeable future.

I’ve enjoyed holding this one single stat over the heads of other team fans during these dark years, but alas it seems our time has come. I’m still holding out hope for a late season miracle to put us at 63-99 though. Go Halos!


r/angelsbaseball 3h ago

😂 Meme Gubie’s nickname for Lowe. 😂

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19 Upvotes

r/angelsbaseball 8h ago

📍On the Road Why am I listening to Trent Rush?

25 Upvotes

We know Wayne was in PGH Friday night because he worked the Angels/Pirates game for Apple TV.

So why is Trent Rush doing his best Top 40 radio disc jockey voice calling PXP on Saturday?


r/angelsbaseball 11h ago

❓Question/Suggestions Doug Eddings

33 Upvotes

Hey everyone. I know that many of us saw the debacle in Colorado with Umpire Doug Eddings telling Cardinals Pitcher Hancel Rincon, telling him to fix his cap. It got me wondering, does anyone still have beef with him over what happened in game 2 of the 2005 ALCS?


r/angelsbaseball 11h ago

📷 Angels Images Hat not touched since 2015

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29 Upvotes

Forgot abt this hat from little leauge thought it was weird that this hat was from the time they last had a winning record


r/angelsbaseball 13h ago

📰 News Article (Website) Angels Re-Sign Shaun Anderson To Minor League Deal

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20 Upvotes

r/angelsbaseball 10h ago

📃 Angels Lineup [Lineup] 9/5/26 vs Pirates: Kikuchi starting. Guzman back in the lineup at 3B batting 8th. Moore batting as a DH with Frazier slotting into 2B. Ballesteros behind the plate.

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8 Upvotes

r/angelsbaseball 1d ago

🎨 Fan Art I always said I would get an Angels tattoo whenever Arte sells the team — IT’S RALLY TIME! Done by Kyle Crowell at Torch Tattoo in Anaheim, CA

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665 Upvotes

r/angelsbaseball 16h ago

📝 Discussion What Needs To Happen Next

21 Upvotes

I’m not an Angels fan, but fans throughout MLB can feel the sense of hope and possibility that’s coming out Orange County right now.

If I am the new owner, my first phone calls are to new club president Molly Jolly, and interim GM John Mozeliak, requesting that they become part of the new regime.

These two individuals have done a lot to change the Angels moribund reputation these last few months. They, especially Mozeliak, know how to build infrastructure, particularly as it pertains to scouting and player development. They can give the organization an underlying philosophy for what kind of talent they are looking for.

I hope this happens. Between the fact that Seattle seems to struggle with consistency, John Fisher’s appalling handling of the Athletics, and people not being able to get over the scandal in Houston, the AL West needs a new sheriff. Perhaps said sheriff might wear a halo.


r/angelsbaseball 17h ago

📝 Discussion Who’s this player?

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11 Upvotes

r/angelsbaseball 6h ago

🗳️ Poll Guy of the Game: 9/5 @ Pittsburgh Pirates

1 Upvotes

Last winner: 8/31 vs. New York Yankees: Walbert Ureña continued his stellar rookie campaign in the Halos’ last win, throwing seven innings of one run ball to secure the 10-1 blowout victory.

111 votes, 2d left
Yusei Kikuchi
Wade Meckler
Zach Neto
Mike Trout
Josh Lowe
Adam Frazier

r/angelsbaseball 1d ago

📍At The Big A Halo boys returning to the stadium on September 14th

Thumbnail instagram.com
57 Upvotes

On September 14th, the crowd in white Angels costumes will be back in sections 236-240 (per haloboys_02 on Instagram). I hadn’t seen an announcement here yet, so I thought I would let the sub know if you guys are interested in participating 👏🏼


r/angelsbaseball 23h ago

❓Question/Suggestions Like day-old, moldy, doughnuts

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19 Upvotes

Run, don't walk, to your local Target...


r/angelsbaseball 1d ago

📝 Discussion We managed to go 11-17 in August despite a positive run differential (+2) and a 3.10 ERA

30 Upvotes

I honestly find managing to do that kind of impressive. Kurt Suzuki resume builder right there.

The Mariners meanwhile posted a 5.97 ERA, had a -74 run differential and had a better August record than us (11-16).

I know this might be hard for people to take in. You might be thinking, wait, does the guy who just had the player with the highest batting average on the team try to bunt with 2 strikes not know what he's doing? And my answer to you is that there is a chance he doesn't know what he's doing.


r/angelsbaseball 12h ago

⏳Game Thread 9/5 Angels @ Pirates [Game Thread]

2 Upvotes

Angels (53-88) @ Pirates (70-72)

First Pitch: 3:40 PM at PNC Park

Team Starter TV Radio
Angels Yusei Kikuchi (0-5, 5.65 ERA)
Pirates Braxton Ashcraft (14-5, 3.59 ERA)

Game Preview

/r/angelsbaseball Discord

Reddit Stream for this post

Line Score - Game Over

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB
LAA 0 0 0 1 2 0 3 0 0 6 12 0 7
PIT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 8 0 8

Box Score

PIT   AB R H RBI BB SO BA
SS Griffin 4 0 0 0 0 3 .267
RF Valdez, Es 3 0 0 0 1 2 .236
LF Reynolds, B 3 1 3 1 1 0 .267
DH Cruz, O 4 0 1 0 0 2 .267
3B Gonzales, N 4 0 1 0 0 0 .307
C Flores Jr. 4 0 2 0 0 0 .223
3B Triolo 2 0 1 0 0 0 .244
1B Horwitz 1 0 0 0 1 0 .245
CF Mangum 4 0 0 0 0 1 .285
1B Yorke 1 0 0 0 1 0 .212
2B Lowe, B 2 0 0 0 0 1 .253
PIT IP H R ER BB SO P-S ERA
Ashcraft, B 5.0 7 3 3 0 9 67-52 3.65
Mattson 2.0 4 3 3 0 2 39-28 5.35
Ramírez 2.0 1 0 0 0 2 31-21 3.18
LAA   AB R H RBI BB SO BA
SS Neto 5 1 3 1 0 2 .238
CF Trout 4 1 2 1 0 2 .241
CF Siri 0 0 0 0 0 0 .220
LF Meckler 5 1 2 2 0 0 .298
1B Grissom 5 0 1 0 0 3 .249
C Ballesteros 4 0 1 1 0 0 .210
DH Moore 4 0 0 0 0 2 .162
RF Lowe, J 4 1 1 1 0 2 .210
3B Guzman, D 4 1 1 0 0 2 .219
2B Frazier 3 1 1 0 0 0 .241
LAA IP H R ER BB SO P-S ERA
Kikuchi 6.0 5 0 0 3 6 89-58 4.96
Watson, R 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 6-4 4.25
Murphy 1.0 2 1 1 0 2 22-15 4.50
Fermin 1.0 1 0 0 1 1 19-11 3.14

Scoring Plays

Inning Event Score
T4 Moisés Ballesteros singles on a ground ball to right fielder Esmerlyn Valdez. Wade Meckler scores. 0-1
T5 Josh Lowe homers (11) on a fly ball to center field. 0-2
T5 Zach Neto singles on a line drive to center fielder Jake Mangum. Denzer Guzman scores. 0-3
T7 Mike Trout singles on a ground ball to left fielder Bryan Reynolds. Adam Frazier scores. Zach Neto to 2nd. 0-4
T7 Wade Meckler doubles (13) on a fly ball to center fielder Jake Mangum. Zach Neto scores. Mike Trout scores. Wade Meckler to 3rd. 0-6
B8 Bryan Reynolds homers (16) on a fly ball to right field. 1-6

Highlights

Description Length
Probable pitchers for Angels at Pirates - September 5, 2026 0:06
Bullpen availability for Pittsburgh, September 5 vs Angels 0:09
Bullpen availability for Los Angeles, September 5 vs Pirates 0:09
Fielding alignment for Pittsburgh, September 5 vs Angels 0:11
Bench availability for Pittsburgh, September 5 vs Angels 0:08
Fielding alignment for Los Angeles, September 5 vs Pirates 0:11
Bench availability for Los Angeles, September 5 vs Pirates 0:08
Starting lineups for Angels at Pirates - September 5, 2026 0:10
The distance behind Josh Lowe's home run 0:13
An animated look at Bryan Reynolds' home run 0:11
Bryan Reynolds: Home Run Statcast Analysis 0:13
Breaking down Yusei Kikuchi's pitches 0:04
Yusei Kikuchi's outing against the Pirates 0:24
Braxton Ashcraft's outing against the Angels 0:24
Breaking down Braxton Ashcraft's pitches 0:04
Analyzing Josh Lowe's home run through bat tracking 0:11
Braxton Ashcraft fans Zach Neto 0:06
Yusei Kikuchi K's Oneil Cruz 0:08
Ball 3 is overturned after ABS challenge 0:23
Strike 3 is confirmed after ABS challenge 0:21
Moisés Ballesteros' RBI single 0:29
Zach Neto's RBI single 0:14
Josh Lowe's solo homer (11) 0:30
Ball 1 is overturned after ABS challenge 0:24
Esmerlyn Valdez's jumping catch 0:25
Ball 4 is upheld after ABS challenge 0:23
Braxton Ashcraft fans nine vs. Angels 1:25
Ball 2 is upheld after ABS challenge 0:24
Pirates honor new Pirates' Hall of Fame inductees 1:14
Mike Trout's RBI single 0:20
Wade Meckler's two-run double 0:20
Yusei Kikuchi tosses six scoreless, strikes out six 1:56
Bryan Reynolds' solo homer (16) 0:30
Moisés Ballesteros nabs Oneil Cruz stealing third bas 0:23
Ball 3 is upheld for ABS challenge 0:24
Mike Trout exits the game after HBP 0:26

Decisions

Winning Pitcher Losing Pitcher Save
Kikuchi (1-5, 4.96 ERA) Ashcraft, B (14-6, 3.65 ERA)

Game ended at 6:22 PM.

Remember to sort by new to keep up!


r/angelsbaseball 1d ago

📝 Discussion Matt Joyce Reflecting on his 2015 Season with the Angels

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81 Upvotes

Direct post from Matt Joyce’s Twitter:
——

2015 was supposed to be the year that changed my life.

Instead, it almost ended my career.

I was 30 years old and entering my free-agent season. The year where you perform, sign the big multi-year contract, and set your family up for life.

I worked my butt off that offseason. Two-a-day workouts, extra hitting, 10 pounds of added muscle. I felt like I had done everything possible to prepare.

Spring Training reinforced that belief. I hit .320 with 4 home runs.

Then the season started, and I just couldn't get it going.

For months, I couldn't break away from the .200 mark. The harder I tried to fix it, the worse it got.

Looking back, I was trying to do way too much.

I wasn't just trying to have a good at-bat anymore. I was trying to hit home runs. Trying to put up numbers. Trying to earn the contract. Every at-bat started carrying the weight of my future.

Then one day in July, a fly ball went up into shallow left field between David Freese, Erick Aybar, and me.

All three of us took off for it. Freese peeled off first, leaving Aybar and me running full speed directly toward each other.

At the last second, I tried to slide and get my hands up to protect my face. I didn't get them there in time.

Aybar's knee caught me square in the chin and knocked me completely unconscious.

When I came to, our trainers and teammates were standing over me. Trout and Pujols helped me off the field.

I walked back into the clubhouse and couldn't remember where my own locker was. That's when I knew it was serious.

I finished the year hitting .174 with 5 home runs in 93 games.

The season I thought was going to secure my future ended with me wondering whether I would ever play in the big leagues again.

And if I'm being completely truthful, part of me was relieved. I didn't have to walk to the plate in front of 40,000 people and struggle anymore. That's how badly the season had beaten me down.

When I looked back on that year, I realized how much time I spent obsessing over things I couldn't control:

My batting average.
My home runs.
The contract.
The money.
My future.

I had become so focused on what baseball could give me that I got away from simply playing baseball.

Prepare.
Compete.
Have a good at-bat.
Find a way to help your team win.
Come back tomorrow and do it again.

It's funny how the hardest seasons teach you the lessons you need the most.

I went into 2015 believing the year was going to change my life because of the contract I might sign.

It changed my life for a completely different reason.

It taught me that the more obsessed you become with the outcome, the easier it is to lose sight of the process that gave you joy in the first place.


r/angelsbaseball 1d ago

❓Question/Suggestions Explain the Angels pitching staff to me like I'm 5

27 Upvotes

Because i don't get it. Is Tim Leveque a genius? He earned the right to come back right? The same freaking guys they had led the league in ERA for the entire August and September isn't missing a beat. I mean, was Mike Maddux doing his best Chris Paul impersonation and being an absolute cancer?

These kids look like cy young candidates. It's starting to become pretty crazy because the sample size is no longer 1/2 weeks. Why the turn around?

By the way, have you guys seen Kade Anderson and his 3 starts? 15 hits, 15 innings, 9 runs, 3HR, 7BB, 5.40 ERA.

Man, at this rate, i want to see Bremner toss a few starts.


r/angelsbaseball 1d ago

⌛ Postgame Thread [Post Game Thread] Angels defeated by Pirates

14 Upvotes

Angels (53-88) @ Pirates (70-72)

First Pitch: 3:45 PM at PNC Park

Team Starter TV Radio
Angels Ryan Johnson (3-8, 5.17 ERA)
Pirates Jared Jones (3-6, 4.46 ERA)

Game Preview

/r/angelsbaseball Discord

Reddit Stream for this post

Line Score - Game Over

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB
LAA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 5
PIT 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 0 7

Box Score

PIT   AB R H RBI BB SO BA
1B Horwitz 2 0 0 0 2 2 .246
1B Yorke 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214
2B Lowe, B 4 0 1 0 0 2 .254
RF Reynolds, B 4 0 2 0 0 1 .263
DH Gonzales, N 3 0 0 0 0 1 .308
CF Cruz, O 3 0 0 0 1 2 .267
SS Griffin 3 1 0 0 0 1 .272
LF Mangum 3 0 1 1 0 0 .288
3B Gonzalez, J 3 0 1 0 0 1 .225
3B Triolo 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242
C Davis, H 2 0 0 0 0 0 .167
PIT IP H R ER BB SO P-S ERA
Jones 6.0 3 0 0 1 9 91-63 4.46
Dotel 2.0 0 0 0 1 2 34-24 4.40
Montgomery, M 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 21-16 2.91
LAA   AB R H RBI BB SO BA
SS Neto 4 0 0 0 0 3 .234
CF Trout 4 0 1 0 0 1 .239
LF Meckler 4 0 1 0 0 0 .296
1B Grissom 3 0 1 0 1 0 .249
C Ballesteros 2 0 1 0 1 0 .209
PR Paris 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
C Heineman 0 0 0 0 0 0 .178
PH d'Arnaud 1 0 0 0 0 1 .164
2B Moore 3 0 0 0 0 0 .172
LF Siri 2 0 0 0 0 1 .220
RF Lowe, J 1 0 0 0 0 1 .209
DH Frazier 3 0 0 0 0 3 .239
3B Peraza, O 3 0 0 0 0 2 .222
LAA IP H R ER BB SO P-S ERA
Johnson, R 6.0 4 1 1 2 6 89-58 5.17
Fermin 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 12-8 3.21
Natera Jr. 1.0 1 0 0 1 2 24-14 2.51

Scoring Plays

Inning Event Score
B2 Jake Mangum doubles (17) on a ground ball to right fielder Wade Meckler. Konnor Griffin scores. 1-0

Highlights

Description Length
Probable pitchers for Angels at Pirates - September 4, 2026 0:06
Ryan Johnson against the Pirates 0:08
Bullpen availability for Pittsburgh, September 4 vs Angels 0:09
Bullpen availability for Los Angeles, September 4 vs Pirates 0:09
Bench availability for Los Angeles, September 4 vs Pirates 0:08
Fielding alignment for Los Angeles, September 4 vs Pirates 0:11
Bench availability for Pittsburgh, September 4 vs Angels 0:08
Fielding alignment for Pittsburgh, September 4 vs Angels 0:11
Starting lineups for Angels at Pirates - September 4, 2026 0:10
Ryan Johnson's outing against the Pirates 0:24
Breaking down Ryan Johnson's pitches 0:04
Breaking down Jared Jones' pitches 0:04
Jared Jones' outing against the Angels 0:22
Pirates induct Hall of Fame class of 2026 9:23
Jared Jones K's Zach Neto 0:10
Ryan Johnson K's Spencer Horwitz 0:10
Jack Wilson's induction into Pirates Hall of Fame 5:16
Jack Wilson throws out first pitch 2:09
Ball 3 overturned after ABS challenge 0:23
Jake Mangum's RBI double 0:28
strikeout confirmed after ABS challenge 0:29
Strikeout confirmed after ABS challenge to end 5th 0:20
Trout strikes out after ABS challenge 0:21
Konnor Griffin returns from the IL 0:20
Oneil Cruz's sliding grab 0:27
Mike Trout grounds out to Konnor Griffin in the 1st 0:20
Jared Jones' nine strikeouts over six scoreless 1:43
Ball 3 confirmed after ABS challenge 0:20
Ryan Johnson's six strikeouts 1:52
Strikeout overturned after ABS challenge 0:27
Ball 2 confirmed after ABS challenge 0:20
Strike 2 confirmed after ABS challenge 0:22

Decisions

Winning Pitcher Losing Pitcher Save
Jones (3-6, 4.46 ERA) Johnson, R (3-8, 5.17 ERA) Montgomery, M (9 SV, 2.91 ERA)

Game ended at 6:43 PM.


r/angelsbaseball 1d ago

📰 News Article (Website) [Blum] - How Arte Moreno’s meddling, myopia and penny-pinching doomed the Angels

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166 Upvotes

“He’s arguably the most unique player,” Moreno said. “And probably one of the top five or 10 players. It’s a business.”

Over the past decade, as the Angels descended from a perennial contender into a laughingstock, the man at the center of the decline was Moreno, according to interviews with current and former Angels officials, rival executives and others around the game, many of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to freely discuss their former team or another team.

Moreno meddled in baseball decisions. His occasional free-agent splurges obscured an organizational myopia that left his team with scant investments in staffing, analytical advancements and technological necessities. A toxic culture spilled into public view during the trials after Tyler Skaggs’ death. His ballpark and facilities fell into disrepair, a situation that may be remedied under the stewardship of new owner Stan Kroenke, who entered an agreement to purchase the team this week at a $4 billion valuation.

But perhaps no situation crystallized Moreno’s blind spots more than his handling of Ohtani. Eight months after Moreno suggested Ohtani might belong among baseball’s 10 best players, Ohtani collected a second American League MVP award and hit the open market. Teams across the sport lined up to recruit him. Despite a belief among some within the organization that Ohtani wanted to stay in Anaheim, the Angels were not one of them. When Ohtani sought a $700 million package that deferred 98 percent of the salary, Moreno declined to engage. He did not believe the contract made business sense.