Angels vs Jays

[Natural11]

Clement(LF)
Bichette(SS)
Vlad(3B)
Horwitz(2B)
1B/DH FA
Kirk (C)
Springer (RF)
Varsho (CF)

That’s a pretty good lineup IMO. Spend the extra money for relievers and run out lineup of Berrios/Gausman/Bassitt/Francis/Manoah

If we're looking to tank again next year, that's definitely a lineup we could use. We've been offensively challenged for 2+ years now and this lineup is probably worse than our 2024 opening day roster.

Clement(LF) - It's great that he's playing well right now and could potentially be a good utility guy, but I'm extremely weary about counting on him to be a starter given that he can't walk.
Bichette(SS) - Total unknown going into 2025
Vlad(3B) - We can hope he keeps his form and we have to plan around him doing so, but 2022-2023 did happen.
Horwitz(2B) - Definitely some encouraging signs. Could be a cost saver at 2B
1B/DH FA - No guarantee this is an easy 3+ WAR signing. We ended up with Justin Turner in 2024...
Kirk (C) - Probably fine if we get a better backup than Severn, but we should treat any offense as a bonus, not an expectation.
Springer (RF) - Will continue to decline and likely end up well below average.
Varsho (CF) - A defense first player which is fine, but only if the rest of the team can make up some of the offense.

IMO they should make a run at Soto and trade Bichette.

[Randle McMurphy]

Geez how bad is the Angels farm system that they are way out of contention and still giving PT to guys like Pillar and Drury? Then they've got a manager who's issuing Intentional Walks to Vladdy with no one on base like he's prime Barry Bonds. Our situation looks a lot less bleak in comparison.

Vladdy has been hitting like Barry Bonds for months now.

Yeah teams absolutely should be walking Vlad all the time considering what he’s been doing and what is around him.

[Natural11]

Geez how bad is the Angels farm system that they are way out of contention and still giving PT to guys like Pillar and Drury? Then they've got a manager who's issuing Intentional Walks to Vladdy with no one on base like he's prime Barry Bonds. Our situation looks a lot less bleak in comparison.

Vladdy has been hitting like Barry Bonds for months now.

Vladdy has been tearing it up, yes. But he's not hitting HR at a historic pace to warrant IBB with no one on base.

[Fairview4Life]

Geez how bad is the Angels farm system that they are way out of contention and still giving PT to guys like Pillar and Drury? Then they've got a manager who's issuing Intentional Walks to Vladdy with no one on base like he's prime Barry Bonds. Our situation looks a lot less bleak in comparison.

Vladdy has been hitting like Barry Bonds for months now.

Vladdy has been tearing it up, yes. But he's not hitting HR at a historic pace to warrant IBB with no one on base.

Maybe. But yesterday he was walked with guys on second and third and the game before with Varsho on second, the game before that he didn’t play and the game before that he was intentionally walked with Varsho again on second.

They did walk him once with one out and no one on yesterday late in the game when it was still close, but that’s not really a pattern. They had gotten him out something like twice in his last 10 at bats.

[Natural11]

Vladdy has been hitting like Barry Bonds for months now.

Vladdy has been tearing it up, yes. But he's not hitting HR at a historic pace to warrant IBB with no one on base.

Maybe. But yesterday he was walked with guys on second and third and the game before with Varsho on second, the game before that he didn’t play and the game before that he was intentionally walked with Varsho again on second.

Yeah those calls all make sense with a base open and a runner on. Kirk happened to burn the Angels yesterday, but in general Jays have no one capable of properly protecting Vladdy from IBB.

Just saying as good as he has been, his HR rate isn't historic by any stretch and so giving him free bases with no one on isn't a good strategy.

[Hottie McShotty]

Maybe it was done to piss off the Toronto Blue Jays and their fans??

It didn't make any sense to walk Vladdy in any situation. It's not like the Angels are fighting for a wild card spot anyway. It's a complete joke, if you ask me.

I'm just glad we sweeped these losers. lol.