‘It’s a group you just want to win with.’ Despite stumbles, Angels like where they stand
The Angels had their fair share of early-season self-inflicted troubles, along with unpredictable injuries that occurred through this month. So far, it has not stopped them from trying to prove they can be a postseason team as they approach the midway point of the season.
Through the first month, for example, they lost rookie catcher Logan O’Hoppe to a torn labrum and lost a few games, such as their series in Boston, behind sloppy defense. Their starting pitchers through May struggled to string together quality starts. Their bullpen went through plenty of turnover, both because of injury and needing to find consistency. They had stretches of games, at one point one that lasted more than two weeks, crisscrossing the country without a day off.
Yet the Angels started their final homestand of June — which stretches into July and concludes with a series against the National League West-leading Arizona Diamondbacks — with a 2-1, walk-off win, on a wild pitch, over the Chicago White Sox on Monday night. They improved to 43-37, a half-game out of a wild-card spot.
In evaluating his team’s first half, manager Phil Nevin was overall pleased with where the Angels sit, but he acknowledged there was still room for improvement.
“I think we’ve played better from Day 1 until now,†Nevin said before the game. “If you would have told me standings-wise where we’re at, I would have been very happy with ... that position because of what our schedule’s been and where we’re gonna be over the next month.
“There’s always games you’re gonna look back at and say, ‘We should have got this one or that one.’ There’s a lot of things we need to get better at if we want to get to where we want to be or where we think we’re gonna be. But overall, the consistency’s been there. More for me is the attitude and how we’ve gone about it. I love the way this room has shaped up. It’s a group you just want to win with.â€
The Angels used to light the ‘Big A’ at Angel Stadium after victories. That’s changed. It’s time to go back to the way it used to be.
This month, the Angels lost additional key starters — shortstop Zach Neto (oblique strain), third baseman Anthony Rendon (left wrist contusion) and infielder Gio Urshela (pelvis fracture, out for the season). There is no timeline on a return for Neto, who has not started baseball activities, and there is no clear update on a return for Rendon, who before Monday’s game was taking groundballs at third base.
General manager Perry Minasian was aggressive in trying to replace the talent amid the new injuries.
In acquiring infielders Eduardo Escobar and Mike Moustakas while the team was in Denver facing Colorado, the Angels showed they have no intention of letting the season get away.
Minasian said Monday that the recent moves showed a continued commitment to improve the roster.
“The coaching staff and Phil and the players have put themselves in a position to where we’re in contention for a playoff spot,†Minasian said. “And I don’t take that lightly. They’ve worked really hard to be at this point, especially with all the challenges we’ve gone through over the early course of the season.
“I look at it as it’s my turn to help out and to continue adding talent to the roster like we do day in and day out from a baseball operation standpoint. I felt like we needed to make some moves and enhance the roster, and hopefully we did that.â€
There are still plenty of games until the Aug.1 trade deadline and there is still much baseball to be played. The Angels, starting Monday, kicked off a stretch of 21games in which they won’t leave Southern California.
Less travel for about one month will help with rest and give more time for everyone to put in the work they need to improve, Nevin said. The days off, eight between regular off days and the All-Star break, provide extra recovery time.
“And hopefully it turns out to winning a lot of baseball games,†Nevin said.
Detmers keeps building
Angels starter Reid Detmers continued to build on his series of strong outings on Monday. What made his start even better for the Angels was their walk-off win.
Mike Trout, who initially reached on a walk, was able to score the winning run after White Sox reliever Aaron Bummer threw a wild pitch while Moustakas was at the plate.
“Any way to win a ballgame goes a long way,†Trout said.
Detmers pitched seven innings for a second consecutive time, holding the White Sox to one run, two hits and two walks. He struck out 10 over 105 pitches.
The Colorado Rockies won two of three games against the Angels after entering the weekend on a season-worst eight-game losing streak.
“Reid’s nasty,†Trout said.
That one run was a solo home run Detmers gave up in the first inning to Luis Robert Jr.
“Obviously you don’t want to give up home runs, but if I was gonna give one up, it’d probably be to him just knowing his history and how well he’s doing right now,†Detmers said. “It’s not a whole lot to think about after giving up something like that. Just gotta keep going and there’s a lot of game left.â€
Shohei Ohtani responded, hitting his major league-leading 26th home run in the fourth off White Sox starter Dylan Cease. Ohtani’s homer tied the score 1-1.
Go beyond the scoreboard
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