5/14 vs LA Angels

[Thunder]

RHP Griffin Canning (3-2, 5.19) vs RHP Nick Pivetta (5-0, 3.19)

One has to wonder if the Angels will ever live up to their potential. Here they sit at 16-20, dead last in the AL West. Offensively, they are nothing to write home about. Sure, Trout and Ohtani are two of the top 10 players in the game right now, but beyond them, there's not much to brag about. Jared Walsh is having a semi-breakout year, and old friend Jose Iglesias is getting on base, but not really hitting for power (which shouldn't come as a huge surprise). They are 3-7 in their last 10, and have scored 9 total runs in their last 4 games. They do have Anthony Rendon, who should return from the IL at some point this weekend. He is eligible to return tonight.

Like the Angels teams of the last decade or so, pitching continues to be a major disappointment. Ohtani has been stellar, but we will not see him on the hill this series. Instead, we will see Canning tonight, former Oriole Dylan Bundy tomorrow, and former Cub and White Sox Jose Quintana on Sunday. The two righties have ERAs just north of 5, while Quintana has been struggling, with an ERA of 9 over 6 starts. The raw numbers give us the edge in pitching matchups for all 3 games. So, if we continue the offensive attack we got last night, we can easily win this series. I personally would love a sweep, because we NEED to start playing better at home.


Also, it's finally springtime at Fenway. Temps in the 70s all 3 games. Slight chance of rain on Sunday afternoon but certainly not a washout.

[TylerD]

Well said Thunder

I’ll also add, the Angels seem to go on a win streak at some point or another that makes people think “oh here they come” only to fall flat

Let’s sweep these guys

[moonslav59]

We should take advantage of teams like them, but every game can be lost.

[Bellhorn04]

We should take advantage of teams like them, but every game can be lost.

Mainly because so much depends on which pitchers are on their games that day or night.

[Thunder]

Mainly because so much depends on which pitchers are on their games that day or night.

Either way, I suddenly have more confidence in our #3 and #4 pitchers than in our #1 and #2 pitchers

[Bellhorn04]

Either way, I suddenly have more confidence in our #3 and #4 pitchers than in our #1 and #2 pitchers

Yes, I know how that can happen...

[mvp 78]

Yes, I know how that can happen...

Happens more often when you don't have a great #1 or #2.

[TylerD]

We should take advantage of teams like them, but every game can be lost.

True. Like Texas.

[moonslav59]

Either way, I suddenly have more confidence in our #3 and #4 pitchers than in our #1 and #2 pitchers

It's nice to feel like we have a chance with all 5 starters.

[harmony]

Despite the presence of Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, Justin Upton, Andrelton Simmons, Shoehei Ohtani and Anthony Rendon, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have suffered five straight losing seasons (a dubious feat the Seattle Mariners have not achieved in the past 30 years).

His writeup suggests that Thunder has graduated from UConn. It's seems like only yesterday that Thunder was an incoming freshman with a forum post that could be interpreted as a tad misogynistic. Perhaps this old fart was particularly sensitive because his younger daughter was an incoming freshman at a public university in the opposite corner of the country.

Coming full circle, my daughter concludes her college athletic career Sunday outside Philadelphia with a competition that includes ... UConn.

Congratulations to the 2021 graduates.

[Thunder]

Despite the presence of Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, Justin Upton, Andrelton Simmons, Shoehei Ohtani and Anthony Rendon, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have suffered five straight losing seasons (a dubious feat the Seattle Mariners have not achieved in the past 30 years).

His writeup suggests that Thunder has graduated from UConn. It's seems like only yesterday that Thunder was an incoming freshman with a forum post that could be interpreted as a tad misogynistic. Perhaps this old fart was particularly sensitive because his younger daughter was an incoming freshman at a public university in the opposite corner of the country.

Coming full circle, my daughter concludes her college athletic career Sunday outside Philadelphia with a competition that includes ... UConn.

Congratulations to the 2021 graduates.

Do you recall a specific post that you were offended by? Just curious

[harmony]

Do you recall a specific post that you were offended by? Just curious

I recall a repeated theme but a quick search turned up this example:

https://www.talksox.com/forum/search...earchid=579692

Slasher appreciated the posts:

https://www.talksox.com/forum/thread...9-18-Baltimore

[Thunder]

I recall a repeated theme but a quick search turned up this example:

https://www.talksox.com/forum/search...earchid=579692

Slasher appreciated the posts:

https://www.talksox.com/forum/thread...9-18-Baltimore

Ah yes, I remember that one now that you mention it. This certainly does not excuse it, but that was the continuation of a repeating joke that Slasher and others had initiated when I first went to college. I am definitely much more mature now; I lost most of my friends after freshman year for being a straight up asshole most of the time.

Regardless, I apologize. I'm sure you can believe me now when I say it won't happen again.

[Thunder]

Chavis 2B
Verdugo CF
Martinez LF
Bogaerts SS
Devers DH
Vazquez C
Gonzalez 3B
Renfroe RF
Dalbec 1B

I like this lineup very much.

[harmony]

Ah yes, I remember that one now that you mention it. This certainly does not excuse it, but that was the continuation of a repeating joke that Slasher and others had initiated when I first went to college. I am definitely much more mature now; I lost most of my friends after freshman year for being a straight up asshole most of the time.

Regardless, I apologize. I'm sure you can believe me now when I say it won't happen again.

No apology is necessary. I wasn't much different as a college freshman in 1973. We all hope to grow into our better selves.

Go out and do great things.