The Angels placed outfielder Justin Upton on the 10-day injured list today, per Jeff Fletcher of the Southern California News Group (via Twitter). Upton’s been suffering from a sore back. To claim Upton’s roster spot, Kean Wong was recalled from Triple-A.
The Angels felt the sting of Upton’s absence today via some defensive miscues in the outfield as some players were forced to play out of position, notes Fletcher. Upton isn’t necessarily renowned as a defensive maven in left field, but he at least has plenty of experience playing the position. Taylor Ward was tasked with manning left field today, and in a classic Maddonian bit of maneuvering, starting pitcher Griffin Canning took on the defensive challenge late in Wednesday’s contest.
Beyond the defensive question, Upton’s bat will certainly be missed — he’s been on fire in June. Upton has a 199 wRC+ with a .338/.463/.531 slash line in 80 plate appearances this month. The hot streak has largely coincided with Upton taking over the leadoff spot in manager Joe Maddon’s lineup. Luis Rengifo has been given a few opportunities in that spot since Upton went down, while Shohei Ohtani took on the challenge in tonight’s game.
It doesn’t help that the Angels are already without outfielders Mike Trout and Dexter Fowler. In Trout’s case, there’s still no timetable for this return, per Fletcher. He has yet to resume any kind of baseball activities, suggesting the Angels will need to find a way to forge ahead without him for the time being.
Wong, 26, has hit .184/.205/.289 in 42 plate appearances with the Angels this season. He’s been significantly better in Triple-A, where he owns a .350/.388/.525 line in 85 trips to the plate.
At least now our position players match the skill level of our pitching staff.
Yes true, most fans don’t understand the reason for there current record. Considering nothing has gone right, a few games under is almost amazing. Let’s break it down:
Hitting: mediocre, witch should of been our strength. So below ave… I know injuries
SP’s: the worst of everything. Screw runs scored, they can’t even go 6 innings regularly. (Ohtani excluded)
D: flat out horrible considering they were exposed to be as good as any.
RP’s: THE LEAST OF ALL WORRIES.but terrible in there over all numbers. You have to give this group a chance late in a games. That includes scoring a single run late in games.
Note: half of the RP’s earned runs didn’t factor into the game. Hints, the higher numbers. They couldn’t afford to give up 2, so they just give up 6/7 runs. Those were losses anyway.
The Angels don’t have a chance this year if they don’t come together and it starts with starting pitching and D. A below average 6 innings 3 runs would be great. Haha
You’ve been wrong about relief pitching since day one and you still don’t see it.
For hitting, witches are not really our strength. Look to the goblins.
Get with the last decade, it starts with bullpen, look at the Rays. It’s nice to have starting pitching, but the bullpen pitches almost as many innings and more games are decided after five than before five.
Shocking people don’t know this. You know who swings the bat and sucks, Rengifo. Even your handle shows how little you know about today’s game.
Halo11, unlike yourself, I’d admit when I’m wrong. Everything I have on the post above is accurate. Last time I checked, you can’t get a save when your behind. Of coarse a good BP goes along way, but there getting so few chances, because of the ineptitude before them, like I said, they might as well keep on giving up 7 runs, cause when they come in, it’s already 6-3. Even a solid 2 runs in 5 innings there cooked. But it appears you want a impossible flawless BP. Haha!
Just so you know. When a starter pitches well and leaves with a lead after 6. They’ve been doing ok, but what’s that, once maybe twice a week. 🙁
Once again, the BP this season so far, is the least of all problems. This shouldn’t be even up for debate.
Obviously you can’t admit when you are wrong. So tell me when was I wrong. I’ll admit it.
I noticed in 2014 when the Angels were swept by a vastly inferior KC team. Why? Bullpen,
It’s GREAT to have all star starters, it’s also very very hard. So unless you are blessed with great starters, it starts with bullpen
There’s completely no help for you. I almost feel bad for you. NOT!
Nothing has ever changed. How all teams win a super high percentage of there games is by starting pitching doing well, and timely hits. Thus controlling the game with the lead. You don’t need a bunch of TOR’s pitching shutouts. The Angels can’t even get a crappy 5 inn. 3 runs out of there SP-s consistently, and you think it’s the BP that’s the main problem. You’re F N hilarious. I’d stop talking baseball if I were u. Ur embarrassing all Angels fans.
. hahaha!
Why not Jo Adell??
Jo Adell is striking out less and hitting less.
As an Angel fan, I thought I’d never say the following. I miss Eppler.
After how Perry addressed this off season, I Agee. I never understood his plan.
Joe Maddon’s lost at least 20 games his untimely going to the Bull pen with the lead Joe Maddon needs to be fired When are you gonna wake up Arte Moreno Arte is like a Chamaeleon hiding
He has a horrible pen, but with how few innings the starters threw last year, I think he’s been mostly right.
Why Perry didn’t invest in this pen is completely beyond me. It was so obvious.
To be honest Moreno is the blame Pujols randon Upton these huge contracts handcuff the angels One player Cant make a huge impact to a long season pitching is the name of the game it takes 9 players to make up a starting lineup 26 players make a major league roster Anthony Rendón Mike trout J Upton One player doesn’t make an island