The Angels have announced that outfielder Taylor Ward has been placed on the 10-day IL, categorizing his injury as a mild right hamstring strain. The move is retroactive to June 4. Fellow outfielder Jo Adell has been recalled to take his place on the roster.
Ward was one of the most pleasant surprises of the first few weeks of the season. Through May 2o, he was hitting an astounding .370/.481/.713 for a wRC+ of 242. Since then, however, a couple of injuries have slowed him down. He collided with the outfield wall while making a catch in the club’s game on May 20, causing some pain in his neck and shoulder. He eventually returned to action, but this hamstring issue flared up. Between the two maladies, he’s only been able to make 27 plate appearances over the past two weeks, hitting .167/.259/.333 in that time.
It doesn’t seem Ward is in line for an extended absence, as manager Joe Maddon tells reporters, including Sam Blum of The Athletic, that they’re hoping he’ll miss “minimal time.” While he’s out, Adell will step in and take another shot at finding success in the big leagues. Over the past few seasons, Adell has tantalized with excellent production in the minors but hasn’t yet been able to get into a groove at the MLB level. In 92 games over the past three seasons, his career batting line is .207/.249/.351, 63 wRC+.
Much like Ward, the Angels jumped out to a hot start but have been slowed recently. They are currently mired in a 10-game losing streak that has dropped their record to 27-27. Despite that awful slump, they’re still in possession of the final Wild Card playoff spot in the American League, though four teams are within a game and a half of them.
Let him play every day while Ward is out. Don’t screw with him. If necessary, let him fail without worrying about playing time.
What a PC move! Dude, you’re getting Adell!
I see what you did there Manny. Wonder how that dude is doing now tho.
H11F – agreed
Except he’s really bad at catching baseballs and fielding a position. There was a recent video compilation showing all the runs he let in over just a week stretch from his poor approach and bad angles. Not something you can learn overnight. Really hurt by the loss of an opportunity for ML development.
The best for the Angels to do is to trade Adell while he still has some of that prospect shine on him. Even if does start hitting, with Ohtani at DH and Trout, Marsh, and Ward in the OF, there is nowhere to play him every day. If the Angels are serious about contending, they need a middle infielder, if not 2. No championship team is going to have a DP combo of Rengifo/Velasquez
You probably can’t get Correa or Trea Turner, but if Boston doesn’t turn it around, perhaps Bogaerts could be had. Or maybe come up with a package deal with Philly for both Segura and Didi Gregorius. I would think Adell would be a good headliner in either deal.
I forgot Segura was hurt. Either way, Didi would fill a need.
First off, Moreno is not going to pay for any of the first 3 guys you are talking about.
Second, Philly needs both those players so it’s a non starter. They have too many outfielders/DHs or whatever you want to call them as it is.
Finally, Adell doesn’t have anywhere near the trade value you seem to think he does. I think you’re presuming he still has #2 prospect type of shine. Right now, it’s very debatable whether he has #100 prospect type of shine.
First off, I was not talking about paying them long term. I was talking about trying for a championship THIS SEASON.
Second, if Philly falls any further down this season, they won’t need anyone. They can always spend money in the offseason for a replacement.
Finally, I was not suggest Adell as the headliner of a deal for a long term signed guy. I was suggesting the lead guy for a big name rental. That tends to be guys in the 50-150 prospect range.
First off, it was obvious to pretty much everyone that you were not talking about paying the first 3 guys long term so that doesn’t even need to be said nor was it any part of my thinking. Moreno is a cheapskate.
Second, the Angels are playing .500 ball and are doing their annual “will be out of wild card race by trade deadline” so I’d worry more about the Angels falling further down this season if I were you than anyone else.
Finally, Adell is not going to get a big-name rental in my opinion but that is debatable on who we are talking about overall on both sides of a potential trade.
Moreno is a cheapskate? That’s a pretty insane take considering the Angels seem to make a yearly habit out of plopping down huge cash to a free agent. Pujols and Upton would like a word. Trout, Rendon, and Thor as well.
Enjoy that Rendon contract as it goes over $40 mil soon.
Adell is not going to get a big-name rental in my opinion
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Yup, as much as I try to talk myself into thinking Adell would be a good target for the RS, trying to steal a post-hype prospect, I still don’t see the numbers. I tried to cherry-pick stats from 5/22, when he took a walk, but they still don’t add up.
He’s taken 5 walks in 7 games, which is what I was looking for. But he’s also struck out 12 times in 24 ABs. The dud has not veered at all from being a strikeout machine.
First off, you both are dummies.
Second, your little quibble here was cute.
Finally, have a nice day kids.
He’s not cheap at all he just doesn’t know what he’s doing. That Rendon contract is horrendous and none of these guys can stay healthy except for Walsh it seems. Fans wonder why Ward hasn’t stuck yet well that’s because he’s always got some kind of injury. Taylor Ward meet Brandon Nimmo.
Why would anyone who is tanking want Adell back as a headliner for a rental? He’s a known commodity, a proven bust. At least a mid-tier prospect is an unknown and you can hope he’ll become good.
First off, it’s now a fifth off. First off, what was the point again?
I think the rule is the “offs” reset after every post.
Ward’s having a great year, but I’d think it wise to sell on him while he’s at peak value if you think Jo is going to hit.
That’s a thought, but is very risky in case Adell doesn’t hit. I mean Trout is not getting any younger. He is still great, but may have already peaked. They need to take advantage of his next few years.
If the Angels trade Adell, I suspect it would be for a controllable player. I don’t see the Angels trading six years of control in Adell for a four month rental. Also, aren’t Didi and Bogaerts among the worst fielding SS in baseball? They may solve one problem and create another.
Didi looked relatively decent at SS before he hit the IL recently.
Time to fire Joe Maddon he might not last the whole year
Jo Adell has the perfect body and athleticism for baseball but lacks the high level baseball iq. I’d compare him as a more athletic Kelenic. They both just get fooled way too easily by major league pitching. The Angels should be trying to trade him right now while he still has value before its too late
Man this team has quickly fallen apart. You all seem to think getting infield help is going to improve the team but when the pitching staff seems to have fallen apart, that won’t make a difference. Perry’s gambles have failed. I was willing to keep up hope, but this losing streak and possible sweep by the Phillies is depressing.
I realize there’s still time to turn things around, but yipes it’s just not looking good.
Jo Adell – The often over-hyped failure to produce Jo Adell.
Is it that Jo Adell or a different one?
Failed at 23? Are you the same people who called Ohtani a bust?
I don’t think Perry is dumb enough to trade Adell. Maddon is dumb enough to play Rojas and Largares over him, but Perry is not dumb enough to trade him.
Ohtani had 2.7 fwar, as a hitter, his first year(367 pas). Adell has -1.9 in his first 338 pas. Why are you even trying to compare them? For perspective, the 4.6 fwar that separates them is about what Tim Anderson (4.7) produced for all of 2021. It’s not some close comp by production or underlying numbers for the two. You’re grasping at straws.
Are you going to use the straw man that some people claimed ohtani was a bust as a defense for every single player, from here on out, also being one? Those two players are nothing alike and I fail to see how you even begin to think the trajectory of one says anything about the other.
And people were still calling him a bust. And people were still saying he should be in the pen.
People are nuts.
Ok? And how is that a defense to the idea that Jo Adell and his terrible production thus far, are a bust?
Has he been an unproductive player? Of course. Bust means the hand has been dealt and the game is over.
Rengifo has been an unproductive player, is two years older, has 400 more plate appearances and people are not giving up on him. Go figure?
I think Rengifo stinks, but that hand hasn’t been dealt either.
Rengifo is/was a 45 fv player, expectations for his production should be a lot lower.
That said, he has a 99 wRC+ this year, doesn’t k 35% of the time and isn’t a butcher in the field (while also playing a more valuable position). Rengifo has -.8 fwar over 787 PAs, if you prorate Adell to that many, you’re looking at -4.42. so Rengifo is providing value (less negative value) at a rate that’s ~4x better than Adell.
Your what-about-isms aren’t a good argument, especially because they don’t even prove the point you think you’re making. I can’t tell if you just fail to realize how bad Adell has actually been, are too stubborn to admit that you’re wrong, or if you’re Jo’s mom.
I can get holding out hope because he’s young, I guess, but the dude has absolutely been a bust thus far.
Randomuser45673 hours ago
Ohtani had 2.7 fwar, as a hitter, his first year(367 pas). Adell has -1.9 in his first 338 pas. Why are you even trying to compare them?
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I’ve seen that comparison before, and it is a very bad comparison. Ohtani had a career OPS+ of 134 going into 2020. Nobody writes off a player like that based on a Covid-shortened season.
OTOH, Adell has done nothing but strike out over the past 6 seasons. If you consider all his minor league games as the equivalent of 2 full seasons, then he is averaging 32 HR with a 190/55 K/W.
That said, he’s probably worth gambling on. He could still morph into a Kris Davis type of player.
Lots of people wrote off Adell. Lots of people called him a bust. People be nuts.
In all fairness, so far they are right. He still has massive raw power, but he is also 23 now. If the under for WAR for his control years was 15, I’d be betting under.
FWIW, that’s the type of futures wager that bookies should be supplying.
Is it a bust when you are dealt a five in black Jack.. The game isn’t close to over. You have people saying Adell has a low baseball IQ. That’s ridiculous. But that’s where people are.
People are nuts.
Adell is 23 and has been marketed as the player of the future since he was 19. It’s not hard to see that he has fallen short of that expectation thus far. He may continue to develop and be great. What I have always said about Adell is he is not ready to help the team now. We need pitching now. I believe that in a trade, Adell may be able to return some of what we need to help us compete now in 2022. It’s irrelevant if in the next three years he becomes an amazing player if our goal is to win this year, as it has been stated.
“You have people saying Adell has a low baseball IQ.”
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That part is pure idiocy. He might have a 160 IQ, but if you can’t pick up the spin out of the pitchers’ hand, it wouldn’t matter if your IQ was 320. It also doesn’t matter if you can bench 300. That’s actually the beauty of baseball. That’s what gives the little guy a fighting chance.
But he still hasn’t done anything.
The game isn’t close to over.
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Of course not. But fans get to speculate on players. And Adell is nowhere close to being alone. How about Pache on the As? I’m sure there are discussions out there speculating whether Pache will make enough contact to be a pro. I do the same thing with RS prospects.
most angels fans want him to get constant at-bats and succeed. so what do you want? release him? throw him away? maddon is not helping him by replacing him with juan lagares who is worse off defensively at rf and can’t hit!
Lagares is a studly defender with a Gold Glove and rocket arm. Jo has misplaced cans of corn this year and taken wonky routes. Be realistic.
check his defensive stats at rf. besides, adell’s defense at rf was ok not spectacular but getting better. then genius madden played him at left.
So many dumb baseball experts wanabes!
So many reactionary baseball fans.
If you have any decency, retire, Mr. Maddon!
Why would any pitcher want to play for Maddon? The pen is already burned out.
Maddon is a moron.
Just to add, do you know how many Angel pitchers qualify for the ERA tittle?…zero.
They throw once a week, they can pitch 6 innings. It’s better for the starting pitcher, it’s better for the bullpen, and it’s better for the team.
Maddon is awful at handling the rotation. The 6-man rotation must end. And he needs to stop pulling pitchers in the 5th inning because their pitch count hits 90. The pen is actually decent and improved, the problem is they are extremely overworked and it’s been showing lately.
Joe is the reason this team might lose 11 in a row. Out of all the dumb moves Moreno has made, the worst was ignoring Eppler and hiring Maddon.
All rivers lead to Arte
He’s not a baseball guy he’s a marketing guy so ofc Cinderella Maddon had his eye
They can win despite him but there hitting off the blue tee’s while others the white’s
Welp, that makes 11 losses in a row and 16 in the last 21 games. I think an easy April schedule gave everyone a false sense of confidence. The May schedule revealed our issues and June’s schedule will solidify those issues. On the top of the list is is pitching. We made changes but not enough to compete. A slumping offense doesn’t help, but our BP has completely failed to keep games close enough to give the offense a chance. And Maddon hasn’t helped matters.
Unless we address pitching, nothing else matters. People on here continue to defend Moreno for being a big spender. When he spends his money on the wrong players, it doesn’t matter how much he spends. Pitching…it starts and ends there.
There is no doubt in my mind the bullpen has failed because how they are being used. When you take out starters in the 4th and 5th innings who are not pitching poorly, you screw up your pen. A guy hasn’t pitched in almost two weeks and he comes in the game with the bases loaded, who does that?
Couldn’t agree more. Sandy should have stayed in the game today. Maddon blew it. I don’t see him being our manager long.
If Thor is on a hardcount, then I’d suggest piggybacking him instead of rolling out the 6 Man rotation.
another wannabe!
Why? Because you say so?
Of course, since Adell is only 23, it’s clearly waaay too soon to consider him anything like a bust (yet). But man, I just looked at how he’s fared this year in the minors – 1 walk in 66 PAs against AAA pitching! How is that even possible? He must’ve really been doing a slow-burn down there – I’d hope he can turn himself around.
look at his ba, obp and ops in aaa! he is better than you ever will be in baseball and might be a million times better than you as a person! and that 1 walk was in the bigs.
bug off!
What’s wrong with you? Goob is pointing out the flaw in his game, and you go all snowflake on him?
What’s in it for you? you want him to play for the Yankees to improve outfield defense? We like him and like him to improve as an angel. he is getting better just not by leaps and bounds. but he is getting better and that is all we want.
I don’t think he’s improving any MLB team’s outfield defense except maybe the phillies.
One day he’ll make a fine GM, like his compadre, Billy Beane.
Joe Maddon should be getting fired soon
By all accounts, Adell is a good kid who works hard, is coachable and well liked in the clubhouse. I would love to see him reach his potential. The Angels would be better off for it regardless if they traded Adell for a nice haul or held on to him.
Alas, I fear we will look back in a few years and see that Adell was overrated. In my opinion, he will top out as a low on-base, high SO guy with major pop that plays really, really bad defensively.
I believe Adell is one of the best athletes in MLB, but the game of baseball has been difficult for him as he does not naturally possess baseball skills.
That is a good assessment.
Joe Maddon sure seems like Mr. Positive with that upbeat demeanor no matter how ugly the team just played. “Why should I get angry? Everyone is working so hard. Who should I be angry at? Everywhere I look I see hard workers.” And blah and blah and blah. I think this guy has lost any connection with reality or how to effectively communicate as a leader.
And people call Scott Servais “Mr. Rogers”…well Joe Maddon is Mr. Rogers + Bob Ross + America’s #1 Helicopter Parent on steroids. Yikes I’m an M’s fan and even I’m feeling sorry for the Angel fans right now…you and your team deserve a competent manager and baseball mind at the helm.
I hear Girardi is suddenly available to manage a team.