Rangers fans have been anticipating the imminent return of star shortstop Corey Seager from his hamstring injury for some time now. As noted by Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News, the club appears to have a clear plan in place for Seager’s rehab, which began yesterday, and return to action in the majors. After playing five innings at shortstop as planned last night, Seager is expected to start as the DH for the club’s Double-A affiliate in Frisco before playing seven innings at shortstop on Sunday. If all goes well, manager Bruce Bochy indicated that Seager could be activated from the injured list in time for Monday’s game against the Braves.
Should Seager indeed be ready to return early next week, the Rangers would return one of their best hitters to a team that has taken control of the AL West with a 23-14 record in the early going. Seager was off to a torrid start through 11 games this season, slashing .359/.468/.538 in 49 plate appearance prior to his stint on the IL. As the Rangers have indicated a desire to keep Ezequiel Duran in the lineup going forward, Seager’s return could cut into the playing time of players like Brad Miller, Robbie Grossman, and Bubba Thompson.
More from around the AL West…
- The Angels today announced that they have recalled outfielder Mickey Moniak to the big league club. Moniak will take the roster spot of infielder Jake Lamb, who was previously reported to have been optioned down to Triple-A. A former 1st overall pick by the Phillies in 2016, Moniak has struggled offensively since his big league debut in 2020, slashing just .157/.218/.268 in 167 plate appearances, a slash line that’s 68% worse than league average by measure of wRC+. Moniak has impressed so far at the Triple-A level this season, however, with a solid .308/.355/.585 slash line in 141 plate appearances this season. Moniak figures to factor into the corner outfield mix along with Taylor Ward and Hunter Renfroe, with Mike Trout locked in as the everyday center fielder.
- Mariners star Julio Rodriguez moved down to the sixth spot in the batting order in yesterday’s game against the Rangers, marking the first time this season the young outfielder batted outside of the leadoff spot. Manager Scott Servais told reporters, including The Athletic’s Corey Brock, that the move was designed to take pressure off of last year’s AL Rookie of the Year, who has scuffled to a .205/.270/.384 slash line, good for a wRC+ of just 85. Rodriguez, for his part, expressed support for the decision, noting that he believed it was the best thing for the team.
Hopefully Moniak can continue his success at the MLB level this time.
Toni Basil approves.
Stay healthy Mick, the AL is your oyster….
Angels play a lot of games this month. If Moniak can give each guy a day off each week, that would be great. Phillips is really not needed on this roster.
Anaheim again began the season with 1 of the easiest- maybe the easiest- schedule in MLB in an attempt by MLB to promote the Trout/Ohtani team, yet they are barely above .500 despite that. They already have no chance, but they will really be out of the picture again as usual by May 25th. Who gets time off and when is irrelevant for a team like Anaheim that has no chance no matter what. Ohtani is leaving after this season and that will be a big loss in iself, not to mention that it will make it even more difficult for Anaheim to bring in quality free agents. The very slight ‘silver lining’ of Ohtani leaving is that the jealous egomaniac Mike Trout (who is in major decline) will no longer feel overshadowed on his own team,
The haters are punching the air REACHING for a narrative to explain away an Angels team in contention. Theyre sick!
Hahaha! Anaheim is almost always “in contention” the first month or so of the season because of MLB trying to give them a boost with easy schedules. It’s not a coincidence that they typically begin seemingly fairly well and are almost always out of it around the end of May.
So says, ahem…
The ACE!!
Stop with the conspiracy narratives. Just ridiculous.
Did you know the Angels have 462,342,984,122 reasons to call Moniak up?
#8 Nice try
this pot is too big for you to successfully stir
The Angels have played 6 teams who are good (Blue Jays, Roid Sux, Yanks, Brewers, Rangers, Astros) and 2 teams expected to be good (Mariners, Cardinals) so far this season.
We’ve played 4 series against teams expected to be bad (A’s twice, Royals, Nats).
Took about two seconds to prove you are wrong. Not that your post suggested any real research or point.
How dare you let the facts get in the way of a false narrative.
The Angels’ bullpen doesn’t get enough credit and they have something this year they haven’t had for some time: depth.
They obviously need to play better to get into the postseason, but I like their chances a lot more this year than I have the last 4-5 years.
You are an LA Angel level troll if your post is to be believed.
Ok, let’s see what you say when Anaheim is 3-5 games under .500 on May 25th.
#8 why did you change your handle and run with the old tiresome rhetoric about the Angels having a easy schedule?
Out side of Tamp Bay and a Couple of other teams none other 20+ teams only a couple of games above .500.
You sound like a jilted Mariners fan..
Marlins.
You didn’t answer my question. MLB doesn’t make skeds easier for certain teams. Major decline? Trout hit 40 bombs last year in 124 games. Why do you have so much hatred for Trout?
Ooooooh he didn’t score from 2nd on a base hit. STOP the press’s. The ball was most likely hi too hard to risk it.
8 – You revealed your ignorance/agenda when you called Trout a jealous egomaniac. By all accounts he is a great teammate and an decent and humble human. He will go down in history as one of the best to ever play the game. To say he is in a major decline is also silly. His numbers are public record for all to see that you are making that up to troll Angel fans. I’d ask you for evidence to support your lunacy but there is none to provide.
Hasn’t lead the league in any category since 2019. Running/base stealing game is completely over (and in fact, he didn’t even score from 2nd on a single to RF tonight with the game on the line ). Durability is finished. K rate back to his career high- just like it was back to it last year, posting the worst numbers of his career this year after already posting the worst numbers of his career last year. Hasn’t been consistent in CF since 2018- in fact that was his last good season in CF period. To not see that he’s in major decline is willful ignorance.
8 – “willful ignorance”
Using catch phrases and cliches doesn’t make your statements more believable or truthful. Trout’s worst numbers are better than 99% of all other players’ best numbers. Show me and everyone else the stats you are using to support your statement that Trout is in a “major decline” instead of just spouting off generalizations like you do. You have yet to state facts supported by data.
Deion Sanders could have gone pro in basketball as well and he even considered being a 3 sport professional athlete but the schedule wouldn’t have allowed for it. Jackson was a terrible basketball player. 3 sport athlete (Deion Sanders) vs 2 sport athlete (Bo Jackson). In addition, Deion was a better baseball player than Jackson in every way except for HRs- despite the fact that Deion was primarily a football player while Jackson was primarily a baseball player- Jackson considered himself baseball-first, while Deion considered himself football-first. Unlike Jackson, Deion was only a part time baseball player, yet he was still better than Jackson in every way except for HR power. Deion also had the more impressive and better all around and more dynamic football career. With football, Deion was offense/defense/special teams, while Jackson was a single position player. Deion is a better athlete than Jackson, and it isn’t even all that close when you think about Deion being a 3 sport athlete vs Jackson being a 2 sport athlete and Deion being so much better in general at both football and baseball than Bo Jackson. Not to mention the fact that Deion’s body was built to actually stand the test of time of being a professional athlete, unlike Jackson. It really isn’t even all that close.
#8 <== Stop him! Before he talks again!
It would seem pointless for the Angels to attempt to re-sign Ohtani. They haven’t won anything with him. Why bankrupt your organization to continue to hover around .500? And I’m sorry that Tyler Anderson has turned back into a pumpkin, but it was predictable.
Signing Ohtani will be worth it just to spite you Angel haters. The Angels receive millions from Asian TV networks. That will offset what the Angels will pay him should he sign a extension.
Good grief.
No one hates the Angels. Outside of Orange County, no one gives a rip about them either way.
Moniak’s career numbers are better than the .077 BA and 69% SO rate we got to experience from Phillips.
@HalosHeavenJJ: That’s a big duh. Every MLB team plays a lot of games this month. No team plays significantly more than any other. That’s how we get, you know, a 162-game season.
The Angels are playing 49 games in 52 days. I know they all get to 162 but off days are sporadic, not regularly scheduled.
Did I dumb it down enough for you or do you need a visual aide?
A better question is did you dumb it down enough for yourself and your fellow Angels fans to understand something about baseball and that all teams have stretches like that on the schedule.
It’s simple enough that even you should be able to grasp it.
HaloHeaven-I think he needs a power point presentation.
I can’t see thator anything else helping him.
A person who can’t grasp such a simple concept is obviously challenged. Best to just pat him on the helmet and give him a popsicle.
Your so mean, you wouldn’t hit a guy with his glasses on now would you?
Phillips fill a very specific role. His speed allowed us to win the game tonight. As long as they have room for him it’s a luxury that can win games late. They don’t need an extra bullpen arm right now and Walsh is coming back. When Walsh does come back you might see Moniak replace Phillips.
@HHJJ I am not even sure if Moniak stays up very long. Walsh is coming back soon. The Angels could DFA Phillips, but they may just option Moniak back down. I read Lamb was sent down because he was approaching the 45 day mark that he gave consent to being sent down, so they needed to option him prior to the 35 day mark.
Adell needs to play everyday and cut his K rate. He needs to get it down to the mid twenties.
His overall numbers are fine, but a KRate of almost 33% is completely unacceptable. I don’t care about his KRate other than if his KRate is 33%, MLB pitchers will carve him up.
Halo Moniak has a higher career K rate than Adell. Both need to cut that down.
I think Moniak AAA KRate this year was below 25%.
Moniak can’t possibly do worse than Brett Phillips
True, but different roles. Phillips is there as a defensive replacement, pinch runner and positive clubhouse influence.
Moniak didn’t look good defensively last year. That said, compared to Rengifo, Moniak is Roberto Clemente.
Halo11fan…couldn’t resist another chance to bash Regifo I see. What’s that make #250???
Its amazing how many times he tries to bash on Rengifo when he has the facts wrong. So far this season in the OF Rengifo is an average or above defender in both DRS and OAA. Moniak only has 100 OF attempts in his MLB career and he is exactly average in OAA and -5 in DRS. .
Before moron11fan pipes in, for Rengifo I am obviously talking about as an OF.
Man, I guess saying I’d rather see someone in the outfield other than Rengifo is an offensive take?
Are you kidding?
Is saying I would much rather see Canning with the bases loaded in the 4th than Herget is a harsh take as well?
Give me a break. If stuff like that offends you…man up.
Who said anything about being offended?
You seem to be the one who is sensitive. I merely pointed out that every chance you have, you drag Rengifo’s name through the mud. It has become predictable.
If you are going to cast criticism, be prepared to get some back. That is what real men do.
Time to cowboy up.
It’s a thread about Moniak. Who do you think he’s going to taking ABs away from….Rengifo. It’s relevant. It’s a direct correlation.
Every chance? Well then bring it up when it’s not relevant. But you can’t, because I only bring it up when it’s relevant. And in this thread, it’s relevant.
When Walsh comes back, if Nevin says Urshela will be playing more 3rd base, I’m going to comment hoe Rendon makes Urshela look like Brooks Robinson.
It’s relevant. Sheesh.
In Rengifo’s last 10 starts, 3 were in the OF, each at a different OF position. Moniak is going to rest Ward, Trout, and Renfroe. Rengifo can then start more games at 2B where his other 7 starts have been and Drury can get more starts at 1B. In fact, Nevin said exactly that prior to tonight’s game. A game that is tied in the 9th.
Don’t let facts get in the way of your misplaced venom against Rengifo.
BTW, where is your BFF Fletcher? You know, the guy you said should be playing in Anaheim instead of Rengifo. He is struggling in SLC with a .250/.342/.309/.651 slashline for a Bees team that is averaging .261/.356/.476/.832 in a league that is averaging .269/.371/.452/.823. To compound his woes, he has played terrible defense.
Now we are up one. And Rengifo is in as defensive replacement at 2B
Phillips has done exactly what they’ve asked of him. 12 ABs on the season isn’t enough for anyone to hit well. But he’s not there to hit– he’s there to run late in games like tonight and to play defense for Ward.
Ward is scuffling, so maybe Moniak will be some competition to get him moving or maybe Moniak will finally live up to the hype. Not counting on either.
Michael Sembello approves of the Moniak call-up.
I root for any guy named “Mickey” to be in the Show. The last surviving Monkee, Mickey Dolenz, rightly concurs.
JRod looks cooked. Shame. Looked like he had some potential last season. Oh well, not like the Mariners need any more offense.
Good to see you live up to your screen name.
Sarcasm much?
C’mon Angels! Beat the Gardenias!
No, let the Gardenias win one. They need a win more than the Angels do. Plus I want to see the Mariners get ahead of the Angels at some point, but that’s just showing my bias.
I got it, Son.
I’m pulling for Mickey. He was absolutely on fire after K-Long adjusted his swing last Spring Training. Then he broke his hand and never got the consistent at bats that he needed.
Mr Rodriguez is on his way,
I don’t know where he’s going
He’s taking his time
But I don’t know where
Goodbye to Snoop and a bottle of Corona,
Just me and Julio working out,
Down by the schoolyard
Corey Seager makes our outfield stronger now that we can bump his replacement to LF! Rangers 2023
Ezequiel Duran played LF & CF in the minors last year 2022.
Well moving into cleanup sure helped Julio today!
Angels take the lead in the ninth!
Epic comeback!
Angels win!
You can put a HALO on this one!
Moniak showing why Perry, while corpulent, is a genius.
Minasian, the maniacal mastermind.
Man on third, infield in… whiff.
Pathetic.
):^(
“Game’s gettin’ excitin’!”
Former pitcher Mark Langston thinks that WP should be a PB.
Moniak = 3.000 OPS.
Manasian is a genius.
Wow. Once again the Angels put the bull (6!) in bullpen!
Yep, Julio should slide down the lineup order. Right now they both could use a change. Julio can do it all when he’s on his game. I’m not sure of the strategy in placing him as a leadoff hitter but I’m not complaining. It does have me thinking about George Springer when he was with the Astros there must be something to it,.. to me he may be better served as a power hitter in a lineup, but then are we looking at the lineup as a whole? And the dynamics of it might be better as him leading off? I still like Crawford leading off, And in the number two hold I prefer in having some speed at the top of the order, As well as Kelenic is hitting I might consider him there,.. or Cabello, can’t seem to get the name right. move France in the three hold if that’s alright with you? As for the rest go ahead and pick and choice. make sure your knowing what your doing. Can we get the kind of hitting we need?
How about some new material?