GDT 4/29/24 Philadelphia Phillies (Sánchez, C) @ Los Angeles Angels (Canning)

[Lucky_Beagle]

Again questions about the pitching decisions....Why was Sanchez allowed to start the 6th inning? Why wasn't he pulled after the first runner reached base? Why Seranthony in a tie game the way he has been struggling?
I understand he has to pitch sometime if you are going to carry him on the roster, but I am not sure I would have used him then over the lefties regardless who coming up to bat.

[andyb]

Lots of missed opportunities on offense too. 9 BBs and a HBP. After the first we just left lots of runners on base. Sanchez actually was a little lucky until Kerkering let his inherited runners in.

This happens. Long road trip. Need to fix Castellanos and Dominguez because there really is not much behind them.

[Philsmania]

This game reminded me of those two bad losses to the Reds last week, between the missed run-scoring opportunities and the bullpen letdowns.

[bkeich]

Statistically oddity. The last 3 pitchers got the Angels all now have ERAs of 3.38

[zambonir]

The question is could Seranthony still be sent to the minors with his consent? Like Brett Myers once did, or Turnbull might have had Covey and Kerkering not started the season injured, though he was probably going to beat out Covey.

Still plenty of other relievers but the six-man rotation isn't really sustainable if you can't use him in meaningful spots. In fact, you'd probably start using Turnbull in meaningful spots while Seranthony is in the mop-up role.

I reckon Thomson used Seranthony on purpose there though. He believes in giving the struggling guys high-leverage chances. It was a test, and a game he was willing to lose if Seranthony failed it. He's done it a couple of other times this year with better results but won't do it indefinitely.

Too bad they couldn't claw back.

[andyb]

I think they are just doing the 6-man rotation for this turn. Off days will allow for 5 days rest for a few weeks after this road trip.

A 6-man rotation would work if we could consistently get 7 innings out of starters like we have for the most part lately. Just hard to count on that through the dog days. For now I would keep Turnbull to long 2-3 inning outings and maybe have him do the occasional bullpen game to keep the 5-man rotation rested. Most likely he'll be needed as part of the 5 anyway at some point.

[zambonir]

Yeah I don't think they are staying with the six-man but they haven't ruled out a piggyback situation. Either way, Turnbull is likely the long man and they can't completely bury Seranthony. But, just means Kerkering and Marte (who's been pretty solid) need to handle some bigger spots.

What they are also missing is the optionable spot (which was once Ortiz and is technically still Marte) but with pitching this good they haven't needed it.

I still wonder if they have fully committed to Turnbull losing the spot. Which might also cost him money (he has incentives above his $2 million base deal for 12-20 starts and 40-120 innings). Though they could also just tear that up and guarantee him the extra $2 million.

In the end, yes, he'll be needed. And Sanchez is still not a lock either.

[andyb]

And Sanchez is still not a lock either.

Definitely true. He clearly was the hot name in spring training and scores very well on the various STUFF+ analytical measurements. But to me he was largely a 2-pitch pitcher last year that needed to work on his 3rd pitch to get to the point when hitters laid off the change because he used it so much. The slider is just a work in progress and he really couldn't command the change last night. We all thought Bruce Ruffin was going to be a star once upon a time.