Locked On Angels - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Angels

Baseball fans were disappointed a week ago when the Angels announced Shohei Ohtani's start would be pushed back a few days to help manage his workload this season. Ohtani did not disappoint yet again in his return to the mound... Initially, Ohtani's velocity on his three main pitches seemed unusually low, with his fastball sitting 91-94 mph in the first two innings. We're used to seeing his fastball touch 98+mph, so Angels twitter was understandably concerned. Ohtani quickly quelled those concerns, pumping a 101 mph fastball to end the 5th while also mixing in his devastating splitter and slider when needed. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans, with rain causing a lengthy delay in the 6th, forcing Ohtani to exit while Cam Bedrosian and Jim Johnson imploded to give the Tigers the muddy victory. The Gear Grinder this week focuses on Anthony Rizzo's slide into home plate against the Pirates a couple of days ago, and the surrounding controversy. Plus, the episode finished with a historical look back at the standings from previous season. Tune in to find out why Halo fans should still be confident this team can play baseball in October. Don't forget to follow the show on Twitter @LockedOnAngels and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Angel fanbase seems to take Mike Scioscia for granted. With just 1 playoff appearance in the past 8 seasons, many are ready to move on from a man who just picked up his 1,600th win in MLB. Yes, some of his bullpen decisions drive us wild. Yes, some lineup choices leave us scratching our heads at times. The contact play with a runner on third still drives me insane at times. But Mike Scioscia just passed Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda in total wins, and he did it in less games and the same amount of playoff appearances. When Scioscia's brand of aggressive baseball goes into full speed, it can be some of the most aesthetically pleasing baseball to watch. For today, let's all admire the work that Mike Scioscia has put in to a franchise that was an afterthought in the league before he arrived. Wednesday also means we take a look around the AL West to see where the Halos stand, reflecting on a bounce back win in Detroit that saw positive contributions from Ian Kinsler, Luis Valbuena, and Martin Maldonado. Don't forget to follow the show on Twitter @LockedOnAngels and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the Angels continuing to struggle on their current 10-game road trip, they looked to their supposed ace to halt the woes. Garrett Richards failed to buck that trend in New York. Struggling with the command of his fastball, Richards consistently got behind in the count, allowing the Yankee hitters to stay patient and let things unravel. Richards failed to work out of the 3rd inning, adding to his long list of poor starts against New York. Looking back over his starts this season, there are only a handful of quality starts, let alone outings that define an ace of a Major League rotation. Tuesday also means it's time for the Down on the Farm Report. This week, the focus centers on the holes at the Major League level, defined by the struggles of Kole Calhoun, Ian Kinsler, and Luis Valbuena. Can David Fletcher stay hot in a potential call-up to Anaheim? Maybe Matt Thaiss is the solution at first base? Is there a dark horse candidate to fill any of these roles? Tune in and find out! Don't forget to follow the show on Twitter @LockedOnAngels and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Somehow, the Angels were able to take a series victory in Toronto, and now might have some momentum heading to a tough series in the Bronx. Friday means your mailbag questions are the focus of the show, and we had a record number of submissions. Should Shohei Ohtani hit leadoff? When will Ian Kinsler be moved back down in the order? Will David Fletcher receive a call up from Salt Lake soon? What type of package can the Halos offer for Kelvin Herrera? Is Chase Headley an option to sign and insert into the lineup. All of that and more in today's episode! Don't forget to follow the show on Twitter @LockedOnAngels and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A miraculous 9th inning comeback almost went for naught, as Blake Parker struggled out of the bullpen in closing out the game. Kole Calhoun made sure there were no further shenanigans. With nobody out and runners at the corners, Kole Calhoun caught a ball on the fly and delivered a strike home, gunning down Curtis Granderson and preserving the Angels' lead. If Calhoun continues to play this kind of defense, he'll continue to get a longer leash to overcome his well-documented struggles at the plate. Of course, Andrelton Simmons and Shohei Ohtani also had big at-bats to put the Halos out in front and get a much needed win. Thursday also means the Gear Grinder, and defensive shifts are the topic this week. The onus is on the hitters to adjust as defenses adjust to them. Simple. Don't forget to follow the show on Twitter @LockedOnAngels and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a day off, we hoped the Angels would come out rejuvenated and kickstart their 10-game road trip with passion. That never happened... A costly error by Chris Young led to 4 unearned runs in the 1st inning, and the Angels could only crank out 4 hits as a team, succumbing to the wizardry of J.A. Happ. Multiple at-bats were hard to watch, as Zack Cozart and Ian Kinsler both had their slumps of the past few weeks continue, among other Halos. This lack of production offensively needs to change in a hurry, or the Angels risk finding themselves more than just a few games out of a playoff spot when the draft rolls around. Wild West Wednesday also examines the state of the AL West, and though the injuries continue to pile up for the Mariners, they continue to win games and distance themselves from the Halos. Don't forget to follow the show on Twitter @LockedOnAngels and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the American League's best road record and team batting average, there is cause for optimism as the Angels head north of the border to Toronto. Especially given the recent struggles of the Blue Jays... Something has to give, right? The Angels are coming off of a 4-7 homestand, while the Blue Jays are 2-7 in their last nine games, getting swept by Oakland most recently. Time will tell if notable cold spells will end for Justin Upton, Kole Calhoun, Ian Kinsler, and pretty much everyone else in the lineup not named Andrelton Simmons. Jo Adell headlines the Down on the Farm report given his scorching week, while Jose Suarez gets his due for an unreal 29 strikeouts in just over his last 14 innings pitched in Double-A. Tune in! Don't forget to follow the show on Twitter @LockedOnAngels and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Skidding into a 5-game losing streak, the Angels needed a win desperately to close out a lackluster homestand. Shohei Ohtani delivered in a massive way, proving he is the ace of the Halo rotation. A career high 7 2/3 innings and 110 pitches, Ohtani's fastball climbed in velocity as his start wore on, mixing in with his devastating arsenal of breaking pitches. Watching him pitch is truly an art form at this point, and the cries for Ohtani to play and pitch more often will only grow with each successful start. Studs and Duds of the weekend are also featured in today's show, highlighting Shohei Ohtani and Blake Parker as the main studs. The entire Halo offense has their place as Duds of the weekend, with almost the entire lineup hitting below .200 in the past week of play. Don't forget to follow the show on Twitter @LockedOnAngels and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While the Halos received another stellar performance from the starting rotation, the bullpen remains a big questions mark hanging over the club and whether or not it can pursue a long playoff run. Friday means it's time for your mailbag episode, with your questions answered live on the show. Will Shohei Ohtani see more starts on the mound and in the lineup? Will the Angels pursue other arms to help shore up the bullpen before the trade deadline? Should we be worried about the recent struggles of Mike Trout? Tune in and find out! Don't forget to follow the show on Twitter @LockedOnAngels and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One botched groundball led to an Astros' home run, and just like that, Houston took the series. However, another magnificent start by an Angels' starting pitcher leaves us hopeful for the fate of this rotation in Anaheim... Garrett Richards largely went toe-to-toe with Justin Verlander on Wednesday, tossing 7 innings and giving up 2 runs, neither of which were earned. Over the last 16 games, a Halo starter has not allowed more than 3 earned runs, a streak unmatched in decades of Angels' baseball. Plenty of us had reservations about the rotation in spring training, but it seems as if Eppler's confidence was well placed. The Thursday Gear Grinder covers the fallout of Robinson Cano's 80-game suspension for taking a banned substance, and the greater problem of athletes making excuses for not knowing what goes in their bodies. Lastly, a quick preview of the upcoming 4-game series against Tampa Bay closes out the show. Tune in! Don't forget to follow the show on Twitter @LockedOnAngels and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Losses that come at the end of games as a result of a failed lead protected are always to toughest to handle. The Halo bullpen could not quite hold things together last night, with Jose Altuve coming up big in the 8th. Jose Alvarez entered in the 8th inning, protecting a 2-run lead. After the Astros loaded the bases with one out, Altuve stepped in and deposited a shot down the left field line, pushing the Astros ahead to steal a victory. Alvarez seemed to be the most trusted man in the bullpen, especially after the recent injury news of Keynan Middleton. With his inability to close down a game, where can the Angels turn? Wednesday also means a look around the AL West, and while the loss was tough, the Angels are still in a very good position to content for a playoff spot after passing the 1st quarter mark of the season.  Don't forget to follow the show on Twitter @LockedOnAngels and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever since shifting over to the first base side of the pitching rubber, Andrew Heaney has pitched phenomenally. Last night was his most brilliant start this season, and quite possibly of his career. Heaney struck out 10 hitters in 8 innings of work, beautifully mixing his sinker, changeup, and slurve against the Astros, who simply could not make hard contact all evening. If Heaney continues his current pace, he gives the Angels a formidable top half of the rotation, with Shohei Ohtani, Garrett Richards, and Tyler Skaggs all throwing well of late. With Jaime Barria and Nick Tropeano providing solid support, we may be seeing the dawn of a new era for the Angels' rotation. Not all is well in Anaheim however, as Keynan Middleton finds himself back on the DL and possibly out for the year with UCL trouble. That puts immense stress on an already thin bullpen. Who can we trust back there? Tuesday also means your Down on the Farm report, providing updates on another solid outing from Griffin Canning, while Brandon Marsh and Jo Adell both show signs of a turnaround in Burlington. Tune in! Don't forget to follow the show on Twitter @LockedOnAngels and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The new leadoff hitter in the Angels' lineup delivered in an emphatic way on Sunday afternoon, salvaging a series split at home against Minnesota with the Houston Astros coming into town. Zack Cozart picked up 3 hits, including the walkoff single in the 9th on Sunday, while Shohei Ohtani dazzled us on the mound yet again, racking up 11 strikeouts in 6.1 innings. Inconsistency continues to plague the Halos, losing a pair of tough games due to the offense's inability to pick up a clutch base hit, the bullpen faltering during certain tense situations, or Mike Scioscia pressing the wrong buttons in managing his pitching staff. However, despite all of these perceived issues, the Angels continue to be right in the think of the AL West race. The weekend's Studs & Duds are also featured in today's episode, with Justin Upton's 5 RBI weekend being a major highlight, and Kole Calhoun continuing to struggle at the plate. Lastly, a series preview as the Astros head to Angel Stadium for the first time this season. Tune in! Don't forget to follow the show on Twitter @LockedOnAngels and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

His struggles in spring were well documented. His every move at the beginning of the season seemed to be tracked by a horde of reporters. Lately, it seems that we've lost a little bit of the Shohei Ohtani hype. Ohtani reminded all of us last night of his brilliance as a two-way threat, smashing a late home run to punctuate a 7-4 Angels' victory in the series opener against the Twins. Ian Kinsler also had a nice bounce back effort, slugging a two-run home run in the early going to kickstart the Halos' offensive output, hopefully propelling him to get out of a multi-week slump. While Kole Calhoun went hitless, he provided the go-ahead RBI with a sac fly in the 6th, giving the Angels a lead they would not relinquish. Your mailbag questions are also answered in Friday's episode, covering everything from Kole Calhoun and the Angels' right field situation, to Griffin Canning ascending quickly through the organization. Tune in! Don't forget to follow the show on Twitter @LockedOnAngels and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We all love the guy. A tireless worker. A fearless leader in the clubhouse. A man who plays the game with an infectious attitude. But what if Kole Calhoun's struggles paint a rougher picture than we thought? Kole Calhoun is off to a slow start in 2018, picking up where he left off from a tumultuous end to 2017. In fact, in his last 151 games, spanning over 600 plate appearances, Calhoun is hitting just .228. During his most recent struggles, the Angels have shown that they are willing to give other players a shot in right field, with Jabari Blash starting the last 3 games, even against a right-handed starter, a pot usually reserved for Calhoun. There are a few options the Halos can turn to, but few provide the upside of Calhoun when he is playing at a high level. Later in the show, the Thursday Gear Grinder explains why it's ludicrous to think anyone is better at baseball than Mike Trout right now and we delve into a series preview for the upcoming 4-game set against the Minnesota Twins back at Angel Stadium. Enjoy! Don't forget to follow the show on Twitter @LockedOnAngels and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Play.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices