Boxscore Breakdown #93: Kicking and screaming – Angels 7, Twins 0

Matt Shoemaker is probably going to get booted out of the rotation, but he’s going out kicking and screaming. Matt has been showing signs of turning things around in recent weeks and he completed that turnaround in this game- just in time to lose his job. That’s not fair, but it is kind of a good problem to have. Granted, it sucks if you are Matt Shoemaker, but as a fan of a team that you want to see win, I can’t really complain about having too much starting pitching.

Angels 7, Twins 0

Run Expectancy Rundown
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/10tacpThFDE45pwrZw_Y5_-Pb1WGkIzkfS3Y1HcVAL9M/pubchart” query=”oid=1976391661&format=interactive” width=”623″ height=”389″ /] Seven runs for the Halos and all without Mike Trout. Now that definitely isn’t something you an complain about. Chris Iannetta and C.J. Cron continued their respective hot streaks to lead the charge. Matt Joyce, however, had a nightmarish day and has reached the point where he might get DFA’d even before the Angels trade for a suitable replacement.

[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/10tacpThFDE45pwrZw_Y5_-Pb1WGkIzkfS3Y1HcVAL9M/pubchart” query=”oid=1154832181&format=interactive” width=”620″ height=”341″ /] Shoemaker gave a lot of Twins some major problems. They didn’t get anything going at any point. I dare say that they looked like a bad team that has been masquerading as a good team all year long.

Starting Pitcher Scores
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/10tacpThFDE45pwrZw_Y5_-Pb1WGkIzkfS3Y1HcVAL9M/pubchart” query=”oid=161400381&format=interactive” width=”584″ height=”293″ /] Shoemaker was outstanding. He probably could’ve gone another inning or two, but I suspect Scioscia wanted him to exit feeling good about himself. You know, some happy thoughts to keep him warm during all the long, lonely nights he will be spending either in the bullpen or in Salt Lake City. Kyle Gibson did his best to fight through this one an keep it close, but he flew too close to the sun too many times.

Bullpen Battle
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/10tacpThFDE45pwrZw_Y5_-Pb1WGkIzkfS3Y1HcVAL9M/pubchart” query=”oid=1141913419&format=interactive” width=”620″ height=”315″ /] It also didn’t help Gibson that the bullpen lit his wings on fire by allowing all three of the runners they inherited from him to score. Fernando Salas and Jose Alvarez were perfect in their three innings of combined relief. I’m just as shocked as you are.

Game Flow
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/10tacpThFDE45pwrZw_Y5_-Pb1WGkIzkfS3Y1HcVAL9M/pubchart” query=”oid=451609002&format=interactive” width=”619″ height=”316″ /] The Angels never lost the win expectancy edge and once again pretty much had the game wrapped up before the bullpen was even necessary. This is becoming a recurring theme.

Halo Hero

Great job! You’re fired!