This has gone under the radar, but Alek Manoah was just activated and is set to make his Angels debut this weekend out of the bullpen. He made some comment about being a "big piece" of the World Series run, and that rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. But I hope he's given a proper and respectful ovation when he pitches this weekend - he gave us two elite seasons before three forgettable ones, and it's obvious that he has never fully recovered. I don't agree with everything he has done or said, but I certainly don't think he's a villain or a bad guy - just another promising pitcher whose career was derailed by injury.

So who are the Angels this year? 101 OPS+ for the team vs 97 ERA+ - that should be a 500 team but instead is a 15-23 team.

What happened?

• closer Jordan Romano flopped (4 saves, 10.13 ERA, 2 blown saves, 13.5 K/9 his career high, but 6.8 BB/9 also a career 'high' as is his 12.4 H/9. A WHIP over 2 ain't keeping you in the majors.
• Kikuchi is on the IL after 7 poor starts (74 ERA+)
• Trout is back to being Trout - 175 OPS+, but due to the rest of the team he is leading the league in walks
• Just 6 guys on the team have 100+ OPS+ - Trout, Soler, Peraza, Grissom, Neto, and Frazier, all with 60+ PA. But remove Trout and that offense dies fast.
• For comparison, with a 90 OPS+ the Jays have 4 guys over 100 - all 4 125+ - Pinango, Straw, Vlad, Okamoto. The nightmare is C with Valenzuela at 75 and Heineman at 8. Yikes.
• Just 2 Angel hitters on the IL - Logan O'Hoppe and perpetual Anthony Rendon (never playing again)
• 5 Angel pitchers on the IL - Ryan Johnson, Kikuchi, Grayson Rodriguez, Ben Joyce, and Robert Stephenson.
• ex-Jay Nick Sandlin was just released. 8 2/3 IP 11 R/ER allowed 5 BB vs 6 K's.
• Alek Manoah called up - just 4 1/3 IP in A ball, 7 H 2 BB 2 K. Yeah, I don't see why they called him up either.