ANGELS CAN MADDON AMID LOSING SKID, PROMOTE NEVIN
The Los Angeles Angels’ free fall from having one of the best records in the American League to a 12game losing streak cost Joe Maddon his job Tuesday.
General Manager Perry Minasian recommended making the move to Arte Moreno, then drove to Maddon’s house to give him the news.
Third base coach Phil Nevin is the interim manager for the rest of the season, for the Angels (27-29 before Tuesday’s game).
“Looking at the last couple of days is really when I started thinking about making a change. And I’m trying not to make emotional decisions. I’ll be honest, I’ve been emotional the past couple of days. There have been some really tough losses,” Minasian said. “With that being said, nobody feels bad. You know, and again, none of us are dwelling on it either. What’s done is done.”
The 68-year-old Maddon went 130-148 with the Angels, who hired him before the coronavirus-shortened 2020 season for his self-described dream job. Maddon spent three decades of his career as a player and coach for the Angels before going on to an impressive managerial career that has included three
Manager of the Year awards.
The Angels were beaten 1-0 in Maddon’s final game by the Red Sox and journeyman starter Michael Wacha, who threw a three-hitter against the Halos’ star-studded lineup Monday night. Los Angeles closed a sevengame East road trip Sunday with a 9-7 loss in Philadelphia after rookie Bryson Stott hit a game-winning, three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning.
“The last two weeks have been really tough. There hasn’t been one phase of the game where we’ve been good,” Minasian said.
The Angels are in a 3-16 skid since May 15, when they were 24-13 and tied for first place in the AL West.
After finishing with losing records in Maddon’s first two seasons, the Angels were off to a strong 27-17 start this year before their current losing streak began.
Notable
Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg is scheduled to make his season debut against the Marlins on Thursday.
Strasburg, 33, has been out for most of the past two seasons. He had surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome last summer and has not pitched since June 1, 2021.
Nationals manager Dave
Martinez says there will be “no limitations” on Strasburg. The 2019 World Series MVP, Strasburg signed a seven-year, $245 million contract to remain with the Nationals after their championship season. He has made seven starts since, going 1-3 with a 5.74 ERA in those games.
Tampa Bay minor league pitcher David Hess threw one inning for the rookie-level FCL Rays on Tuesday, his first game since undergoing treatment for a cancerous chest tumor. Hess was experiencing chest tightness and shortness of breath that a cancerous germ cell tumor was found sitting in the center of his chest last October, pressing against his heart and lungs.
SS Dansby Swanson is the fourth member of the World Series champion Braves to go to salary arbitration. He is asking for $10 million while the Braves argued for $9.2 million. A decision is expected today. A decision also is expected for Braves OF Adam Duvall . He asked for $10.275 million, and the Braves argued for $9.275 million. Atlanta 3B Austin Riley ($3.95 million) and injured Braves reliever Luke Jackson ($3.6 million) lost their cases, and LHP Max Fried remains scheduled for a hearing.