LA Angels Wednesday News Crash: 2 fired managers, neither of them Suzuki

https://youtube.com/shorts/rIvyw4PMvkk?si=1w4Mw7QUDImwz1fh

17 days ago

Just having fun.

Legend

Fansince1971

17 days ago

I haven’t posted much to this echo chamber of late. Unfortunately, it feels like reasonable dissent has become ridiculed and opposing viewpoints are viewed as being a bad fan.

I guess my question would be- what did you expect this team would do in 2026? Are you really suprised by what we have seen this season? Inconsistency has been commonplace for more than a decade. And the team did not re-sign arguably its most consistent player last season – Jansen. Without Jansen last season, the team probably loses 5-10 more games which would have put them in the 100 loss range similar to 2024.

Sure, players can have great stretches – that can even extend to weeks. The Angels will win some games against teams that are much better and will lose to teams that are arguably worse. But baseball has always been about the long haul and this team is not built for that. Over time, teams almost always reveal who they really are. Ultimately, over 162 games, a team is its win-loss record – it rarely lies. And we all know about the last decade+ of Angels baseball.

The offseason was a net-negative WAR situation – meaning the Angels actually got worse over the offseason. The team went 72-90 with a very solid season from a closer and luck generally going there way in 2025. So, what did you really expect in 2026? Even the owner lowered expectations by telling us it is not about winning baseball games but the fan experience.

So, if you are going to continue being an Angel fan during whatever remains of the Moreno ownership, it would be wise to temper (greatly) your expectations.

Super Member

Roy Hobbs

17 days ago

Reply to Fansince1971

I think most here had expectations similar to yours but it doesn’t preclude them from also expressing various levels of hope and optimism as the season plays out or enjoying the small victories and successes. Things are what they are but most people can only wallow in their misery for so long. Might as well enjoy watching baseball good or bad, and no matter how bad the team and organization are we can always enjoy each other’s company and love for the game and hope for the best. Good to have you back.

Legend

MarineLayer

17 days ago

Reply to Roy Hobbs

Your response to 71 was better than mine, and I fully agree with it.

Legend

Fansince1971

17 days ago

Reply to Roy Hobbs

I like this response and agree with it 100%. That said, the super highs and super lows are difficult for me to understand given what we know about this team.

Legend

MarineLayer

17 days ago

Reply to Fansince1971

I’d say to not literally intentionally lose winnable games to awful teams with awful managerial decisions. If Bachman and Silseth are your best relievers, use them. If Pomeranz is washed, quit bringing him in with the game on the line to give up three run HRs. Let Jack finish his inning when all he gave up was a Neto error and a sacrifice bunt that became an accidental single. He earned the right to finish the inning he started and feel good about himself for a great effort.

These problems could be avoided if MinASSian hired a better manager but what should we expect from cheapskate MoronO and doofus MinASSian. I knew this was a 90-100 loss team going in, but this has gotten ridiculous.

Legend

Fansince1971

17 days ago

Reply to MarineLayer

Over 162 games, Suzuki and his coaches will look brilliant and terrible and average. It’s just how baseball goes. They can only use the players they have been given. From the sidelines we scream about why he used a particular player over another – particularly when things go as bad as they have recently. During a win streak, its doubtful anyone will give Suzuki much credit for things going the other way.

Ultimately – I stand by my belief that a field manager has very little impact. This 15-WAR Wash narrative makes me laugh every time I see it. It comes down to the players performing and the GM choses those players and constructs rosters. I would say the GM is the equivalent of the President and the field manager is more like the VP – essentially powerless and serving at the will of the GM.

Suzuki came into a team that was 72-90 when almost everything went right in 2025 and with a very solid closer who generally locked down games with a close/late lead. That closer is no longer here. The GM failed to make the team better during the offseason and arguably let it become worse. That is a tough situation for a rookie manager. I think Suzuki could be replaced with anyone and the final result over 162 games would be about the same give or take 3 games.

Trusted Member

milehigh

17 days ago

Reply to Fansince1971

Agree with your last sentence, but still Kurt deserves some criticism. Rookie manager or not.

It’s as if he looks at the dugout and says to himself, “Look at all those guys. Everyone of them needs to play everyday.” No, Kurt. They do not.

He continually places Adell outside of RF. Peraza, Frazier, Grissom might as well be playing everyday. Continues to play Lowe.

Yes, he has been handed a bad deck to play with. But I’m really surprised at some of his decisions on playing time after all the years he has been in the league. I thought he would know better, in my non-MLB player eyes, who can play and who can’t by watching them in ST and absorbing all the data on the players. Pomeranz is not his fault, Nolan is not his fault (I wonder if the quest for speed has affected him). But Kurt can be a head scratcher sometimes.

Last edited 17 days ago by milehigh

Editor

Super Member

17 days ago

Reply to milehigh

If they don’t all play, there will be no Oggi’s pizza.

Last edited 17 days ago by Charles Sutton

Legend

Fansince1971

17 days ago

Reply to milehigh

Do I think Suzuki is a good manager at this early point in his career? Not really. He has a lot to learn.

Do I think it matters to the ultimate W-L of this team over 162 game? Not really.

Legend

JackFrost

16 days ago

Reply to Fansince1971

I think that political analogy is a very poor one Fan. The VP has little if no authority… He or she typically is a souped up dignitary, showing up overseas at international conferences etc to present terms that have already been created and approved by more powerful men.

The Manager, at least in principle, makes very important decisions about the daily lineups as well as critical in-game strategic decisions…. MUCH more important than the Vice President of the Federal Government.

Last edited 16 days ago by JackFrost

Legend

JackFrost

16 days ago

Reply to MarineLayer

“If Pomeranz is washed quit bringing him in with the game on the line…”

^This^

So much.

Last edited 16 days ago by JackFrost

Super Member

BannedInLA

17 days ago

Soler in RF, Lowe in CF and Adell in LF…. oh boy.

Legend

steelgolf

17 days ago

Reply to BannedInLA

🤪

Super Member

Roy Hobbs

17 days ago

Reply to BannedInLA

That is the definition of zero consideration for OF defense. It is an indefensible position.

Legend

MarineLayer

17 days ago

Reply to BannedInLA

Suzuki focusing on great defense.

Super Member

BannedInLA

17 days ago

Reply to MarineLayer

Just once this season, I hope we get to see Rada/Teo/Adell roaming the OF and let Trout be the 4th OF filling in at LF/CF.

That would be fun. Call me sick, it’s true.

Legend

MarineLayer

17 days ago

Reply to BannedInLA

Sounds like more fun than what we’re running out now.

Super Member

TrojanBoiler

17 days ago

Reply to BannedInLA

Dirt Suzuki is just messing with us at this point, right?

Editor

Super Member

17 days ago

Grichuk got DFAd. I wonder if he’s fully cooked or just didn’t like New York.

Trusted Member

milehigh

17 days ago

Reply to Charles Sutton

I think he was brought in to hit lefties and ended up hitting .194. At 34 years old, might be cooked.

Legend

17 days ago

Has Dombroski lost his mind? Mattingly is supposed to lead a Phillies turnaround, and he was recently quoted as saying he doesn’t want to manage?

“Dombrowski then turned to Don Mattingly to manage the team on an interim basis. Mattingly’s son Preston, you may recall, is the Phillies’ GM. That’s a fascinating dynamic to begin with. But I was also reminded of a comment that Mattingly made on a local radio station after taking the job:

“I definitely don’t see myself managing (again). I don’t think I have the energy for that, honestly, at this age. That job is a ton of energy. There’s a ton before the game, there’s after the game … I don’t really feel like taking on that challenge.””

Super Member

17 days ago

John. You’ve been here 30 years. You know the game. Let me get you a uniform. What number would you like?

Super Member

17 days ago

Reply to HalosFanForLife

I’ve seen you throw guys out of here. All you need to do is throw a ball over a 17 inch plate from 60 1/2 feet. You’ve got this.

Legend

Pineapple12

17 days ago

Nolan benched after a 2 hit performance. Moncada hitting 3rd after a 0-fer.

What the fuck are we doing?

Oh and Luchessi DFAd, Farris back up

Super Member

Roy Hobbs

17 days ago

Reply to Pineapple12

Nothing we do makes any sense

Legend

Pineapple12

17 days ago

Reply to Roy Hobbs

I’m convinced we’re tanking

Super Member

2pints

17 days ago

Reply to Pineapple12

If they weren’t tanking, what all would be different? Slight changes to the lineup? Using different BP pieces who will also likely shit the bed since most options in there simply suck? That’s not going to win many more games. The organization lacks talent, in all levels. That’s not tanking, its just pure shit management.

Super Member

Roy Hobbs

17 days ago

Reply to Pineapple12

And Neto Kd 4 times yesterday but we keep leading him off.

Super Member

AnAngelsFan

17 days ago

Reply to Roy Hobbs

Neto’s K’s are up, but he’s also doubled his walk rate and has the highest OBP of his career. Also, who is going to replace him at leadoff? Grissom and Trout are the only other players with a high OBP that aren’t striking out as much. Grissom is being platooned and you can’t move Trout without creating a bigger gap in the lineup.

Editor

Super Member

17 days ago

Reply to Pineapple12

Why is Lowe batting ahead of Grissom? In case Fedde is a righty? Like that will make any difference.

Trusted Member

milehigh

17 days ago

Reply to Charles Sutton

Why is Lowe batting at all? Teo can at least bunt and run.
If Raudi is not being called up then just let Teo play.

Last edited 17 days ago by milehigh

Super Member

PedroCerrano

17 days ago

Reply to Pineapple12

Nolan isn’t the answer to any question other than “who do you want voted off the island?”. Neto looks completely lost at the plate.

Super Member

BannedInLA

17 days ago

Reply to Pineapple12

I’ve been critical of Schanual, but concur on this count. Pulling dudes when they show signs of potentially getting right is asinine. Particularly for Moncada who’s hitting about .170

Super Member

PedroCerrano

17 days ago

Reply to BannedInLA

I agree. I’d throw out the splits and play Peraza until he shows that he can’t do it. Moncada has already failed enough.

Super Member

BannedInLA

17 days ago

Reply to PedroCerrano

Exactly, 3B should be Peraza’s full time job until further notice. I also like the fact that the dude can run well. Let’s get him 500 at bats this season and Evaluate the situation later.

Super Member

PedroCerrano

17 days ago

Reply to BannedInLA

Probably one of thjose management quandaries that is self solving. Not wishing him any pain but given his history, Moncada is due for a blown tire or transmission failure any minute.

Legend

MarineLayer

17 days ago

So Minasian and Suzuki are still with the team this morning? What a joke on us, the fans.

Legend

Angels2020Champs

17 days ago

Reply to MarineLayer

Yeah but parking has only gone from $10 to $25 in two years #blessed

Legend

17 days ago

I’m not upset or frustrated with how the season turned. Ultimately it’s not a surprise since nothing has really changed since 2014. I do find it cathartic to direct sarcasm at the situation and the architects of yet another season of dismal outcomes.

For all Angels fans: Ambivalence reigns supreme.

Super Member

Roy Hobbs

17 days ago

Thompson and Cora are two of the best of today’s managers. This would be an opportunity to get a good one and maybe a GM as well and start moving the organization forward. I don’t believe there is really a desire to do anything.

Legend

17 days ago

Reply to Roy Hobbs

The sequence of events has to start with Arte selling, otherwise job one will remain to hire underachievers.

Anaheim: where competitive baseball goes to wither and die.

Super Member

Roy Hobbs

17 days ago

Reply to Senator_John_Blutarsky

I agree. We seem to be the only organization that has little or no interest in on the field performance. Those other things that Arte mentioned matter and are certainly important as well but it’s gotten to the point where the baseball team’s performance is almost irrelevant because the focus is just on providing a pleasant experience for watching baseball with no relation to the teams actual performance.

Super Member

PedroCerrano

17 days ago

Reply to Roy Hobbs

It was interesting to see just how little Ohtani’s exit effected ticket sales. It seems that Arte has a golden goose that continues to produce regardless of relevance. Corporate season ticket holders and tourist will continue to visit especially given the demand/cost difference versus Dodger tickets.

Super Member

Roy Hobbs

17 days ago

Reply to PedroCerrano

Sad but true.

Editor

Super Member

17 days ago

Luckily the Astros also lost. Hanging onto fourth place by a thread.

Super Member

BannedInLA

17 days ago

I seriously doubt that the guy who is here on a 1-year deal just before a potential work stoppage in 2027 is getting fired.

I wonder if Trout will be the DH today? Hopefully Grissom & Peraza are starting as well.

I like day games. I wish I was in Chicago today.

Legend

17 days ago

Reply to BannedInLA

Totally agree. Suzuki and Perry are completely safe regardless of results.

Super Member

17 days ago

Have y’all thought of playing baseball instead of softball. We need players.

Super Member