LA Angels Wednesday News Crash: New Manager Smell

Morning Angels fans. No Baseball until Friday. Have some links.

Angels News

Angels got a new manager. Kurt Suzuki. Any experience? NOPE. But he was a special assistant to Perry AND was a catcher. So… it’s something? He’s a yes man isn’t he…

Oh and the trial is still on for Skaggs’s family v Angels Baseball. And Mike Trout had to testify, it is in a long thread, and you can read about it here. He did say that he thought Eric Kay has a drug problem and confronted him about it, as well as lots of other stuff. In short, he is not proud of some of the clubhouse stuff in the past, and some of the antics are… disgusting, so read at your own risk.

Around Baseball

Still waiting for the World Series to start in Toronto for Dodgers at Blue Jays. So nothing much besides the glazing of the 2 teams as of now. That ALCS game 7 did bring in a lot of viewers. 6 Million.

For the Blue Jays, their last WS was in 1993. Most of their roster wasn’t even alive.

In non WS news, there is an Expos Documentary on Netflix. So if someone watched it, please answer down below how good it was.

Oh yeah, and there will be a Women’s Baseball League. WPBL. Starts 2026. Only 4 teams? And in LA, SF, NY, and Boston? Seems a bit spread out…

Anything I missed? Post below for upvotes!

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Angels2020Champs
Legend
26 seconds ago

DP show yesterday discussing which career would you rather have… Springer or Trout. 7 min

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1907652243164409/?fs=e&mibextid=wwXIfr&fs=e

Angelz4ever
Super Member
1 minute ago

In regards to the Halos org, “…should’ve known” angle, that is awfully bold coming from the person who married, and co-habited with, Skaggs. If the wife didn’t know, how should his employer?

I am just so tired of frivolous lawsuits, of which this is one.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
1 hour ago

The Skaggs trial testimony is very tough to read at times. Trout at least sounds like he learned from his youthful mistakes and matured, but man is some of that stuff gross.

Still, from the Angels side the fact the rank and file knew about Kay’s drug use doesn’t prove the Angels brass did.

But the testimony from Mead and the traveling secretary were less than convincing.

Fansince1971
Legend
1 hour ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

All the Skaggs side has to show is that management “should have known” with reasonable diligence re Kay. That’s called constructive notice. Obviously the more people who actually knew, the stronger the constructive notice arguments against management.

milehigh
Trusted Member
1 hour ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

I thought Mead’s position was a management position.

I think the Skagg’s side is trying to show that anyone in the Angels organization had opportunity to get Kay help and away from the team. I am interested in seeing how the Angels lawyers go about defending.

Fansince1971
Legend
1 hour ago
Reply to  milehigh

Mead denied knowledge re Kay’s drug issues and basically denied knowledge of anything relating to same. I think the strategy will be to call Mead’s credibility into question with the related assertion that, at the very minimum, he or others in management with any reasonable diligence should have known since it was so prevalent that only someone hiding their head in the sand would not have seen it.

milehigh
Trusted Member
37 minutes ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

My recollection, which can be faulty, is that Mead said he was unaware of Kay being involved with illegal drugs. But he was aware of problems with prescription drugs.

Angels2020Champs
Legend
29 minutes ago
Reply to  milehigh

That’s correct.
Apparently Mead et al should’ve/must’ve known about all the bad things that were going on with employees and players yet Trout/Shohei don’t know anything and it’s believable.

Angels2020Champs
Legend
1 hour ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

I’m too GA/TW to look up one of my posts from years ago talking about Trout’s leadership (beyond by example) style. I can tell you it was not a popular swirly thought.
Unfortunately Trout lost his BIL to suicide and best friend to addiction within a short amount of time. That’s really not too uncommon in the real world. Hopefully he’s in a better place to help see what he couldn’t (nor is he responsible for) before and maybe some of us can step up in the real world and be an ear, hand, shoulder to help. That’s really the only good that can come from any of this.

cookmeister
Trusted Member
1 hour ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

I’m curious if the Angels will call witnesses from Skaggs’ past to establish a pattern and bring light to negligence on others.

MarineLayer
Legend
2 hours ago

The move that told me nothing was changing to the good is retaining Minasian. Once that was in place, Suzuki became the perfect choice, a catcher who is a Yes Man, no experience, and cheap. I think Suzuki will do better in his next job.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  MarineLayer

Suzuki is a Yes Man? Source?

Angelz4ever
Super Member
6 minutes ago

Have you heard him say, “No”? Mic drop!!

toad2065
Trusted Member
41 minutes ago
Reply to  MarineLayer

Pretty damning accusations sir. Do you have any evidence to support them? I thought not.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
4 hours ago

I support Kurt Suzuki as the Halos 2026 season manager.

(I’m Angelz4ever and I approve this message)

Last edited 4 hours ago by Angelz4ever
gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Angelz4ever

Sure. Why not? No reason to think he’s gonna be fantastic, but no reason to think he’s gonna totally suck either.

Look at it this way. Who was excited about Dan Wilson, Pat Murphy and Jon Schneider as managerial picks? Anyone? And on CtPG? There would have been a lot of torn blouses and running mascara.

Kurt’s fine…. like a turkey sandwich.

MarineLayer
Legend
2 hours ago

A turkey sandwich. Great comparison. Minasian should order more of those, rather than the double cheeseburgers and chocolate shakes he apparently loves

BruinsAngelsKings
Trusted Member
1 hour ago
Reply to  MarineLayer

A turkey sandwich. Great comparison. Minasian should order more of those, rather than the double cheeseburgers and chocolate shakes he apparently loves

Your arguments lose all credibility once you start commenting on people’s weight.

Last edited 1 hour ago by BruinsAngelsKings
YOUknowulovetheIE
Super Member
1 hour ago
Reply to  Angelz4ever

I think we all support the guy, it’s just a very meh move that none of us will know if it helps.

Kevin
Trusted Member
1 hour ago

Hiring Suzuki is like bringing in Hendricks as a SP, keeping Anderson, etc. They are all ok, cost-effective notions. None of them move the needle much.

If the younger guys can respect Suzuki and he can treat them well, that should be enough. The future is about Neto, Adell, Moore, and others. Maybe O’Hoppe if he can turn it around, Schanuel, and the guys drafted last year. Until they have a solid core of both hitting and pitching, the results will likely be similar.

toad2065
Trusted Member
37 minutes ago

Hiring a new manager is almost always a meh move. Who got excited when guys like Sparky Anderson and Walter Alston were first hired?

Angelz4ever
Super Member
10 minutes ago
Reply to  toad2065

I was hoping for that Twins scapegoat for our 2026 skipper , but….

Fansince1971
Legend
4 hours ago

One of the things that I have noticed about the Angels’ Org is that the only thing they do well is PR – aka words. Every season and every hire starts with the right words and the faithful accept these words without question.

There is an old saying “deeds not words”. The Angels need to be less focused on saying the right things and more focused on doing them.

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
3 hours ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

I was not necessarily a Washington fan, but I do believe he was attempting to do all the right things and was not a limiting factor in their success. I think over time he became frustrated with Perry and what Perry was giving him to work with.

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
3 hours ago
Reply to  Roy Hobbs

He did however assemble his coaching staff, which other than Enright, was not very good.

FungoAle
Legend
3 hours ago
Reply to  Roy Hobbs

Not ready to push Enright overboard but…

Starting rotation ERA – 28th
Bullpen ERA – 28th

MarineLayer
Legend
2 hours ago
Reply to  FungoAle

Enright was the best of a bad bunch, that says a lot looking at the data.

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
2 hours ago
Reply to  MarineLayer

Agreed

Fansince1971
Legend
3 hours ago
Reply to  Roy Hobbs

Wash was meh and I felt that way from the beginning. Same with Suzuki. These opinions are tempered by my stronger belief that a field manager might mean, at most, 5% to the total success of a team. So, for Perry to make such a big deal publicly about getting the hire “right” makes me chuckle. He should be focusing those efforts and mindspace on the roster.

I think it is pretty clear what Arte’s main criteria for a field manager – someone who will be somewhat acceptable from a PR basis who can be gotten for the least amount of money possible. Certainly, Suzuki (a first time manager) was willing to take far less money to get his shot at a new career managing. I mean it is pretty obvious, right? Just look at Arte’s first choice (Pujols) who was too expensive and the contract talks ended.

Given my belief regarding the minimal impact of a field manager, I actually support the decision not to spend too much of the budget on that individual. Particularly with the budget limitations Arte has apparently imposed on signing players.

Last edited 3 hours ago by Fansince1971
gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Fansince1971

Exactly. If anyone can explain to me why it would be a good idea to go spend a pile of money on a big name manager right now I am STILL WAITING.

Bonus if you can explain who these 3B/CF upgrades you are talking about are and how they make sense. Unless you think this team’s gonna be good within two years even paying the “minimum damage” option of Cody Bellinger doesn’t make sense.

MarineLayer
Legend
2 hours ago

I don’t know how any rebuild can even happen until we actually attempt it. The moment I see Taylor Ward traded for pieces, for one, I know this is finally happening. Signing Alex Bregman tells me we will never learn.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  MarineLayer

Exactly. If we start blowing money on Gallen/Bregman/Bellinger you’d think it’s a good sign. Hell, it may even work a little one season. But we’re still screwed long term.

MarineLayer
Legend
2 hours ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

I agree, with the addendum that he/Minasian got the cheap Yes Man they wanted.

FungoAle
Legend
3 hours ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

“Details, playing baseball the right way…” wasn’t that Washington’s declaration when he came onboard? Too far back to remember Maddon’s presser but I do recall he was just glazing everyone. Nevin was just a plug-in interim.

It all sounds good in October but the Angels are going to have to prove it to me. This is a fundamentally/details flawed team with a lot to overcome.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  FungoAle

I’d be fine if they embrace the suck and build Kurt and a staff at the same time they are building a farm and MLB system. Sure, they’ll still make mouth noises like they are competing but only morons pay attention to that. As far as raw material goes I think Suzuki is a solid choice, and if they were to plan to build up a young team for three years while Kurt and his staff also get good at managing within the plan I don’t think it would be a bad thing.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Fansince1971

Are they even any good at PR? It seems like a lot of us around here kind of get off on the idea that “The Masses” just love Arte and believe every statement the Angels make. Like we’re “the resistance” or something. But most of the less engaged Angels fans I know may not be able to list more than 10 players on the team, but they also completely shrug off what ever announcements the FO makes, etc. As is the case with the fans of other teams I interact with regularly.

In fact, the “dummies” tend to default to negativity. For example, the Rays fans I interact with. The dumbest ones hate everything the Rays do and are under the impression that they don’t spend on anything and have a shit farm. And anything the FO says is a lie. Same with Reds fans. Pirates fans. Tigers fans…. jeez, you’d think the Tigers finished last this year.

There may not be a group who is less effective than baseball PR people.

MarineLayer
Legend
2 hours ago

If I were a Rays fan, I’d be unhappy that the don’t pay to retain the good cheap players they have who are starting to get expensive.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  MarineLayer

Oh. They are. Christ it’s a sad existence. Who ever your current favorite Ray is you can be sure he will be gone at age 29. Pirates fans are even worse. Just watching Skenes, knowing he’s leaving ASAP. It’s sad.

Fansince1971
Legend
1 hour ago

It would probably be more accurate to say that the Angels Organization is “better” at PR than actual baseball stuff. The bar is set pretty low re the baseball decisions side of things so less incompetent would actually qualify as “better”.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
4 hours ago

What is impressive to me is that with 30 existing teams in MLB how many fans don’t know who all the players are in their own divisions are. This maybe because real fans don’t go on the internet to look at box scores like we did when I was younger to ck box scores. Plus, the fact that there are already to many teams playing to know all the players and their stats.

Has baseball fixed the A’s and making it work in Vegas? Or have the two Florida teams found a way to stay in Florida with low attendance? What happens to divisional play with 2 additional teams. So far MLB has followed the ways of the NFL and seem happy with the results and will do away with the two-league concept and change to conferences and move to one MVP-CY-ROY, etc. Time will tell.

Angels2020Champs
Legend
4 hours ago

Expos doc is just ok. Spent a lot of time in Montreal/Québec between 2001-2005. Lack of business investment and lack of fan investment are the two main reasons the Expos left. I’ve seen Canadians v Kings games in Montreal during that time and been there for baseball season, not once did anyone want to go see an Expo game.

In fact, montrealer’s were/are embarrassed by Stade Olympique (absurdly high cost for ‘76 Olympics and wasn’t even complete until a decade later; wasn’t paid off until 30 years later in 2006 because of a not popular cigarette tax since they love to smoke em if they got em, the “retractable” roof was opened only 88 times in total, it would take $500-$700 million to demolish today due to the pretreated concrete/rebar used, etc).

Overall a total embarrassment. Montreal doesn’t deserve baseball. Had it for 36 years, made the playoffs once (in a strike shortened season), and couldn’t support the team financially.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
4 hours ago

I read recently that Nashville and Salt Lake City are the front runners for expansion in MLB. I have relatives in the Buffalo New York area that like to visit Toronto for games there. But I would add that NFL and NHL are more popular in western NY than baseball in Canada.

Angels2020Champs
Legend
4 hours ago

I’d go see baseball games in both those cities… Portland or charlotte, not so much.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
4 hours ago

Yep, Montreal is not a baseball town, although some stellar players trod that deplorable artificial turf.

steelgolf
Legend
5 hours ago

Depending on where in LA the WPBL plays, I think I will attend a couple of games with my family.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
4 hours ago
Reply to  steelgolf

The girls will most likely will hit better than they do trying to hit those fastball softballs. 😆 

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  steelgolf

I have been thinking that a WNBA for baseball is exactly what’s been missing in my life.

steelgolf
Legend
37 minutes ago

If I go I will definitely buy a team jersey or two and a hat or two. If they find their marketable spot they could create a Banana Ball type following.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
6 hours ago

Why so skeptical about our new manager? Suzuki will do as well as anybody else on earth could do for this screwed up franchise. Why not support Kurt? There are a whole lot of other parts of this equation that need fixing before we worry about who the manager is, ditto for coaches. It does take a huge leap before we should consider the ’26 Angels as contenders for a playoff spot.

steelgolf
Legend
5 hours ago

I’m 100% fine with Suzuki leading the team, to yet another 72 to 75 win season, that is no fault of his. He will work hard to make the team better. If he can lead the team to 5% to 10% less strikeouts he will be a hero.

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
3 hours ago
Reply to  steelgolf

He’s a good guy with a solid baseball reputation, but all the hires before him said the same stuff. I am interested in see something different. If we just roll the same players out with the same line up and execution, we’ll get the same results. I would like to see change of some kind that results in improvement in execution.

steelgolf
Legend
2 hours ago
Reply to  Roy Hobbs

There, unfortunately, won’t be many changes in the line up except expired contracts not returning, which will be duct taped with a cheap replacement player below the Mendoza line.

MarineLayer
Legend
2 hours ago
Reply to  steelgolf

Sure, that sounds about right.

MarineLayer
Legend
2 hours ago

The argument for Torii/Pujols would be change agents. I was against Pujols for his bad history with us, but I feel Torii dodged a bullet. Whoever the manager is won’t make a difference and is set up for failure.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  MarineLayer

How? How were Pujols/Torii gonna be change agents? What actual evidence is there for that other than feelz? Hell, for all I know Suzuki has a burning lava flow of competitive anger boiling in him right now. But none of these guys have a track record I can point to that tells me what they do with a roster once they start managing it. What do we have to go on? Some bitch ass tweets one guy or another made? This one smiles a lot while this one scowls more?

MarineLayer
Legend
2 hours ago

Because they would look at the shituation and would want to change it.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  MarineLayer

OK. So we know Suzuki doesn’t want to change it how?

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