Joe Maddon fired by Angels: Manager out in midst of 12-game losing streak, says he was surprised by decision

Suffering from the longest single-season losing streak in franchise history, Los Angeles angels I made changes to the manager on Tuesday afternoon. The team has announced that Joe Maddon has been released from his mission, and third baseball coach Phil Nevin will serve as interim manager for the rest of the 2022 season. Maddon’s firing occurred shortly after the Angels were defeated 12 times in a row on Monday night, defeating 1-0. Boston red sox At home.

General Manager Perry Minasian I told reporters He went to Maddon’s house on Tuesday morning to inform him of the decision. Minasian characterized Maddon’s firing As “[n]I thought something would happen three weeks ago. ” This suggests that continued defeat had a negative impact on Maddon’s work situation. Minasian also confirmed that team owner Artemoreno has decided to move from Maddon.

This has led to the longest single-season losing streak in franchise history and the second longest losing streak overall, following the last 12 losing streaks in 1988 and 13 losing streaks spanning the first game in 1989. increase. after that.

Angels have been 6-18 since the start of 21-11. And FanGraphs has post-season odds of 29.9 percent.. It was 81.4% as of May 15. The 6th and last American League wild card spot is 1 1/2 games behind, but the ranking is 2 teams ahead and the 1 1/2 game behind 3 teams. they.

The losing streak of 12 games is the losing streak of Murphy’s Law, and everything that could go wrong doesn’t work. Anthony Rendon and Taylor Ward were injured, the lineup was very small behind Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, and the rotation returned to Earth for the first half of April and May. The bullpen also blew off some leads.

The Angels are paying a franchise record of $ 188.6 million this season. Trout and Rendon have signed a huge long-term contract, and Otani will be a free agent from next season, so the club will move forward and run at this year’s postseason spot. The sense of urgency of the organization is evident in the decision to replace Maddon.

Maddon, who was hired before the 2020 pandemic season, was technically his third mission as an Angels manager, reaching 130-148 (.467) in part of the three seasons. He tentatively managed the team briefly in 1996 (8-14) and 1999 (19-10). Maddon played for the Angels Farm System and gradually climbed the ladder before starting his coaching career at the organization in the 1980s.

Maddon is the second manager fired this season and the second manager fired last week- Philadelphia Phillies fired George Girardi last Friday.. In the first series under interim manager Rob Thomson, Phillies swept Maddon’s Angels last weekend. Girardi and Maddon are the first managers to be fired in the middle of the season. St. Louis Cardinals Mike Matheny was fired in July 2018.

Like the Phillies and Girardi, the Angels gave Maddon a list of top heavy stars, but lacking depth. Both teams have obvious rostering issues, but like Girardi, Maddon didn’t seem to do his best with the personnel he had available. His lineup and bullpen decisions have left a lot of demand, especially recently, during a series of 12 games in a row.

The Angels did not create a postseason under Maddon, and the team created a postseason only once in Trout’s 10 full seasons.It was a 3 game sweep Kansas City Royals At ALDS in 2014. The Angels haven’t won a postseason round (or postseason game) since 2009.

Before returning to the Angels in 2020, Maddon Tampa Bay Rays (2006-2014) and Chicago Cubs (2015-19). He led the Rays to the first American League pennant in 2008 and, of course, the Cubs to the 2016 World Series Championship for the first time in 108 years.

Maddon spoke to Ken Rosenthal shortly after learning of his end And when he was asked if he was surprised at the decision, he said this:

“A little. Actually a lot. I always rely on the person in charge to read the tea leaves properly. This time it wasn’t. I didn’t even have to ask me. Ask any player or coach. They. Those who really know.

“Perry (Minasian) was in a difficult situation. I understand that. Let’s say that. I really rely on the emotions of the coach and the players.”

Maddon also said he wanted to stay in control. “Of course I want to manage,” he told Rosenthal. “I’m really good at it.”

51-year-old Nevin is the Angels’ third base coach for the previous four seasons New York Yankees In the same role. He has extensive management experience at the Triple A level, which was his first MLB manager and has recently interviewed several major league managers.

Maddon, 68, was the final warranty year for a contract that included club options in 2023. Maddon, with a career record of 1,382-1,216 (.532), is 31st in managerial positions and 31st in games. management.

The Angels will play the second game in the 4-game home series with the Red Sox on Tuesday night.