The Angels have decided to part ways with their coach, Joe Maddon, as the franchise experiences an almost historic losing streak with 12 straight losses. The franchise has named third base coach Phil Nevin as interim coach until the end of the season.
In a conversation with The AthleticJoe Maddon said he was “liberated” by this decision:
“It’s been a bit difficult overall,” he said. “I’m into analysis, but not to the point that everyone wants to shove it down your throat. Real baseball players felt somewhat touched by all of this. You can’t just go to the stadium and have fun and play baseball. It’s too much controlled by front offices these days.”
Joe Maddon, 68, was 130-148 in more than two seasons at the helm of the Angels. He had an option in his $4 million contract for 2023 with a $1 million buyout. The dynamic, however, seemed to be trending positively for the Angels this season. The Angels held the top spot in the division as recently as May 14, when they had a 24-14 record.
But nothing has gone right since and the Angels are now 8 1/2 games from the Astros, leader of their division. For Joe Maddon it was a combination of factors that explained the team’s recent poor form, particularly injuries.
