The Los Angeles Angels dismissed pitching coach Mike Maddux, bullpen coach Dom Chiti, and assistant pitching coach Darryl Scott on Tuesday. Interim general manager John Mozeliak stated the coaching staff failed to sufficiently implement available data and analytics, as the team struggles with the majors’ worst record at 45-74.
The coaching shake-up at Angel Stadium arrives with just 43 games left in a difficult season. Mozeliak, who took over as interim general manager after Perry Minasian was dismissed in late June, decided to make the staff changes following discussions with first-year manager MLB and various players.
Technology Underutilization Triggers Staff Dismissals
Although Mozeliak initially planned to leave the coaching staff intact through the end of the year, growing frustration over inconsistent data application forced his hand. According to reporting from ESPN, the front office felt the pitching staff was not taking proper advantage of modern developmental tools. Tools like Trackman were reportedly neglected during the regular season.
“Just over the time of talking with different staff members, different players, and there’s just this undercurrent of trying to get ourselves to be using all the different tools that you see a lot of pitchers use today. Obviously the word tech will probably be said a few times. Just really try to leverage that in how we help players grow. I think there was becoming some level of frustration with the inconsistency of that.”
John Mozeliak, interim general manager
Left-hander Reid Detmers acknowledged that he didn’t start using Trackman to chart his bullpen sessions and analyze his pitch shapes until after the All-Star break. While Detmers noted that the organization provides access to helpful biomechanics data, it was not being utilized consistently across the staff.
Struggling Pitching Numbers and Roster Realities
The Angels enter the final stretch carrying the worst record in Major League Baseball at 45-74. The pitching staff holds a combined 4.51 ERA, ranking seventh-worst in the majors, alongside a major-league-high 508 walks.
Industry observers note that the dismissed coaches operated with a thin roster relying heavily on journeyman veterans and minor league depth. Despite those limitations, certain pitchers made notable strides under the outgoing staff.
Interim Replacements Step Into Roles for Final 43 Games
To fill the vacancies, the Angels promoted Tim Leveque from Double-A Rocket City to serve as interim pitching coach, while Michael Wuertz moves up from his role as minor league assistant pitching coordinator to become interim bullpen coach. Leveque spent the previous 20 years in the Cardinals organization, overlapping with Mozeliak’s tenure in St. Louis.
“He’s a smart guy who really understands where the game is at, and I think he’ll be a good resource for [Suzuki].”
John Mozeliak, via ESPN
Mozeliak indicated that no further coaching changes are planned before the conclusion of the schedule. He expressed confidence that the hitting coaches are properly utilizing available organizational resources, leaving the focus squarely on modernizing the pitching infrastructure over the remaining 48 days of the campaign.
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