Joe Maddon takes aim at Angels, MLB at large for analytics emphasis: 'It& atlanta braves world series jerseys #039;s absolutely the front office's game'
August 20, 2022
Former Angels manager Joe Maddon sent some mixed signals about his firing from the team earlier this season.
Maddon, notorious for his qui atlanta braves jersey 4xl rky managing style and his "will-try-anything-once-if-it-sounds-fun" attitude, was let go after starting 2022 with a 27-29 record. He was fired in the middle of a skid after a promising start for the Angels, who opted instead for Phil Nevin. Since then, the Angels have gone 26-38 and are going to miss the playoffs for the eighth straight season.
All of this is in spite of Shohei Ohtani continuing to do things baseball has never seen,MLB Camo Apparel and Mike Trout sitting in the middle of his 12-year, $426.5 million contract with the team. As GM Perry Minasian and owner Arte Moreno look for answers, Maddon has some obvious advice.
“The infrastructure needs to be improved. There’s a lot of things that need to be improved there,” Maddon said in a feature with Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. “These guys can’t do it alone, obviously. It’s the non-sexy stuff that has to get better. It’s not just bright, shiny objects — they have that."
Where Maddon really took issue, however, was the numbers-driven approach the Angels — and other MLB frMLB iPhone Accessories ont offices — have employed in recent years.
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“When people keep blaming the dugout for a lot of the things they’re seeing, they need to understand they shouldn’t be doing that,” Maddon explained. “Because the manager has so many voices in the back of his head by the time the game begins, it’s not his game like it had been. It’s absolutely the front office’s game.”
As MLB continues to change and evolve the metrics it hones in on, Maddon went so far as to say general managers should spend some time in the dugout.
“It’s at the point where some GM should really just put a uniform on and go down to the dugout," Maddon said, "or their main analytical membrane, he should go down to the dugout.”
Which managers have been fired in 2022?
freddie freeman atlanta braves jersey MLB has seen several managers fired in the middle of the season for far this year.
- Joe Girardi (Phillies)
- Joe Maddon (Angels)
- Charlie Montoyo (Blue Jays)
- Chris Woodward (Rangers)
In addition to Woodward, the Rangers also fired longtime GM Jon Daniels. As far as firings go, the Phillies have benefited the most, with Rob Thomson impressing in his managerial debut. The Blue Jays are also Yasiel Puig in the midst of a playoMLB Sweatshirts|ff push with John Schneider at the helm.
MORE: White Sox manager Tony La Russa does it again
What are the Angels prospects for next season?
By dealing outfielder Brandon Marsh at the deadline, the Angels atlanta braves jersey cards bolstered one of the worst farm systems in MLB with catcher Logan O'Hoppe, who has been sensational at Double-A Rocket City with a batting average of .306 and an OPS of 1.179.
Minasian seemed optimistic of the Angels' 2023 ambitiAddison Russell ons.
“We’ll see. I do (believe we can win in 2023),” Minasian said after the trade deadline (via The Athletic). “I still think there’s talent here. Health is a big p atlanta braves navy jersey art of atlanta braves jersey authentic it. We have to find a way to stay healthy. And it’s on me. We’ve got to find more depth. I’ve got to build a better roster.”
Depth is, of course, the core issue. With Trout battling injury again this season, Ohtani has remained the one bright spot on the team. And with his free agency looming after 2023, the clock is ticking in Los Angeles. Aaron Loup and Ryan Tepera have struggled this year, and they're under contract through next year as well.
In other words, Los Angeles has a lot of figuring out to do, particularly with a payroll that is already going to be hefty in 2023. The team's lack of depth and a farm system are ominous.