The Los Angeles Angels made some win-now moves over the winter, but they sit at a .500 record after their first 24 games so far.
The team added veterans like Yusei Kikuchi, Kenley Jansen and Travis d’Arnaud to complement superstar outfielder Mike Trout as he entered the seventh season of a 12-year, $426 million contract. Those additions might have surprised some fans, as Angels owner Arte Moreno has been hesitant to spend on additional talent throughout Trout’s tenure.
“The Angels lost 99 games last season, their 10th straight season missing the playoffs,” Jeff Fletcher noted for the Orange County Register. “Many fans have come to blame Moreno for the team’s failures in recent years.”
Now, Moreno and the front office have made a decision that has further hampered the team’s ability to win games and it is coming under fire from the players.
Management scheduled Thursday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates for 6:29 p.m., meaning the players had to take a late-night flight to Minneapolis before a day game against the Minnesota Twins. The decision is coming under fire as most teams would have opted for an earlier game so that their players could travel earlier and get normal rest before the next game.
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“This is not a mere accident of the schedule, however; this was a conscious decision made by Angels management, one that frustrated players and people throughout the organization,” Sam Blum reported for The Athletic. “Many view it as an exhausting and unneeded hurdle, and actively works against their own chances to win.”
Among the players who spoke out against the decision was Trout, a franchise player who typically holds his tongue even as the Angels make confounding moves like this.
“It’s not ideal for sure,” Trout said, per Blum. “I don’t know when we’re supposed to land, but it’s going to be early. And we’ve got to play that night. And the worst part about it is, the next day is a day game.”
Presumably, the Angels saw an opportunity to drive a bit more attendance revenue by scheduling the game in the evening. The cost, though, could be a loss on Friday and disgruntled players.
It’s unclear if the decision was worth it.
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