The Los Angeles Angels have initiated a significant restructuring of their pitching department, resulting in the departure of pitching coach Mike Maddux, assistant pitching coach Darryl Scott, and bullpen coach Dom Chiti.
Tim Leveque steps in as the interim pitching coach, with Michael Wuertz taking over as the interim bullpen coach. These adjustments arrive with seven weeks remaining in the regular season as the organization evaluates ways to enhance its pitching development framework.
Angels overhaul pitching staff
John Mozeliak, the president of baseball operations, stated that the move came after conversations with manager Kurt Suzuki regarding the existing coaching setup and the strategic path the franchise intends to pursue.
“After taking time to speak with manager Kurt (Suzuki) about our current coaching personnel and the direction we want to head, we concluded that a change was the right step,” Mozeliak said.
He further noted that the next seven weeks will serve as a period to identify additional improvements that could bolster the pitching unit and position the team more favorably for upcoming seasons.
Mike Maddux exits after brief tenure
Maddux concludes his time with the Angels following just one season with the club. As the brother of Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux, he had maintained a pitching coach role for 24 consecutive years since 2003, making his exit a notable shift in the team’s coaching lineup.
Mozeliak indicated that the primary concern centered on how the coaching staff utilized available data and analytics. As reported by Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register, the pitching coaches lagged behind the hitting coaches in adopting technological tools.
Mozeliak also confirmed that no further coaching changes are planned for the rest of the season.
Angels pitching stats raise red flags
The Angels’ pitching performance has been a persistent issue throughout the year. The club currently holds a 4.53 ERA, ranking as the seventh-worst in Major League Baseball, and has issued 508 walks, the most in the league.
The coaching adjustments provide Leveque and Wuertz a chance to lead the pitching staff over the final seven weeks, giving the organization additional time to assess what adjustments are needed.
Los Angeles faces tough road ahead
Los Angeles enters this stretch with a 45-74 record, the worst in baseball. With the season winding down, the Angels are using this period to evaluate their pitching strategies while preparing for the changes they deem essential.
The franchise has not qualified for the postseason since 2014, which adds weight to the decision to make midseason alterations to the coaching staff.