It has been a season to forget for the Los Angeles Angels, as they struggle through what might be the most frustrating year in their storied history.
With a dismal 95 losses, the Angels have matched the low points of their 1968 and 1980 seasons, setting the stage for a franchise record with just one more defeat. This season also marks their ninth consecutive losing season, prolonging what is already the longest playoff drought in Major League Baseball history. For the first time since 1999, the Angels are poised to finish at the bottom of their division.
Ron Washington, in his first year managing the team, has had to navigate through a myriad of challenges. The roster he inherited hasn’t lived up to its potential, and injuries to key players have compounded the woes. Outfielder Mike Trout, one of the sport's brightest stars, logged only 29 games this season. Third baseman Anthony Rendon wasn’t much more fortunate, playing in just 57 games.
The team showed a flicker of promise in July, posting a winning record and carrying a 47-61 mark into August. However, their hopes quickly fizzled as they staggered through the following months with a 16-34 record. The harsh realities of a team in rebuild mode have been on full display.
"We're going to get some baseball players who may not be superstars, but they know how to play," Washington said, reflecting on the state of his roster. "We forgot to bring real baseball players into the organization. Nothing against those guys here, but they're not big-league baseball players and they certainly can't help us win a championship."
Washington later clarified his statement, acknowledging the potential of the young talent on the roster. "I misspoke. I didn't mean it the way it came out, where I'm saying the organization isn't giving me big-league players. It's players that have to grow into big-league players," he said. "It's players that have to grow into big-league players."
Indeed, the Angels have several promising players who could form the core of future successes. Prospects like Logan O'Hoppe, Nolan Schanuel, Zach Neto, and Jo Adell, all 25 years old or younger, offer a glimmer of hope amid the current struggles. However, their development is crucial as the franchise looks to reclaim its former glory.
The 2023 season for the Los Angeles Angels serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictability and difficulty inherent in building a competitive baseball team. Injuries, underperformance, and the burden of high expectations have all weighed heavily on the Angels. Yet, amidst the disappointment, there remains a foundation of young talent and a manager committed to cultivating a winning culture.
As Ron Washington aptly put it, the key lies in the growth and maturation of the next wave of talent. Whether these players will rise to the challenge and become the big-league athletes the organization desperately needs remains to be seen. However, the sentiments of a long-time baseball man managing through one of the toughest seasons in recent memory suggest that there's a plan in place, even if the journey will require more patience and perseverance.