It has been a challenging year for the Los Angeles Angels, who are trudging through what can only be described as a season riddled with disappointments. The team has extended their unfortunate record of the longest playoff drought in Major League Baseball history, by solidifying their ninth consecutive losing season.
In what may feel like reliving a nightmare, the Angels are poised to finish last in their division for the first time since 1999. With 95 losses, they are teetering on the edge of setting an unfortunate franchise record, currently tying the dismal seasons of 1968 and 1980. One more loss will secure this dubious distinction.
Ron Washington, in his inaugural year as the manager of the Angels, has faced an uphill battle. The team’s performance woes have not gone unnoticed, compounded by significant player absences. Notably, superstar outfielder Mike Trout managed to log just 29 games this season, while third baseman Anthony Rendon appeared in only 57 games.
Despite a flicker of hope in July, when the team posted a winning record and entered August with a 47-61 tally, the Angels could not sustain the momentum. The subsequent months of August and September saw them falter, managing a meager 16-34 record over these two critical months.
Addressing the team's struggles, Ron Washington openly acknowledged the challenging situation, saying, "We're going to get some baseball players who may not be superstars, but they know how to play. 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."
However, Washington later clarified his comments to emphasize the development phase of his young 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."
The Angels do have a crop of promising young talents, including Logan O'Hoppe, Nolan Schanuel, Zach Neto, and Jo Adell, all 25 years old or younger. These burgeoning players represent a silver lining for the franchise, though they remain a work in progress. Washington reiterated the importance of development, stating, "It's players that have to grow into big-league players."
The road ahead is undoubtedly steep for the Angels, but the emphasis on nurturing young talent could eventually pay dividends. The current season may be a low point, but with comprehensive guidance and patience, there is cautious optimism that these young players will mature into proficient big-league athletes capable of propelling the team to success.