This hasn't been a banner year for the Los Angeles Angels. The team has endured a season filled with disappointments, extending the longest playoff drought in Major League Baseball history. This year, the Angels have clinched their ninth consecutive losing season, a streak that has left fans and players alike yearning for change.
Adding to the dismay, for the first time since 1999, the Angels are set to finish last in their division. An additional loss would set an unfortunate franchise record, with the team already tallying 95 losses, matching their dismal seasons of 1968 and 1980.
Ron Washington, in his inaugural year as the manager, has faced numerous challenges in attempting to steer this beleaguered team. Significant injuries have further hampered the Angels' efforts, with star player Mike Trout logging just 29 games this season and third baseman Anthony Rendon appearing in only 57 games. Their absences were profoundly felt on the field.
Despite a brief glimmer of hope in July, where the Angels posted a winning record and headed into August with a 47-61 tally, the subsequent months were cruel. The team managed a dismal 16-34 record in August and September, extinguishing any remaining optimism for a late-season turnaround.
However, the future may not be entirely bleak. Promising young players such as Logan O'Hoppe, Nolan Schanuel, Zach Neto, and Jo Adell, all 25 years old or younger, represent a potential silver lining for the organization. Washington emphasized the need for growth and development, stating, "It's players that have to grow into big-league players."
Yet, Washington's candid remarks about the team's composition raised eyebrows earlier in the season. He notably stated, "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." Washington later clarified his statement, noting, "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."
The Angels' season, marked by high expectations and profound disappointments, speaks to the complexities of building a competitive team. While injuries to key players like Trout and Rendon played a significant role in their struggles, the underlying issues may require deeper examination.
As the team looks to the off-season and beyond, the focus will likely be on developing the younger roster and making strategic adjustments to bolster their competitive edge. Whether the Angels can transform their fortunes remains to be seen, but for now, the team and its supporters will have to weather yet another challenging season in the storied franchise's history.