For years, one of the biggest problems the Los Angeles Angels have had has been their pitching. They have been using quick fixes and hoping struggling veterans figure it out to turn things around. This has not been a very successful strategy. The struggles have continued this season, as they have one of the worst staffs in baseball. The Angels have a 4.51 ERA, which is the seventh-worst in the majors. They have also surrendered 508 walks this year, which leads the MLB.
Interim general manager John Mozeliak has decided enough was enough and made a change with the coaching staff. On Tuesday, August 11th, the Angels announced they were firing pitching coach Mike Maddux along with assistant pitching coach Darryl Scott and bullpen coach Dom Chiti. It is clear that Mozeliak is on a mission to make this Angels team better. These firings are a big step towards making the Angels a modern, better-run organization.
Firing the Pitching Coaches is Another Step in the Right Direction
While the Angels’ pitching has struggled this season, it is not the main reason these coaches got fired. Instead, they were fired because they were not using technology to help players get better. Mozeliak has stated that he wants the pitchers to use every single resource available to them to get better. The rest of the league has their pitchers use video or some sort of technology to improve their mechanics or pitches. These coaches were running the pitching staff like it was 15-20 years ago.
The Angels have a few young and intriguing pitchers on their staff. Guys like Reid Detmers and Grayson Rodriguez have flashed a ton of potential and can be developed into front-line starters. Their top prospect, Tyler Bremer, also has a lot of promise. If he can demonstrate an ability to handle a full season as a starter, he should be a solid big league arm. These pitchers need to be given every advantage possible for them to reach their full potential. Something that was not going to happen with this coaching staff.
This is another sign that the Angels are moving in the right direction. For the first time in years, it feels like the Angels have a plan. It started when they decided to be sellers at the deadline and traded seven veterans away in exchange for nine prospects. Now they are firing coaches for not using modern methods to improve pitching. It feels like the Angels are a well-run organization. They are putting a bigger emphasis on acquiring young talent and developing properly. Gone are the days of quick fixes and holding onto the wrong guy.
Although it’s been a short sample size, Mozeliak has been proving all of his critics wrong. When he first got the job, there were concerns that the game had passed him by. His tenure with the St. Louis Cardinals ended so badly that it was reasonable to assume he no longer had what it took to run a successful team. But he has so far pushed every right button with the Angels. He is setting them up for a proper rebuild and to develop a core that will help them compete in a few seasons.
While it’s just a coaching staff change, it’s another positive sign for the Angels. We could be looking back at the 2026 season as the year the Angels made a turn for the better.
