The Los Angeles Angels extended their franchise-record losing streak to 14 games, but in an effort to end the skid, the entire lineup changed their walk-up songs to Nickelback.
Without having to burn it to the ground, the Angels are trying to keep it together while their team is reeling in multiple areas.
In the second game following the firing of Joe Maddon, the Angels lost another one-run game, thanks to solid pitching, which might signal that a turnaround isn’t so far away. Interim manager Phil Nevin has had to learn the hard way but at the very least he has a photograph of what his pitching staff is capable of.
Although Nevin wasn’t sure where the Nickelback idea came from, he appreciated his club trying something new, via Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times:
“I don’t know whose idea it was, but I like it, I like Nickelback,” Nevin said. “The entire game, I got a song in my head and can’t stop singing. … I mean, it was neat for a while.”
When it rains it pours, and without scoring runs, the Angels won’t be able to overcome the issues that have put them in this hole. But regardless of the outcome, Nevin was happy with the way the club played:
“It’s a broken record, I think,” Nevin said. “Good effort. That’s great pitching performance. We hit some balls at people again. … I keep saying it, the effort’s good. These guys really want to win a game right now. I mean, we all do. We know what that will mean for us.”
Nevin will have to prove he’s a leader of men to turn this team around or they’ll simply lay flat on the floor. The Angels are currently 9.5-games back of the Houston Astros in the American League West.
Perry Minasian believed it was ‘it was time for a new voice’
The Angels and general manager Perry Minasian opted to fire manager Joe Maddon on Tuesday and name third base coach Nevin as interim manager for the remainder of the season.
The firing came as a surprise, even to Maddon, who didn’t think this type of move was needed with over 100-games left in the regular season.
Maddon was in the last year of his contract and the Angels had no current plans to lay out an extension. Minasian believed his decision, although difficult, was needed to change the direction of the team.
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