The Los Angeles Angels are in the midst of another disappointing season and almost certainly will miss the playoffs for a ninth consecutive year. The team all but waved the white flag last week after allowing five players to be claimed on waivers.
The Angels fell to 64-74 on Monday after a 6-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles — their fifth consecutive defeat and seventh in the last eight games.
L.A. has been playing some of their worst baseball of late but manager Phil Nevin is not upset with the team and credited his players for staying focused, via Jeff Fletcher of the Southern California News Group:
“I’m not angry with these guys,” Nevin said before the game. “No reason to be angry with them. I’ve said it all along, they come in and they prepare and practice and play to win. That hasn’t changed for me.
“I’ve mentioned focus a couple of times, which with a young group with young players you have to stay on them about that part of it. There’s no part of this team that’s shown quit, shown lack of fire, a lack of intensity, a lack of anything.
“It’s just where we’re at right now. You’re going to win some. You’re going to lose some. We’ve lost a little more than we’ve won.”
With less than a month remaining in the regular season, the Angels are playing for pride at this point as a trip to the postseason is out of the question. However, the games are still meaningful to some of the team’s younger players who are looking to prove they belong on the 2024 roster.
Among them is Nolan Schanuel, who has reached base safely in his first 13 games since being promoted to the big leagues last month. Mickey Moniak has also impressed and figures to have a more prominent role on the team next season.
How the Angels perform over the next three-and-a-half weeks will also have implications for their draft position next year. Aside from all of that, the organization is facing its most important offseason in franchise history with Shohei Ohtani set to become a free agent.
Angels place Max Stassi on restricted list, ending 2023 season
The Angels placed Max Stassi on the restricted list due to a personal family matter that officially has ended his 2023 season. The veteran catcher had been out for the entire year due to the same undisclosed personal matter.
“Max Stassi has been placed on the restricted list effective September 2, 2023,” the Angels said in a press release. “Max informed the Angels that while he is in a position to resume activities to return to MLB, he has voluntarily chosen not to do so for the remainder of the 2023 season as a result of a serious family medical issue.
“Out of respect for Max and his family, the Angels will not have any further comment. The Angels wish Max and his family all the best.”