Halo Hangout Roundtable: LA Angels Potential Managers

Josh Paul: The Darkhorse

By David Rice

One person that should not be overlooked in the Halo’s managerial search is bench coach Josh Paul.

Josh Paul played in the majors for nine seasons with the White Sox, Cubs, Angels, and Rays. He was a catcher throughout his career until retiring in 2007. Paul worked for the Yankees in 2010 first as a Single-A manager in State Island going 34-40.  He then worked as a scout from 2011-2014 for the Yankees.

The Angels hired Paul a bench coach last Winter and Scioscia alluded to the quality job Paul did in his farewell address saying, “The first day I talked to him I said, JP you come into the dugout every day like you’re managing. He took it to the nth degree, trust me.  He was very prepared.”

Although Paul only was with the Angels for one season he has known Angels general manager Billy Eppler when the two worked together for the Yankees from 2010-2014.  Many Angel fans may not remember Paul very well when he was a back-up catcher from 2004-2005. However, he was involved in one of the most infamous plays in Angels playoff history the dropped third strike play in the 2005 ALCS that allowed Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski to reach first in the bottom of the 9th inning and allowed Joe Crede to come up and hit a game-winning double that tied the series at one game apiece.

Paul seems to be a blend of Scioscia and Eppler.  He has some old school traits like Scioscia  and he also appreciates the newer data revolution that Eppler seems to be about.  Will he get a shot to manage is anyone’s guess, but he could be retained as a coach on the new managers’ staff at the very least.  We will see.