LA Angels: Pitching looks better post-Callaway

Since Mickey Callaway was fired from the LA Angels, the Angels’ pitching has looked much better.

Callaway was fired after the MLB conducted an investigation on sexual misconduct that he was accused of.

The findings have him ineligible to return to the game through 2022. The things he did dated back to when he was the Manager of the New York Mets.

Mickey Callaway had been the LA Angels’ pitching coach since 2020, and was off to a terrible start to his tenure.

In 2020, the LA Angels had a terrible pitching staff. Angels pitching was tied for 25th in the MLB in ERA with a 5.09 ERA.

Teams were teeing off against the Angels. 35% of hitters who made contact vs. the Angels last year made hard contact, which was the seventh-highest Hard-Hit % in the MLB.

This year, through May 25th, the Angels pitching was an absolute nightmare. It was even worse. They sported a league-worst 5.20 ERA.

They couldn’t throw strikes, walking 4.17 batters per nine innings. Their team WHIP was an AL-worst 1.45, and teams were batting .252 against them.

In the first eight games since Callaway’s been off of the team, the Halos performed much better on the mound.

Their team ERA in that span was a solid 3.78. They were tied for the 8th-best pitching WAR in that span as well.

They’re FIP was a solid 3.84, and in three of those eight games the starters threw quality starts. Patrick Sandoval came in to start on a short-notice in another game and threw five innings with no earned runs given up.

Since Callaway’s been gone, the Angels have seen flashes of impressive pitching.

Matt Wise is the new man in charge of the pitchers, and he’s delivered results early on with the new job.