Angels' coaching changes have made a 2027 decision much easier

The Los Angeles Angels decided to shake up the coaching staff by firing pitching coach Mike Maddux, assistant pitching coach Darryl Scott, and bullpen coach Dom Chiti. Tim Leveque was installed as the team’s new pitching coach from the Double-A affiliate and since he has taken over the Angels have the best ERA in MLB.

The Halos have been shutting opponents down and if that trend continues then expect Leveque to become the full-time pitching coach going into next season. That already seemed likely given his familiarity with interim general manager John Mozeliak, who is also likely to take on a full-time role with the Angels, dating back to their time with the St. Louis Cardinals organization.

It’s amazing that the turnaround has been so quick. Maybe part of it is just coincidence as they haven’t exactly been playing juggernauts as of late. They’ve played the Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, and Kansas City Royals in that time. Maybe when they face the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees soon that will provide a better barometer to gauge just how much of an impact the new pitching coach staff has had.

Still, those numbers are really impressive and cannot help but make one wonder just how much Maddux was holding the staff back. Mozeliak cited Maddux’s unwillingness to use technology or analytics enough with the pitching staff.

Maddux has been around the game a long time, serving as a coach for various teams since 2003. He’s clearly of the more old-school approach so it really shouldn’t come as a shock that he was reluctant to use analytics or technology.

The old school ways may not be completely bankrupt as Maddux was the pitching coach for the Texas Rangers in 2023 when they won the World Series. But in today’s game there at least needs to be a sort of blend of old school methods while also making resources available to players if they want them.

Mike Maddux firing shows where John Mozeliak wants to take the Angels

This move also indicates what direction Mozeliak wants the organization to move in. He knows that analytics are a part of today’s game and knows that teams would be foolish not to take advantage of every resource at their disposal. 

Expect the next manager to embrace that approach. That will be interesting to follow if the team interviews former players like Albert Pujols or Torii Hunter for the opening. Will guys like that be willing to embrace analytics or shun them? Hunter has spoken disparagingly about analytics in the past which could take him out of the running unless he’s had a change of heart.

The early results after the coaching change speak for themselves though. Expect Leveque to be back next year and expect him to be surrounded by other analytically-inclined coaches.

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