3 people working hardest to ruin LA Angels' playoff chances

With the MLB lockout going strong, it looks like the LA Angels still have lots of uncertainties heading into 2022.

The team has the chance to do big things in 2022 with the army of injured impact players coming back from injury, but also have question marks surrounding their pitching staff in general.

There are a few people who aren't actually trying to boot the Angels out of the playoffs (except one of them), but still seem to be negatively affecting the club's chances.

No. 3 person working hardest to ruin LA Angels' playoff chances: Rob Manfred

Rob Manfred appears to hate the LA Angels. He let Justin Verlander sign with the Astros during the lockout even when teams aren't supposed to be allowed to sign free agents, but WOULDN'T let us sign Adam Eaton as a coach because he was a player last year...Make it make sense.

This lockout is also happening under his watch as commissioner of the game, and needs to take lots of responsibility for it. Regardless of whether one thinks it is the fault of the owners or the players, the common denominator is that Manfred is the commissioner.

It's the commissioner's job to make sure both sides are on the same page, and this lockout has gone on for too long. It's just ridiculous at this point.

Because of this, we may get a shortened spring training (or apparently even no spring training). The Halos have so many players coming off of injury in 2022. How is the team supposed to be in game shape without a spring this year?

No. 2 person working hardest to ruin LA Angels' playoff chances: Arte Moreno

Arte Moreno had one job this offseason, and that was to give LA Angels General Manager Perry Minasian the resources to be aggressive. It appears that he has failed at that one job so far. It's not over, but I find it hard to believe that Minasian has the funds to improve this ballclub as much as he should.

If he did, why would Robbie Ray have ditched our pursuit to go sign with the Mariners? Why would we have all of the sudden decided to not sign Verlander? Why would we have passed on Kevin Gausman, given up on Max Scherzer, not made enough progress on Marcus Stroman, etc.?

The Angels sat back and watched team after team swoop in and take the targets that the team was rumored to be interested in.

One of the more richer owners in the Bigs, what excuse does Moreno have for his lack of activity before the lockout? This offseason is the time to spend. We have the two best players in the world in their primes, and one of them is for dirt cheap.

Moreno's unwillingness to go over the luxury tax at the worst possible times in the past seems to possibly be at play once again this offseason.