The Los Angeles Angels are beginning their chase for the postseason on Thursday against the Baltimore Orioles behind a young roster and a new manager in Ron Washington. After back-to-back 73-win seasons and eight consecutive losing seasons, the Angels are hopeful that their youthful roster can put their best foot forward and surprise the baseball world by making a postseason run.
Washington has already brought with him a culture change that includes new infielding tools and the winning effort that helped the Atlanta Braves secure a World Series championship in 2021. The hope is that breakout years from Logan O’Hoppe, Zach Neto, Nolan Schanuel and a revamped bullpen — mixed with Washington’s culture — can lift the Angels beyond an offseason that saw them lose Shohei Ohtani and not sign any major free agents.
In order for that to happen, Washington is looking for the Angels to bring a playoff energy and atmosphere every single day, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com:
“We want to be better at the whole game of baseball,” Washington said. “We don’t pick and choose when it comes to baseball. There’s nothing that’s under the game of baseball that we’re not going to address. We’re going to do the fundamentals. And we’re going to do it until it’s consistent and sustainable.
“It’s all about days together on a consistent basis and at the end of the year we’ll see where we stand,” Washington said. “You make it to the playoffs by being there every single day. I don’t care how you feel. But you’re there every single day. And that’s what we’re trying to build.”
With the Angels trying to break an nine-year postseason and an eight-year winning season drought, they know that plenty needs to go right. Especially after an offseason that saw Angels owner Arte Moreno cut costs to the 13th-highest payroll in the league, via Spotrac, despite being in one of the largest markets.
Washington is hoping that a mentality shift can be a game-changer for the Angels, and is working on things one day at a time.
Angels Opening Day Info
The Angels face the Orioles on Thursday, March 28 at 12:05 p.m. PT with Patrick Sandoval on the mound as the Opening Day starter. On the mound for the Orioles is one of the best aces in all of baseball, Corbin Burnes, as the young Angels lineup tries to oust the contending Orioles.
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