Angels fire pitching coach Mike Maddux, 2 others
Orange County Register • • sports
Key Points:
- The Angels fired pitching coach Mike Maddux, assistant pitching coach Darryl Scott, and bullpen coach Dom Chiti, appointing Tim Leveque and Michael Wuertz as interim pitching and bullpen coaches respectively, citing insufficient use of available technology by the previous staff.
- Interim GM John Mozeliak emphasized that the decision was driven by discussions with Manager Kurt Suzuki and players, highlighting frustration over inconsistent use of tools like Trackman and biomechanics data to develop pitchers.
- Despite Maddux's 24-year coaching experience and reputation, the Angels rank 24th in MLB with a 4.51 ERA and lead in walks issued, contributing to their league-worst 45-74 record and recent 25 losses in 34 games.
- Leveque, with 20 years in the Cardinals organization and prior experience as a pitching analyst, and Wuertz, a former major leaguer with 11 years in the Angels' farm system, are seen as capable of helping the team leverage technology and improve performance.
- The Angels continue to evaluate their roster and strategies, including discussions on boosting their struggling offense, while left-hander Yusei Kikuchi remains in rehab with uncertain next steps following mixed Triple-A performances.
