Angels finalize new manager Maddon’s coaching staff for 2020

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels have finalized new manager Joe Maddon’s coaching staff for the 2020 season, including the retention of hitting coach Jeremy Reed and the hiring of new pitching coach Mickey Callaway.

The Angels announced the full staff Wednesday.

Brian Butterfield will be the Angels’ third base coach. The veteran infield coach spent the past two seasons working under Maddon in the same job for the Chicago Cubs.

He has also had a career marketing a diet plan, owning a karaoke bar, running a detective agency, and practicing personal injury law, among other disasters, to the delight of the British and weirdos like me.

Joe Maddon on end of Cubs tenure: ‘I didn’t want to be back either’

Joe Maddon’s future with the Cubs hung in the balance throughout 2019. Despite postseason appearances in four-straight seasons (2015-18), he entered the season with lame duck status after Cubs president Theo Epstein shut down extension talks last fall.

If that wasn’t telling enough, the Cubs underperformed throughout 2019, slipping out of a postseason spot in late September. On the last day of the regular season, Cubs president Theo Epstein made it official: the organization was not retaining Maddon for 2020.

The move didn’t blindside Maddon, however. In a recent interview, he noted that it was obvious he wouldn’t be retained, but also that he didn’t want to return, anyhow.

“When it got down to the last couple days it was really obvious to both sides,” Maddon said to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. “I didn’t want to be back either. It was more of a bilateral than a unilateral decision.’’

Mind you, under current conditions, I can’t say that I’d blame him….

Maddon’s plan for Angels blends analytics, fundamentals

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Joe Maddon was a part of the Los Angeles Angels organization during most of its glory days, including that lone World Series championship in 2002.

With many of his past players and future ones in the crowd Thursday, Maddon outlined his vision for trying to bring the Angels back into contention during his first news conference as manager.

Much of that comes from things he learned in the Angels farm system in the late 1970s and early-to-mid 1980s, first as a player and then as a coach. In short, he is looking for a fundamentally sound team with a simple, aggressive style.

Most of all, he is looking to get the Angels back to a perfect balance of using analytics and the human element of the game. Or as Madden puts it, data versus art.

Mind you, it’s not like he can state the real issues with the team…..

Angels To Hire Joe Maddon

This is about to be officially announced.

The Angels are hiring Joe Maddon as their manager. https://t.co/hpSY6E4MYq

— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) October 16, 2019

Joe Maddon, Angels Expected to Agree on Contract Shortly After Interview | BR

Multiple sources expect #Angels to announce Joe Maddon as new manager as soon as a day or two after his interview this week. Says one source: "It's a fait accompli, isn't it?"

— Scott Miller (@ScottMillerBbl) October 8, 2019

AP source: Joe Maddon to interview for Angels’ manager job

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Joe Maddon will interview for the Los Angeles Angels’ managerial vacancy this week, a person familiar with the process told The Associated Press,

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Sunday because the Angels aren’t publicizing their search. ESPN first reported the interview.

Maddon is considered the prohibitive front-runner to replace Brad Ausmus, who was fired after one season in charge. The Angels finished 72-90, their worst record since 1999.

Maddon spent 31 years employed by the Angels as a player and a coach throughout the organization. He was Mike Scioscia’s bench coach with the 2002 World Series champions before leaving for managerial jobs in Tampa Bay and Chicago, where he won the World Series in 2016. He was let go by Chicago on the final day of the regular season.

This week, on As The Maddon Turns.....

Eppler: Angels’ manager search will not be limited to Maddon

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — General manager Billy Eppler said the Los Angeles Angels’ abrupt firing of manager Brad Ausmus wasn’t all about Joe Maddon.

In his first comments on the move made after the club finished its worst season since 1999, Eppler flatly denied the Angels already know who will be their second new manager in two seasons.

The availability of Maddon, the longtime Angels employee who wrapped up his World Series-winning tenure with the Chicago Cubs last weekend, wasn’t a factor in the Angels’ move, according to Eppler.

“We have a hiring process to go through, so I think it’s premature to say anything contrary to that,” Eppler said. “We’re going to collect names this afternoon, and particularly plan on sitting down with a number of candidates. I would not handicap it any other way at this moment in time.”

So, do we believe this?

Brad Ausmus out after 1 season with Los Angeles Angels | ESPN

With Ausmus’ dismissal, there will be immediate speculation that his replacement will be Joe Maddon, who parted ways with the Chicago Cubs on Sunday. Before his first big league managerial job with the Tampa Bay Rays, Maddon worked for years in the Angels organization, and sources told ESPN’s Buster Olney that owner Arte Moreno has high regard for Maddon.

No secret who the Angels will be chasing.

Paul Sullivan on Twitter: “Theo and Joe announce the end.”

Theo and Joe announce the end. Both agree “this type of change is a win-win”. pic.twitter.com/8CdXvGjaSd

— Paul Sullivan (@PWSullivan) September 29, 2019

Joe Maddon and nine other MLB managers on the hot seat

On Sunday, 20 MLB teams will play their final game of the 2019 season.

By Monday, half of those teams could be looking for a new manager.

That’s how much turnover is possible in the managerial ranks.

Some teams have already made the decision to go in another direction. Others are weighing their options. And others still are rumored to be basing their decisions on who becomes available.

A consideration of managers, just before the merry-go-round could begin moving.

LEADING OFF: NL Central down to last day, Maddon future?

DECISION TIME?

The Cubs could announce whether manager Joe Maddon will be back next season. The 65-year-old skipper was set to meet with team boss Theo Epstein on Saturday night to discuss their future together.

Maddon is in his fifth season with Chicago and guided the Cubs to that most elusive World Series crown in 2016. They lost in NL playoffs the past two years and, at 84-77, missed the postseason this year.

For any thoughts that come up about the last day of the season that wouldn’t fit in Omnichatter.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon makes it clear he doesn’t care what Brewers fans think of his lineups vs. th

Joe Maddon may or may not be managing his final games with the Chicago Cubs this weekend. Whatever the case, it’s clear that Maddon has no plans to run for office in the state of Wisconsin. That’s because Maddon offered a … shall we say, strongly worded response when asked if he was concerned about Milwaukee Brewers fans criticizing his lineup choices during the Cubs’ forthcoming (and final) series against the St. Louis Cardinals:

“We’re going to put a good team out there but of course they’re going to b——-,” Maddon told reporters, including ESPN’s Jesse Rogers. “Of course they are. I get it. But quite frankly, there are certain things I don’t give a sh—about. And that would be one of them.”

The Cubs, of course, were eliminated from postseason contention earlier this week. They’ve been dealing with a number of injuries to key players anyway, so it figures Maddon will do right by his players and sit Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez, and Kris Bryant rather than ask them to play hurt with nothing on the line but pride and memories.

Geez, Chuck McKay didn’t try this hard to be fired…..

Team Emerges as Potential Joe Maddon Suitor if He Leaves Chicago: Report

The Chicago Cubs have a big decision to make when it comes to the future of manager Joe Maddon, but according to a new report, one team would definitely be interested in his services if he ends up departing the Windy City.

According to Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic, the Los Angeles Angels would be willing to jettison manager Brad Ausmus and bring on Maddon as their new skipper if the Cubs end up deciding to part ways with the 2015 National League Manager of the Year.

“According to major-league sources, the Angels would consider moving on from Brad Ausmus and bringing back Maddon,” Rosenthal reported.

My apologies: The original is pay-walled.

So, if you were Maddon, would you take that position?

Joe Maddon believes he will be with Cubs ‘for a couple more years at least’

Joe Maddon’s contract is up at the end of the year and his future has been an underlying storyline all Cubs season.

Before Sunday’s game at the Reds, Maddon addressed questions from reporters on the topic. He seems to think he will be back, saying optimism is very high on his end.

“I believe we’ll be together for a couple more years at least,” Maddon said in an article in the Chicago Tribune.

The Cubs are currently in first place in the NL Central, but the playoff race is very tight. The Brewers and Cardinals are within striking distance and the NL Wild Card race is littered with several teams.

Of course, this is all dependent on whether or not he stays on Theo Epstein’s good side, as the man he beat to win the World Series can amply testify…