LA Angels fans frustrated with manager Phil Nevin after series of decisions costs club in loss vs Twins: "Doesn’t have a strategic bone in his body"
After a strong start to the season, Phil Nevin's Los Angeles Angels side has cooled off. Last night's 6-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins sees the Angels drop to 24-23 on the year. The team has lost six of their last 10 games and are now five games behind the Texas Rangers.
On paper, this is a talented roster that added some key pieces in the offseason. Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout are the headline attractions that lead a strong offensive lineup. On the defensive front, the club added 2022 All-Star pitcher Tyler Anderson and reliever Carlos Estevez.
When a team of this caliber fails to produce, fingers are pointed at the manager. Nevin has not been able to get the best out of this team since taking over from Joe Madden last year. The team had high expectations for the season and so far, Nevin has failed to deliver.
Los Angeles Angels fans seemed to have reached a tipping point. Fans took to Twitter frustrated after another dismal performance from the Southern California team.
@AngelsNation17 Dude has to be the worst manager in the MLB!!! It’s embarrassing 🤦♂️
@angels coach Phil Nevin doesn’t have a strategic bone in his body. Two on, no outs: let’s have the guy who doesn’t have a hit try to bunt (instead of a pinch hitter) and then pinch hit for a guy with a better batting avg. Fucking first grade moves bud
@AngelsNation17 Phil Nevin is NOT a major league manager. Period
@SamBlum3 Every time I think Nevin can't make a worse move as a manager he does something like that. This team has enough troubles without the manager causing more.
Nevin tonight:
• Benches Moniak after a 3-4 game (he’s hitting .474 with an OPS of 1.447)
• Bats Taylor Ward lead off
• Has Jared Walsh up to lay down a sacrifice bunt
Game is only in the 7th inning
@SamBlum3 Not expecting much from Nevin and management right now. Not playing Moniak, asked Walsh to bunt when game was on the line and DFA Phillips.
@SamBlum3 🤦🏻 bunting with a plus power guy
@SamBlum3 To get runners to 2nd and 3rd, down by 2. He's terrible. We had momentum. This killed it.
@AngelsNation17 He manages scared
The decision by the manager to send Jared Walsh out to bunt when the team trailed by 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning had fans steaming. The Angels moved runners to second and third, but were unable to capitalize.
Walsh is a lifetime .249 hitter and is known for his power. Over his five-year MLB career, he has racked up 54 home runs and 174 RBIs.
Phil Nevin has a 70-83 record managing the Los Angeles Angels
Phil Nevin took over midway through the 2022 season. He has coached before but this was his first time managing an MLB side.
The 52-year-old finished with a 46-60 record in 2022. There hasn't been much improvement his year with the team currently one game over .500. Overall, Nevin has a .458 win record with the club.
The Los Angeles Angels currently have the longest playoff drought in the majors (tied with the Detroit Tigers). The team has failed to qualify for the postseason winning the division back in 2014. This was supposed to be the year the team was going to put it all together.