Tag: Joe Maddon

Joe Maddon got a mohawk to lighten up the Angels clubhouse, was fired before anyone could see it

The saddest and funniest story.

For years, the Los Angeles Angels have been among the most talented and most disappointing teams in baseball. But briefly, it appeared that the team had figured it out in Joe Maddon’s third season as manager. They started 27-17 before a 14-game losing streak derailed their summer out of nowhere and resulted in Maddon’s firing.

We already heard about how the Angels changed all their walk-up songs to Nickelback in a hapless attempt to end the skid. But on Sunday, ESPN reported perhaps the saddest (and unintentionally hilarious) detail out of the whole losing streak.

Recognizing that the team needed some levity in the clubhouse, the 68-year-old Maddon decided to get a mohawk. The Angels players never got a chance to appreciate the new look, though, because Maddon was fired that same day.

I mean, oh nooo.

The idea of Maddon being called for that in-home meeting with Perry Minasian and Minasian showing up to see Maddon with a mohawk is something out of The Office. Of all the days for that to happen, it had to be that day. Poor Joe. He couldn’t even get a day out of it.

Of course, MLB fans had plenty of jokes about that new detail in Maddon’s ousting.

The Angels intentionally walked Corey Seager with the bases loaded and fans roasted them

Really, Joe Maddon?!

Usually when you’re a professional baseball team and your opponent has the bases loaded in the fourth inning of a game you want to do whatever it takes to not give up a run.

Well, that is, unless you’re Joe Maddon and the Los Angeles Angels. Because if you’re them you apparently just let the other team score a run. In fact, you make sure they score a run by doing one of the strangest things a team could do in that situation – intentionally walk a hitter with the bases loaded.

That’s what they did Friday night when they opted to intentionally walk Corey Seager with the bases loaded in the fourth inning.

For real.

Are you kidding me?!

It didn’t go well for the Angels:

Seager, by the way, has 1 home run and 5 RBIs so far this season.

This makes no sense.

Twitter crushed the Angels over it:

Los Angeles Angels at Oakland Athletics odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Friday’s Los Angeles Angels at Oakland Athletics sports betting odds and lines, with MLB betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Oakland Athletics visit the Los Angeles Angels Friday at Ring Central Coliseum for a 10:10 p.m. ET first pitch. We analyze the Angels-Athletics MLB betting odds and picks, with betting advice and tips around the matchup.

Angels at Athletics: Projected starting pitchers

LHP Andrew Heaney vs. RHP Frankie Montas

Heaney in 2019: 4-6, 4.91 ERA in 18 starts.

  • 2019 vs. Athletics: 0-1, 4.76 ERA (6 ER, 11 1/3 IP) in two starts.
  • Career vs. Athletics:  2-2, 3.99 ERA (17 ER, 38 1/3 IP) in six starts.

Montas in 2019: 9-2 with a 2.63 ERA over 16 starts.

  • 2019 vs. Angels: 2-0, 3.27 ERA (8 ER, 22 IP) in four starts.
  • Career vs. Angels: 2-0, 2.96 ERA (9 ER, 27 1/3 IP) in four starts and seven appearances.

Baseball season is finally here! Get some action on the 2020 season with an MLB bet at BetMGM in NJ, IN, CO and WV. Bet now!

Angels at Athletics: Key injuries

Visit sportsdata.usatoday.com to track all MLB injuries leading up to game time.

Angels

  • SP Julio Tehran (waiting for COVID-19 test results) out
  • 3B Anthony Rendon (oblique) out
  • RP Justin Anderson (elbow) out

Athletics

  • SP Jesus Luzardo (tested positive for COVID-19) out
  • SP A.J. Puk (shoulder) out

Angels at Athletics: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 3 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Athletics 7, Angels 3

Moneyline (ML)

These two pitchers met in the final regular-season game of 2019 and it was a pitchers’ duel of sorts.

Heany went for 5 1/3 innings with one earned run and Montas threw six innings with one earned run in a 3-2 Angels’ victory; however, Heaney is 2-3 with a 5.12 ERA in his last seven starts versus the Athletics while Montas is 4-0 with a 2.57 ERA in his last seven against the Angels.

Oakland owned Los Angeles last season (13-6) and the A’s are 7-1 in the last eight meetings between the two. The vig on the favorite (-152) is a fair price and I don’t see why the Athletics cannot continue their dominance of the Angels. Oakland is a sharp sleeper pick to go deep in the playoffs.

TAKE the ATHLETICS (-152) to beat the Angels. New to sports betting? A $152 bet on the Athletics earns a profit of $100 if Oakland wins.

Run line/Against the spread (ATS)

It seems like every other year the Athletics are one of the surprise teams in MLB. Sports betting markets didn’t take the Athletics as seriously as they should have, hence Oakland’s third-best run line record in the majors (91-72).

As you read above, Montas has had bankable success against the Angels and when you mix in the Athletics’ above-average bullpen—seventh in ERA, fifth in batting average and fifth in WHIP—we LIKE the ATHLETICS -1.5 (+125) on the run line.

New to sports betting? A $50 bet on the Athletics earns a profit of $62.50 if Oakland wins by two or more runs.

Over/Under (O/U)

Oakland and Los Angeles were ranked similarly in every major hitting category last season. And though there are a lot of big names in both lineups, the Athletics played to the third-most Unders in the majors and the Angels had a 79-76-7 Over/Under record in 2019.

Of course, CF Mike Trout could do damage but the absence of expensive free-agent signee Rendon makes the Angels’ lineup a little easier to handle.

All that being said, the lineups’ firepower in this matchup compels me to AVOID betting the projected total of 8.5.

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark on Twitter, and follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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2020 MLB Futures Odds: How many games will the Los Angeles Angels win?

Looking at 2020 MLB futures odds for how many games the Los Angeles Angels will win in the 60-game MLB season.

How many games will the Los Angeles Angels win in the 60-game 2020 MLB season? We look at the Angels‘ MLB futures odds, including their projected 2020 win total and Over/Under odds at BetMGM, and make our best bet.

Los Angeles Angels’ 2019 recap

The 2019 Los Angeles Angels finished 72-90 in a one-and-done managerial season for Brad Ausmus. He was replaced by three-time Manager of the Year, Joe Maddon. Los Angeles had an 80-82 run line record and a 79-76-7 Over/Under record.

The Angels were never in first place in the American League West as the Houston Astros steamrolled the division, however, they did flirt with earning a wild-card berth as late as July 24 before struggling down the stretch.

Los Angeles Angels’ offseason

The Angels had two huge offseason signings with the aforementioned Maddon as manager and All-Star 3B Anthony Rendon‘s seven-year, $245 million deal.

Also, they brought in C Jason Castro and added starting pitchers Dylan Bundy and Julio Teheran to the rotation. They lost a little production in the lineup when RF Kole Calhoun, who hit 33 home runs with 74 RBI in 2019, signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Also see:

Los Angeles Angels’ 2020 schedule

Los Angeles’ opening day is Friday, July 24 when they visit the Oakland Athletics and their final game is Sunday, Sept. 24 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. In this COVID-reduced 2020 season, the Angels will have a 60-game all-West regional schedule, which includes 40 games against AL West opponents and 20 against the National League West.

Aside from the West division powerhouses—Dodgers and Houston Astros—the Angels have a winnable schedule especially considering how much talent is on their roster.

Baseball season is finally here! Get some action on the 2020 season with an MLB futures bet at BetMGM in NJ, IN, CO and WV. Bet now!

How many games will the Los Angeles Angels win in 2020?

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday, July 7 at noon ET.

If any baseball manager has the ability to navigate an awkward 2020 season, it’s Maddon. His success speaks volumes and once again Los Angeles has one of the best teams on paper. The lineup is stacked with CF Mike Trout,  future Hall of Famer 1B Albert Pujols, third-year phenom DH/SP Shohei Ohtani and Rendon.

But that’s how it always works for the Angels. Preseason hype and regular-season disappointment. Bundy and Teheran aren’t big enough additions to improve their terrible rotation. Trout seems iffy about playing at all this season, and if he doesn’t, the Angels lose the generation’s best player and reigning AL MVP. Los Angeles has gone Under their season win total for back-to-back seasons and four of the last five years.

I am BETTING UNDER 32.5 (-120) WINS FOR THE ANGELS. 

Los Angeles Angels’ World Series odds

No.

I mean it’s not impossible but, with their rotation, it’s next to impossible. Los Angeles at +4000 to win the World Series is TOO CHEAP TO BET.

Los Angeles Angels’ playoff odds

I don’t hate the Angels’ value (+650) to win the division but I am PASSING on LOS ANGELES WINNING THE AL WEST. The quick case for good value: Maddon has his mojo working, Trout plays, Rendon produces to his contract, Pujols gets hot, OF Justin Upton returns to All-Star form, Ohtani stays healthy and improves on his rookie season.

Want action on any 2020 MLB futures? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark on Twitter, and follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Joe Maddon opens up about end of five-year tenure with Cubs

Before Joe Maddon starts spring training as the new manager of the L.A. Angels, he’s opening up about the end of his five-year tenure with the Chicago Cubs.

Before Joe Maddon starts spring training as the new manager of the L.A. Angels, he’s opening up about the end of his five-year tenure with the Chicago Cubs.