In an interview with Terry Smith of KLAA, Angels manager Mike Scioscia stated that he would “like to” continue managing beyond 2018 (Twitter link via MLB.com’s Maria Guardado). As the Angels’ season comes to a close, Scioscia said that he will consult with Angels owner Arte Moreno and general manager Billy Eppler to make a determination on his future:
“I’d like to. We’ll continue to evaluate things this week and I’ll speak with Arte and speak with Billy and kind of come to a decision, but I think that if you love something, you want to continue to keep doing it, and if you can, great, and if it doesn’t happen, so be it. But I love the dugout.”
Scioscia’s status for 2019 has been unclear since reports surfaced earlier in the season that he would not remain with the Angels past this season. Scioscia, however, refuted those reports, calling them “poppycock.” Scioscia has now doubled down on his comments, reiterating that he would prefer to continue in a managerial role with Los Angeles after 2018.
Scioscia, 59, has managed 19 seasons in the Major Leagues, all of them with the Angels. Currently in the final season of a 10-year, $50MM contract signed in 2009, Scioscia’s deal is set to expire at season’s end. However, Scioscia’s comments make it clear that he would be willing to accept an offer from the Angels. While the interest must be mutual if his Angels career is to continue, Moreno has been loyal to Scioscia, who has been the Angels’ only manager since Moreno purchased the team in 2003.
Scioscia has managed to a career record of 1645-1427, a .535 winning percentage. In 2002, his third season with the Angels, Scioscia led the team to a World Series title, the first in franchise history. His teams have reached the postseason seven times, most recently in 2014. A two-time American League Manager of the Year, Scioscia is the winningest manager in Angels history.
Amid the Angels’ recent struggles, having missed out on postseason play in each of the last four seasons, rumors surfaced that Scioscia was expected to step down as the Angels manager after the expiration of his contract. Reports suggested that it was unknown whether Scioscia was interested in managing for a new team if he were to step down. Any uncertainty regarding his motivations has vanished, though, as Scioscia’s most recent comments confirm that he intends to remain in Los Angeles, if possible.
bugman_t
Nah, leave dude.
trendysayings
Is it his fault that the team never really seems to address their pitching problems? Is it his fault his players are frequently injured?
I don’t really know, but it’s hard to jump to conclusions and imply that Scoscia is the reason why the Angels have been falling short of expectations these past few seasons.
User 4245925809
Sciosia had a lot of input on who stayed and who came onto the roster for the team for years and some of those choices were really poor. Keeping mathis over napoli being a prime example.
If the team is going to use him as a manger, then keep him 100% entirely out of player incoming/outgoing choices where he’s done terrible. and don’t allow him to select only old school coaches as well which he has had a long standing tendency to do.
jkoms57
Nah bro.. Its the lack of starting pitching.. They never got an arm to go alongside Weaver and that was so long ago hes not even in the league anymore, that’s how long ago that was..
Richards and Ohtani both got injured after looking good.
Skaggs is a bust, and they wasted time with Tommy Hansen and Tim Lincecum instead of actually addressing the issue with some upside/development.
Codeeg
Yea Dan haren and Zack Greinke don’t count either!
Nor Cj Wilson, Ervin Santana.
All narrative brah and no substance.
angels fan 3
How is Skaggs a bust? Lincecum was signed as a result of the lack of pitching depth at the time after they acquired Chacin from the Braves
juicemane
ha Dan Haren
bkbkbk
Skaggs is great, what are you talking about? He had 2 TJS and now looks lik a #2. Also Heaney is young and showed an ability for the same. Pair that with a guy like Barria who looks like a 3/4 “touch guy” and the Angels do indeed have a rotation.
People seem to forget that before the disaster injury spate (up until May) the Angels had a top 3 run differential in the league and looked playoff bound.
The rumors of roster demise are greatly exaggerated.
Kingmojo101
I’ll just say this…Scioscia is the reason Napoli was traded away when we broke into his prime, rather than trading Jeff Mathis. Scioscia also has a habit letting pitchers “work” themselves out of jams even if it results in losing the lead or allowing runs. Scioscia is so hard headed that he thinks “feeling”is away to win a game rather then adopting analytics( that’s why dipoto was fired)… Scioscia is done with the angels, and if they bring him back that’s a step in the wrong direction.
captainsalty
Mathis is a better catcher than Napoli…obviously he wasn’t the better hitter of the two but Mathis obviously knows what he’s doing behind the dish
angelsforever
http://www.artemoreno.net
ryanw-2
Mike Napoli was not chosen over Jeff Mathis. Napoli had already been converted to a 1B/DH while sharing some time as C after Kendrys Morales broke his ankle. Napoli only caught two more seasons. He should’ve been a 1B/DH from the beginning. He had no business being a C in the first place. Scioscia has adopted analytics and is one of the early pioneers of expanded bullpens. Dipoto was not fired. He quit on his team halfway through the season because the clubhouse turned on him after trying to shove analytics down everyone’s throats. Pujols even called him out in front of the whole team. Dipoto has already depleted their farm system. And now he’s stuck in Seattle with the exact type of team Scioscia likes while Scioscia is stick with the team Dipoto likes. That whole battle was a bunch of BS.
angelsforever
For some reason, Mr. Moreno thought Mike was the best Manager in all of Baseball. Moreno lied to DiPoto when he told him that DiPoto had complete power, when Scioscia always was the man in charge.
So, when a Manager knows he has a 10 year deal, with NO oversight, he gets brave and does as he pleases.
angelsforever
Mr. Moreno is a brilliant PR Man. He leaked the story that Scioscia was “Stepping down” to float a trial balloon. He changed the subject of a bad year. But, this threw Scioscia under the bus. Mike said it was “poppycock”. Moreno is in love with Brad Ausmus. He will replace the Fat Guy.
bkbkbk
All signs point to Eric Chavez
justin-turner overdrive
Hey genius, HE CAUSED THE PITCHING PROBLEMS!!!!
angels fan 3
HOW IS THAT?
angelsforever
Great point. Why is it that many guys who were average with the Angels move to other teams and do much better?
mcsarcastic
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo……..!
rpoabr
Exactly. Yes, GM hasn’t done him many favors, but many others have done more with less.
angelsforever
Arte Moreno IS the GM
xabial
Looks like your 2002 WS scholarship runs out 2018, Mike…
thegreatcerealfamine
What exactly is a “WS scholarship”?
Harry pness
Smh
fasbal1
Scioscia cant be blamed for the continued poor spending in free agency and the lack of pitching year in and year out. Unfortunately, Mike Trout cant pitch…
tharrie0820
Are we sure he can’t?
fasbal1
He probably could aka Jose Canseco
lasershow45
I think Trout did pitch in high school. But you know…so did Bryce Harper. Harper caught too…neither one of them should ever step on a mound again.
HaloShane
And the Halos will continue to be 20 games out, under .500, and not make the playoffs year after year, after year. The standings and the scoreboard do not lie.
bkbkbk
Seriously, HaloShane used to be all over these boards stoked on the Angels and the none day something happened, something dark. He’s the craziest self-hating troll fan Ive seen on any of the teams boards.
Shane, when did it change? What happened bud?
angelsforever
Haloshane is missing a brain. Mr. Moreno has made some of the dumbest moves in recent Baseball History. The list is too long to mention. Hamilton, NOT Torii. Albert, Wells, getting rid of Napoli, not signing Sabathia and Beltre, BOTH wanted to play in California. Moreno HATES Scott Boras so he wont deal with him. http://www.artemoreno.net
xabial
At least your owner spends money… Even if it’s on the wrong people… I can respect that.
This is the last year of Scioscia‘s 10 year $50M. Josh got 5 year 125M… Pujols 10 years 240M..
Hope is not lost, because I would rather have Arte, than Wilpons. (Just trying to be positive)
Happy2Engage
Even the Wilpons don’t want the Willpons.
angelsforever
moreno has a NEW mancrush on Brad Ausmus, who WILL be named the new Manager.
Moreno loves the younger white males who worship him. Eppler, Carpino, DiPoto, and countless others when he ran the Billboard Company.
angelsforever
If you go back to Mr. Moreno’s tenure as President and CEO of Outdoor Systems, Inc., see how many Black people were in Senior Management?
NONE. Mr. Moreno surrounds himself with White guys who worship him.
When DiPoto refused, he was gone.
Look what Moreno did to Tony Reagins, a fine man, a loyal Member of the Angels his entire life. If the fans woke up they would know that Moreno is NOT an Angel.
baseball1600
I don’t think anyone hires him as a manager in particular. Teams are shifting to younger managers that can “relate” and “connect” with players easier.
greatdaysport
Come back Mike. There’s no one better
justin-turner overdrive
except theres literally dozens better
TribeTown
Ok, I have to ask for names lol
halos101
Sosh isn’t the problem. Angels fans are so over the top with the anti-sosh opinions. If he had a roster that wasn’t filled with holes like a piece of swiss cheese, he would be a fine manager.
justin-turner overdrive
Do you actually watch Angels games? The guy is an absolute nightmare at managing – he couldnt even get to the playoffs with Trout and blew out ALL of his pitchers arms.
angels fan 3
He actually did make the playoffs with Trout. That’s laughable how you said he “blew out ALL of his pitchers arms.”
angelsforever
Great post. You see many Managers get fired for much less failure than the Angels. How can a team with Mike Trout and Andrelton Simmons NOT win one playoff Game. Throw in Josh Hamilton, Albert Pujols and CJ Wilson. Moreno and Scioscia have pooped the bed.
angels fan 3
That’s right Scioscia and Moreno can control how the players performed
angelsforever
Mr. Moreno leaked the rumor the Mike was “stepping down”. That was a nasty thing to do.
pbwalk
GIRARDI 2019!
angelsfan4life
No
Dutch Vander Linde
There’s nobody out there who’s gonna do a better job. NOBODY!!
angels fan 3
Exactly
dewssox79
love the censorship on here.
Ryan Barnes
I think Mike earned himself another season just with his “poppycock” comment IMO.
cxcx
“Scioscia’s status for 2019 has been unclear since reports surfaced early in the season that he would not remain with the Angels past this season.”
George Miller’s first career article..and he is telling us that August is early in the season…this bodes well..
xabial
Maybe he meant to say “earlier” in the season, instead of early. This story got posted pretty late. I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt. Didn’t notice was his first. Good luck, Mr. Miller!
johnrealtime
I honestly thought that it was April or May that that story had come out. Honest mistake.
I second the good luck to the author in the future
George Miller
Silly mistake, haha. Meant to say “earlier,” of course. It’s been updated.
darkangel
i remain a big fan of Mike Scioscia. i named my dog “Scioscia”. Mike’s had a rough go of it, and yes, i’ll blame a depleted farm system and a ridiculous rash of injuries that makes it impossible to field a winning team. more foresight and wiser moves by the front office would’ve helped.
Angelfanforlife19
Scioscia maybe a great human being but fact remains, he walked on a championship team 7 post seasons in 19 seasons isn’t enough, change is needed. It doesn’t matter if he takes the next team to the World Series, it won’t be the Angels. Good luck to you Mike.
justin-turner overdrive
RETIRE YOU 1 YEAR WONDER
angels fan 3
WHY DON’T YOU RETIRE. You are probably just mad a Dodger went on to be better with the Angels
darkangel
the most underachieving team in baseball — LA’s “d” team.
greg1
How does Mike Trout feel about Sosh I wonder?
There have been questions regarding the management of pitchers by Sosh for a long time, and it may be a fair criticism. That said, the Halos gave a 32 year old Pujols a tonne of money to play until he was 40. Josh Hamilton was a disaster. Starting pitching has not been prioritized for years by the front office, and on the few occasions they do sign a quality starter (Ohtani), the injury bug bites.
If the Angels are going to look to get back into the playoff race and attempt to keep Trout after this contract ends, you keep Sosh. If you’re ready to call time of death on this roster, deal Trout next season and rebuild, time for him to go.
bravesfan
I would like to manage also. In all honesty, I can prob do just as bad as he has been doing recently with the talent they give him to work with. There is even a chance I can do worse, but seeing the angels don’t care about winning at the moment, that shouldn’t be a problem…
GarryHarris
I think Mike Scioscia is a good Manager. He gets the most from his bullpen when he has one. I just think he hasn’t had one in a very long time. I can’t think of a season the Angels were the favorites. There’s always been better teams in the ALW. Owner interference never helps a team. Maybe its time for a change. I think Scioscia would be better in Washington.
As for Mike Napoli, he wasn’t a good Catcher. Scioscia moved him to 1B where he showed himself well. Napoli became expendable when the Angels needed to make room for a young Mark Trumbo. Napoli improved after he left the Angels.
angels fan 3
Last season he had a pretty good bullpen just the starters that weren’t injured weren’t the best Ricky Nolasco, Jesse Chavez. However Parker Bridwell and J.C. Ramirez who started the season in the pen became the best starters in the rotation
metvibes
One of the most overated managers in baseball history. Little to show for 10 years of managing . I would quit being a Met fan if he was the manager.
HartnellDown
I’ll take him over Gabe Kapler. Come to Philly. Then there can be a reunion when Trout comes over.
juicemane
Should of fired him after that 3rd game…
rez2405 2
You’re counting a reunion as the next time the angels are at philly?
HartnellDown
Nope. When Trout is Phillie.
HartnellDown
When Trout is a Phillie.*
suddendepth
Scioscia is not a bad manager. He’s not a great one either. I think the Angels should move on (amicably) just because it will be long time before they can market a better situation than the current one. They can use the talent there at the major league level to draw a potential candidate like Showalter or Girardi or whomever is the analytic candidate de jour. Ignore the fact that the feeder system is still in recovery mode. An incoming manager would get to “manage Mike Trout” and “steward Ohtani to the next level”! Once they’ve got that new manager in house they can pull the rug out from under him with the 12 for 1 Trout-fueled system reboot.
HalosHeavenJJ
Oh no. What could have been s smooth, amicable parting now won’t be. And there are a ton of fans who still think Mike can manage.
Mike literally has no clue about the platoon splits of his hitters and pitchers. He sits guys with reverse splits, he sets bullpen guys up to fail routinely, and he refuses to adapt.
He’s a nice guy but he’s playing checkers to other managers playing chess.
Angelfanforlife19
Not to mention the behind the scenes favoritism and fighting with Dipoto etc. even if we loose trout, clean house starting with scioscia, marte the coaling staff revaluate the pitching program and puljos should get one last chance and retire gracefully. We need to complete effort complete clean up at the major-league team in the minors people that are taking space that could be used for my other up-and-coming players and last but not all but not least the owner if you’re not interested in putting together a championship team stop playing games stop saving face go all in and keep trout from leaving and put together a championship team or sell to a true Angel fan.
Angelfanforlife19
There is only one person to blame for the Angels problems it’s the owner and boils down to one person and is the owner and I thought Disney was bad we don’t have a stadium or minor leagues are in shambles we’re going to lose trout we have a lame duck manager the list goes on and on and on and that’s the truth if you can’t see the future learn from the past examine where we are as we look to the future from a long time angel fan that suffered as a kid and developed anxiety in the 80s please please please sell or let’s get a championship team together and take it all the way
tcdude
One of the worst managers. One postseason appearance with trout(one of the best players)
prov356
If you look at his record over the course of his managing career (1645-1427 = .535 as of this article), the numbers suggest he’s been a good manager. The Angels need a fresh perspective. Scioscia could be another team’s fresh perspective and continue his success.
angelsforever
Mr. Moreno leaked that “stepping down” story to the media. Clearly, MIke did NOT get the memo. Another example of Moreno and his PR tricks. (LIES). Remember how he promised to KEEP Torii Hunter! Why did Moreno leak that story when he knew it was false and that Mike Scioscia would respond?
darkangel
state your sources that Arte leaked this.
angels fan 3
He tried to resign Greinke and Torii left while they were doing that and missed out on Greinke. Josh Hamilton was still a FA and signed him
rez2405 2
Who keeps putting Pujols in the 4th spot?
Who keep taking out SPs when they are cruising through 6 at 85 pitches?
Who wanted Mathis more than Napoli?
Who didnt put Ohtani in against LHPs until recently?
Oh silly me.. this is all Eppler and the FO’s fault… oh ok
prov356
I have to agree with some of that. His pitcher decisions are frustrating. Pujols should be hitting bottom 3 at best (if he doesn’t retire). Platooning a position has not worked ever (2nd base, LF, etc.). I like Scioscia but I think we need a change and a fresh perspective.
angelsforever
Moreno calls ALL the shots. Pujols will hit 4th or 5th until the last day of his contract. Moreno loves Albert like a son. Any other Manager, any other team would have Albert hitting at the bottom of the order.
Angelfanforlife19
I would assume it’s scioscia, favoritism has been a big part of his game and yea let him take the dodgers nowhere or start problems over there because that’s what he does best.
angelsforever
Moreno insists on Albert hitting 4th. Albert is HIS boy. The Pitching is on Scioscia. Same with Ohtani. Eppler is a tremendous Baseball Man. Maybe if Mr. Moreno would step out of the way, the Angels could reach their full potential.
HarveyD82
future skipper of pirates
sheff86
Dodgers anyone?
prov356
I don’t see the Angels bringing him back.
jordanjee
Poor results over past several years #TonyReagins