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OC Register: Billy Eppler says Angels are just beginning search for new manager

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By AngelsWin.com
in LA Angels | MLB Daily

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A day after the Angels fired Brad Ausmus one season into his tenure as manger, Billy Eppler said the club is just beginning to assemble a list of names as his successor.

Although there was an assumption throughout the industry that the Angels moved on from Ausmus in order to clear the way for Joe Maddon, Eppler denied there was a connection.

The Angels general manager said Tuesday the availability of other candidates “did not” impact their decision to fire Ausmus. He said letting Ausmus go had been something they had been deliberating “for a little while.”

The Angels also fired pitching coach Doug White and bench coach Josh Paul on Tuesday, with the decisions on the rest of the coaches pending the hiring of a new manager.

The search is not expected to be completed in the brisk, fait-accompli manner that some might have expected. As of Tuesday afternoon, the Angels still had not made any contact with Maddon, according to a source.

Maddon, the World Series-winning manager of the Chicago Cubs and a longtime coach and interim manager with the Angels, will not have his contract renewed in Chicago. Any team would need the Cubs’ permission to speak with Maddon until his contract expires at the end of the month, although that’s mostly a formality.

Eppler said he, owner Arte Moreno and president John Carpino would “collect names this afternoon” as they begin to assemble their pool of candidates.

Former Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who worked with Eppler in New York, is a potential candidate. Veteran manager Buck Showalter also could be included.

Asked specifically if there would be a preference for an experienced manager, Eppler said: “It’s a little too early for me to say until I get with John and Arte and discuss the candidate list.”

Last year the Angels interviewed 10 candidates before settling on Ausmus, who had been a special assistant to Eppler before being promoted to manager. Ausmus was the only one of the eight confirmed interviewees who had managed before. He had spent four years at the helm of the Detroit Tigers.

Two of the other candidates, Rocco Baldelli and Brandon Hyde, ended up with other managerial jobs, in Minnesota and Baltimore, respectively. Baldelli led the Twins to a division title.

The candidates each went through eight- to nine-hour interviews, including a written test.

Eppler wouldn’t say exactly how the process might be different this time, but he added that “like we do with everything, we will evaluate how we do things.”

Eppler also was vague when describing what qualities they might be looking for that Ausmus lacked.

“Our results this year fell short of expectations and we collectively felt it was in the best interest of the organization to go a different direction,” Eppler said, adding that they wanted “a new voice.”

Moreno is believed to have been frustrated enough with the team’s fourth consecutive losing season that he pushed for the managerial change.

The Angels were 72-90, their most losses since the 1999 season. The team dealt with the tragic midseason loss of pitcher Tyler Skaggs, and significant injuries to key players throughout the roster.

The Angels also got almost nothing from the three free agent pitchers they signed to one-year deals last winter: Matt Harvey, Trevor Cahill and Cody Allen. Harvey and Allen were released and Cahill finished the season in a mop-up role in the bullpen.

“I want to make it clear Brad is not solely responsible for the result of our season,” Eppler said. “The majority of our short-term acquisitions that we made this past offseason did not produce to their forecast. And those failures lie with me. It has been a frustrating year for our organization, but I know it’s been a frustrating year for our fans and I feel that responsibility.”

The Angels also moved on from two of their coaches, including firing White after his only season as a big league pitching coach.

Forced to rely on young pitchers for most of the season, the Angels had a 5.12 ERA. White admitted to communication issues at times early in the season as he tried to get pitchers to adapt to new terminology and technology.

“Doug brought a tremendous energy, passion and creativity to the job,” Eppler said, “but ultimately when we sat down at the end of the year to take an inventory of our personnel, the decision was made that we would go in a different direction.”

Certainly, whoever takes over in the manager or pitching coach roles next season will have a much easier job if the Angels add some frontline pitching.

While the roster building will begin in November, after they have a manager, Eppler did once again insist that he’ll be in the market for arms.

“I anticipate us adding pitching,” he said. “I couldn’t forecast a number, but as with anything, we’ll be open-minded. I think the only position we can’t get better at is center field.”

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SlappyUtilityMIF Baseball Ops

SlappyUtilityMIF

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Finalist will be either Bochy, which I doubt, or Maddon.

They are two of the Best available and have Superior Communication skills and have been known to both be superior cerebral and are really good at in game management and both always seem to be a couple innings ahead of other Managers in their ingame changes. They understand analytics but also understand the game due to longevity within it. They are also tied to 3 LH Starting pitcher FA candidates (Hamels, Quintana, Bumgarner).

I simply say Maddon based on a 30year previous history within the Organization and he managed in the AL with the Rays.

Maddon also enjoys having toolsey players that can play multiple positions. Which is mostly what our roster is formulated with currently on the infield.

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Lou Hall of Fame

Lou

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25 minutes ago, SlappyUtilityMIF said:

Finalist will be either Bochy. Which I doubt or Maddon.

They are two of the Best available and have Superior Communication skills and have been known to both being cerebral Managers. They understand analytics but also understand that game due to longevity within it.

I simply say Maddon based on a 30year previous history within the Organization and he managed in the AL with the Rays.

Maddon also enjoys having toolsey players that can play multiple positions. 

I love your random capitalizations.

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Roy Hobbs Rising Star

Roy Hobbs

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27 minutes ago, SlappyUtilityMIF said:

Finalist will be either Bochy, which I doubt, or Maddon.

They are two of the Best available and have Superior Communication skills and have been known to both be superior cerebral and are really good at in game management and both always seem to be a couple innings ahead of other Managers in their ingame changes. They understand analytics but also understand the game due to longevity within it. They are also tied to 3 LH Starting pitcher FA candidates (Hamels, Quintana, Bumgarner).

I simply say Maddon based on a 30year previous history within the Organization and he managed in the AL with the Rays.

Maddon also enjoys having toolsey players that can play multiple positions. Which is mostly what our roster is formulated with currently on the infield.

Quintana is not a free agent, the Cubs hold a $11.5 million team option for 2020.He could be a free agent if they decline the option but at that price I don't see it.

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SlappyUtilityMIF Baseball Ops

SlappyUtilityMIF

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30 minutes ago, Dick B Back said:

At least he spelled Maddon’s name correctly. I’d give him a break.

Nobody around here likes to be told they're wrong or incorrect havent you figured that out yet Dick?.... ?

If Lou is only worried about my opportunistic capitalizations and he has nothing to bring to the table. I only unblock him if one of you guys reply to his ramblings. He borders on troll and a yes guy to the in house beat writers here more than anything.

 

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Lou Hall of Fame

Lou

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22 minutes ago, SlappyUtilityMIF said:

Nobody around here likes to be told they're wrong or incorrect havent you figured that out yet Dick?.... ?

If Lou is only worried about my opportunistic capitalizations and he has nothing to bring to the table. I only unblock him if one of you guys reply to his ramblings. He borders on troll and a yes guy to the in house beat writers here more than anything.

 

dude, you Really need to lighten Up and Learn how to take a Joke. 

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Claude Just Drafted

Claude

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25 minutes ago, SlappyUtilityMIF said:

Nobody around here likes to be told they're wrong or incorrect havent you figured that out yet Dick?.... ?

If Lou is only worried about my opportunistic capitalizations and he has nothing to bring to the table. I only unblock him if one of you guys reply to his ramblings. He borders on troll and a yes guy to the in house beat writers here more than anything.

 

Lou is actually a good guy. He just doesn’t want anyone to know it.  

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