An update:
My time as an Angels beat reporter is ending. I'm moving into a national baseball writer role at @TheAthletic.
This team may have stunk. But covering them, for this audience, sure didn't.
I wrote about the change, and why I'm not going far: www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...
Awesome work, @samblum3.bsky.social . Pulling for Rio and hoping the Angels do the right thing
www.nytimes.com/athletic/696...
Angels offense over the last 15 games:
167 strikeouts
19 walks
They've been outscored 77-35 over that stretch.
Pirates beat the Dodgers 3-0
Angels lose to the Twins 11-4
Update to this story by Sam Blum:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/630...
The Angels offense has struggled the last 12 games. In that frame, they've struck out 131 times & drawn only 15 walks. They've exceeded 4 runs once.
Sam Blum discussed this with the Angels hitting coach, Johnny Washington.
(Repost by @samblum3.bsky.social on X)
#GoHalos #RepTheHalo 😇❤️
Andrew Heaney switched to No. 45 this season to honor his friend, Tyler Skaggs.
On Wednesday, Heaney dominated the Angels, in Angel Stadium. He thought of Skaggs while on the mound.
“I take wearing that number seriously. It’s important to me."
Read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/630...
FINAL: The Angels lose 3-0 to the Pirates.
It was yet another very bad offensive showing. Just two hits. No walks. 12 strikeouts. That's becoming the norm. Andrew Heaney shoved against his old team.
The Angels are 11-12, under .500 for the first time since they were 0-1.
Kyren Paris first 13 games:
.419 avg., 5 HR, 4 BB, 7K in 38 PA
Kyren Paris last 9+ games:
.077 avg., 0 HR, 0 BB, 16K in 28 PA
The Angels getaway game Thursday is at 6:29 p.m., before a flight to Minnesota.
Angels management picked the time. Angels players aren't happy.
6:29 p.m. is the latest minute allowed by the CBA. A day game is standard.
"I don’t think it should be allowed"
Read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/630...
. @samblum3.bsky.social is at the park and spoke to the Astros fan who snatched the ball out of Trout's glove, then... tried to put it back?
“I just didn’t know what was going on. I didn’t realize it was a play, it was coming at my son’s face.”
The Angels are funding and supporting the legal defense of Eric Kay, the team’s former communications director who was sent to prison for providing the drugs that caused the death of the former Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs, Skaggs family lawyers say.
More from @samblum3.bsky.social ⤵️
I asked Perry Minasian and Ron Washington this week if they felt the Angels were in position to compete in 2025. If they could improve greatly in wins from last year.
That's been their stated goal all offseason.
Here's what they had to say: www.nytimes.com/athletic/623...
Enjoyed this from pal @samblum3.bsky.social, on a player who transferred to be fairly compensated for his performance, then was left wondering this March if the grass is always greener: www.nytimes.com/athletic/622...
"Their future home, however, both in the short and long term, remains unclear." (via @samblum3.bsky.social) www.nytimes.com/athletic/620...
With his 4th appearance on EW, @samblum3.bsky.social is now 6th in LINDBERGH (min 4 PA) at 82.5
On a separate note, I am very tickled that PA works as an abbreviation for 'Podcast Appearances'
Hello everyone! I am doing an Angels fan survey. It's 20 questions about the state of the team.
Excited about 2025? Frustrated about the lack of moves. Vent your thoughts here!
www.nytimes.com/athletic/610...
Terrific and emotional story from @samblum3.bsky.social about one high school baseball team affected by the L.A.-area fires. Worth your time.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/609...
Hello Angels & Ducks fans!
I am working on a story, and need fan perspectives.
Please see below. My DMs are open.
Mississippi Valley State is the country’s worst college basketball team.
They haven't won a nonconference game in more than 18 years. Why do they do it?
They take losses to make ends meet, writes @samblum3.bsky.social.
Angels owner Arte Moreno hasn't complied with a subpoena, according to a court ruling.
He didn't provide contents from his cell/personal email, as was required by the court in Skaggs lawsuit case.
That, plus more important updates on this upcoming trial: www.nytimes.com/athletic/603...
Here's an update on the Skaggs' family lawsuit vs. Angels:
• Judge rejected Angels request to delay April 7 trial.
• Mike Trout will be deposed by attorneys in January.
• Arte Moreno is required to give up some contents of his cell phone.
Read it all: www.nytimes.com/athletic/597...
Bill Hezel is taking over as the Marlins' director of pitching, per a source.
Hezel spent the last two seasons with the Angels, including as the asst. pitching coach in 2023. He was previously director of pitching at Driveline.
He'll be in player development with Miami.