2021 Los Angeles Angels

2021 Los Angeles Angels / Franchise: Los Angeles Angels / BR Team Page[edit]

Record: 77-85, Finished 4th in AL West Division (2021 AL)

Coaches: Brian Butterfield, Mickey Callaway, Dom Chiti, Mike Gallego, Ryan Garko, Bruce Hines, John Mallee, Jose Molina, Jeremy Reed, Paul Sorrento and Matt Wise

Ballpark: Angel Stadium

Season Highlights[edit]

Just before spring training started, the 2021 Los Angeles Angels were rocked by scandal as it was revealed that pitching coach (and former New York Mets manager) Mickey Callaway had harassed a number of women over the years by sending them lewd text messages. He was immediately suspended while an investigation was conducted; bullpen coach Matt Wise was promoted to pitching coach in the interim, with Dom Chiti being named to fill his former duties. This was at a time when there was also an active investigation into the 2019 death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs due to a drug overdose, and the role of clubhouse attendee Eric Kay in supplying these drugs to Skaggs and to a number of other players. This led Skaggs' widow to file a wrongful death lawsuit against Kay and the team for allowing the drug dealing to go on. Kay's trial took place the following February and led to a conviction.

If that wasn't bad enough, on the field the Angels saw any hopes of contention evaporate when superstar outfielder Mike Trout went on the injured list on May 17th with a strained calf muscle and never returned. Thus the Angels finished well back in spite of a completely unprecedented season from two-way player Shohei Ohtani, who won the MVP Award on the strength of hitting 46 homers and driving in 100 runs as a DH while also being the team's best pitcher with a record of 9-2, 3.18, leading the pitching staff in both innings pitched (130 1/3) and strikeouts (146). It was an absolutely incredible season that saw him be both the starting pitcher and the starting DH for the American League in the All-Star Game, and win Player of the Month honors in both June and July.