The Los Angeles Angels dropped a winnable game on Sunday, one they were winning 5-0 at one point, against the Philadelphia Phillies.
On Monday night, the home crowd in Los Angeles saw how Michael Wacha, the Boston Red Sox starter, dominated the Angels in a complete game shutout, a game that the Sox ended up taking, 1-0.
That loss was the 12th in a row for the slumping Angels.
Naturally, frustration is starting to become evident.
Sam Blum, a reporter who covers the Angels for The Athletic, had an interesting exchange with Angels manager Joe Maddon:
Here was an interesting exchange I had with Joe Maddon after the game today: pic.twitter.com/PswKyPcTIJ
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) June 7, 2022
Blum asked Maddon if he felt his team was competing and fighting the way he wanted, and the skipper wasn’t a fan of the question.
Maddon asked Blum what he thought, and the reporter tried to get the manager to answer his original question.
Maddon was curious to know whether Blum thought the Angels haven’t been competitive enough as of late, but the reporter didn’t bite.
Maddon Is Starting To Become Frustrated In The Midst Of An Historic Losing Streak
In the end, the veteran skipper, who won the 2016 World Series with the Chicago Cubs, answered the original question.
“I obviously think we are playing hard. We are not winning games right now. But I’m not gonna denigrate the effort by the guys. I’m asking if you are seeing it, because I’m not,” he said.
In a subsequent tweet, Blum explained that everything is good with Maddon, and the two men spoke after the exchange.
I will say — Joe is always cordial and friendly and answers tough questions well, at least in my experience. We talked after the press conference and everything is good.
This exchange, though, does speak to the general state of things with this team right now.
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) June 7, 2022
It’s clear, however, that Maddon, the Angels, and their players aren’t necessarily in the best mood at the moment.
Losing 12 consecutive games will do that to anybody.
NEXT: Angels Had The Perfect Tweet After Yet Another Loss