2 weeks Ago
ANAHEIM, Calif. — After Jo Adell hit his second home run of the inning — the capper to an epic eight-run frame against the Rays on April 10, it looked like the Angels offense was for real. Through 15 games, they led the sport in home runs.
One through nine, everyone was a threat. Since then, their offense has fallen off a cliff. Over the last 11 games, the Angels have struck out a staggering 122 times, compared to a paltry 14 walks.
They went from being the game’s most prolific long-ball threat, to looking totally lost in the box. Advertisement “The energy’s down,” Mike Trout told reporters after the Angels were shut out Wednesday. He’s in a 5-for-42 rut.
“We’re just grinding a little bit. We’ve got to keep the energy that we had in the beginning.” “We’re not where we want to be the last couple games,” said Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe, in a 6-for-32 stretch.
“But we have over 100 or whatever to go. You can’t put too much weight on one game here or there. We’re going to do what we can to turn it around, and it’s going to turn around.
” Angels manager Ron Washington has acknowledged his club’s elongated hitting woes, but also preached that it will end soon. The Angels have scored more than four runs in a game just once in the last 12 games — the four-run ninth inning Sunday serving as an oasis in an otherwise arid two weeks’ worth of at-bats. CONFIRMED: SERIES WINNERS pic.
twitter.com/67JAI8VPL6 — Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) April 20, 2025 The Athletic spoke with Angels hitting coach Johnny Washington about the state of the offense, why it’s slumping, and how the team can break out. It’s no secret the offense has struggled.
Where do you feel like you guys are right now? We’re in the midst of what I think every team goes through, you know what I mean? It’s just part of the game. We’ve got to grind through this storm. It’s been a really tough part of the storm.
And I feel like the process is good, but we haven’t been on the other side of the results. The first two weeks were very good. What were you doing then that you’re trying to get back to? I think we were ending the at-bat when we needed to end it.
Putting some good swings on balls. Got a good pitch to do it with. The plan’s been great, the guys have been trying to execute.
Some guys, I think, have missed some pitches. But it’s a part of the game, man. It’s still early.
I’m looking forward to turning that around. Advertisement When you’re in those hitters meetings, is the message big picture? Is it game plan specific to the opposing pitcher? What’s going on in there? It’s more like, just stay the course. Throughout 162 games, each team will have reservations for a period of time.
The hits that you were getting earlier won’t fall, you won’t get as lucky. And there’s going to be some times that you just grind through it. And this is a part where we have to be going through it now.
We’re optimistic and hopeful that we will turn this thing around. The high strikeouts and low walk numbers are glaring. Are you seeing anything in the at-bats that are making those outcomes so consistent? From a bird’s-eye view, no.
Like I said, the biggest thing is ending the at-bat when we want to end it. And continue to swing at good pitches. Dial in a few guys.
A few guys had hot starts and they’ve cooled off. Just trying to piece it back together and get back to having good at-bats as a team. Finding a way to score one more run than the other team.
So you’re not seeing anything consistent? Like guys being overly aggressive or too patient? There’s at-bats here and there, where overall as a group, guys took some pitches where they look back in hindsight that they probably feel like they should have swung. The best pitch in that at-bat to swing at. As a group, yes.
But those are things, like I said, as a group, we’re going through. And it’s something we’ve got to battle to get past. You mentioned some guys cooling off.
Trout fits that category. What are you seeing from him? I think he’s in the same place. I think he’s working on some timing things and trying to find his groove.
I’m hopeful he’ll find it here soon. One hundred at-bats, I think he’ll find it. Same with Kyren Paris.
Great start. Big drop off. What are you seeing there? Has the league adjusted to him? I don’t have a perfect answer.
This is just a young player, had some success early, and then in this league, we talk about it a lot. There’s adjustments being on all sides. And there’s an adjustment period that he’s going through, and he’s going to make it.
I’m hopeful and I’m confident he’ll end up making an adjustment. We’ll hopefully start seeing some better at-bats out of him and seeing the quality of contact go back up. But so far, we’ve been pleased with Kyren.
I’m happy with where he’s at, and I’m hopeful he’ll turn it around. Advertisement How do you balance being proactive with this situation, without panicking? That’s the art of coaching. It’s understanding the guys in the locker room.
It’s understanding the personnel. Having the feel for where they’re at as a group. Going through underlying numbers and figuring out where the meat and potatoes of some of the struggles, or some of the successes, come from.
And dialing that in. And I think in our case, it’s ending the at-bat when we should end it. And when we do get a chance to score a guy from second or third base, just make sure we drive that guy in.
The underlying numbers, are you looking at guys individually? Or the offense as a whole? Just for the whole team, as a group. And if there are some individual things that stand out, we’ll talk through those and address those. But more so it’s just the group.
Find a way for the group to continue to have team at-bats. Continue to swing at the right pitch, and then battle and wear down the starters as best they can. Is there anything to be said for mixing things up in a significant way? Changing up who plays, where they bat, who’s even on the active roster? Can you spur things like that? Our group is good.
I think those guys, wherever they are, that given day, in the lineup, they’re more than equipped and prepared to give a good at-bat. (Photo of Mike Trout: Luke Hales / Getty Images).
