(USA Immediately) The turmoil surrounding the Los Angeles reached a new level on Friday when Fox Sports Jon Morosi reported that the crew was anticipated to interchange both manager Mike Scioscia or general manager Jerry Dipoto before the 2014 season. Morosi noted that philosophical differences have made it difficult for Scioscia and Dipoto to co-exist, and Angels possession realizes a change has to be made rapidly to get everybody again on the same web page.
I do not assume anyone on the outside trying in would disagree with that assessment. Not after the Angels made another major splash in free company, only to comply with with a largely disappointing season that can once more find them lacking the postseason. However in response to a separate by CBS Sports Scott Miller, the cracks within the franchise haven’t simply existed between the front office and the supervisor’s office, they’ve also existed within the clubhouse. And at one level the tensions virtually boiled over into a bodily confrontation.
Citing a number of sources, Miller says a team meeting last August almost erupted into fisticuffs when Albert Pujols known as out Torii Hunter for a dugout altercation with pitcher C.J. Wilson the evening before. Hunter took exception to the feedback, particularly since he’d already buried the hatchet with Wilson privately, and reportedly lost his temper.
From CBS Sports:
In a glimpse into how fractured the Angels had grow to be, they might not even agree on a gathering format. Hawkins known as for a gamers-solely meeting. Pujols, insisting that supervisor Mike Scioscia and the coaches attend, wound up co-opting the assembly.
Pujols called out Weaver for exhibiting up a teammate the night time before. Then he turned his attention on Hunter, blaming him for the dugout altercation with Wilson.
What Pujols didn’t know at the time was that Wilson and Hunter already had made amends, with the pitcher apologizing to the outfielder for overstepping his bounds within the dugout immediately following the sport.
“Albert, you’d better get your info straight,” a seething Hunter instructed Pujols.
Pujols mentioned one thing back, and Hunter jumped him for being a bad teammate and pouting all season each time he didn’t get hits in a game, even in games the Angels gained … and now he was going to name others out?
“Shut up, Torii,” Pujols snapped.
It was then that Hunter, from across the clubhouse, lost it and charged Pujols. Hawkins and outfielder Vernon Wells had to restrain him.
Miller additionally referenced an incident in Minnesota the place Hunter punched teammate Justin Morneau when he felt like Morneau wasn’t receptive to his recommendation about being a greater teammate. The confrontation would find yourself serving as a bonding moment for the pair, which cemented Hunter’s position as a clubhouse chief. But it additionally illustrates that his anger typically gets the most effective of him. They may be a part of the reason the Angels told Hunter they didn’t have the money available to carry him throughout the offseason.
As for Pujols, it’s mentioned he needed no a part of the physical confrontation. Once cooler heads prevailed, there have been additional troubles between the two men. Actually, Hunter was quoted in Miller’s piece as saying the two stay buddies and have talked often this season. Nonetheless, it gives us a glimpse at how unstable the ambiance was within the Angels clubhouse last season, and factors to why new leadership on the top may be mandatory.
Torii Hunter and Albert Pujols nearly fought in Angels clubhouse last season
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