Ever since Billy Eppler was hired as Angels GM in 2015 there has been philosophical differences with former Manager Mike Scioscia on how to run the team. Scioscia became Manager of the Angels in 1999. He guided the Angels to 6 AL West Titles and the Angels only World Series Win. He won 1650 games (18th all time), but the Angels made the post season only once in the last 9 seasons. Scioscia was considered old school, managing by his "gut." Eppler is a proponent of "probability-based" managing.
Enter Brad Ausmus, who had spent the last year as a special assistant to Eppler, showing a willingness to adapt analytics into his baseball philosophy. That statistics based managing style caused some dissension in Ausmus' 4 year stint in Detroit. They made the post season only in his first year. Tigers management had a lot to do with the losing seasons, but Ausmus' embracing analytics during those losing seasons didn't help. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against analytics, it's just that when your pushing analytics and win you're going to get credit for being innovative. Lose while pushing analytics and you got fired.
I have the utmost respect for Scioscia. He is the all-time leader in wins for the Angels and the first Manager to bring his team to the post season in 6 of his first 10 years. I will forever cherish the 2002 season when an underdog Angels team won the World Series over Barry Bonds and the Giants. They lost Game 1 in every series, but came back to beat the Yankees 4-1, the Twins 4-1 in the ALCS and finally, the World Series in 7 games. But I have to admit that the last 9 seasons haven't been very successful for Scioscia, only making the post season in 2014 when they were swept by the Royals. All this with the consensus best player in baseball, Mike Trout.
So now Eppler and Ausmus will bring their probability-based decision making to the Angels. It will be interesting. While the analytics definitely will favor Trout being on the field, I don't believe it will favor Albert Pujols hitting in the 3-4 spot or playing 1B. Scioscia stuck with Pujols, will Ausmus?
I think there's going to be a shakeup in the Angels lineup next season...stay tuned.
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