Los Angeles Angels players are fed up with team management over one of their scheduling tactics.
On Thursday, the Angels are slated to face the Pittsburgh Pirates at 6:29 p.m. local time, despite a trip to Minnesota for a Friday game that will start at 4:40 p.m. Pacific. Traditionally, games on getaway day are scheduled during the day to allow players to get a full night’s sleep after a long flight to their next city.
The decision is a conscious one by the Angels, who set their own home start times. The 6:29 p.m. start time is the latest they are allowed to set by the CBA, and players are not happy about it.
“I don’t think it should be allowed, to be honest,” Angels outfielder Taylor Ward told Sam Blum of The Athletic. “I think there definitely should be rules in place to prevent that. Because it’s kind of crazy.”
The Angels did not comment on their chosen start times, but it is a trend. Blum noted that in the past, the Angels have played the vast majority of their getaway home games at night, and have suggested that it is because those start times draw higher attendances and higher revenues. Players, however, believe their own well-being is not being taken into account enough. It is also frustrating for opponents, who have to deal with the same issues when playing in Anaheim.
“It’s not ideal for sure,” Mike Trout said. “I don’t know when we’re supposed to land, but it’s going to be early. And we’ve got to play that night. And the worst part about it is, the next day is a day game.”
From a player’s perspective, this is not a great look for the Angels, who already have some reputational issues. The team’s recent struggles have led to them having major issues attracting top talent, and little quality-of-life things like this only exacerbate that.
The Angels are actually off to an 11-11 start on the season, which is better than many expected. One could argue that they would probably be better off letting their players get some sleep after getaway day.
