Mike Scioscia’s clash with the Angels’ front office has been well documented. A few years ago it was reported that he and GM Jerry Dipoto were not getting along and that the team would have to choose between the men. Owner Arte Moreno’s solution was to keep both until things got so bad that DiPoto left his position as GM during the 2015 season.
Dipoto wasn’t out of work for long as the Seattle Mariners hired him last month to be their GM. One of his first moves was to install former big league catch Scott Servais as his manager. Servais spent the past four years as an assistant GM to Dipoto with the Angels.
The Los Angeles Times provides details about how Servais and Scioscia clashed with the Angels:
Scioscia and Servais clashed over some of the coaching and instruction techniques used to develop minor leaguers, and Scioscia did not allow Servais to dress out in full uniform and take part in on-field drills during spring training, something Servais did — and enjoyed — during his tenure with Texas.
Servais was with the Rangers from 2006-2011 prior to joining the Angels.
This is pretty notable just for the fact that Servais was a former big league player and catcher just like Scioscia. It’s not like he’s some pencil pusher from the front office with no playing experience. This just shows how the Angels were on different pages about player development and that there wasn’t synergy regarding team-wide philosophies.
Scioscia continues to win out and seems to be the favorite of Moreno. While others come and go, he has been a constant as manager since 2000. If Moreno would look closely, he would realize the team has underachieved for the most part this decade. The team could use some new leadership.
