PHOENIX — Class went long for the Angels on Wednesday afternoon.
The Angels have met almost every day this season to go over what went wrong – and right – from the previous game, but the “classroom,” as Manager Ron Washington calls it, was different this time.
Washington said “there were some things we wanted to address,” so the session ended up being much longer than usual.
“When you get guys into what you’re doing, the conversation is getting longer and longer,” Washington said. “We ended up having to cut it off because we (could) have done it all the way to game time.”
The general theme, Washington said, “was more about us making certain that we take care of each other. Can’t get into your feelings. Just hold each other accountable. That’s all. And just play baseball. And where there are mistakes we are going to talk about it. When it’s things that are done extremely well, we’re going to talk about it, so it’s not like we just talked about negative stuff.”
Washington said a few players addressed the group.
“It was tremendous,” Washington said. “I’ve been in the game 54 years and that was one of the most moving times I’ve had with these guys. … They stood up like grown men and handled their business. I was very proud of them.”
Washington said he didn’t want to speak, but players pushed him to say a few things.
Such meetings have been necessary for the Angels as they go through this painful rebuilding season. The Angels came into Wednesday’s game with a 25-41 record. Fundamental mistakes have been frequent, including in Tuesday night’s ugly 9-4 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Washington said it’s important for players to help guide each other in these times, instead of simply having the coaching staff direct things.
“It’s very impactful, because we’re on them all the time as coaches,” Washington said. “It’s nice when each and every one of them hold each other accountable. And there was some accountability in there today. And I was very proud of the way they handled it. I really was. So now when they talk to (the media), don’t be surprised how well they handle themselves.”
O’HOPPE, WARD OUT
Catcher Logan O’Hoppe was not in the lineup a day after he took a foul ball square in the cup. O’Hoppe said he was “100%” physically able to play on Wednesday, but Washington wanted to give him a day off anyway.
“I just didn’t want to push him back out there,” Washington said. “He’s ready to go. He’ll be back in there tomorrow. I want him to move around and make sure everything is well.”
O’Hoppe was reluctant to miss the game, adding that his goal one day is to catch 150 games in a season.
Outfielder Taylor Ward came out of Tuesday’s game with lower back stiffness. Ward said he was “better,” on Wednesday, but he agreed that “it’s best” to take another day.
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NOTES
A day after right-hander Chase Silseth gave up six runs in 2⅔ innings in the first Triple-A game of his rehab assignment, Washington said that Silseth “came out of it healthy.” As for the performance, “I think the numbers told what he looked like.” …
Infielder Brandon Drury “came out well” after the first game of his rehab assignment at Triple-A. Drury was 1 for 3 with a walk. Drury is expected to play in the minors for the rest of the week. …
Pitching coach Barry Enright received his National League championship ring from the Diamondbacks before Wednesday night’s game. Enright was the Diamondbacks’ assistant pitching coach last season.
UP NEXT
Angels (RHP Griffin Canning, 2-6, 4.65 ERA) at Diamondbacks (RHP Brandon Pfaadt, 2-5, 4.60), Thursday, 6:40 p.m., Bally Sports West, 830 AM