Is Shohei Ohtani unhappy with the Angels? Manager Joe Maddon doesn't think so

Jack Harris
·3 min read
Los Angeles Angels manager Joe Maddon, left, and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani watch from the dugout during the fourth inning of the team's baseball game against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Angels manager Joe Maddon, left, and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani watch from the dugout during the fourth inning against the Chicago White Sox on Sept. 15 in Chicago. (Charles Rex Arbogast / Associated Press)

Joe Maddon said he isn’t the type of manager to talk with his players about things they say to the media.

Shohei Ohtani’s postgame comments Sunday, however, certainly caught the attention of the Angels' second-year skipper.

Following the team’s final home game of the season, Ohtani spoke to reporters about his desire to win and his disappointment with a fourth-straight season since coming to Anaheim that will end without a playoff appearance.

“I really like the team. I love the fans. I love the atmosphere of the team,” Ohtani said through his interpreter. “But, more than that, I want to win. That’s the biggest thing for me. I’ll leave it at that.”

The comments seemed to potentially call into question whether Ohtani -- who is under contract for two more seasons, and who said no negotiations over an extension have taken place -- would want to stay with the club long term.

Before the Angels' 5-2 loss to the Texas Rangers on Tuesday, however, Maddon said he had a different interpretation of what Ohtani was saying.

“He’s not talking about leaving," Maddon said. “He’s talking about winning.”

To Maddon, Ohtani echoed sentiments shared throughout the Angels clubhouse — of both frustration in the team’s inability to make a playoff push amid their inconsistent and injury-plagued season, and of their hope of becoming serious contenders next year.

“We all want to win,” Maddon said Tuesday. “If anybody misconstrues [Ohtani’s comments] as though he wants to leave, that’s trying to connect some dots that are not at all what he said.

“He was just addressing the fact that he wants to win. I think he also mentioned how much he loves it here … He’s just venting and saying everything we’re all thinking and wanting.”

Even with Ohtani’s historic production as a two-way player this year, the Angels couldn’t overcome season-ending injuries to Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon, nor a lackluster performance from much of the rest of the pitching staff.

Last week, Maddon and Trout each spoke about their desire to see the team be competitive next season. On Tuesday, Maddon doubled-down on his optimism in the team’s future.

“We all want to get to the next level,” Maddon said. “And we see it as an absolute, not just a possibility -- it’s going to happen here in the very near future.”

And, while Maddon said he didn’t address Ohtani about his Sunday comments directly, the manager said the two-way star feels the same way -- happy to be with the Angels, and eager to change the franchise’s fortunes.

“[Ohtani was] just him expressing himself,” Maddon reiterated, adding: “If somehow people connect that like he wants to leave, that’s not what I heard.”

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories

  • Man held after bomb threat at Iran consulate in Paris

    STORY: A police source told Reuters the man was seen at about 11 a.m. (0900 GMT) entering the consulate, carrying what appeared to be a grenade and explosive vest. Police cordoned off the area.The man later left the consulate and was then arrested, a police source said. The TV channel BFM said he had been carrying replica grenades.A police source said it was the same man who had been suspected of attempted arson near the Iranian consulate in an incident last September.Le Parisien newspaper said on its website that, according to several witnesses, the man had dragged flags on the floor of the consulate and said he wanted to avenge the death of his brother.It was unclear whether the incident had any link to current tensions between Iran and Israel.

  • North Korea says it tested 'super-large' cruise missile warhead and new anti-aircraft missile

    Korean Central News Agency released photos showing at least two missiles being fired off launcher trucks on a runway. The missiles in the image were not identified. State media said North Korea's missile administration on Friday conducted a 'power test' for the warhead designed for the Hwasal-1 Ra-3 strategic cruise missile and a test-launch of the Pyoljji-1-2 anti-aircraft missile.

  • Trump campaign falsely claimed twice this week that he’s ‘stormed’ out of court

    A reporter from The Indpendent, who has been observing proceedings all week, says claims of the former president’s defiant exit on Friday were not entirely accurate

  • The NBA's newest stars have an opportunity in these playoffs: Who's ready to take the torch?

    Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the next generation of NBA superstars have a big challenge ahead on the league's biggest stage.

  • Weekend warming up before cooling off again

    Weekend warming up before cooling off again

  • Azerbaijani journalist remanded in latest move against independent media

    Turan said Imran Aliyev, head of the Meclis.info outlet, which reports mainly on Azerbaijan's parliament, was being held in connection with a case against the Abzas Media group. Police last November said they had found 40,000 euros ($42,700) in cash in the media outlet's Baku offices. Aliyev has been subjected to electric shocks and beatings since being taken into custody at Baku airport on Thursday, Turan quoted the journalist as saying.

  • Bitcoin's latest 'halving' has arrived. Here's what you need to know

    NEW YORK (AP) — The “miners” who chisel bitcoins out of complex mathematics are taking a 50% pay cut — effectively reducing new production of the world’s largest cryptocurrency, again. Bitcoin's latest “halving" appeared to occur Friday night. Soon after the highly anticipated event, the price of bitcoin held steady at about $63,907. Now, all eyes are on what will happen down the road. Beyond bitcoin’s long-term price behavior, which relies heavily on other market conditions, experts point to po

  • What is "pig-butchering"? Scam trend costs Americans millions

    A massive bust in New York is making national headlines this month. Prosecutors in Brooklyn seized nearly two dozen web domains associated with a scheme known as "pig butchering." But what is "pig butchering?" In short, it's when scammers strike up online conversations with unsuspecting victims, gain their trust, and then manipulate them into making bogus cryptocurrency investments.

  • School district administration criticizes board's decision to cancel gay actor's visit

    Cumberland Valley School District's superintendent and other administrators sent a letter to staff and faculty this week rebuking a vote by board members to cancel an anti-bullying event featuring a gay actor and author.

  • 15 Best Places to Retire in Ohio

    This article takes a look at the 15 best places to retire in Ohio. If you wish to skip our detailed analysis on navigating retirement living in the US, you may go to 5 Best Places to Retire in Ohio. Adieu, Baby Boomers The last of America’s Baby Boomers will soon be entering retirement. The […]

  • Teachers say lawmakers should prioritize school funding over legislation like ‘pronoun bill’

    Educators say bills aimed at transgender students that continue to move through the Arizona Legislature are a distraction from issues such as school funding. Senate Bill 1166, which would require schools to notify parents within five days if a teacher or contractor calls a student by a different name or pronoun, has passed the Senate and is moving through the House.

  • Coyotes' move to Salt Lake City elicits opposing responses in 2 cities

    PHOENIX (AP) — NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman sat next to the former Arizona Coyotes owner in a downtown Phoenix hotel meeting room, trying to put a positive spin on the funeral for a franchise. Later Friday, Bettman sat next to the new Coyotes owner in Salt Lake City to bask in the excitement of the league's newest city and a fan base that had been itching for another team to join the NBA's Utah Jazz. One day, two drastically different news conferences for the same hockey team. "If you look back

  • UPDATE 1-Bitcoin 'halving' has taken place, CoinGecko says

    Bitcoin, the world's largest cryptocurrency, on Friday completed its "halving," a phenomenon that happens roughly every four years, according to according to CoinGecko, a cryptocurrency data and analysis company. Bitcoin was fairly stable immediately afterward, falling 0.47% to $63,747. Bitcoin enthusiasts had eagerly waited for the "halving" - a change to the cryptocurrency's underlying technology designed to cut the rate at which new bitcoins are created.

  • Collin Morikawa part of 4-way tie for the lead at Hilton Head. Scottie Scheffler lurks 3 shots back

    HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — Collin Morikawa had another solid round Friday in the RBC Heritage with a 5-under 66 and appears to be getting back to the reliable form that made him a two-time major champion. Masters champion Scottie Scheffler's form never seems to change. Even after an emotionally taxing victory at Augusta National, a quick trip home to Dallas and only nine holes of practice, the world's No. 1 player is right in the mix. It's crowded at the top after two days of warm, ideal co

  • Phillies' Turnbull loses no-hit bid when Sheets singles for White Sox in 7th inning

    PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia's Spencer Turnbull lost his bid for a second career no-hitter when he allowed a one-out single in the seventh inning Friday night to Gavin Sheets of the Chicago White Sox. The 31-year-old Phillies right-hander pitched a no-hitter for Detroit against Seattle on May 18, 2021, his only complete game in 63 starts entering the night. He walked one and struck out six over the first six innings. Sheets singled on a line drive to right field. Turnbull is 1-0 this season

  • Investigating signature fraud in Arizona's elections

    Investigating petition fraud.

  • Palm Beach Gardens, Dwyer tie 3-3 at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium

    The baseball regular season will wrap up next week ahead of the district tournament.

  • When Will Poseidon Nickel Limited (ASX:POS) Breakeven?

    With the business potentially at an important milestone, we thought we'd take a closer look at Poseidon Nickel...

  • Here Is Why Enbridge Is a No-Brainer Dividend Stock

    For investors looking for a no-brainer dividend stock worth holding for the long term, here's why Enbridge (TSX:ENB) should be on the list. The post Here Is Why Enbridge Is a No-Brainer Dividend Stock appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

  • Hot Takeaway: Concentration in 1 Stock Can Be Just Fine

    Concentration in one stock can be alright under the right circumstances, and far better than buying a bunch of poor-performing stocks. The post Hot Takeaway: Concentration in 1 Stock Can Be Just Fine appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.