#Brad Ausmus

For years, the Cardinals have been guided by past championships that set expectations for future contention. A new force steered them into the coming season: the present - and its demand to win. "We realize the importance of 2019," says John Mozeliak, president of baseball operations. "I've always been one for the longer-term decision making. But…

Mike Trout made his big-league debut as a 19-year-old on July 8, 2011. In the years since, he has won a Rookie of the Year award and three Most Valuable Player awards and established himself as the best player of his generation, one who stacks up against the all-time greats. Since Trout's debut, however, the Los Angeles Angels have gone 721-708…

The Los Angeles Angels were bit players in a once-in-a-lifetime show last season, providing the backdrop for Shohei Ohtani's historic two-way performance. The unanimous AL MVP in 2021, Ohtani finished third in the AL with 46 home runs (many of the moon-shot variety) and second in OPS (.965), and his at-bats were must-see viewing. At the same time,…

On the way to winning his third American League MVP last year, Mike Trout seemingly did something you wouldn't think possible - he got better. Now, the challenge for the Angels is to do the same. They believe they made a big step in that direction with the hiring of Joe Maddon as manager. He replaces Brad Ausmus, who served as a one-year bridge…

The Los Angeles Angels are entering a new era: After 19 seasons, Mike Scioscia will no longer be the manager. In 39 years before Scioscia became their manager, the Angels averaged 76.6 wins per full season, had only 12 winning seasons and made the playoffs three times (without winning a series). In 19 seasons under Scioscia, the Angels averaged…