Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia says that reports that he and general manager Jerry Dipoto have deep philosophical differences are incorrect, according to an Associated Press report.
Angels’ Mike Scioscia says he has no issues with GM Jerry Dipoto
Reports the past week have talked of a rift between the two sides, but Scioscia says the two can coexist.
USA TODAY Sports
Reports in the past week have said that the Angels would likely remove one of the two from their position in the offseason. Scioscia came out Saturday to say that the two men’s philosophies are “in line.”
More Angels coverage: Halos Heaven
According to Scioscia, the only decision made by the organization he has publicly criticized was that of dismissing hitting coach Mickey Hatcher early in the 2012 season. Hatcher, a long-time friend of Scioscia’s, had been the Angels’ hitting coach since 2000. Though the two have had other disagreements, Scioscia downplayed them as being “normal” arguments about their evaluations on certain players.
“You’re not going to agree on everything. That’s healthy,” Scioscia was quoted as saying. “You have to have conversation. You’ve got to throw it on the table and just see if it has merit, talk about it, peel the paint off of it and I feel that’s happening.”
It has been speculated that the signings of sluggers Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton have also created a rift between the Dipoto and Scioscia. Scioscia has tended to favor defensive-minded, strong base runners to complement a focus on pitching.
Angels management has said that pitching would be a focus for the team during the offseason after cheap replacements Joe Blanton, Tommy Hanson, Sean Burnett and Ryan Madson have not worked out as well as they hoped.
The Angels sit at just 57-71 this season, 17.5 games out of the lead for a division in which they were expected to contend.
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