Angels Countdown to Spring - 25 Days

1/17/20 - Jay Sheehy - Founder and Editor-In-Chief 4:46 PM PST

As the clock ticks down closer and closer to Spring Training, much of what baseball writers and fans alike will focus on is which players acquired this off-season will make teams better. But, just as important, especially in the case of the Los Angeles Angels, is to note which players are no longer going to make the team worse. Such is the case for 25th reason the Angels will make the playoffs in 2020.

Reason #25: The Number of Games Cody Allen Won’t Pitch For Them

Cody Allen watching someone circle the bases after giving up another home run

If you are new to the column, much has been noted about the three terrible pitchers the Angels signed after the 2018 season: Matt Harvey, Trevor Cahill and Cody Allen. Now, while it’s easy to pick these signings apart after the fact, there were positive mentions of each before the season (and reality) began. In the end, however, each of them failed miserably and the Angels pitching staff was the worst in baseball because of it AND the whole situation was made worse by the fact the Angels paid the three of them a combined $28.5 million. The money isn’t the issue in terms of affecting a single season’s outcome— Allen’s numbers very much were.

In the 25 games that Cody Allen pitched for the Los Angeles Angels (23 total innings), he walked 20 batters (7.8 BB/9), gave up 24 hits (9 of which were home runs), accrued a 1.913 WHIP, 6.26 ERA and an 8.39 FIP that indicates it could have easily been worse. What almost seems to make it worse (or maybe speaks to an undiagnosed injury) is that Allen started the year off with five straight scoreless appearances where he pitched five innings, gave up ZERO hits, ONE walk and struck out four. He made us believe in him…only to completely fall apart.

After his blistering start led to belief, Allen pitched in 20 more games. 18 total innings. He walked 19 batters, gave up 24 hits (again, 9 home runs), had an 8.00 ERA, and batters had a 1.181 OPS against him. To put that last number in context, Babe Ruth’s career OPS was 1.164. So, after a solid five game start, Cody Allen made every batter at the plate Babe Ruth for the remainder of the season. This is why Reason #25 is not having Cody Allen pitch 25 games for the Angels in 2020. Hopefully he can turn his career around in Milwaukee.