The Los Angeles Angels have not only failed to make the playoffs since 2014 – the longest active drought in baseball – but they haven’t taken advantage of two generational talents in Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout.
For years, roster construction was a problem, and still is.
The owner, Arte Moreno, said last year he would entertain selling the team only to take back his word at the most convenient moment.
They have had long losing streaks, they have fired managers, they have mishandled injuries, and many more things.
Now, they are also into some forms of censorship.
“For what it’s worth: I was informed by AM830 (Angels team-owned radio network) that I’m no longer welcomed back on their ‘Beat Reporter Roundtable’ program because I bring ‘negativity’ to an ‘up-beat show. ‘ I was told the decision was made by team president John Carpino,” Angels insider Sam Blum tweeted.
For what it’s worth:
I was informed by AM830 (Angels team-owned radio network) that I’m no longer welcomed back on their “Beat Reporter Roundtable” program because I bring “negativity” to an “up-beat show.”
I was told the decision was made by team president John Carpino.
—Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) April 3, 2023
Blum has covered the Angels for The Athletic for quite some time now.
He offers an insightful voice for what happens in the organization: he reports the good, but also the bad.
To sum up: he does his job.
The team now apparently sees his presence on the beat reporter show as uncomfortable.
They might think he reveals too much of the bad stuff that goes on with the team.
Some of Blum’s colleagues are showing some solidarity towards him:
I have let the Angels radio team know that I will no longer appear on the “Reporters Roundtable” either. https://t.co/1MpRKIHv5G
—Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) April 3, 2023
It looks like Carpino has been exposed as a man who doesn’t like any negative feedback about the team.
It’s too bad, because Blum and every writer covering the Angels should feel free to investigate and publish stories with no fear of repercussions.
NEXT:
Shohei Ohtani Made His First Home Run Of The Year Count
