Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington implemented a new rule for his players. As MLB.com beat reporter Rhett Bollinger tweeted, “The #Angels instituted a new rule this season with players not allowed to be on their cellphones at their lockers. Ron Washington said he did it so the players would interact with each other more and bond. Mike Trout and Zach Neto said it’s worked out great so far.”
Washington hopes this policy can help turn things around for a team that last had a winning record in 2015. Since then, the Angels have had two, 80-win seasons, their highest win total since becoming the Los Angeles Angels again. Adding insult to injury, their intercity rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers, signed their prized player Shohei Ohtani, and won a World Series title with him.
Meanwhile, Washington has been the Angels’ manager since last season when the team finished the season with a 63-99 record. Worst yet, the Angels last entered the playoffs in 2014 and haven’t won a playoff game since 2009. Therefore, they hope Washington’s policy can improve their fortunes.
-Lance Fernandez