After setting a franchise record with 99 losses in 2024, the Los Angeles Angels fans hoped that the franchise could only go up. Unfortunately for them, they were stuck in a tricky situation.

With owner Arte Moreno burned by monster contracts, the former general manager Perry Minasian could not have rebuilt the team. And while he wanted a win-now team, he had too many young players to develop. That formula hadn’t worked in decades. It didn’t now. But when the team brought in longtime Cardinals executive John Mozeliak as an interim manager this June, everyone thought this could be it. But they have stayed on the wrong side of history.

According to ESPN, the Angels have now lost 22 games this season when tied or leading entering the 9th inning. That’s the most such losses before September in MLB history. Sadly, that’s not where it ends…

In late May, the Halos held the worst record in MLB at 18-34. That was despite three-time AL MVP Mike Trout playing all games in that stretch, where the team still lost a record 24 of 30 games played. It was the worst 30-game stretch by a team in MLB history. The Angels fans’ sorrows didn’t end there.

When Moreno parted ways with Minasian and brought in Mozeliak, the Angels were already 34-48, which was tied for the worst mark in the American League along with the Kansas City Royals. That was despite the team’s improving form.

To begin this season, Moreno had promised that with the good moves by Minasian, the club could look up after never having a winning season since 2015:

“I think we can compete,” Moreno said in February. “We’re gambling on a couple pitchers we brought in, but some of our pitchers are a year older. [Robert] Stephenson makes a big difference on the back end, and [Ben] Joyce is back throwing and is healthy and we spent some money on the bullpen.”

Six months on, neither is Minasian here, nor Moreno’s promise…

As the picture continues to grow grim, the fans have traced the franchise’s struggles back to the owner who wouldn’t listen.

The problem for the Angels is their owner, claim fans

When Moreno showed up to the Angels 23 years ago, he had a remarkably impressive introductory speech. To sweeten the deal, the very first thing he did to impress the fans was lower the beer prices.

“My responsibility is to take care of the Angel fan,” he said. “My job is to make sure we live up to the tradition. My job is to make people comfortable here.”

23 years later, that promise, those smart decisions, that tenacity are all missing. Moreno only made things worse for himself when he went as far as to say that winning is not a priority for him. Frustrated fans, obviously, did not take it lightly.

Lifelong Angels fan Johnny Gonzalez created an Instagram account ‘@AngelsBoycot’ to make his point. He organizes protests against Moreno and the club, and earlier this year, at least 75 die-hard fans listened and gathered in front of the Angel Stadium State College Boulevard entrance, chanting “sell the team,” “we want playoffs,” and “winning matters.” This isn’t all.

Disappointed fans have gone shirtless during the Angels’ homestand and chanted for owner Arte Moreno to “sell the team.”

“They’re not doing much for us fans,” said Gonzalez. “It seems like every other team is just doing a lot more than us, despite us having a huge following [and] having some of the best players to ever play the game. I mean, it’s just like a lack of commitment, to say the least, and that’s why we’re here today.”

Many also participate in the “Tarps Off” trend and chant “Sell the Team,” donning black T-shirts and demanding that the owner sell the franchise.

In February this year, Moreno, who everyone thought was navigating the market, confirmed that he, despite turning 80-years-old, is not looking to sell the team any time soon. Those frustrations for the fans only deepened now after the Angels’ 5-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Things were looking up for the Angels, until they weren’t

The Angels were tied 1-1 until the sixth inning, but the Phillies scored four runs late in the game to clinch the series finale, with three of those runs coming in the final two innings. Yusei Kikuchi allowed just two earned runs over seven innings, but relievers Sammy Peralta and Mitch Farris couldn’t maintain the same momentum. Peralta surrendered two earned runs and a walk without striking out a single batter, while Farris allowed one walk and one run with two strikeouts in the final inning. That was Sunday’s story for the Angels.

Yet the night before was even more questionable.

Angels starter Ryan Johnson allowed five walks but managed to give up just one run. Although LA trailed 1-0 until the seventh inning, the team tied the game in the eighth, sending it to extra innings. Trevor Martin pitched well in the eighth and ninth innings, but he ultimately surrendered three runs in the tenth.

Martin made his debut with the Tampa Bay Rays on April 20 before the Angels claimed him off waivers in August. This was his first appearance with LA, and he finished with a 6.00 ERA. The Angels immediately optioned the 25-year-old to Triple-A Salt Lake.

Peralta had just two appearances with the Colorado Rockies before the LA side roped him in with a minor league contract. But in his seven games with the Angels, he has managed a 6.75 ERA. Farris, another youngster, has had 27 appearances so far, but he is also struggling with a 4.28 ERA and just 51 strikeouts over 48.1 innings. 

He was demoted to Triple-A earlier in August, but recent struggles have forced the Angels to recall him and LHP Blake Weiman from Salt Lake. Weiman has shown better outings with a 3.00 ERA over nine innings. Despite all this, though, the manager remains hopeful.

“It’s definitely not good, but at the same time, these guys are resilient,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said. “After a couple of close losses to Cleveland, we came back out today and had another chance to win. We brought the winning run to the plate. They never give up.”

But it has hardly solved the problems.

In fact, the Angels are almost out of alternatives. That’s why they reinstated Shaun Anderson and C Sebastian Rivero from the injured list, only to eventually option both players. With almost everyone in the bullpen struggling to make an impact, the franchise now has the worst record in the league.

Angels’ struggles go beyond one series

The LA side is tied with the Colorado Rockies at the bottom of MLB with a 52-85 record, and their starters are performing better than relievers. That explains their 4.28 ERA (21st in the league). But it’s not just their pitchers offering a subpar performance. Their lineup has been equally concerning.

The Angels are 27th in the league with a .234 batting average. That’s why, despite their acceptable starting pitching, the team has a -82 run differential. Then, once again, the injury bug got to the roster.

The Angels just added George Klassen to the 15-day IL, as the RHP is suffering from left low back inflammation. They expect him to return by September. The 24-year-old had a 3.67 ERA before hitting the IL. 

First baseman Nolan Schanuel, OF Gustavo Campero, and infielder Yoán Moncada are also on the injured list, expected to rejoin the roster next month. 

Then there is Anthony Rendon. 

He has been termed the worst contract of all time for missing 553 games since penning the deal in 2020. To top that, he hasn’t made a single appearance since 2025. 

With all these issues going on, the Angels suffered their second series sweep in a row. They are fifth in the AL West with hardly any chance of making it to October. While fans had little expectation of the team reaching the playoffs, its recent struggles have only added another layer of disappointment.