ANAHEIM — The Angels had lost nine of 10 games before the All-Star break, so at their workout the day before they resumed play last week, infielder Mike Moustakas felt something needed to be done.
Moustakas called a meeting.
“I wanted to get the boys together to tell them that we still have half a season left,” Moustakas left. “If you want to play in October, we’ve got to start winning some baseball games.”
Moustakas concedes it was “a pretty obvious statement.” The significance, however, was not so much what he said, but that he was the one who called the meeting.
Moustakas had not even been with the Angels for a month.
“This is how I’ve always been at every level I’ve ever played at,” Moustakas said. “Obviously, getting traded to a new team, you want to see how things operate and how things are and within the first day I’m able to go out there and be myself again. I’m pretty comfortable with who I am.”
Manager Phil Nevin said he wasn’t surprised that Moustakas stepped so seamlessly into a leadership role even though he was new to the team.
“You can tell he has instant leadership qualities that we all value,” Nevin said. “He’s certainly somebody that’s won, been to a couple World Series. It’s invaluable to have in that room.”
Moustakas, 34, came up with the Kansas City Royals in 2011. He and a group of young players like Eric Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain, Alex Gordon and Salvador Perez formed the core of a Royals team that went to the World Series in 2014 and won it in 2015.
That gives him some gravitas in the clubhouse, Nevin said.
“The more guys that we can have around us that have been there and done that, we don’t have a lot of that,” Nevin said.
The Angels have also gotten solid production on the field from Moustakas, who was acquired from the Colorado Rockies shortly after the Angels lost infielders Gio Urshela and Anthony Rendon to injuries.
Moustakas has hit .241 with a .768 OPS in 15 games with the Angels, including four home runs. He’s played first and third base.
Angels left-hander Tyler Anderson, a 33-year-old who has played against Moustakas throughout his career, said he was not surprised at how he’s carried himself in the clubhouse.
“I just feel like the way he plays on the field, in the dugout, is how he is,” Anderson said. “He just plays hard and wants to win and loves it. He’s very emotionally invested and cares about winning, cares about his teammates. It just comes through. It’s just how he is. He’s a vocal person. It’s great.”
EMERGENCE OF THAISS
Matt Thaiss was in the lineup as the catcher for the fourth straight game on Tuesday, including a start against a left-hander.
Thaiss is hitting .254 with a .754 OPS and six homers. He’s also made progress defensively. He was drafted as a catcher in 2016, but the Angels had him play other positions until he returned behind the plate in 2021.
“I’ll be the first one to admit when he was catching last year, it didn’t look great,” Nevin said. “At times, I had some skepticism, putting him back there in certain spots. Watching him work, watching what he looked like in the spring and watching his progression this year, it’s been amazing. It really has. He’s become one of the better defensive catchers in our game.”
Chad Wallach will still catch on Wednesday, with the Angels facing left-hander Carlos Rodon, Nevin said. He’ll also catch Shohei Ohtani on Friday. Nevin said he’s not “100% holding true” to the Ohtani-Wallach pairing, but he still prefers those two working together.
NOTES
Infielder Brandon Drury (shoulder inflammation) continued taking batting practice on Tuesday, but he hasn’t faced game-speed pitching, either from a high-velocity machine or a pitcher. Once he does that, he will be a few days from returning. …
Third baseman Anthony Rendon (bruised shin) did some work on the field and in the trainer’s room, but it’s too soon to know when he’ll be back, Nevin said. …
Catcher Logan O’Hoppe (shoulder surgery) began receiving pitches on Tuesday, which marked 12 weeks since his surgery. O’Hoppe said it’s the end of the “healing” phase, so now it’s all baseball preparation. Nevin said “everything’s good” with O’Hoppe’s rehab, but the Angels are going to be cautious about moving him too quickly. …
The Angels will start right-hander Chase Silseth against the Yankees on Wednesday. Silseth has a 2.79 ERA in nine games at Triple-A this season. He has a 5.30 ERA in the majors.
UP NEXT
Yankees (LHP Carlos Rodon, 0-2, 5.23 ERA) at Angels (RHP Chase Silseth, 1-1, 5.30 ERA), Wednesday, 4:07 p.m., Bally Sports West, 830 AM
