Column: Hiring calm, cerebral Joe Maddon as manager was ideal for Angels team in turmoil
LA TimesJoe Maddon waves to a fan before the Chicago Cubs played the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sept. 24 at PNC Park. I don’t know what else you could ask for.” Percival played for the Angels’ World Series championship team in 2002, personally witnessing the Maddon magic. Even the Cubs’ glorious 2016 World Series championship nearly slipped away in Game 7 after Maddon overused closer Aroldis Chapman in Game 6. Federal agents have interviewed one team employee and at least six former and current Angels players as part of their investigation into Skaggs’ death. Mead and Taylor denied Kay’s claims, and the Angels issued a statement saying, “We have never heard that any employee was providing illegal narcotics to any player, or that any player was seeking illegal narcotics.” If it is verified that anyone in the organization beyond Kay knew about Skaggs’ drug use, the Angels could be subject to severe penalties from Major League Baseball.