Logan O’Hoppe is all about accountability.
He’s crafted his career on it, emerging as a young leader on an Angels team looking to make it back to the postseason for the first time since 2014.
The team’s most recent slump has been disappointing to say the least. But O’Hoppe isn’t ducking any responsibility towards the struggles.
O’Hoppe said the blame belongs entirely on the players, and the skid isn’t the fault of hitting coaches Johnny Washington, Tim Laker or Jayson Nix.
“I think that this funk is just easy for people to point fingers at, honestly, the wrong people,” O’Hoppe said. “It’s not J-Wash’s fault that we’re striking out so much. It’s not Laker’s fault. It’s not Nixy’s fault. It’s my fault. I’ve punched out way too much the past week, and I know other guys would say the same thing. It’s no one else but us. I think that’s part of the frustration of it too. The blame is getting put on the wrong people.”
The Angels’ offense is struggling — a remarkable amount. Over the past 15 games, the club has 167 strikeouts and just 19 walks. That’s incredibly bad.
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“Once they leave what’s being told to them and step in the batters’ box, it’s totally up to them,” Manager Ron Washington said. “We can’t hit for them. All we can do is give them the work, get them in the right direction, and they’ve got to take care of the rest. It’s not happening right now. And it’s not just one or two people. This is up and down the lineup.”
Time will tell if the now 12-15 Halos can find any solutions.