Anaheim, California– kurt suzuki occupying Los Angeles Angels As a first-time manager he faced a significant task – and probably had a very limited time to show progress.
General manager Perry Minasian said Wednesday that Suzuki received only a one-year contract when he became the Angels’ sixth manager in the last eight seasons.
Minasian has one year left on his deal with the Angels, who are mired in 10 consecutive losing seasons after finishing 72-90 last month.
“He stuck with me,” Minasian said of Suzuki, a longtime catcher who served as Minasian’s special assistant the past three seasons after retiring from a 16-year playing career.
No one expressed any concern about the brief period given to Suzuki, 42, who will be learning his huge new job under unusual pressure. Suzuki’s contract appears to be another unique decision by Angels owner Arte Moreno, whose team has not made the playoffs since 2014 or had a winning season since 2015.
Both Minasian and Suzuki said they feel a sense of urgency to end the Angels’ decade-long drought, no matter how long their contracts are.
Suzuki said, “I make fun of it, but I feel like I’ve been playing on a one-year deal my entire career.” “I feel like every time I played this game, I had to prove myself every year. … I’m here because I want to lead this team. I’m here because I want to help these players. I want to do well for this city and this organization.”
Suzuki became emotional as he thanked his wife and three children, who sat in the front row of his press conference at Angel Stadium, where he played his final two major league seasons before moving into the team’s front office.
Suzuki was selected by Minassian from a field of candidates that also included Albert Pujols. Minasian wouldn’t say how negotiations broke down with the former Angels slugger, who has never coached or managed in the majors.
At least Pujols has winter-ball experience in the dugout, but Minasian is confident Suzuki will take to his new job quickly because he’s already done the bulk of it as a catcher.
“I never thought I’d be comfortable hiring a manager who hadn’t been a manager before, but this is a different person,” Minassian said. “I know he didn’t have any coaching titles, but even when he played, he coached-slash-managed for different places. He managed a game for a long time. I believe he is the right person for the position.”
Despite starting from a difficult position, Suzuki is accustomed to achieving great things.
After growing up in Maui, he transferred to Cal State Fullerton and developed into a freshman starter, College World Series winner and second-round draft pick by the Oakland Athletics.
He made an All-Star team and won a World Series ring during a successful major league career. His lively bat yielded 143 homers, but he was even more known for his excellent defense, game management, and relationships with his pitchers, including shohei ohtani,
“I feel like this is what I was born to do – to lead players, to help players get better,” Suzuki said. “That’s my personality. I feel like I’ve done it on an annual basis throughout the season with 29, 30 pitchers, trying to understand how to get the best out of each player, and that’s what excites me.
“Obviously you play this game to win, too, but what excites me is being able to help kids reach their potential.”
Suzuki replaced Ron Washington, who was not optioned after a losing season in year two. Brad Ausmus, Joe Maddon, Phil Nevin and interim Ray Montgomery have also handled this slippery job for a while since Mike Scioscia was not brought back in late 2018 after 19 years in charge.
Suzuki dodges questions about Angels third baseman Anthony Rendonon his teammate Washington Nationals‘Championship team in 2019. Rendon, who did not play at all this season because of a hip injury, still has one season left on the $245 million, seven-year contract Moreno gave him as a free agent after the World Series.
“I haven’t talked to Perry about that whole situation,” Suzuki said of Rendon, who will make $38 million with the Angels next year.
