Joe Maddon calls on Angels to upgrade to return to playoffs next year – Orange County Register

ANAHEIM – Joe Maddon is just as frustrated as you are.

Right before the Angels face the Houston Astros in the playoffs on Wednesday night, Maddon said he was tired of being left out of baseball’s October party.

And Maddon has only been around for two of the Angels’ seven playoff drought seasons.

“This can’t go on,” Maddon said. “We cannot be in this position annually. This organization is better than that. We deserve better than that. We have to go out and earn it.

Maddon also suggested exactly what so many others have been saying for years, that the Angels need to acquire a premium starter pitcher in order to take the next step.

Responding to a question on whether Reid Detmers – the Angels’ top pitching prospect – has shown enough to be a candidate for next year’s rotation, Maddon said the organization should aim higher.

“What’s your schedule for next year?” Is it to play in the American League West and hopefully get to the end and play a game in October? Maddon said. “This should never be the situation. What I mean is we have to have guys that we think are ready to win right now, in this rotation, in order to get to where you want to be. Otherwise, you will continue to perpetuate this.

The free agent starting pitcher class is full of big names at the end of their careers, including Max Scherzer. The group also includes accomplished pitchers like Zack Greinke, Clayton Kershaw, Justin Verlander (coming from Tommy John surgery) and Corey Kluber.

The list of front row starters in their prime is short: maybe just Marcus Stroman, Kevin Gausman and Robbie Ray.