Los Angeles Angels: Why Did Jerry Dipoto Resign?

On the surface, this appears to be as ugly a situation for any team to go through in July. Jerry Dipoto resigned from his position as Angels General Manager on Wednesday after tensions apparently escalated to an irreparable level. Former GM Bill Stoneman was named interim GM.

As far back as 2012, a supposed power struggle seemed to be the root of the tension between Dipoto and Manager Mike Scioscia. The inciting event happened when Dipoto fired hitting coach Mickey Hatcher. The two resolved the situation when owner Arte Moreno stepped in and forced them both to work it out. The battle continued in 2013, however, and there was an obvious difference in philosophies between the two. There is widespread opinion that it was Scioscia exerting his tyrannical powers in the clubhouse and the front office. But that is not the case.

Several meetings were held over the weekend in which the subject was apparently the methods in which scouting data was delivered to the players. It was reported that there was a heated argument. But later reports are refuting any ‘power struggle’. Sources say that Dipoto gave Moreno the old ‘it’s him or me’ ultimatum. That would be professional suicide. But it raised questions about Dipoto’s conduct behind closed doors.

As much as Dipoto has worked hard to rebuild the Angels’ organization’s minor league depth, particularly their pitching, the manner in which he conducted this is still in question. Dipoto hired an entire staff and pushed out several front office officials who were long part of the regime that was built under Scioscia, previous General Manger Bill Stoneman, as well as General Manager Tony Reagins. Dipoto basically conducted an organizational overhaul. This, at times, caused him to clash with Scioscia.

Then there’s the signings of Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton, and C.J. Wilson. Who knows if a GM like Bill Stoneman would have ever signed these three. Although Pujols just seems like he’s at home with the Angels. Hamilton was a disaster. Wilson has been good, but erratic at times. Scioscia and Stoneman would’ve opted for more depth in place of at least two of those three. But these were also the doing of Arte Moreno. And were really not a part of the ‘Scioscia vs. Dipoto’ debacle. However, I think we can all agree that all parties would be all in on Mike Trout.

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One can make the argument that Scioscia would never have a catcher like Chris Iannetta on his ball club, or even an outfielder like Matt Joyce. Neither can do much but draw walks. Both have good career on-base percentages. But the lack of sufficient batting averages can cause them to walk the tight rope if they’re having down years, which they are in 2015. Neither of them can do the little things Scioscia needs at the bottom half of his lineup. As hard as it was to watch Jeff Mathis, he at least would bunt guys to second and third with no outs. But the biggest problem of all that Scioscia has had since 2010, which goes back to Reagins as well: bullpen.

Both Reagins and Dipoto were very slow to provide Scioscia with the kind of bullpen he needed to put teams away or keep his team in the game. Bullpen was Scioscia’s bread and butter in all those years the Angels were making the playoffs. Dipoto finally addressed it in the middle of last season, and look what happened. That was the difference all along.

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So why did it take so long? Had Scioscia had the bullpen he has now, as well as the one he had in the second half of last season, the Angels would’ve very likely made the playoffs in 2011 and 2012. Hard to assume the bullpen would’ve saved the 2010 and 2013 teams. But just ’11 and ’12 alone would’ve bridged enough between 2009 and 2014 to consider that time period as part of a long 14-year playoff run. Scioscia finally got the bullpen he needed in the middle of 2014, and look what happened.

Bullpen. It’s that simple. Would’ve solved a ton of problems over the last five years, and Angels fans wouldn’t be so worried. But add that to a disconnect between the front office and the clubhouse.

Part of the job of a general manager is to work with the coaching staff to find a middle ground. Dipoto was unable to do so. But there is more to this than was was previously reported. Here is what Scioscia had to say about a so-called power struggle:

There is also a rift among Angels fans where they believe Mike Scioscia to be ‘unadaptable’ and past his time. And that Scioscia won’t learn analytics. Early reports said that Scioscia and his staff were ‘practically insubordinate to any scouting data the front office sent to them. Another report said Dipoto had his staff deliver data to players’  iPads, going over Scioscia’s head. Here’s what Scioscia about the notion of being ‘old school’:

Bill Stoneman will return to the GM seat on an interim basis for the rest of the season. Our old friend who rebuilt the Angels minor league system from the ground up, just like Dipoto was starting to, seems like the logical choice for now. Angels President John Carpino had this to say about the appointment of Bill Stoneman as interim GM:

Early reports said that the players got involved in a clubhouse meeting held by Dipoto. And that once coach yelled a rebuttal at the GM. Reports even had Pujols giving Dipoto a piece of his mind. Here is what some of the players’ reactions:

And then Alden Gonzalez finally caught up with Dipoto:

So whether you consider that clearing the air, or just softening the blow to protect Dipoto’s reputation, what’s done is done. Now the Angels will get Stoneman up to speed, and will play out the rest of the season. The new search for a GM will be in the offseason. Let’s just hope this doesn’t throw the Angels off course when they’re 41-38, 5 games out of the AL West Division lead, and only a half a game out of the second AL Wild Card. Time will tell. But I feel better knowing Bill Stoneman is back in the GM seat. He knows exactly what Scioscia needs to win.

This is the official release: