Report: Tensions rise again between Mike Scioscia, Angels' front office
Sitting four games back in the AL West doesn't mean everything is tulips and daisies with the Los Angeles Angels.
In fact, it sounds like the opposite.
It's no secret general manager Jerry Dipoto and manager Mike Scioscia don't see eye to eye, but just when we thought that was in the past, it appears to be more prevalent than ever.
In a report by FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, the duo's frustration with each other came to a boiling point, spilling over into the dugout for all the players and coaches to see.
The issue between both parties is a carbon copy of what unsettled them in 2012. Dipoto is a data junky, and he wants his club to heavily incorporate the numbers game into everyday baseball, just like the division-leading Houston Astros.
Scioscia, on the other hand, was a 13-year veteran and two-time All-Star for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The way he operates isn't by the numbers, it's by relying on instincts.
In a series of events that unfolded over the weekend, Dipoto met with the manager and his staff Friday, pleading that he relay the data front office has gathered to his players.
On Sunday, Dipoto met with the coaching staff and players, indicating they would be handed the data directly from the top, and whether they decide to use it is up to them.
The data is geared toward specific defensive shifts, and how to attack certain batters at the plate, among other things. When tempers flared in Dipoto's meeting, first baseman Albert Pujols backed up his coaches directly to his GM's face, saying Scioscia is doing what he can with what he has.
Though neither Scioscia or Dipoto were willing to comment, the stage is set for the skipper to walk away at the end of this season if this keeps up.
Mike Scioscia, when asked about Ken Rosenthal's report on friction between he and Jerry Dipoto ... pic.twitter.com/tNqxuneYTr
— Alden Gonzalez (@Alden_Gonzalez) June 30, 2015
In 2009, Scioscia signed a 10-year extension with the team through 2018, a deal that allows him to opt out after this season and forfeit the $18 million that he is owed over his final three seasons.
He's given no indication that those are his intentions, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see him pack his bags.