Angels Fans Continue the Tarpaulin Removal Movement
The effort to remove the tarpaulin at Angel Stadium shows no signs of slowing down.
During a recent game, fans of the Los Angeles Angels celebrated their team’s 3-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Interestingly, several fans were spotted shirtless in the right field seats during an ESPN broadcast.
A loud cheer erupted from those seats as it seemed like something was finally changing for the Angels. They ended a lengthy losing streak of 106 games after leading in the ninth inning.
In a tense moment, with bases loaded, a Cardinals pitcher hit Joe Adell with a pitch, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Zach Neto, reportedly on the trade block, crossed home plate for the game-winning run.
Curiously, the movement to remove the tarp started earlier at Busch Stadium on May 15, when the Cardinals faced the Kansas City Royals. A group of excited fans began to wave their shirts in right field.
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol openly supported the movement, acknowledging how energized the fans were after the first night. Fans even offered to buy tickets just to boost the atmosphere.
While it might have started with Cardinals fans, Angels supporters have embraced the cause. Since May 19, they’ve been gathering in the right field to engage in the movement. They cheer for their team while singing songs like “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” though they’ve also turned it into a protest.
All season long, fans have been chanting “Sell the team” directed at owner Arte Moreno, expressing their frustration over the organization’s current state.
Players like Mike Trout and Zach Neto have mentioned hearing these chants from the dugout. Despite having future Hall of Famers like Albert Pujols, Shohei Ohtani, and Trout, the Angels have not made the playoffs for 11 straight seasons, nor have they managed a winning record in the last decade.
This season is on track to be particularly grim, as the team might exceed 100 losses for the first time ever. They currently sit last in the American League West with a record of 40-61, trailing the Seattle Mariners by 11 games.
Amidst all the complaints from fans, some changes are quietly being implemented. Before this season, the team appointed Molly Jolly as the new president of baseball operations, taking over after John Carpino’s retirement.
Jolly dismissed general manager Perry Minassian on June 26, bringing in former Cardinals executive John Mozeliak as the interim general manager. He has spoken about the need for change and aims for a reorganization, but he understands that patience is crucial.
Under Mozeliak’s guidance, there’s been a shift toward selecting younger talent, such as 17-year-old Jared Grindlinger from Huntington Beach High School, instead of opting for immediately impactful college players.
As the MLB trade deadline approaches at the end of this month, there are whispers that the team might finally entertain the idea of a sale before the deadline, a move fans hope could signal a turnaround.
