Former Angels Starter Slams Organization for Poor Practices, Frugal Spending

As the old adage goes, when it rains...it pours.

While it doesn't rain too much in Southern California, those associated with the Angels have had to walk around all year long toting a very big umbrella.

Mike Trout is reportedly going back on the IL, and it was recently reported that Shohei Ohtani has a UCL tear in his elbow -- thus shutting down his ability to pitch this season (and perhaps forever) for the Halos.

Rubbing some more salt into a gaping wound, a former Angels pitcher decided to 'expose' some things he allegedly encountered during his days with the team.

imagine telling players to be physically ready for 8am workouts by “stopping at chick fil-a if you need to eat idk”
— C.J. Wilson (@str8edgeracer) August 24, 2023

Southern California native C.J. Wilson pitched for the Angels from 2012-15. The Angels gave him a 5-year/$77.5 million deal to leave the rival Texas Rangers and come back home to his home state. In four years with the Angels, he made one All-Star appearance -- and compiled a respectful 51-35 record (before retiring due to shoulder surgery).

Whether it be boredom or wanting to stir the proverbial pot, Wilson was corresponding with a fellow Twitter user on Wednesday night -- talking about his experience with the Angels organization.

there was no breakfast served at spring training until 2nd week of ST in 2012, and no weight room until 2013. Coming from Texas where fitness was 100% expected, it was shocking how lazy they expected the players to be
— C.J. Wilson (@str8edgeracer) August 24, 2023

Among the weirder claims, Wilson states that the team allegedly was not too strict with their diet nor exercise plans. Wilson alleges that the Angels organization would tell the players to stop off at Chick-fil-A for breakfast if they were hungry en route to the field.

While honey drizzled biscuits with slabs of fried chicken and hash brown ovals are objectively delicious, we aren't sure if professional athletes should be consuming this food on a daily basis if they're hoping to perform at optimal levels.

when they refused to buy Pujols a special treadmill because it was too expensive…that was comical.
— C.J. Wilson (@str8edgeracer) August 22, 2023

If that wasn't strange enough, Wilson also alleges that the Angels wouldn't purchase Albert Pujols a treadmill over the concerns of cost. For the record, Pujols inked a reported 10-year deal worth $254 million back in 2012. If the Angels could afford that amount of money, a new treadmill surely would've been an easy purchase in comparison.

yes. they decided to rent it instead. it was ~70k to buy
— C.J. Wilson (@str8edgeracer) August 24, 2023

Without a doubt, this has been a rough 48-hour period for the franchise. Comments like this from a former player -- and a respected one at that -- can't help matters much moving forward.