Angels Stars Vent Over Grueling Travel Schedule: "Not Ideal" Is Putting It Mildly

The Los Angeles Angels are not exactly thrilled with the travel rollercoaster they've been strapped into this season. Star center fielder Mike Trout didn't mince words, telling reporters that the team's early schedule has been far from "ideal." Can you blame him? Six games on the road to kick things off, then a brief pit stop at home, only to hit the road again for another nine games. If the Angels had a frequent flyer program, they'd be platinum by now.

The season started with trips from Chicago to St. Louis, then back to Anaheim, before jetting off yet again—this time to Tampa, Houston, and Arlington. The return home probably felt more like a layover than an actual homecoming. Trout admitted he's not even sure when they land half the time, but he does know they have to play that night, followed by a day game right after. Talk about zero time to recover.

The most recent whirlwind saw the Angels wrapping up a day game in Tampa, flying to Houston for a night game, then heading to Arlington for another late one, and finally back to Anaheim to face the Giants under the lights. It’s a schedule that would exhaust even the most caffeinated road warrior.

Closer Kenley Jansen chimed in, saying, "I don’t think it’s healthy for anybody. To finish playing a night game like that, get in at six in the morning. Then you’ve got a seven o’clock game, and the next couple days you have one o’clock games. It’s definitely not fair." Someone get these guys a nap, stat.

According to the collective bargaining agreement, there are supposed to be rules about flight times and rest, but the Angels haven’t exactly felt the benefit. The club says fan convenience is their top priority when scheduling games—though the players might have a different opinion about whose convenience really matters.

Currently, the Angels are hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates, but the grind is far from over. As soon as their late-night game wraps up, they'll be flying to Minneapolis to take on the Twins, then making a quick stop in Seattle to face the Mariners, with only a single day off squeezed in between. The team is currently 11-12—so maybe they're just hoping to wake up in the win column one of these days.