Things are unraveling fast for Ron Washington and the Angels. Once seen as a stabilizing hire for a franchise in perpetual reset mode, Washington now finds himself steering a team on a spiraling losing streak, languishing at the bottom of the standings. The optimism that greeted his arrival quickly gave way to frustration, with fans growing restless and already whispering about parting ways.

But amid the gloom, a surprising name is beginning to shine—a player quietly making a compelling case as a rare bright spot in an otherwise dim campaign. Former Angels Silver Slugger, Torii Hunter!

Washington, at 73, the oldest manager in MLB, has faced criticism for his traditional approach in an era increasingly driven by analytics. His recent emphasis on fundamentals has been questioned, given the team’s offensive struggles. This includes a league-worst walk rate (6.2%) and a high strikeout percentage (26.6%). Thus, as the Angels’ season continues to falter, Washington’s leadership and strategic decisions are under heightened examination. It is raising questions about the team’s direction and role moving forward.

And with all that discussion comes the man of the moment, Torii Hunter. “I’ve definitely built a rapport with some of the players and also learned a lot from Ron Washington and all the other coaches in there as well.” While visiting the clubhouse for 8-10 days a month, he supposedly makes sure of being around Washington as much as possible – Hunter didn’t hesitate to share the influence of Ron Washington.

Since retiring with 353 home runs, a .277 average, nearly 200 stolen bases, and a trophy case filled with nine Gold Gloves, Hunter has largely kept baseball at arm’s length. His current role as a special assistant with the Angels offers him a rare vantage point. Close enough to stay connected, but distant enough to enjoy the peace of retirement. Yet as the Angels flounder under Ron Washington’s leadership, Hunter’s presence looms larger.

Hunter is a respected voice in the clubhouse and a natural leader during his playing days. He has quietly been observing, offering insight, bridging gaps, and keeping a pulse on the organization. The question now begins to stir: With his pedigree, personality, and presence, could Hunter see himself managing a big-league team someday?

Well, Hunter seems ready for the job! “Yes, I can see myself managing one day if I’m allowed to.” During the Foul Territory interview, he even shared being stress-free and happy while on the field. So, yeah, probably, he’s the next one!

Now, that was enough for the fans to rally behind Hunter amid the calls mounting against Washington. The team has lost five consecutive games and 13 of their last 17. Currently, they are at the bottom of the standings (12-18). So, taking to social media, fans are sharing their frustration over Washington and why a change is the need of the hour.

Fans are demanding a change in the Angels

Fans seem quite sure about the future of the Angels under Washington, and are united for a change from the team’s front office.

At one point, the Tigers trailed 4-2 in the eighth in today’s game. However, the inning quickly turned into another nightmare for the Angels. And another blemish on Ron Washington’s decision-making. After Ryan Zeferjahn breezed through the seventh, Washington opted to go to lefty Reid Detmers, a move that backfired almost instantly. Yes, the manager asked a guy who gave up 5 runs without getting an out yesterday against the Mariners! What followed was another 5 runs flowing in.

“Thank you, Ron Washington, for the terrible bullpen management leading to the huge comeback.” Well, the Tigers fans can’t be happier enough now after the gaffe made by the Angels’ bullpen! For starters, just when Detmers was called in, he walked Riley Greene and gave up an RBI single to Andy Ibanez. Then Dillon Dingler, who had three hits on the day, crushed a 409-foot homer to left. This gave Detroit a stunning 7-4 lead. Yes, from 4-2 in the eighth to 7-4! The Tigers had to thank the Angels’ bullpen here.

Fans are seeing no hope anymore with the team. “RETIRE YOU OLD BUM, RON WASHINGTON USELESS LOSER I HATE THIS GUY,” one fan remarked. Losing out on 89 and 99 games in the last two years and standing at 12-18 now is enough for the fans. Moreover, Washington was in the news and for all the wrong reasons before the season kicked in. Be it for banning mobile phone usage in the clubhouse or something else, fans still expected that he had enough hold in the dugout. But the results showed something different.

From overreliance on gut decisions to questionable bullpen usage and outdated small-ball tactics, his style has clashed with the data-driven realities of modern baseball. Drills like bunting and situational hitting might polish fundamentals, but they are doing little to stop late-inning collapses. No spark is evident for an offense ranked near the bottom in walks and on-base percentage. For a team desperately needing innovation and direction, Washington’s throwback philosophy is starting to look less like a foundation and more like a flaw.

“Love that guy, but he’s done.” One user shared his honest take. Well, there’s no denying Washington’s place in baseball history. He was a fiery and beloved manager who led the Rangers to back-to-back World Series appearances and three postseason trips, earning a reputation as a players’ manager who could inspire and lead. But now with the Angels, his once-effective tactics are falling flat. They’re contributing to offensive stagnation and a clubhouse searching for answers. Simply put, the game has changed, and Washington’s approach may no longer be built to win in today’s MLB.

Poor bullpen management, shaky defense, and missed opportunities are underlining a recurring theme for the Angels. Late-inning collapses that point to a team losing not just games, but direction. And increasingly, the spotlight falls squarely on Washington.

Considering this turmoil, Torii Hunter might be a good replacement, but let’s not forget he is learning managerial instincts from Washington only. Well, experience matters! But do you think Hunter will be able to break the dry spell?