Tyler Skaggs' 'Nasty' Catchphrase Is Helping Inspire Teammates After His Death
"We're nasty!" is the new rallying cry of the Los Angeles Angels.
A Terrible Loss
Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs abruptly passed away on July 1 in Texas ahead of a game with the Texas Rangers. The Skaggs family has not disclosed his cause of death, but claim that suicide and foul play have been ruled out. The team representatives have also denied a drug overdose. He was 27.
A Team Trying To Cope
In the wake of Skaggs' death, the Los Angeles Angels have been working to carry on after the loss of their beloved teammate. Infielder Zack Cozart explained,
"He’s the life of the team, honestly. We’re family in here. We’re around each other all day, every day. You just hurt so much for Tyler’s family. ... It’s so sudden and so tragic. Forty-five will always be in my mind. That’s how it’s always going to be for all of us."
A Rallying Cry
Skaggs was known for his catchphrase "we're nasty!" whenever they played a particularly great game or needed encouragement, and the team has adopted it in force since his passing. It's been seen on t-shirts and on the wall of the team clubhouse, and players have been heard saying it to each other as often as possible.
Gone But Not Forgotten
The Angels enjoyed a bit of a winning streak over the weekend, and outfielder Justin Upton gave all the credit to Skaggs.
"Right now, he'd be saying, 'We're nasty!' We're nasty!"
