OC Register: Angels’ Anthony Rendon says he’s ready to go after coronavirus layoff

[AngelsWin.com]

ANAHEIM — A week after the end of three-month stretch in which he admittedly spent more time changing diapers than doing baseball work, Anthony Rendon said he’s nonetheless ready to go.

“When we grow up, coaches say you can’t turn it on and off like it’s a light switch,” the Angels third baseman said Thursday. “You can’t just decide to show up whenever you want. But I think as we get older, we know what we need to do to prepare ourselves for a game. As men, as professionals, I think there is a little bit of a light switch where we know that we’ve got to go right now. We can kind of turn it on and say we need to get down to business and bear down because the real deal is about to happen.

“If the season started today, I think a lot of guys, including myself, would be ready and can actually perform out there and be comfortable.”

Seven months after signing a seven-year, $245-million deal with the Angels, Rendon is now two weeks away from finally making his debut, provided the coronavirus cooperates and allows the season to start.

Rendon had a month with his new teammates before the shutdown, and since then he has been at home with his wife and their two daughters, ages 2 and four months.

Because he was busy with family and trying to stay safe, Rendon said he didn’t venture out much for baseball.

“A lot of mental hacks,” he said. “Mental ground balls. Mental throws. I’d throw a tennis ball against the wall, maybe…. It’s kind of a terrible situation that we’re in now. I didn’t really do too much but try to stay in shape as best I could.”

KIDS’ GAME

Most of the Angels major-leaguers worked out early and then were done for the day, with the minor-leaguers playing in a short intrasquad game.

The highlight was a Jo Adell homer, a line drive over the fence in right-center.

Jose Rodriguez and Chris Rodriguez each took two turns on the mound, marking a significant milestone for Chris Rodriguez. One of the Angels’ top pitching prospects, Chris Rodriguez has missed significant time throughout his short pro career with back problems.

Manager Joe Maddon said he would watch the game as if he were a scout, looking for little hints at the players’ potential.

“You just got to watch how the guy reacts to the moment,” Maddon said. “As a position player, you might see something in the batter’s box you like. You might see a first move you like on defense. The pitcher, you’re looking for delivery, looseness, free arm, carry out of the hand, and again, how he handles this situation. And if he’s able to be in control of his emotions.”

The regulars are expected to be back in action for Friday afternoon’s intrasquad game.

NOISE REPORT

A day after the Angels played their intrasquad game with crowd noise piped in over the ballpark speakers, the experiment got mixed reviews from Rendon and Maddon.

Rendon said he wasn’t buying it the noise without the fans.

“It’s like you have two of your senses that aren’t coinciding with one another,” he said. “It’s like you’re looking at a pizza, but you’re smelling a hamburger. You hear noise, but you know nobody in the stands. You don’t see anybody. I think it was dumb. I’d rather listen to music.”

Maddon, however, said it served its purpose of keeping his focus on the field. He had to raise his voice to communicate with GM Billy Eppler, who was sitting just behind the screen.

“It felt somewhat normal,” Maddon said. “Because your emphasis is there and it’s not quiet and you’re just looking around. I think you can be distracted by the quiet. I think you have a better chance of locking in with noise. It’s different. It’s not playing golf.”

The Angels used the crowd noise again Thursday.

NEW FACES

Jared Walsh and Patrick Sandoval, who had been two of the players absent from camp without explanation in the first week, arrived and participated in workouts Thursday, Maddon said.

Related Articles

• Alexander: Dodgers, Angels in good hands in weird circumstances
• Angels set to open 2021 season at home
• Hoornstra: 4 players who emerged as role models despite no baseball to play
• Angels’ Andrew Heaney comfortable with MLB’s coronavirus protocols so far
• Shohei Ohtani pitches in Angels’ intrasquad game, looks rusty

The Angels have also added right-hander Adrian De Horta to their player pool. De Horta had been in big-league camp in spring training.

They are expected to add left-handed pitcher Adam Seminaris, who they just last month selected in the fifth round out of Long Beach State.

View the full article

[yk9001]

He's going to go after the coronavirus layoff?  What's he going to do when he gets it?

@EnglishCop

[Lou]

Great, now I want pizza.

[Blarg]

That looks like a hamburger? 

[Angel Oracle]

15 minutes ago, Lou said:

Great, now I want pizza.

Roma D'Italia!

[yk9001]

no mention of In N Out fries

[AngelsLakersFan]

I kind of expected them to play crowd noise over the television broadcast, but not actually in the stadium. I'm not sure what's the best way to go, but I do think silence is probably a poor choice.

[yk9001]

10 minutes ago, AngelsLakersFan said:

I kind of expected them to play crowd noise over the television broadcast, but not actually in the stadium. I'm not sure what's the best way to go, but I do think silence is probably a poor choice.

I've said this before.  I've watched golf.  I've watched soccer.  I've watched basketball.

 

Silence (enhanced mics around benches) is FRIGGING FANTASTIC.

 

I can't emphasize it enough.

[Inside Pitch]

I'd rather they mic up the field so you hear the game and the players more than piped in fake noise....   Hearing player reactions and smack would be a lot more entertaining ...

[Redondo]

1 hour ago, Inside Pitch said:

I'd rather they mic up the field so you hear the game and the players more than piped in fake noise....   Hearing player reactions and smack would be a lot more entertaining ...

Agree. Let us hear the actual game noise.

No piped in noise.

[Stradling]

5 hours ago, Inside Pitch said:

I'd rather they mic up the field so you hear the game and the players more than piped in fake noise....   Hearing player reactions and smack would be a lot more entertaining ...

I think they should experiment with music during the game like in other countries.  See if that creates a different atmosphere for the players.  

[T.G.]

I think they should pipe in boo's and profanity everytime the Astros bat.

[Stradling]

I think they should just read the past Game Day Threads from AngelsWin over the loud speaker, eh.  

[Jeff Fletcher]

I am more curious to see what the indoor sports sound like with no fans. I think basketball and hockey would be especially odd. 

[Blarg]

Maybe you never went to a Marlins game. 

[PattyD22]

20 minutes ago, Jeff Fletcher said:

I am more curious to see what the indoor sports sound like with no fans. I think basketball and hockey would be especially odd. 

The WNBA has been practicing social distancing for about 20 years now.  

[yk9001]

1 hour ago, Jeff Fletcher said:

I am more curious to see what the indoor sports sound like with no fans. I think basketball and hockey would be especially odd. 

Watch TBT on ESPN.  

You won't even notice.

[Bronson]

Well at least we know even if Trout ops out this year, we still got Rendon to watch. Most other teams he would be the star attraction.  In seasons past, if Trout wasn’t playing, our lineup was soooo boring to watch... that won’t be the case anymore.

[Angel Oracle]

13 hours ago, True Grich said:

I think they should pipe in boo's and profanity everytime the Astros bat.

And trash cans banging 

[Tank]

14 hours ago, Stradling said:

I think they should experiment with music during the game like in other countries.  See if that creates a different atmosphere for the players.  

okay, but if "buttercup" shows up on the playlist, you and I are going to have a long and unpleasant discussion.

[Lou]

18 minutes ago, Tank said:

okay, but if "buttercup" shows up on the playlist, you and I are going to have a long and unpleasant discussion.

simple solution: Spandau Ballet on a loop 

[Tank]

1 minute ago, Lou said:

simple solution: Spandau Ballet on a loop 

nobody wants to hear their two good songs that many times in one game.

[Lou]

1 minute ago, Tank said:

nobody wants to hear their two good songs that many times in one game.

Two?

Surely you jest. 

[T.G.]

I know this much is true