OC Register: Angels’ Ron Washington has a tentative lineup plan, with Anthony Rendon hitting cleanup

[AngelsWin.com]

TEMPE, Ariz. — Ron Washington doesn’t care that Anthony Rendon is no longer a power hitter.

The Angels manager said he’s still planning to hit his third baseman in the cleanup spot.

“You don’t have to be in the fourth spot and third spot and be a home run hitter,” Washington said. “You’ve just to be a consistent hitter, and that’s what Rendon is. We’ve just got to get him back to consistency. But hitting in the middle of the lineup, that’s where Rendon is going to be.”

None of this is going to apply if Rendon is on the injured list, as he’s been for most of the last three seasons. When Rendon is there, though, Washington wants to take advantage of what he does well, rather than worrying about what he doesn’t.

Rendon averaged 26 homers during his final four seasons with the Washington Nationals, but he’s hit only 22 homers in 200 games with the Angels.

Over the last two seasons, though, Rendon has a .269 average with runners in scoring position, with only 13 strikeouts in 110 plate appearances.

Besides having Rendon in the middle, Washington already has some other firm ideas about how he’d like his lineup to look during the season.

He’s already changed his mind about the leadoff spot. Last week he said he wanted first baseman Nolan Schanuel to hit leadoff, which was a nod to his .402 on-base percentage in his big league debut last year. Now, though, Washington said he’d rather have Schanuel hit second.

“The way he can handle the bat, I think he can be a big asset for us in that second hole,” Washington said. “We’ll work it out down here in spring training and see where it goes. If anything changes, I’m quite sure you guys will ask me that question. But right now down, when we start, I’m gonna put him in the second hole.”

Washington said he changed his mind because he wanted “somebody that’s got a little bit of speed” leading off. He identified outfielder Mickey Moniak and infielder Luis Rengifo as the most likely candidates for the top of the lineup. Each hit leadoff for stretches last season.

Shortstop Zach Neto also hit leadoff at times in 2023, but Neto told Washington that he wants to hit ninth.

“He said he loves restarting,” Washington said. “He loves turning the lineup over. He wants to be on the bag and score some runs for those guys.”

Washington said he’s tentatively planning on Mike Trout hitting third, followed by Rendon, outfielder Taylor Ward, second baseman Brandon Drury and catcher Logan O’Hoppe.

The No. 8 spot could be either Jo Adell or Aaron Hicks, with Neto rounding out the lineup.

Although Washington said he’d rather have a set lineup and not too many platoons, Rengifo and Hicks are much better against left-handed pitchers, and Moniak is much better against righties.

Matt Thaiss, who is in line to be the backup catcher, is more likely to start against right-handed pitchers.

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NOTES

The Angels’ Cactus League opener, against the Dodgers on Saturday at Tempe Diablo Stadium, is already sold out. Shohei Ohtani is not scheduled to play in that game. The Angels play the Dodgers again on March 5, at the Dodgers’ home ballpark in Glendale. …

Outfielder Nelson Rada, one of the Angels’ top prospects, is in big league camp, even though he’s just 18. “He doesn’t carry himself like he’s 18,” Washington said. “He has a lot of confidence in what he’s doing. We’ll see what that confidence does once we start getting him in some real games against some big league players and big league pitching. But right now this kid is handling himself well.”

View the full article

[totdprods]

Kinda jokingly, but at this point who thinks Rada makes it to Anaheim by August/September?

[Vlad27Trout27]

10 minutes ago, totdprods said:

Kinda jokingly, but at this point who thinks Rada makes it to Anaheim by August/September?

Doubt it. If everything works out, He still probably 2 to 3 years away. Same with Dana. 

[totdprods]

20 minutes ago, Vlad27Trout27 said:

Doubt it. If everything works out, He still probably 2 to 3 years away. Same with Dana. 

For sure, but you could also kinda say that about all of the prospects we’ve promoted the last decade.

[Swordsman78]

Planning a line up around Rendon could be considered managerial mal practice.

 

Better off planning on him being in the 7th spot (which would be easier to replace should things go sideways in April).

Edited February 22 by Swordsman78

[James]

49 minutes ago, Swordsman78 said:

Planning a line up around Rendon could be considered managerial mal practice.

 

Better off planning on him being in the 7th spot (which would be easier to replace should things go sideways in April).

They are building it around Trout. The world understands this. 

[REDneck]

Tony tentatively two bags Rendon...he's a maybe.

Edited February 22 by REDneck

[Tank]

13 minutes ago, REDneck said:

Tony tentatively two bags Rendon...he's a maybe.

"I agree."

- Lou

 

 

 

 

Bruin

 

[Inside Pitch]

1 hour ago, Swordsman78 said:

Planning a line up around Rendon could be considered managerial mal practice.

All but 8 of his PAs last year came in the four hole. Those other 8 -- three hole.

Is that why they didn't bring Nevin back?

[totdprods]

I see Rendon at #4 being as much about serving as a sort of second lead-off guy for the middle of the order as it is him being a guy to drive in #1-3. 

The power isn’t there, and might not come back, but he still makes really decent contact and walks as much as he strikes out. 

[Vlad27Trout27]

Honestly I've been going back and forth with the ideal line-up and the one that I preferred for opening day is the following; 

1. Rendon, The power is a big question mark, however he still get on base, hits double and single. 

2. Trout, He the best hitter and I think you hit him the second spot, with the hopes that Rendon gets on baseball more.

3. O-Hoppe, honesty for me the 3-hole is the all-or nothing hole. That is What O'hoppe is! Hope is that O'hoppe comes to at-bat with people on and hopefully hits one out. If not, you also don't waste one of your better hitters with on one on base. 

4. Ward, If he's healthy, I think he is the 2nd or 3rd best hitter. For me, the 4th hole is similar to the lead-off hitter to start a new inning, and you would want your better OBP/Power guy or if there are people on base, hopefully you get some runs out of it. 

5. Schanuel, this is where it gets interesting, but I prefer a high OBP/contact guy.

6. Drury, All-or nothing approach here again

7.  Rengifo, Similar to Ward's case/

8. Neto, I think he be more of a contact orientated type of player next season.  

9. Adell/Hicks/Moniak, All or nothing 

 

[Vlad27Trout27]

I would say the O'hoppe and Schanuel are going to be key for our success on the offensive side. 

O'hoppe ceiling to me is a a 280 350 OBP 25-30 HR and If he can get us 260 345OBP and about 25 hrs, that strengths our line-up.

Schanuel ceiling to me is a 290-310, 360 OBP and 15 to 20, which I could see if doing.

[totdprods]

4 minutes ago, Vlad27Trout27 said:

Honestly I've been going back and forth with the ideal line-up and the one that I preferred for opening day is the following; 

1. Rendon, The power is a big question mark, however he still get on base, hits double and single. 

2. Trout, He the best hitter and I think you hit him the second spot, with the hopes that Rendon gets on baseball more.

3. O-Hoppe, honesty for me the 3-hole is the all-or nothing hole. That is What O'hoppe is! Hope is that O'hoppe comes to at-bat with people on and hopefully hits one out. If not, you also don't waste one of your better hitters with on one on base. 

4. Ward, If he's healthy, I think he is the 2nd or 3rd best hitter. For me, the 4th hole is similar to the lead-off hitter to start a new inning, and you would want your better OBP/Power guy or if there are people on base, hopefully you get some runs out of it. 

5. Schanuel, this is where it gets interesting, but I prefer a high OBP/contact guy.

6. Drury, All-or nothing approach here again

7.  Rengifo, Similar to Ward's case/

8. Neto, I think he be more of a contact orientated type of player next season.  

9. Adell/Hicks/Moniak, All or nothing 

 

I actually like this. I agree with the way you’ve described the roles too, and breaking the lineup into thirds - OBP, contact, then power - in a repeating pattern is a neat concept.

Edited February 22 by totdprods

[BTH]

I’d be interested to know what spot Trout/Rendon prefer to hit in.

I think making players comfortable is the most important part of lineup order.

Like Neto said he prefers to hit 9th, and Wash is gonna bat him 9th.

[Skram]

He is somehow managing to not use modern statistical analysis or "old-school manager" thinking as he explains his thought process here. 

[Pancake Bear]

I'm curious to see if we actually do start running more. Maddon wanted to do that, but I don't remember it really happening. Someone who remembers better can correct me on that if I'm wrong. Clearly that's what Washington wants, though, since that seems to be the key factor in moving Schanuel from leadoff to batting second. 

[Taylor]

Cleanup Randy

[BTH]

4 hours ago, Skram said:

He is somehow managing to not use modern statistical analysis or "old-school manager" thinking as he explains his thought process here. 

he is using "old-school manager" thinking...

 

He said at leadoff, “I want somebody who has some speed" and "I don’t want Schanuel to get on the bag and then clog them. "

And he said he wants Schanuel second "because he can move the baseball around the field and the second hole is situational.”

https://www.mlb.com/angels/news/ron-washington-lays-out-potential-2024-angels-lineup

 

That sounds pretty old-school manager-thinking to me.

[Skram]

30 minutes ago, BTH said:

he is using "old-school manager" thinking...

 

He said at leadoff, “I want somebody who has some speed" and "I don’t want Schanuel to get on the bag and then clog them. "

And he said he wants Schanuel second "because he can move the baseball around the field and the second hole is situational.”

https://www.mlb.com/angels/news/ron-washington-lays-out-potential-2024-angels-lineup

 

That sounds pretty old-school manager-thinking to me.

Well, I was more talking about how he doesn't care if he has a lack of power from his clean up hitter.

[Ochocinco!]

Looking at that lineup just shows the glaring need for a lefty bat that can sit in the middle of the order …

[Angel Oracle]

27 minutes ago, Ochocinco! said:

Looking at that lineup just shows the glaring need for a lefty bat that can sit in the middle of the order …

If Boras/Bellinger lowers the asking price enough, or accepts a 2-3 year bloated contract…

Edited February 23 by Angel Oracle

[Slegnaac]

16 hours ago, Taylor said:

Cleanup Randy

He does use a donut when he is on-deck.

[AngelStew43]

I’m ok with this.  The only thing that I’d change is O’hoppe 8th and Adell 7th, maybe even 6th, with Moniak or Rengifo in the 7 hole.  Adell will hit his way up the lineup.

[Taylor]

[Inside Pitch]

14 minutes ago, Taylor said:

Game used?

Why would anyone want to trade a rare relic?

F'n Redditors....