Rendon never liked DC because he's a Republican? Well screw him. Time to make Sean Doolittle my favorite in spite of his ridiculous beard.
Dec 23, 2019
Washington Post Sports Columnist Tom Boswell answered your questions about the Redskins, Capitals, Nationals, Wizards, the NFL and more.
— DEC 23, 2019 11:25 EST
Q: Rendon’ s feelings about D.C.
Can you please more fully explain why you think Anthony Rendon didn’t really like D.C. and that his feelings influence his decision to sign with the Angels rather than the Nats? The reporting I saw on his remarks didn’t seem to justify that conclusion. He seemed clear that “Hollywood” was not a good fit, but not as clear on his feelings about D,C. Is there more to the story that we didn’t see?
A: Thomas Boswell
I watched Rendon for years and listened to every comment he ever made about DC or playing for the Nats. My conclussion was always that he was "tepid" and, like Jordan Zimmerman, felt like he was somewhat out of place in a major East Coast city. Zimmerman wanted to get back closer to his small-town upper-mid-west roots --and did by signing with the Tigers. I'd hate to think that a high-talent good-guy player like Rendon would fall into the trap of feeling like his baseball decisions should get tied up with his red-blue culture feelings. But it certainly seems like that was in play here. He's very religious, and acts on his convictions. He's also very comfortable --he says-- in (home state) Texas and Orange County, which, of course, has a very rich-and-red reputation, though voting patterns are changing there.
To be blunt, I don't think Rendon ever liked Washington very much. His teammates, yes. The way the team was run --with the front office often frustrated in its dealings with the Lerners on key decisions-- was certainly a problem for him. How big a problem? I can't measure. But he was always one of those who --internally-- was viewed as a player who loved the Nats baseball people --throughout the whole organization-- but didn't think that the folks above them necessarily knew as much about baseball as they thought they did.
For the record, I think Rendon will disappear in Angel world, much as Manny Machado did in San Diego. That team has no starting pitching worthy of the name. It'll take years to get it.
I'd have loved to see Rendon get a deal done anywhere from 8-to-18 months ago. HE wouldn't prefer that --because it would probably have cost him $50-to-$100M depending on the timing. But I suspect he'll look back on his time with the Nationals --not his time in Washington as a place with a congenial culture for his tastes-- but his time with the Nats, as his happiest as a baseball player.
