Enter the Rendon - Grin for the Win

[bluestreak]

So according to Fangraphs. Rendon has 5 WAR already. Per their explanation, All Star is a 4-5 WAR season.  He has that already. If you take into account his poor start prior to the April 30 10 RBI game he is on pace for 9.4 WAR.
Harper is next in the NL with 4.6 WAR and Paul Goldschmidt at 4.4.
For reference in Bryce’s 2015 MVP season he had 9.9 WAR.  Kris Bryant had 7.7 WAR last season in his MVP year.
Rendon is absolutely killing it. He is absolutely the MVP so far this year.

[whytev]

Rendon is like the guy at the office who is brilliant at what he does but is completely goofy. When it comes time to go out of drinks, I would "forget" to ask him. I respect him a lot, but his personality (or lack thereof) just grates on me to no end. He just seems to have not gravitas.

You are such a wiener.

[GburgNatsFan]

Seems to me like the only thing Rendon does in a less-than-exemplary fashion is interviews. He's clearly very uncomfortable there.




So they should just stop asking him for off the cuff statements.

[Baseball is Life]

You are such a wiener.

You must have no gravitas.

[DPMOmaha]

With the focus lessened on the pen, this is now the topic du jour.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/nationals-journal/wp/2017/07/20/why-is-hot-hitting-anthony-rendon-batting-sixth-in-the-nationals-order/

[Ray D]

I recall an interview with Rendon last year when he flatly stated that he prefers to bat sixth.  His splits (14-16)  confirm it.

[Slateman]

With the focus lessened on the pen, this is now the topic du jour.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/nationals-journal/wp/2017/07/20/why-is-hot-hitting-anthony-rendon-batting-sixth-in-the-nationals-order/

Because Dusty is gonna Dusty.

Seriously though, this guy needs to be hitting 4th.

Turner
Werth
Harper
Rendon
Murphy
Zimmerman
Weiters
Taylor
Pitcher


That's an amazing lineup that only gets better when we play in an AL park for the WS

[DPMOmaha]

Turner
Werth
Harper
Rendon
Murphy
Zimmerman
Weiters
Taylor
Pitcher

Yes, please.

Imagine if Eaton was in there instead of Taylor. 

[Expos]

Leave him be!! Why mess up a good thing?

[DPMOmaha]

Leave him be!! Why mess up a good thing?

To potentially have a better thing?

 

[bluestreak]

Yes, please.

Imagine if Eaton was in there instead of Taylor. 

Has Taylor's production really been that much of a drop off from Eaton's? If Taylor really has "turned the corner," then Eaton's injury might end up being a great thing for the franchise. You have Werth's replacement for next year. And Goodwin has shown he is an actual major leaguer.

[bluestreak]

To potentially have a better thing?

 

Or potentially have a worse thing?
This team is on record run scoring pace for a NL team despite a number of injuries. Why are people trying to change the lineup of all things.

[HalfSmokes]

Or potentially have a worse thing?
This team is on record run scoring pace for a NL team despite a number of injuries. Why are people trying to change the lineup of all things.

the division race is over, it's not august yet, gotta talk about something

[Slateman]

Yes, please.

Imagine if Eaton was in there instead of Taylor. 

No use crying over spilled milk. Hopefully, Taylor can come back and not regress to last season.

[DPMOmaha]

Or potentially have a worse thing?
This team is on record run scoring pace for a NL team despite a number of injuries. Why are people trying to change the lineup of all things.

I'd take my chances. If it's a disaster, when Werth and/or Turner get back, move him down again.

Has Taylor's production really been that much of a drop off from Eaton's? If Taylor really has "turned the corner," then Eaton's injury might end up being a great thing for the franchise. You have Werth's replacement for next year. And Goodwin has shown he is an actual major leaguer.

IDK about how Taylor's production has compred to Eaton's. But if he has turned the corner and your outfield is Taylor/Eaton/Harper with Goodwin as your 4th, I'll be happy as a pig in slop. Would mean they could spend bigger in other areas or suffle that cash to the Bryce Harper Retention Fund. The development of those two is perhaps the more under talked about storylines of the season.

[whytev]

You must have no gravitas.

Yes, I'm sure that's it. Even your insults are pretentious and insufferable.

[houston-nat]

Yes, I'm sure that's it. Even your insults are pretentious and insufferable.

I'll take you to the hospital for that sick burn BiL dropped on you.

BiL wants the entire Nationals roster to be TV news anchors.

[Optics]

I don't buy the notion that Rendon can only hit 6th. He was a near MVP candidate in 2014 hitting, what, 2nd? He should hit 2nd now, Harper 3rd, Murphy 4th, Zimm 5th.

[dcpatti]

Career splits, including by batting order  https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=rendoan01&year=Career&t=b

[Baseball is Life]

BiL wants the entire Nationals roster to be TV news anchors.

You lost me there, hoss.

[mimontero88]

Career splits, including by batting order  https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=rendoan01&year=Career&t=b

That is a very stark difference but it's worth noting that a good chunk of his sample size in the 2 hole came in 2015 when he was not remotely healthy.

[monkeyhit]

Career splits, including by batting order  https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=rendoan01&year=Career&t=b

Little doubt where he belongs: 6th 

[dcpatti]

That is a very stark difference but it's worth noting that a good chunk of his sample size in the 2 hole came in 2015 when he was not remotely healthy.

2016 has the same pattern, 36 games batting 2nd and 35 batting 6th https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=rendoan01&year=2016&t=b

Also his excellent 2014 batting mostly in the 2-hole should counter-balance the injured 2015 numbers (and his small sample size in the 6 spot is still better slash line that year too).

[mimontero88]

2016 has the same pattern, 36 games batting 2nd and 35 batting 6th https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=rendoan01&year=2016&t=b

Also his excellent 2014 batting mostly in the 2-hole should counter-balance the injured 2015 numbers (and his small sample size in the 6 spot is still better slash line that year too).

I'd be interested to look into the 2016 numbers.  If memory serves, he had a rough April just like this year and got moved down to the 6 spot where he started raking about the same time he did this year without the move.  It could be that he's just a slow starter.

[DPMOmaha]

I'd be interested to look into the 2016 numbers.  If memory serves, he had a rough April just like this year and got moved down to the 6 spot where he started raking about the same time he did this year without the move.  It could be that he's just a slow starter.

Yep. His first home run came the first weekend in May in Kansas City. I was there. I was really happy.