Good morning DoD readers, and welcome to today’s District Daily. Get caught up on the latest Nats news and opinions with some great Washington Nationals articles from around the web below.
In today’s Daily, the Washington Post’s James Wagner discusses Anthony Rendon and the Nationals’ plans for him next season. As Wagner writes, Rendon is expected to return to third base on a permanent basis in 2016.
Of course, Rendon was expected to be the third baseman this season as well, as Ryan Zimmerman slid across the diamond to first base. But the injuries that Rendon faced early in the season, combined with Yunel Escobar‘s lack of experience at second base, prompted the Nationals to play Rendon at second and shift Escobar over to third base.
Next season, however, that likely will not be the case. With Ian Desmond set to hit free agency, the Nationals now have vacancies at second base and shortstop next season. If Rendon is healthy, he’ll probably go back to third base, while Escobar will shift over to second base or, more likely, shortstop.
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It’ll be interesting to see how the Nationals’ infield develops during Spring Training and throughout 2016. Desmond will likely leave this winter, but the Nationals still have infield depth with Escobar, Rendon and Danny Espinosa. But the team also has two young players, Wilmer Difo and Trea Turner, who are on the cusp of being ready for the big leagues.
Difo and Turner are the future for the Nationals at second base and shortstop, and there’s a chance that that future may very well start in 2016.
Also in today’s Daily, the Washington Post’s Chelsea Janes discusses former Nationals player Rick Ankiel‘s first season as the team’s ‘life skills coordinator’.
Be sure to check out both articles below, they’re definitely worth a read. And as always, stay tuned to DoD for all your Washington Nationals needs.
Anthony Rendon expected to return to third base next season
(James Wagner, Washington Post)
Because of injuries, Nationals infielders ended up in some strange places this season. Yunel Escobar was supposed to switch from shortstop to second base in spring training but an oblique injury cut short his time to adapt to the new position. Then Anthony Rendon’s injured his knee, and the Nationals had a hole at third base.
Once Rendon returned after his second and third injuries, Escobar was at home at third base and in the midst of arguably his best offensive season. So Rendon played second, a position he knew better than Escobar, and played third only occasionally, when Escobar is sick or hurt. Read full article here.
In his first season as ‘life skills coordinator,’ Rick Ankiel listens
(Chelsea Janes, Washington Post)
Rick Ankiel stepped into the Washington Nationals’ dugout recently wearing baseball pants, a batting practice cap and a team pullover. Sometimes Ankiel wears street clothes to work as the Nationals’ life skills coordinator. There’s no dress code.
There wasn’t even a job description when the Nationals created the position during the offseason, and no one in the organization knew exactly what his duties would be. Read full article here.