Washington Nationals: Anthony Rendon needs your vote
By Ron Juckett
Anthony Rendon, third baseman for the Washington Nationals, needs your votes to make the All-Star Game in Miami. Let’s get him there!
Washington Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon needs your help.
Not selected as a starter or a reserve for the National League All-Star Team, Rendon is on the ballot as the last player to make the team. This is not a snub for the Nats player. Colorado Rockies slugger Nolan Arenado deserves the starting role while Jake Lamb is in the midst of a wonderful year.
You know the position is stacked when last year’s MVP, Kris Bryant of the Chicago Cubs, is on the last chance ballot. With such a strong national following, Bryant is the favorite to win the spot over fellow third baseman Justin Turner, Justin Bour of the hometown Marlins, Mark Reynolds and Rendon.
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If it is possible to be underrated in this day and age of social media, Rendon fits the role. On a team loaded with offensive fireworks, his role is crucial but fails to make the national impression as Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman do.
As Washington closes the first half of the season, Rendon is having a career year. With a slash line of .297/.398/.549 all career highs, he would make the All-Star Team most years. Add 16 home runs, 19 doubles and 51 RBI and you understand his overall value to the Nats. Throw in his defense and you have a legitimate MVP-caliber guy manning the hot corner.
Rendon sets himself apart for two reasons. He does not promote himself as a big player and he takes pitches and builds at-bats.
The chances of Rendon appearing in promotions on MLB Network and T-Mobile commercials are small. He is not an elder statesman like Jayson Werth and plays casual in interviews. His numbers speak for themselves. This year like a captain of a debate club.
The way Rendon will take pitches, making sure he swings at the deliveries he wants to or a pitcher’s mistake is huge. In 322 plate appearances, he watched 1445 pitches or 4.49 per PA. It is that patience which sets the table for his stats. His ability to grind out long at-bats tires pitchers as the game goes on.
Unless there is an injury, the last chance voting is the only sure way to get Rendon to Miami. Click this link to vote on-line or text “N3” to 89269 to cast your ballot. Thursday, you can hash tag #voterendon on Twitter from 10 AM to 4 PM in the final push.
Rendon deserves to be there. Let’s push him across the line, Nats fans.