After the conclusion of the NFL season, baseball has returned. Spring Training is currently underway, and baseball journalists everywhere are searching for topics to write about.
In the midst of the usual stories about players being in the “best shape of their lives,” Anthony Rendon, the oft-injured third baseman for the Los Angeles Angels, has chosen a rather unfortunate time to be brutally honest about his profession. Rendon, who previously stated in 2014 that he finds baseball “too long and boring” to watch, recently made candid remarks to reporters, as reported by Sam Blum of The Athletic.
It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time Rendon has expressed that his faith and family take precedence over baseball. In a 2018 interview, he stated, “I aspire to be recognized as a Christian baseball player. I’m still working towards that goal. Ultimately, I want to be more ‘Christian’ than ‘baseball player’.” At the time, this statement didn’t raise many eyebrows, likely due to Rendon’s impressive .308 batting average that season with the Washington Nationals, rather than people approving of his lifestyle choices. It becomes much more difficult to argue that baseball isn’t his top priority when his batting average has dropped significantly to .236.
To be fair to Rendon, he has been plagued by injuries since the COVID-shortened 2020 season. He underwent hip surgery in 2021, wrist surgery in 2022, and suffered a fractured shin last season. Angels’ manager Ron Washington has expressed no concerns about Rendon’s priorities, stating, “He simply stated that his family and faith are important to him. He is here with us, ready to embark on this 162-game baseball season. He did not say that he doesn’t care about baseball. He is present and enthusiastic about playing.”
So why is there such outrage from fans and sportswriters alike? Rendon’s attitude doesn’t appear to have changed since his successful days with the Nationals. However, having children has a way of shifting one’s focus away from everything else in life and redirecting it towards the demanding and unpredictable nature of parenthood. I can recall a time when Aramis Ramirez mentioned in a magazine interview that he was fully dedicated to his cockfighting roosters, and no one seemed to bat an eye at his priorities.
But there seems to be more to the story with Rendon. I believe fans are concerned not only about his injury history and declining statistics, but also about the future of baseball itself. Former A’s General Manager Billy Beane famously said, “It’s hard not to be romantic about baseball,” and he was right. Despite America’s love for the NBA and obsession with the NFL, no other sport evokes images of playing catch in the backyard, spending leisurely days in the bleachers, and engaging in pickup games with neighbors during the golden light of summer evenings quite like baseball does. As the sport’s aging fan base witnesses their children’s interests shift towards video games like Madden and fantasy football instead of appreciating players like Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout, a sense of panic ensues. There is a fear that future generations may never experience the joys of a casual game in the backyard, playing hotbox or ghost runners, or listening to the soothing voice of legendary announcer Vin Scully.
Baseball enthusiasts possess a romanticized view of the sport. However, for those who make a living playing it, baseball is a job. Because so many fans dreamed of having a career in baseball as children (and let’s be honest, the movie “The Rookie” gave hope to a whole generation of 40-year-olds), we expect those fortunate few who are living out our dreams to treat the sport with the same reverence that we imagine we would if given the opportunity. But regardless of how much effort was put into achieving the job, how badly one wanted it, or how much love they have for it, it is still a job. Baseball is no exception.
While players do have winters off and enjoy the idyllic settings of baseball stadiums, they still have to show up (almost) every day from mid-February to September, regardless of nagging injuries or their overall health. They have bosses, performance expectations, long periods of time away from their families, and, especially on bad days, a group of reporters waiting to inquire about their poor performance. I’m not shedding tears for baseball players; most of us would gladly trade places with them if given the chance. However, isn’t there room for someone to view their job, even if it involves playing baseball under the sun, as… (gasp) a job? Why is it that in almost any other profession, stating that one’s job is their top priority is seen as cold, heartless, anti-family, and tragic, unless the person saying it is a professional athlete? We expect individuals to prioritize their families over their jobs, unless their job is to entertain the masses. In that case, they better abandon their wives during childbirth because we need them on the field.
Sexism also plays a role in this situation. I suspect Rendon wouldn’t receive nearly as much backlash if he played in the WNBA or NWSL. Personally, it bothers me when I hear a successful woman say that she “lives for her children,” as it diminishes her identity as a human being with valuable contributions to make in the world. However, society finds it acceptable for women to prioritize their families over their careers because, at the end of the day, we expect women to subordinate their priorities to their spouses and children. This expectation doesn’t apply to men, especially not to rugged men who get their hands dirty for a living. The irony that much of the online criticism directed towards Rendon comes from the same crowd that claims “society’s problems stem from too many absent fathers” is not lost on me. So, here we have a father who openly states that he values his family more than baseball. Isn’t that what we want fathers to say? Aren’t dads supposed to be present, engaged, and prioritize their children?
The issue with Rendon is multifaceted. Fans perceive him as difficult, and he has made it clear that speaking with reporters is not his favorite activity. Frankly, there are many situations where he could handle himself better, including reminding himself that being rude to reporters trying to do their jobs is not in line with the teachings of Jesus. However, statistics dictate that while players like Sammy Sosa loved every moment they spent on the diamond, there are also players like Rendon who realize they possess a skill that surpasses that of 99.9% of society and endure it for a paycheck.
If it brings comfort to fans, Rendon would probably prefer to be playing baseball rather than engaging in whatever activities the outrage brigade participates in for a living, such as sitting in a cubicle and furiously tweeting about priorities between Zoom calls. Or perhaps he wouldn’t. But does it truly matter?
According to the Source deadspin.com