Ron Washington expects Angels to learn to win, just like the Orioles have – Orange County Register

BALTIMORE — As Ron Washington watched the Baltimore Orioles beat up the Angels over the first two games of this season-opening series, he flashed back to what he’d seen from the Orioles earlier in their rebuilding.

“I watched them when they were coming, when they were young and getting their tails beat regularly,” the Angels manager said. “Now they learned how to play. They learned how to win ballgames. I watched them when they weren’t winning ballgames. They’ve come a long ways.”

Washington was then asked if his team, which is also fairly young, might be able to follow the Orioles trajectory.

“We don’t think that — we will be,” Washington said forcefully. “But we have to stay in the process. We’ve got to work. We’ve got to learn. We’ve got to apply. That’s what the game of baseball is about, working, learning and applying. And we’re going to do that.”

Of course, the Orioles of a few years ago were very different from the current Angels in one significant way. The Orioles had built one of the best farm systems in the majors, thanks in part to the draft. Catcher Adley Rutschman was the No. 1 overall pick. Right-hander Grayson Rodriguez was the No. 11 pick. Shortstop Jackson Holliday, who is expected to be a boost to the team when he comes up this season, was the No. 1 pick.

The Orioles also had enough prospects to trade for right-hander Corbin Burnes, a former Cy Young winner who dominated the Angels on Opening Day.

The Angels, meanwhile, have a lightly regarded farm system. They insist that it’s better than people think, because many of the players already making an impact in the majors passed through the minors too quickly to be considered a part of the “farm system.”

“We’ve got a lot of youth that’s out there,” Washington said. “And every time they go out there it’s a learning experience. They just have to learn how to be able to deal with the ups and downs and let their assets grow. And all assets will continue to grow. We’re not going to stop working. We’re not going to stop talking baseball. We’re not going to stop getting after baseball. And then somewhere along the line, we’re going to find who we are and what we can do, and then we’ll get consistent.”

HOMECOMING

Shortstop Zach Neto and first baseman Nolan Schanuel — two of those young players making an impact — this week will be playing major league games in South Florida for the first time. Neto grew up in Miami and Schanuel about 90 minutes away.

Both players said on Sunday that they will have large groups of friends and family in the stands at loanDepot Park, the home of the Marlins.

“We might have our own cheering section,” Schanuel said.

Neto said he was not a Marlins fan, and he didn’t go to the ballpark much. He said he did hit a walk-off homer there during a high school All-Star Game.

Schanuel said he was a Marlins fan. In fact, he said he was there — as a 1-year-old — when the Marlins won the World Series in 2003.

As he grew up, he said he enjoyed going to the ballpark, especially because it was often mostly empty.

“Even though the atmosphere was kind of different, it was good from a kid point of view,” Schanuel said. “You could buy tickets wherever and move down and watch the game from any seats you want. You get to interact with players before and after the game. It was awesome. A pretty cool experience.”

Mickey Moniak was a late scratch from the Angels lineup because of an illness. Jo Adell instead started in right field. …

Adell made a leaping catch at the warning track in right field in the eighth inning of Saturday’s blowout loss. He then drilled a line drive 113 mph up the middle. The ball rolled to the wall and Adell had a triple. Washington said both moments were signs of Adell’s development. “He’s growing,” Washington said. “He’s a different player than he was in the past. Now he’s got to learn how to play and learn how to be ready when he’s not playing. That’s part of baseball. And he’s making real good adjustments.” …

Anthony Rendon got the start at DH on Sunday. Washington said his plan is to give Rendon and Mike Trout about one DH start a week. He said he has no predetermined plan for how often he’ll give each a full day off.

UP NEXT

Angels (RHP Chase Silseth, 5-4, 4.89 ERA in 2023) at Marlins (RHP Max Meyer, injured in 2023) at loanDepot Park, 3:40 p.m. PT Monday, Bally Sports West, 830 AM.