Rendon Opens Up About Playing for Former Astros Manager

Days after the Houston Astros had their season ended at the hands of the Texas Rangers in the American League Championship Series, 74 year-old manager Dusty Baker announced his retirement.

Last week, one of Baker's former players shared his thoughts on what it was like to play for the longtime skipper.

Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon has developed a reputation as one of baseball's most elusive and private players. However, the 2019 World Series champion recently opened up in an exclusive, 70-minute interview on the Jack Vita Show.

Baker was one of four managers Rendon played for in Washington D.C., before signing a seven-year, $245 million contract with the Angels upon the conclusion of the 2019 season.

Baker managed the Washington Nationals in 2016 and 2017. Under Baker, the Nationals won 95 and 97 games, respectively, claiming the National League East division title in both seasons. Baker was relieved of his duties after back-to-back NLDS exits, with the Nationals failing to win a postseason series.

Last week on the Jack Vita Show, Rendon was asked if he enjoyed playing for Baker.

"Yeah, definitely," Rendon said. "One thing I enjoyed about him is he's not afraid to tell you how it is. He's gonna be blunt. That's the type of individual I am. I can't fix something, unless you tell me what's wrong. Don't beat around the bush. Look me face-to-face. Don't B.S. me. Don't lie to me. Just say, 'Hey, this is what's wrong.' 'Okay, now let me fix it. Help me fix it, right?' Because obviously I don't know what's wrong or what I'm doing, and I don't see it because I'm making a mistake, whether it's in families, sports, in life. Like, 'Alright, help me fix it. Tell me.' And that's how he was, right?"

Over the course of his two seasons playing for Baker, Rendon slashed .285/.375/.864, and in 2017, the third baseman finished sixth in National League MVP Award voting.

"And so, he was a very blunt individual," Rendon said. "He was direct, straightforward and those are the type of people that I enjoy playing with and playing for, because you have one goal in mind. If they have one goal in mind, I know it’s constructive criticism. It’s not just criticism."

Two years after Baker was shown the door in Washington, the Nationals eventually broke through.

In 2019, the club won its first ever playoff series, en route to its first World Series title.

The team the Nationals defeated in the Fall Classic?

The Astros.

The same club Baker would later manage from 2020 through 2023.

Catch the full conversation with Anthony Rendon on the Jack Vita Show here: