Fletcher has been mainstay in lineup
ANAHEIM >> Baseball loves its labels, and the player who can fit into as many as possible can become a darling of the game.
Angels second baseman David Fletcher simultaneously has “versatility” attached to his game, while being a “grinder,” a “situational guy” and now a “lineup protector,” all at the same time.
Fletcher is even mentioned with one of the more respected labels in the game: Workhorse.
While the Angels’ outfield is operating in a series of platoons, Fletcher has played in 113 of the Angels’ 118 games this season and has started in each of the team’s last 48 contests. He last watched an Angels game from the dugout June 18 at home against the Detroit Tigers.
“He’s just different and I’m watching him and I’m talking to him all the time,” manager Joe Maddon said before Saturday’s game against the Astros, when Fletcher was scheduled to bat second and play second base. “We have a deal. When he needs a day, he will let me know and I am watching him the whole time.”
Using a wide-angle lens,
Second baseman David Fletcher has played in 113 of the Angels’ 118 games.
it doesn’t look as if Fletcher needs a break. He was batting .342 with a .374 onbase percentage in 47 games played since he was last out of the lineup. But a tighter look showed a .182 batting average and a .250 OBP over the last six games, before Saturday.
Maddon insists that Fletcher had some rest. There was the four-day All-Star break and Monday’s team-wide off day, as well as a break in the schedule July 21 during a road trip. Another team off day is coming Aug. 23, with a rare Sunday off day Aug. 29.
But the Angels need Fletcher’s ability to make contact. His proficiency to get bat on ball has given him a 91.2-percent contact rate to lead all of baseball. That has led to Maddon putting Fletcher in the lineup behind Shohei Ohtani.
If teams want to pitch around Ohtani, Maddon’s thought is that Fletcher can move Ohtani into scoring position, or get a hit that puts two runners on base. The duo continues to work on the strategy, which started during the current homestand.
“(Fletcher) is just a different animal and has a different method in a great way, not a good way,” Maddon said. “With a guy like him, I’m listening right now. Like Shohei, I’m listening right now.”
Also
• Maddon said he has not made out the team’s starting rotation past Monday at New York, when left-hander Jose Suarez will face the Yankees. Maddon said he talked to Alex Cobb during Friday night’s game and the right-hander is not ready to return from a wrist injury.
• Right-hander Chris Rodriguez, who was optioned back to Triple-A Salt Lake after Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays, is on the seven-day minor league injured list with a lat strain and is not in the team’s immediate plans.