TEMPE, Ariz. — The “No Plan Plan” worked so well with Shohei Ohtani last season that the Angels are trying it this season with Noah Syndergaard.
Manager Joe Maddon met Tuesday morning with Syndergaard and they agreed not to place any innings limits on the pitcher this season. Syndergaard is two years removed from Tommy John surgery and he pitched just two innings in the past two seasons.
A year ago, Shohei Ohtani was more than two years past his surgery, and he had pitched 1 2/3 innings in the previous two seasons. He ended up making 23 starts and pitching 130 1/3 innings in 2021, while also hitting.
“The plan is there is no plan,” Maddon said. “Just like with Shohei, the plan is to react to the day. How are you feeling? What does the game look like? In between starts will be critical. Going into the next start to see if there’s any kind of a red flag. I’m a little sorer than normal, that kind of thing. But he’s eager. He’s eager to get out there. He doesn’t want any kind of restrictions on him either, which I, if I’m an athlete, I prefer working that way.”
Syndergaard, 29, signed a one-year, $21 million deal with the Angels. He certainly should be motivated to pitch as much as possible to establish his value on the free-agent market next year.
If he can return to his form from before surgery, it would be a huge boost for the Angels. Syndergaard had a 3.31 ERA from 2015-19, covering 118 starts and one relief appearance.
Maddon said often last season that he felt Ohtani flourished because he was not restricted, so they’ll try that with Syndergaard.
“I think we get too smart sometimes,” Maddon said. “And I told him I never want to get in the way of a player’s greatness. So go ahead and be great.”
Asked if that approach with Syndergaard could cost the Angels if they make the playoffs, Maddon said: “You have to get to the playoffs first. If you’re going to be restrictive in your plan, and then you lose a couple games where you could have not been so restrictive, then all of a sudden you aren’t in the playoffs.”
STEFANIC UPDATE
Michael Stefanic is still a “long shot,” to make the Opening Day roster, according to Maddon, but he is nonetheless impressed with the infielder’s performance in big-league camp.
“The guy’s a big-league player,” Maddon said. “Anybody that’s confused by that, don’t be confused. He’s a major-league player. He just needs opportunity. What he’s got to work on is defense, and (the coaches) have been attacking that.”
Stefanic, 26, hit .336 with a .901 OPS last season in the minors, but he did not get called up to the majors, most likely because of his defense. This spring he’s 6 for 14 in big-league exhibition games. He has played five games at second and two at third.
“He has talent at the plate,” Maddon said. “When you have talent at the plate, teams have a way to find a spot for you. So whatever he’s done in the minor-league level with the bat, he’s going to do on the major-league level with the bat. There’s no doubt in my mind.”
NOTES
Maddon hinted they were leaning toward using David Fletcher at shortstop over the weekend, and on Tuesday he said definitively that Fletcher “will be the Opening Day shortstop.” That leaves the competition at second base, with Tyler Wade and Matt Duffy as the likely leaders, with Jack Mayfield, Luis Rengifo and Andrew Velazquez also in the mix. …
Right-hander AJ Ramos re-tore the capsule in his right shoulder, likely ending his season. “AJ is weighing his options just to see what he wants to do for his treatment course,” head athletic trainer Mike Frostad said. Ramos, 35, is a veteran with 99 career big-league saves. He was competing for a job as a non-roster invite to camp. …
Right-hander Cooper Criswell will start the season on the injured list with a strain in his lat muscle, Frostad said. Criswell is expected to resume throwing in a couple weeks. …
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Right-hander Griffin Canning has increased his throwing to a distance of 90 feet. Canning suffered a setback in his rehab from a back injury just before camp started. He is on the 60-day injured list, so he’s not eligible to pitch in the majors until May. …
Frostad said the Angels are hoping right-hander Chris Rodriguez can pitch sometime this season. Rodriguez had shoulder surgery last fall. Rodriguez is throwing, but not yet on a mound.