TEMPE, Ariz. — Anyone waiting on a text or call from a Los Angeles Angels player might have to wait longer than usual this season.
The team has banned cellphones this spring in the clubhouse, a rule Angels manager Ron Washington said on Wednesday he hopes allows his team to focus more on baseball. There has been no pushback, according to Washington, but there have been important tweaks to make sure the rules are observed.
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“Now the rules have extended to the outside of the clubhouse,” said the 72-year-old Washington, who is in his second season at the helm with the Angels. “Right now, they are in the hallways in here (right outside of the team’s clubhouse). Now it’s going to be completely out of the goddamn clubhouse (building).
“It is not punishment; I just want some focus.”
The rules will be the same during the regular season, Washington said. The baseball veteran had the same rule when he managed the Texas Rangers from 2007 to 2014. During that time, Rangers veterans Michael Young, Adrian Beltre and Ian Kinsler enforced the policy, which came with a $500 fine for anyone caught breaking the rules.
Veterans Mike Trout and Kyle Hendricks will be responsible for making sure this Angels team abides, and they will set the fine amount, which might be subject to some inflation from the Rangers fines. Washington said $500 was his suggestion, but he doesn’t care what the amount is as long as it’s enough to dissuade players from using them. Trout and Hendriks met with Washington this spring about the policy and both were on board.
“That clubhouse is for the veterans on this team to run it the way they want to run it,” Washington said. “We just dropped what we would like to have happen (with cellphones) and we want them to make certain it happens inside the clubhouse.”
Players spend a good portion of their pregame in the clubhouse, so taking away phone distractions can lead to more organic conversations and forge relationships, which Washington thinks is an important byproduct of keeping tech out of that space. Players who need to use their cellphones will have to go far outside of the clubhouse area.
“I fit in it, too,” Washington said. “If I’m outside (my office) in the clubhouse on the phone, I want them to ring my butt up, too.”
The Angels went 63-99 last season and have not made the postseason since 2014.
(Photo of Mike Trout: G Fiume / Getty Images)
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