Wash hired by Texas

by rfloh on Nov 5, 2006 9:55 PM PST Comment 36 comments

According to WFAA.

The Rangers will step outside the organization for the "fresh perspective" general manager Jon Daniels said he wants to bring to the clubhouse.

Two baseball sources said Sunday night that the club had hired Oakland third base coach Ron Washington. He could be officially introduced as Buck Showalter's successor as early as this afternoon. Showalter was dismissed Oct. 4.

Washington met for the third time with Rangers officials Sunday. This time the meeting included owner Tom Hicks. Hicks did not confirm nor deny the hiring of Washington, who has spent the last 11 years on the Oakland staff, but he did acknowledge he was impressed by the meeting.

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1 of the worst moments of my life

November 5,2006 10:07 pm

SUCH A HORRIBLE MOMENT IN MY SHORT LIFE

I DONT THINK I WANT TO WATCH BASEBALL ANYMORE!

WHY BILLY?

Why couldnt you just pull the trigger on him?

GREAT FOR WASH SUCKS FOR ME AND A's!

OH NO WHATS GONNA HAPPEN TO OUR DEFENSE. . .

NO MORE WEEKEND WASH. MY LIFE IS OVER!

I NEED PROZAC

"Im drinking seven and seven and theres only seven in here!"- the old Nick Swisher/ Spring 06

by 15andLovinIt28 on Nov 5, 2006 10:13 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

what

See the latest dumbass thing I've done -- camUra

by hunter on Nov 5, 2006 10:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Well that fucking sucks!

by Amnesiac727 on Nov 6, 2006 12:31 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

fuck fuck fuck

FUCK!

by NewPosterMojo on Nov 6, 2006 3:45 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

This is just a side of Billy I don't get.

Show a little f*cking class and heart and sign the guy who is clearly right for the job.

Honestly, as much as I hate texas, I really hope that Wash comes back and sticks it to the A's. I mean he is a stand up guy who would do anything for his players. Not sure if I can say the same thing about Billy.

by CyZito on Nov 6, 2006 5:55 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

good for wash

SOMEONE recognized how good he is.

by Brian in 317 on Nov 6, 2006 6:18 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

and the Rangers will benefit

and the A's won't

by OaklandSi on Nov 6, 2006 7:14 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you

I also wonder how this will affect Chavez. He and Wash had a great relationship, and I worry that it could affect Chavy's performance. On the other hand, Chavez is a mature adult and a leader on the team, so it might not affect him at all. I think Peterson going to the Mets affected Zito, and I hope this doesn't have a similar affect on Chavez.

by IndianaAsfan on Nov 6, 2006 2:58 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

true

what's sad is how the Rangers' owner, Tom Hicks, was so blown away by Wash in his one and only interview that he hired him on the spot.

What disappoints me is that the A's had already interviewed Wash twice previously throughout the yrs, and they put him through this rigamarole yet again... They really did him a disservice.

Congrats to the Rangers for recognizing a good man and a great coach. I wish him well.

by sf drift king on Nov 6, 2006 9:52 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I thought Wash got two interviews?

Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Nov 6, 2006 10:10 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

(from TX)

Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Nov 6, 2006 10:10 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'll be most pissed

if they hire Geren now. At least go outside the organization for Hillman or Black or Acta.

by boilerdan on Nov 6, 2006 7:22 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

question

How does Wash help the Rangers?

the home run that Eric Chavez did was tight. Sprots4Kids quote

by Satchmo22 on Nov 6, 2006 7:25 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

Wshington is a great coach and teacher but a manager does little of those things. The Managers biggest jobs are managing the pitching rotation, keeping the players happy, and interacting with the media. None of these were part of Washington's job when he was with the A's. Ron may do very well as a manager, but he could just as likely fall on his face.

by skwid on Nov 6, 2006 7:46 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

right

I totally agree the players and media will love him but what does that have to do with the game?

the home run that Eric Chavez did was tight. Sprots4Kids quote

by Satchmo22 on Nov 6, 2006 7:55 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

communicator and teacher

Washington appears to be an exceptional communicator and teacher. Granted, we know nothing about his ability to manage in-game or to handle a pitching staff. But I think he will create a great team atmosphere, Leyland-like, where players will love playing for him. And he seems to be a real student of the game, which leads me to think he'll do quite well as an in-game manager, but it's pure speculation. On the other hand, it's pure speculation for every manager the A's are considering, so they're all risks. I wish we were taking the chance on Wash.

by boilerdan on Nov 6, 2006 8:15 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Manager duties

are largely determined by the manager himself. If he wants to teach he can. Take Leyland, for example. He was very hands on throughout the year. Other managers, like Macha, believe in letting their coaches handle more teaching points. It really is a personal decision the manager makes depending on his own desires, and his coaching staff.

by IndianaAsfan on Nov 6, 2006 3:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Macha was well perceived

By those players on the roster when he was Howes's bench coach and many players endorsed his hiring. Wash won't be exposed for having the same communication problems Macha did but the dynamic does indeed change. Having a fresh start in Texas is to his advantage. I hope he does well...but not too well!

"I've been accused of using too many words...I suppose that's like accusing Mozart of using too many notes." Bill King

by Gerard on Nov 6, 2006 8:43 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

of course the Rangers

would benefit most by having good starting pitching.

by OaklandSi on Nov 6, 2006 7:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Showalter has a way of leaving teams:

That win the WS the next year.

Wash should be getting fit for a ring!!!

http://www.silverandblackpride.com/

by saint on Nov 6, 2006 8:10 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

are you talking

about the same Rangers team that we currently see? They will be lucky to finish 3rd in the west again this year.

the home run that Eric Chavez did was tight. Sprots4Kids quote

by Satchmo22 on Nov 6, 2006 8:20 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't care how unrealistic it is...

If the A's don't win it, my next choice is for Wash to bring it home for Texas.

Bill James on Duane Kuiper: "It's absolutely incredible that a player this bad could be given 3000 at bats in the major leagues." -- Baseball Abstract, 1982

by blueconversechucks on Nov 6, 2006 9:27 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Billy pull the trigger?

This "manager search" is bordering on comical already if you ask me. How many folks do you think he's going to interview?

Billy should just put his money where his mouth is, put an uniform on, get in the dugout and do it himself. Show us all your true genius Billy!

What are the statistics of former GM's managing their own teams? Are there enough stats out there for Billy to make the SAFE decision?

This organization lacks emotion and passion sometimes.

by AthleticsMojo on Nov 6, 2006 8:24 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Hire Isiah Thomas Now!

"WTF is wrong with you people TASTELESS COMMENTS. I'm disgusted. Mocking a 10 year old's horrible painful death." --eshock

by rubin sierra on Nov 6, 2006 8:54 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I guess throwing Chairs...

...as chronicled in Moneyball reveals the lack of passion certain execs in this organization have.
We've had Wash's emotion and passion for years. Don't expect the next guy to be another "beane counter".

"I've been accused of using too many words...I suppose that's like accusing Mozart of using too many notes." Bill King

by Gerard on Nov 6, 2006 9:13 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Moneyball was a few years ago......

also, a few pathetic playoff series' ago.

When is a "Moneyball" team going to win the World Series?

I'm a fan... I really don't give a crap how much money the ownership of this team makes.

Yeah.. there's passion, and there's passion. Throwing chairs when things don't go your way..... sure, there's passion.

by AthleticsMojo on Nov 6, 2006 9:34 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Frankly, Throwing chairs is idiotic

...see Bobby Knight.

The moneyball philosophy also entailed an approach to the game that Theo Epstien also advocates. So, in regards to how much or little a franchise is worth doesn't determine the WS winner. I would argue that the Red Sox were the 1st team to win one based upon how they built their roster. Sabermetrics is alive and well.

The success (and it kills) me of a Beane's moneyballers is reflected in the won-loss column more than in WS titles. The formula of identifying market deficiencies has continued to keep the A's competitive for 7 years. That's impressive although there's nothing to show for it if your definition is based on WS titles.

Beane will never be accused of carrying the persona of Tom Landry, for example. To say this team lacks passion is to well...stuff a sock in the mouth of a player such as Milton Bradley and tell to "just play".

The management is responsible for bringing in players like that but they didn't bring him to Oakland just for his passion. They're not afraid of passion being expressed on this team. How else do the A's roster receive the reputation as one of the most fun-loving teams in the league? Don't get me wrong, I respect your opinion I just think they've had this component of passion represented in various forms over the past 7 years.

"I've been accused of using too many words...I suppose that's like accusing Mozart of using too many notes." Bill King

by Gerard on Nov 6, 2006 9:51 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Congratulations, Wash!

First - This is a great opportunity for Ron and allows him to do what he's often said he wants to do. Sure will miss his always positive attitude. I wish him luck (except against us, of course). And Texas saves some money by not having to send another scout to Oakland - :) ! I fear that Wash knows our style of play, our guys, their tendencies, weaknesses and strengths so well that it will give Texas an edge over us.
That all remains to be seen, though.
I wish we knew more about why Billy is interviewing so many "candidates", he usually know who/what he wants and goes after it...there must be something else going on here.
It will be interesting, but at the moment, just feels like a huge loss here in Oakland.

by LongTimeFan on Nov 6, 2006 8:40 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Big Deal......

..... (pause, pause, pause)..... NOTTTTT!

*Gasp* I forgot how every year in baseball the team that loses their 3rd base coach is the one that free falls into cellar-dwelling.

We lose an infield coach - it happens. You can't retain everyone forever, and who are we to know whether or not Wash would make a good manager? We know nothing compared to what everyone inside the organization knows.

If Wash wasn't the right choice, and he didn't want to stay at 3rd base, there's nothing you can do.

I'm glad we don't go with sentimental decisions.

by fadedash on Nov 6, 2006 9:16 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Pretty much agree with all your points

I would choose Washington if I were Billy, but people are making too big of a deal in assuming that we will somehow forget to play defense because of losing Wash or that Texas will suddenly become a pitching and defense team (for example, Michael Young is terrible at SS and Wash isn't going to magically teach him to acquire the range that he lacks. I'm happy for Wash, but he is far from a proven commodity as a manager. We will see how it works out for him in Texas. We did not forget how to pich when the great guru Peterson left and we will not forget how to play defense when Wash is gone.

I'd like to eat my lunch, but Billy just kicked me out of my office.

by BlameChannel53 on Nov 6, 2006 9:31 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs