Texas manager Ron Washington tested positive for cocaine in 2009.
by RJ2549 on Mar 17, 2010 10:48 AM PDT
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Just saw this on ESPN. It is on SportsCenter now. He apologized to his team and players. Said he made a mistake and was sorry, be made a bad choice and was embarassed. I dont have a link for this yet, but saw it on TV. Hopefully they wil have a follow up story soon. I am sure this is a suprise to many people, including former players nder his tutelage such as Eric Chavez and Mark Ellis.
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Oh Wash! Say it ain't so Wash!
That’s really too bad but he’s human and can’t say he didn’t step up to the plate right away.
"By the end of the year, I'll have Dallas throwing right-handed'' -Ben Sheets
I'm so, SO fucking sick of people saying "I made a mistake"
Turning left when you should’ve turned right is a mistake. A mistake is something that results in you saying, “oops!” A mistake doesn’t get made over and over again.
Does anybody believe an old man just randomly used cocaine for the first time in 2009? Does that even happen?
He didn’t “step up to the plate right away.” He gave a BS, half-assed apology when news of it came out. He’s no better than McGwire.
Washington should be suspended, and he should not be managing. In my world, he’d never set foot in a Major League Baseball ever again. But then I don’t make the rules, so he’ll be managing like nothing happened later today.
www.zekeishungry.com
by thejd44 on Mar 17, 2010 10:54 AM PDT up reply actions 5 recs
Um, I think you're over reacting there jd44
You and I don’t know for sure what the circumstances are, although I’m inclined to think it isn’t his first time,either. But don’t throw the guy to the curb…that’s ridiculous!
"By the end of the year, I'll have Dallas throwing right-handed'' -Ben Sheets
by mrod on Mar 17, 2010 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Well said...
In particular this sentence, “Does anybody believe an old man just randomly used cocaine for the first time in 2009? Does that even happen?”…..100% how I felt when I read the story.
Bring back Hammer.
by OaktownPower on Mar 17, 2010 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions
Does this happen? Yes absolutely. many people of all ages try things once
Swisher on Ellis - "every day he does something that makes me say, 'Well, I'll be damned, look at that!'"
by Mantecan As Fan on Mar 17, 2010 11:55 AM PDT up reply actions
More likely, he hadn't done it in years or decades
and had a toot on a bad day or drunkenly at a social gathering.
"Cheese is the fruit juice nature intended."- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Mar 17, 2010 12:26 PM PDT up reply actions
and remember that mercy is crucial for true justice
(And I’d launch into a rant on US drug laws too, but. . . )
by MobiusKlein on Mar 17, 2010 4:28 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I'd like your feelings on Doc Ellis.
They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick
I agree with a lot of what you say,
particularly the stuff about making a mistake. But permanently banned from baseball? A heavy suspension, maybe, but a permanent MLB ban for cocaine use is like handing out a life sentence for petty theft. Nothing he did impacted the integrity of the game, which cannot be said for people like McGwire, Bonds, and Rose.
Taken down with hearts alive, our hearts alive.
Geez, who WOULDN'T need coke to get through a Summer in Texas?
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
I'm going to politely disagree
I don’t know why one man’s unfortunate decisions off the baseball diamond should get him banned from MLB for life.
I also don’t know what you’d have him say other than “I made a bad choice.”
we in the losin baseball binness. and cousin, binness is a boomin.
by walk off bunt on Mar 17, 2010 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions
I should clarify
Decisions off the diamond that in all likelihood never figured in to the Rangers playing baseball.
we in the losin baseball binness. and cousin, binness is a boomin.
by walk off bunt on Mar 17, 2010 11:53 AM PDT up reply actions
Depends if he was filling the lineup cards out at the time.
Some motherfcukers are always trying to ice skate uphill - Blade.
I just did three rails and nelson cruz SITS!
"The ego, the super-ego, and the Ed" - danmerqury
by Future Ed on Mar 17, 2010 4:41 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I am LOLing.
They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick
Not as much as I am
QOTM for sure!
"Bobby Crosby at third is a bit of an adventure. And not like, here’s some hidden treasure, what fun. More like, gah! poison ants!" --alea iacta est
by baseballgirl on Mar 17, 2010 10:40 PM PDT up reply actions
Um...
people make the same mistake over and over again all the time. It doesn’t make it NOT a mistake. Just means they didn’t either A) learn from it B) see it as a mistake at the time C) Or simply are blind to reality. But a mistake has absolutely nothing to do with the severity or repetition. Honestly, Wash doing coke is yawn worthy. So the f what? It’s illegal, okay. Fine him or whatever the law requires, but outside that, one giant meh. I don’t even care about an apology for it.
Leopold Bloom on why he loves Mr. Peter Gammons, his best buddy:
"Peter Gammons systematically ignored and/or ran down the A’s in the pages of Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News for a good ten year stretch in the late seventies and early to mid-eighties. Trust me, the c**ksucker hates our team."
by DMOAS on Mar 17, 2010 12:56 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
It also might could mean they need a little assistance addressing the problem
Substance addiction isn’t something you can easily overcome by yourself. Not that we have any evidence of that here— all indications are that this was a one-time thing. It’s just that (and I’m not accusing you of making this argument) I disagree with the rugged individualist “you got yourself into this, you get yourself out” attitude when it comes to addiction.
"Smokey, this be not the foul jungles of the darkest East Orient. This be ninepins. We are bound by laws."
Yeah
the rugged individualist "you got yourself into this, you get yourself out" attitude when it comes to addiction.
Agreed. I’m also tired with the sanctimony around public figures who make life mistakes that people everywhere make at some point in their life. It doesn’t make it right, but they’re human, something stupid happens to everyone and if it hasn’t happened to you, well, “YET”.
Leopold Bloom on why he loves Mr. Peter Gammons, his best buddy:
"Peter Gammons systematically ignored and/or ran down the A’s in the pages of Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News for a good ten year stretch in the late seventies and early to mid-eighties. Trust me, the c**ksucker hates our team."
when did he say it was his first time?
and the article also says he told management he might have failed a drug test before the results even came out. i’d love to hear about the rest of your world.
BK: This guy is on fire, he is really smokin'.
KenKo: Oh yeah, Bill? What's he smokin'?
my question has been answered on espn.com
i believe him because i have no reason to think he’s a liar.
BK: This guy is on fire, he is really smokin'.
KenKo: Oh yeah, Bill? What's he smokin'?
Yeah I am so pissed at how the MLB is so hippicritical
Oh pete rose gets banned for betting. But guys use steroids to enhance themselves, is that not cheating. Oh and yeah you can smoke or do any drug, whatever you want, a suspension, no just an apology. I do not know why the hell the league lets Mark McGuire back in and applauds him for finally speaking out. They act like its some great deed. He covered up and denied it, he lied to a federal court. No big deal, really!
"Who Wants some pudding pops?, delicious and nutritious!
Um, sanctimony aside
McGWire didn’t lie to a federal court.
Leopold Bloom on why he loves Mr. Peter Gammons, his best buddy:
"Peter Gammons systematically ignored and/or ran down the A’s in the pages of Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News for a good ten year stretch in the late seventies and early to mid-eighties. Trust me, the c**ksucker hates our team."
I'll save Flashfire the trouble here
McGwire
McGwire
McGwire
McGwire
McGwire
McGwire
McGwire
McGwire
McGwire
McGwire
BEER IS GOOD. BEER IS GOOD. BEER IS GOOD, AND STUFF.
While we're at it
hypocritical
hypocritical
hypocritical
hypocritical
hypocritical
Taken down with hearts alive, our hearts alive.
You obviously weren't around Berkeley in the '60s
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
is a recreational drug the same thing as a performance enhancing drug or betting on games?
Could some of you maybe use a condom once in a while?
by wallywagon11 on Mar 18, 2010 8:12 AM PDT up reply actions
"can’t say he didn’t step up to the plate right away."
“Ron Washington will tell his players today that he used cocaine last summer”
how is telling his players TODAY that he got busted for using cocaine LAST SUMMER considered stepping up to the plate “right away”?
and isn’t he only stepping up to the plate now because SI broke the story today, or is that just a crazy coincidence? how does that even count as “stepping up to the plate” at all?
even when he told the rangers front office and turned himself in to the commissioner’s office within days of the test, it was only because of the test, right? or was that another coincidence? what other choice did he have after failing the drug test?
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones."
-BB 07/27/05
I disagree.
First of all, he’s been passing drug tests since last summer: he’s gotten a second chance, and he’s cut out his bad habits. For most people a second chance is not some thing that plays out publicly. If you or I get arrested for drugs, we don’t have to tell our co-workers, friends, family etc.. Its unlikely any legal proceedings or rehab counselling we’re involved in will be in the papers. I don’t see how having a big public flap is some sort of punitive measure. The more important thing is the end result, and it sounds like MLB has closely monitored Washington since last summer to make sure he’s clean.
I’d also point out that in most rehab programs, apologizing to friends/family is usually one of the last steps. In the interest of his own health and well-being I don’t see why Washington’s focus should have been on anyone other than himself over the last year or so.
And as for not turning himself in until he got caught, what was he supposed to do? Shoot himself in the head as soon as he realized he had a problem? Junkies like to have jobs too, and being an addict doesn’t mean you can, or should, drop out of life all together.
And then there's the assumption that he "is a junkie"
which we have no basis for forming a moral judgment on.
"By the end of the year, I'll have Dallas throwing right-handed'' -Ben Sheets
I'm assuming you were quoting me xb
And as it turns out there was another story that broke after this in regards to Wash and the Texas Rangers front office being blackmailed by a former employee, in regards to the SI article breaking.
Honestly, I think it’s an issue that needs to be dealt with by the parties involved and I don’t really care WTF Wash does on his own watch. There isn’t any way to prove if he was using during a game, but is that the real issue here? Is it illegal to use cocaine? Yes. Should he be held accountable for his actions, especially under the current CGA and drug amendment that is in place? Sure.
Will he face any kind of criminal punishment? Probably not. Still, he’s gonna have to deal with the embarassment and public scrutiny that follows.
I say let his employers and MLB handle it and try not to pass judgement….
MRod
"By the end of the year, I'll have Dallas throwing right-handed'' -Ben Sheets
the answer to the crimial question for Ron Washington is No.
there is no crime that can be proven.
"The ego, the super-ego, and the Ed" - danmerqury
I don't think that "using"....
a schedule IV drug is illegal. Being under the influence is a crime. Possession is a crime. Lying under oath about use may be a crime. But using in and of itself is not a crime as far as I know.
"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer
+1
The people who are leaking information that’s supposed to be confidential need to be prosecuted—to the fullest extent of the law.
"PECOTA can pretty much kiss my ass."-Nico
here's a link and part of the story
from the Rangers blog of the Dallas Morning News
SURPRISE, Ariz. — Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington will tell his players today that he used cocaine last summer and has completed a baseball-mandated counseling program.
A team meeting has been scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at which time the rest of the team will learn of what sources have described as a one-time weak moment by Washington in August.
He told the Rangers’ front office — including team president Nolan Ryan and general manager Jon Daniels — and turned himself in to the commissioner’s office within days of the test.
Poor decision by Wash last summer. But he immediately told his bosses and sought counseling.
The city they have Spring Training in is kind of fitting for this
Sad to hear about it, and a bit annoyed as well.
Last of the Ninth - Photography
SBNation's coverage.
http://www.sbnation.com/2010/3/17/1377675/ron-washington-cocaine-rangers
More than just ANtics: http://www.louisgray.com/live/
Meh
The guy enjoys his cocaine so what can I say against him? That it’s bad? I’ve never tried it so I can’t really get into this one. But I will agree that his apology (and all those like it) was pretty much BS. He’s probably been doing it for a while and it hasn’t seemed to impact his coaching ability at all so more power to him.
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
So is alcohol and cigarettes
Even caffeine. There’s a lot of bad stuff out there so who am I to tell someone that what they’re doing is bad. If it affects his managerial duties, which there’s no way to know unless he comes out and says so, then we can start condemning him. That’s all I’m trying to say I guess…
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
by Helloooo 1st on Mar 17, 2010 2:54 PM PDT up reply actions
putting caffeine in the same sentence as alcohol and cigarettes is pretty silly.
by MrIncognito on Mar 20, 2010 11:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Really? Is a little dabble in recreational cocaine (or pot, or alcohol) usage so bad?
Who cares what he does in his own time. He’s had such a tremendous influence on many players (Chavez, Tejada, Hatterberg, etc.). What one does on their own time is nobody else’s business as long as they’re not effecting anyone else in their activities – which Washington clearly has not. Washington’s positive’s (pun intended) greatly outweigh his negatives. He certainly doesn’t deserve suspension or banishment from baseball or any other ridiculous knee-jerk fan suggestions.
by jdub69 on Mar 17, 2010 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions 8 recs
Damn, I hate to argue anything anti-drug,
but cocaine can be very addictive, especially to people with addictive personalities, and it can be really hard to kick the habit afterwards, too.
Some people can handle a recreational toot once in a while. I know that I’m not one of them.
"Cheese is the fruit juice nature intended."- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Mar 18, 2010 12:24 PM PDT up reply actions
It's a fact, cocaine can be very addictive if abused.
Let’s hope Wash just dabbled once in a very great while.
Saw this coming.
after that one time I saw him trying to sniff the foul line.
Like this one, you mean?
I suspect that you think tilting at windmills means something other than what it does.
The ninth fastest thirty year old in San Francisco
He got banned for that too I think.
Killjoys.
Some motherfcukers are always trying to ice skate uphill - Blade.
Who the hell is that?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Got it -- Liverpool player sticking it to Everton supporters for accusing him of using drugs
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Confidentiality?
I’m curious as to how this story got out if first time offenders are supposed to be kept secret.
All that aside, this is tough news to swallow as I had always considered Wash to be a great guy.
Electricity is actually made up of extremely tiny particles called electrons, that you cannot see with the naked eye unless you have been drinking. -Dave Barry
by davebenfremont on Mar 17, 2010 11:19 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
I don't think the two are mutually exclusive...
…I think you can have used drugs and still be a great guy.
However, I think it’s wildly inappropriate for the job he holds, and I’m kind of disappointed. And like others have said…first time use at 57? Really?
"Bobby Crosby at third is a bit of an adventure. And not like, here’s some hidden treasure, what fun. More like, gah! poison ants!" --alea iacta est
by baseballgirl on Mar 17, 2010 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions
Do you now consider him a bad guy?
I’ve never felt doing a drug is a reflection of your total character. You’d be surprised who, in your own daily life, use these kind of drugs. Let’s get off our soapbox people.
"I don't mean to sound bitter, cold, or cruel, but I am, so that's how it comes out."-Bill Hicks
by Man Bear Pig on Mar 17, 2010 11:26 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions 12 recs
Like this choice quote.
“You see, I think drugs have done some good things for us. I really do. And if you don’t believe drugs have done good things for us, do me a favor. Go home tonight. Take all your albums, all your tapes and all your CDs and burn them. ‘Cause you know what, the musicians that made all that great music that’s enhanced your lives throughout the years — were rrrrrrrreeeeeaaaaaaaaaallll fucking high on drugs. The Beatles were so fucking high they let Ringo sing a few tunes.”
by humdinger on Mar 17, 2010 1:03 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Yup...
I won’t say using cocaine is good for you….but I’m in no position to judge. There are things that I have done/tried that I would never do again. But that;s part of growing….I’m more surprised than anything that Wash would still be doing blow at his age. More than anything, it becomes more and more risky the older you get. Cardiac failure comes to mind…..
"By the end of the year, I'll have Dallas throwing right-handed'' -Ben Sheets
Maybe he's just a big John Entwistle fan
Drinking so much that you forget your name is like trying to cure cancer, it might not be possible, but you should never stop trying.
For me, I think it really bothers me the most when you consider that he's managing Hamilton
Hamilton has tried so hard to turn his life around; to stay clean and to have a great career, despite poor choices in his life. You would think that he could surround himself with people who would also be clean, and Washington obviously wasn’t at some point.
"Bobby Crosby at third is a bit of an adventure. And not like, here’s some hidden treasure, what fun. More like, gah! poison ants!" --alea iacta est
I should add that Hamilton's WORKPLACE should be a clean place for him
hard enough to keep clean outside of it; he didn’t need his supervisors to be using as well.
"Bobby Crosby at third is a bit of an adventure. And not like, here’s some hidden treasure, what fun. More like, gah! poison ants!" --alea iacta est
by baseballgirl on Mar 17, 2010 11:23 AM PDT up reply actions
Although I imagine that Hamilton is also not supposed to drink alcohol
(despite those pix of him partying and drinking over the offseason), and I’d be surprised if he expects that none of his teammates will drink around him.
Not to excuse Wash, but AFAIK he didn’t do coke in the clubhouse or even on the job (it seemed to happen over the All-Star break), and Hamilton has to be prepared to accept teammates doing things he can’t do.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
It never will be, though.
If Josh Hamilton wants to stay clean, it’s all about Josh Hamilton.
"PECOTA can pretty much kiss my ass."-Nico
Hamilton can't control what other do with their bodies
but the point really is that Washington either has a coke problem, or he didn’t understand the ramifications of indulging on his players, the orgaization, and baseball. Since people with substance abuse problems often don’t think they have a problem (and don’t connect it with others who admittedly do), I’m really hoping that Wash confronted this issue during counseling.
by OaklandSi on Mar 17, 2010 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Agree....but I don't think it's too much to expect
That Hamilton can go to work every day and not have his immediate supervisor taking drugs. I would expect that 100% out of any corporate job.
"Bobby Crosby at third is a bit of an adventure. And not like, here’s some hidden treasure, what fun. More like, gah! poison ants!" --alea iacta est
by baseballgirl on Mar 17, 2010 11:27 AM PDT up reply actions
You'd be surprised.
They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick
Oh I know...I'm not saying otherwise, at all
Shouldn’t happen and does happen are two different things ;-)
"Bobby Crosby at third is a bit of an adventure. And not like, here’s some hidden treasure, what fun. More like, gah! poison ants!" --alea iacta est
by baseballgirl on Mar 17, 2010 11:28 AM PDT up reply actions
or it should be an expectation in any place of work
not just a place where an addict in recovery works.
I’m not exempting Wash of his responsibility — or need to face up to his own problem.
What's the difference
if no one would have known, based on Wash’s demeanor and behavrior, if it wasn’t for a drug test? The only thing I see is potential hypocrisy.
It’s possible that Wash was/is a recreational user and drugs don’t affect his personal or professional lives whatsoever. In which case . . . who gives shit.
How do you decide in your 50's to experiment with coke?
Really? A first time offense?
"RIP: UserID: 553"
WHo the fuck cares?
Steve Howe?
Why are they testing coaches?
dumb
"The ego, the super-ego, and the Ed" - danmerqury
by Future Ed on Mar 17, 2010 11:32 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
TEST GEREN NOW!!!!
I am Ray Fosse's infatuations with Clay Wood and high-definition television.
by franks a lot on Mar 17, 2010 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions
Sometimes he manages like he's huffing glue.
If you think Billy Beane is a bad GM, I hate you and find you stupid.
but beane’s boxers aren’t a controlled substance…
don't care if i ever get back.
by AV on Mar 18, 2010 1:33 PM PDT up reply actions
It was part of the Mitchell Report...
Senator Mitchell felt clubhouse leaders (managers and coaches) should be tested for drugs too.
The torch has been passed, and Henne has added fuel to the fire!
I think Senator Mitchell should be tested for drugs.
"Cheese is the fruit juice nature intended."- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Mar 18, 2010 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't see the point of testing coaches either
Players I understand, but why coaches?
"You know, a long time ago being crazy meant something. Nowadays everybody's crazy."
-Charles Manson
by kaweahkaweah on Mar 17, 2010 1:24 PM PDT up reply actions
If you have a no tolerance policy it applies to everyone in the organization. No one should be exempt.
I think the idea of having all be part to the testing is probably a good one. It potentially keeps everyone who is in the game at any level clean (theoretically). Kind of like the parent who tells the kid don’t use drugs when they are doing it themselves. Just a tad hypocritical.
HOWEVER!
players are protected from testing behind probable cause. that is, anybody at any other level of baseball can be tested at any time, but there has to be probable cause before they can test a player. that doesn’t make sense, right?
don't care if i ever get back.
by AV on Mar 18, 2010 1:38 PM PDT up reply actions
I think the idea behind it - for deterrence anyway - would be to test when one does not expect it.
If you never know when it will happen – then it’s more likely that they will be clean since they don’t know when the test will be!
No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
yeah but, the real issue with drugs and sports is about the players cheating. not about managers getting stoned—that part is hardly an issue in and of the sport itself, it’s moral-side PR. so it’s weird that the players are protected from testing.
don't care if i ever get back.
by AV on Mar 19, 2010 6:50 PM PDT up reply actions
Who cares?
It’s his body. It’s not a PED. Anybody who’s ever tried cocaine realizes it doesn’t make you a raving lunatic like often portrayed in the media. It’s mostly mellow. He indulged. Big whoop. Would anybody (or half as many people) be outraged if it was pot instead of cocaine? It’s not that much different.
by AgitationStation on Mar 17, 2010 12:01 PM PDT reply actions
Well, i want to applaud both Wash and the Rangers for they way they dealt with it
The way it appears, from Wash fessing up before the postive test came back, to continuing testing on a frequent basis and t he way the Rangers appeared to have handled the whole situation seems to me to be the most common sense approach to to something i have ever seen in baseball. I am glad they backed him to continue.
I dont know if this was his first time, but are we not supposed to give the benefit of the doubt in this country? i realise we are sorely disillusioned by constant denials and excuses coming out of baseball and to me this is why this stands out. He admitted his use with NO EXCUSES OR REASONS. Can think of a few others i would have liked to handled their trangressions this way. (A-Rod, McGwire, Clemens)
Wash, in my opinion, you will always be a class act.
Swisher on Ellis - "every day he does something that makes me say, 'Well, I'll be damned, look at that!'"
by Mantecan As Fan on Mar 17, 2010 12:05 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs
+1
He did handle it. The Rangers handled it well! The guy has been a class act his whole career. Got along great with the personal, coaches, fans, media, and pretty much everyone he’s ever dealt with.
I too doubt its his first time, but I have met someone who did cocaine once and only once at 38 so maybe right. This is how first time situations (and only first time) should be handled all the way around.
by OnlybuyBeaneJerseys on Mar 17, 2010 4:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Your screen name is awesome.
If I were the type of person to buy an expensive A’s jersey, the only decision I’d have to make is whether the back would say “Beane 27” or “Beane 11”
"Cheese is the fruit juice nature intended."- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Mar 18, 2010 12:26 PM PDT up reply actions
Thanks
I bought a Zito and a Haren and decided enough was enough….I still like the old jersey’s though. But being an A’s fan unfortunately means you can’t like a player too much!
by OnlybuyBeaneJerseys on Mar 18, 2010 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions
I just continue to like them on other teams,
except the White Sox.
If I had a choice to eliminate one of the following: Zombies, Sock Puppets, or the Chicago White Sox, I can tell you all this:
One AL team would have a day of at all times, which they probably would spend fighting off zombies and sock puppets.
"Cheese is the fruit juice nature intended."- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Mar 18, 2010 4:01 PM PDT up reply actions
I feel that way about the Red Sox
Only because it hurts too much to cheer for the same player as the most obnoxious people in the planet. (ie Red Sox Fans)
by OnlybuyBeaneJerseys on Mar 18, 2010 5:28 PM PDT up reply actions
That's legitimate.
A small segment of Red Sox fans are knowledgeable and cool and awesome. Fuck the rest of them.
Some of my favorite players of all time have played for the Red Sox… Ted Williams, Bill Lee, Bernie Carbo, Ferguson Jenkins, Pedro Martinez… I can’t think of too many Red Sox I’ve disliked through the years, other than Papelbon. But yeah, many of their fans are insufferable boorish louts and should be culled from the human herd.
"Cheese is the fruit juice nature intended."- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Mar 18, 2010 5:55 PM PDT up reply actions
You can't think of Curt Schilling?
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
I'm neutral on him.
I like that he has the guts to speak his mind in public, even though he gets egg on his face a lot.
Plus, getting experimental surgery in order to pitch a game is pretty f’n cool.
I was at his one-hitter too, and I was really torn. It would be awesome for me to see a no-hitter, but also awesome for Payton to break it up (It was Payton, right? I was pretty drunk… kinda like right now).
"Cheese is the fruit juice nature intended."- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Mar 18, 2010 11:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Shannon Stewart
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
Six of one, a half dozen of another
"Cheese is the fruit juice nature intended."- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Mar 19, 2010 10:03 AM PDT up reply actions
any chance I get to post this is a good chance
I AM VERY MUCH ENJOYING THE HITTING OF BASEBALLS AND SCORING OF RUNS. -mikev
Third choice, all the way.i
"Cheese is the fruit juice nature intended."- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Mar 18, 2010 3:59 PM PDT up reply actions
(accidental pirate emoticon) .l
"Cheese is the fruit juice nature intended."- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Mar 18, 2010 3:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Very interesting.
What’s interesting to me is this is another example of a guy doing great things in Oakland and then moving on and getting popped or exposed for something in a different organization. Think about it:
- McGwire basically getting exposed as a member of the Cardinals
- Giambi ditto with the Yankees
- Kendall and Crosby with Aderall now that both are out of the organization
Seems to me like the A’s have a somewhat uncanny ability to use guys for as long as they can afford them, and then get rid of them shortly before their personal lifestyle choices catch up to them.
Of course…Esteban Loaiza and Clayton Mortensen didn’t exactly follow this same route, but it still makes me question a little more about how much Beane and Company actually know about what goes on the clubhouse and after hours with the personnel in their organization and if they make conscience decisions to “let guys go” when they know they have some personal baggage that could filter into the workplace.
I'm never gonna do it without the fez on!
how long has MLB been doing drug testing of its coaches and managers?
My sense is that in MLB, as elsewhere in society, you have people with varying degrees of substance abuse problems (both legal and illegal). If that’s the case I suspect that the situation with Wash – and with Mortensen and Loaiza — would be similar in other clubs.
I would still love Wash as the A's manager
@worldblee on Twitter.
by worldblee on Mar 17, 2010 1:04 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
As long as we didn't have Nelson Cruz
"Bobby Crosby at third is a bit of an adventure. And not like, here’s some hidden treasure, what fun. More like, gah! poison ants!" --alea iacta est
by baseballgirl on Mar 17, 2010 1:45 PM PDT up reply actions
There are worse things than recreational cocaine use
But somebody who is holding a position of authority over a bunch of twenty-something millionares, who are usually not quite Mensa material, should know better. Professional athletes need to keep their private lives clean or they won’t be able to reach their potential – and people who lead them must lead by example, even if their own jobs don’t require same dedication for abstaining of vice.
Some of my favorite ballplayers indulged in vice
Routinely.
“Darryl… Darryl… Darryl…”
"Smokey, this be not the foul jungles of the darkest East Orient. This be ninepins. We are bound by laws."
by Joey C. on Mar 17, 2010 1:08 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
But he had a very public, and very acknowledged problem
and was seeking help for it. He wasn’t managing a big league team.
"Bobby Crosby at third is a bit of an adventure. And not like, here’s some hidden treasure, what fun. More like, gah! poison ants!" --alea iacta est
by baseballgirl on Mar 17, 2010 1:46 PM PDT up reply actions
or even
tried to pretend he tried it once and it’s just his dumb to get caught.
BS, Wash. Liar liar pants on fire, etc.
Nick Swisher is handsome.
It is possible to try something only once
Even when you’re an older gentleman. Cocaine has addictive properties, but it’s not like it’s a “you do it once and you’re in its icy grip FOREVER” kind of thing.
"Smokey, this be not the foul jungles of the darkest East Orient. This be ninepins. We are bound by laws."
No, but what a coinkydink
that he was tested just after the one time he took it. Yes, your husband that you caught cheating really only did it that one time. Uh-huh.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
Fair enough
"Smokey, this be not the foul jungles of the darkest East Orient. This be ninepins. We are bound by laws."
Coincidences do actually happen you know
Everyone loves to see some long chain of things or try to make into a bigger issue out an single incident, but there are people who do something only once and get caught. I’m not going to speculate on Wash, but to go “oh gee, what are the odds… blah blah”, you’re kind of devaluing your opinion by jumping to an unsubstantiated conclusion.
Leopold Bloom on why he loves Mr. Peter Gammons, his best buddy:
"Peter Gammons systematically ignored and/or ran down the A’s in the pages of Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News for a good ten year stretch in the late seventies and early to mid-eighties. Trust me, the c**ksucker hates our team."
You seem not to get that I'm not doing anything
BUT jumping to an unsubstantiated conclusion this entire thread. I have no interest in anything else, as I don’t really care what Wash puts up his nose, or how often, other than to jump to unsubstantiated conclusions.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
Would you bet your next paycheck that he got caught after doing it only once?
If it could be proven either way, of course.
Pitching and defense wins pennants, but offense sells tickets.
I don't know the man
So I’m not going to bother making a judgment one way or the other. Just because a higher percentage of people who get caught have done it more than once without being caught doesn’t make it right to pass judgment on all who do. And it’s not something to bet over and I find it absurdly ridiculous that you’d even say that as a defense.
Leopold Bloom on why he loves Mr. Peter Gammons, his best buddy:
"Peter Gammons systematically ignored and/or ran down the A’s in the pages of Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News for a good ten year stretch in the late seventies and early to mid-eighties. Trust me, the c**ksucker hates our team."
The short answer... 'No.'... would have sufficed.
Pitching and defense wins pennants, but offense sells tickets.
That's pot odds though
PAycheck? no fucking way I bet that unless you bet me f my name is “Ed.” Something I or DMAS thinks is reasonable for our financial situation, sure.
I am with him though, sure, more likely than not its not his first time, but I can see a bunch of scenarios that it could happen. One of his subsequent statements was that he had done uppers while playing. So its not like he is unfamiliar with drugs, just not that one. Remember, he was in the minors during pirates and mets cocaine scandals. its believable that he saw greenies as “professional aids” and coke as stuff that could ruin his career
"The ego, the super-ego, and the Ed" - danmerqury
The paycheck part was just a metaphor...
…to make the point that, regardless how noble “I reserve judgment” sounds, when push comes to shove that conviction isn’t quite so strong. Even though I feel pretty confident that I would get a good return on such a bet… presuming we could have God-like abilities to know the truth… I wouldn’t bet my paycheck either. Of course, that probably has something to do with me not being a gambler, as well.
Pitching and defense wins pennants, but offense sells tickets.
You're still missing my point
I have not, nor will I ever, claim that it was his first time. This has absolutely nothing to do with noble convictions. I’m not willing to bet, not because they aren’t good odds (which they aren’t), but that even if only 1 in 100 truly did it the first time he was caught, without knowing Wash, I’m not willing to pass judgment on him because I’d much rather give the benefit of the doubt for 99 people who did it more than once than condemn the one that didn’t. A great majority of those 99 will likely be easily proven liars but once the stigma has been put on that one, it’s hard to remove it.
Leopold Bloom on why he loves Mr. Peter Gammons, his best buddy:
"Peter Gammons systematically ignored and/or ran down the A’s in the pages of Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News for a good ten year stretch in the late seventies and early to mid-eighties. Trust me, the c**ksucker hates our team."
In defense of the adulterous husband,
if he’s really bad at keeping secrets, the time he got caught probably really was the one time.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
I don't know if it's just name-calling or what
but I’m just not that naive. Given the guy’s playing history, his current job managing a MLB team, and all sorts of things that I actually know about the guy, I find it entirely inconceivable that he all of a sudden, in the midst of a potential pennant race last year decided that the time has come to snort one single line of coke.
Do I care whether or not he did it? Not really. That he’s lying about it? Yeah.
Lemme try this again, since I laughed myself silly the first time.
BS Wash. Liar liar pants on fire, etc.
Nick Swisher is handsome.
It's definitely conceivable
A lot of things are conceivable.
"Smokey, this be not the foul jungles of the darkest East Orient. This be ninepins. We are bound by laws."
"Conceivable" could be a 1 in 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 chance, so yes, it's conceivable. Still ain't bloody likely.
Pitching and defense wins pennants, but offense sells tickets.
I'd like to thank Wash...
… for not pulling the “well, golly, how did that get in there?!” routine. This really should be of concern to those in the Rangers organization and no one else. Sanctimony over piddling issues like this one is wasted breath, IMHO. Wash getting his beak wet is less an indictment of his value as a human being, and more an example of exercising poor judgment.
Manage on, Wash.
"Smokey, this be not the foul jungles of the darkest East Orient. This be ninepins. We are bound by laws."
I like Wash a lot
and, like many who’ve posted above, I don’t think this should be “all time ban” worthy.
But I’m just amazed that a guy his age would indulge in cocaine … I don’t know, I did my share back in the 80’s and early 90’s … just seems kinda’ odd. I know that it doesn’t really matter … alcohol abuse – drug abuse … these things don’t age discriminate.
It’s just that if someone were to offer me a rail now (at 45), I’d look at ’em like, “Seriously?!”
I needed a team so I wouldn’t turn into one of the eighty million pink hat-wearing Bud Light-drinking mulleted idiots at Fenway.
My uncle is still at it in his sixties.
Usually on Friday nights with his buddies.
"Cheese is the fruit juice nature intended."- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Mar 17, 2010 1:39 PM PDT up reply actions
Wow,
I just can’t imagine peekin’ out the blinds, grinding my teeth, and waiting till 6:00 AM so we can buy more beer at my age. lol
I needed a team so I wouldn’t turn into one of the eighty million pink hat-wearing Bud Light-drinking mulleted idiots at Fenway.
Well, my uncle is a combination of
Hunter S. Thompson and Tony Soprano.
He’s a pretty hardcore cat.
"Cheese is the fruit juice nature intended."- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Mar 18, 2010 12:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Ah dude, that's priceless GS!
"By the end of the year, I'll have Dallas throwing right-handed'' -Ben Sheets
If someone were to offer me
a bump right now (at 8:14 pm) I’d say to them…Where the fuck were you 12 hours ago???
I'll have a sandwich and a draft(sic). - Bill King (RIP)
I couldn't care less.
I further wish that what really amounts to a personal health issue wouldn’t be fodder for useless news stories.
"PECOTA can pretty much kiss my ass."-Nico
Tests are administered randomly once a year to all non-playing personnel who work around the clubhouse, which also includes trainers, clubhouse and equipment managers, massage therapists and traveling secretaries.
any stathead want to figure out the probability of someone who has only used cocaine one time in his life getting caught by once a year drug testing?
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones."
-BB 07/27/05
How long does cocaine stay in the system for?
A week? A month?
Given that Washington did it during baseball season, it can’t be that unlikely. I mean I still think he’s done coke before, but the once a year thing doesn’t prove anything. And frankly, I hope he knows how bad it is and stops for his own sake, but otherwise I don’t really care.
"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy." - Don Sutton
it's water soluble
less than a week, as opposed to THC (pot), which is fat soluble and stays in around a month or so on average
BK: This guy is on fire, he is really smokin'.
KenKo: Oh yeah, Bill? What's he smokin'?
I’m doing some rounding here.
Assuming that start of your “cocaine age” is 16 and going on to Washington’s age you have about 15,300 possible cocaine days. Washington would have roughly 20 years of possible cocaine tests as a coach (didn’t he go immediately into it after career over) and 1 year from the drug-testing arrangement in the 80s that lasted on year that Kuhn screwed up.
So, from age 18, assuming everything’s equal, there’s a 25% chance that, given one random use of cocaine, that the cocaine use would have taken place on a week that he could have been drug-tested, assuming drug testing is in-season only for coaches (26 weeks * 21 years) / (52 weeks * 42 years). Assuming exactly one test a year, of the 25% of the weeks that he could be theoretically tested for that random cocaine use, he’d actually have been tested in 3.8% of those weeks.
So, with these assumptions (and 100% success rate of the cocaine test), if Washington did cocaine one random time in his life, he would have a 0.96% chance of being caught, or 1-in-104.
--
Dan Szymborski
http://www.bbtf.org
http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/tmi-mlb/category?name=dan-szymborski-contributors
by D.Szymborski on Mar 18, 2010 11:28 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Lol
I wasn’t really expecting anyone to do the calculation, much less you to do it. It’s good to know you read around here and yeah, those numbers look right. Not that I would expect any different.
"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy." - Don Sutton
You're kind of a rock start
That’s hot.
"Bobby Crosby at third is a bit of an adventure. And not like, here’s some hidden treasure, what fun. More like, gah! poison ants!" --alea iacta est
by baseballgirl on Mar 18, 2010 2:32 PM PDT up reply actions
Pot doesn’t stay around that long, at least not for urine tests. The detection threshold isn’t particularly high.
by MrIncognito on Mar 20, 2010 11:12 PM PDT up reply actions
Pot stays in your system longer than almost any drug, actually.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
Only about 10% of THC is eliminated in the urine, and it has a biphasic metabolism. The first phase has a half life of only about 4 hours. If you smoke a lot of pot on a consistent basis, the urine test will get you for a while due to accumulation, but occasional users should be safe pretty quickly.
Correct -- it varies a lot by usage
Occasional users = maybe a few days, while heavy users can test positive for 3-4 months.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
Gotta test those traveling secretaries...
…as a drug-crazed secretary might book the team in a Motel 6, ya know. Can’t have that.
Pitching and defense wins pennants, but offense sells tickets.
Mickey Morabito shouldn't have to pee in a cup.
He’s better than that.
"Cheese is the fruit juice nature intended."- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Mar 18, 2010 12:30 PM PDT up reply actions
He wears the 3rd worst toupee in the world
Yeah he should have to piss in a cup every couple of months!
I'll have a sandwich and a draft(sic). - Bill King (RIP)
Maybe he should shave his head and grow a goatee.
"Cheese is the fruit juice nature intended."- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Mar 18, 2010 11:31 PM PDT up reply actions
TRUST ME, nobody wants that to happen
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
Once again, I am amazed by two things:
1. The degree to which even people in unbelievably good situations will risk cocking it up through incomprehensibly stupid short-term thinking, and
2. The degree to which other people care about things that are, effectively, none of their business.
Shawn Spencer: "I’m receiving a transmission from your husband. Really more of a voicemail, if I'm being honest. A status update. Perhaps a twitter."
Burton Guster: "I believe it’s called a tweet."
Shawn Spencer: "There’s no way I’m saying that."
"Cocking it up"?
I thought we were talking about Ron Washington. Why’d you have to bring Tiger Woods into this?
If I ever were in his situation,
I would divorce my psycho wife, and call a press conference to tell the world that I intend to fuck more beautiful women than Wilt Chamberlain, Jack Nicholson, and Warren Beatty combined.
Basically, I’d turn “heel,” just like a wrestler.
Public apologies and sex therapy and trying to keep his sham marriage together is super weaksauce.
"Cheese is the fruit juice nature intended."- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Mar 18, 2010 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
For the life of me
If Chamberlain is serious that he slept with 20,000 women I haven’t yet figured how he would have done it one at a time.
"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey
Everything is better with bacon.
by cuppingmaster on Mar 18, 2010 12:40 PM PDT up reply actions
He didn't... duh.
He’d just snort up some Washsauce and do ten a night.
"Cheese is the fruit juice nature intended."- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Mar 18, 2010 1:34 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
You've made comments like this before
I’m not sure what you mean when you write that you’re surprised by “The degree to which other people care about things that are none of their business.”
Are you suggesting we don’t comment about it on a sports blog? If a person in the public eye (politician, actor, sports figure) does something that makes the news, do we cover our eyes and ears and pretend not to notice? I don’t think this is what you mean … that would be silly.
Are you, perhaps, suggesting that we shouldn’t comment regarding “what kind of person this makes insert name here”? That would make more sense.
But I completely disagree with the mindset that some have (not saying you, necessarily) that when a public figure breaks the law, or makes the news in some other manner, that the public ought to automatically turn the other way and pretend not to notice, because it’s “none of our business”. Choosing professions that come with public scrutiny often makes things that normally wouldn’t or shouldn’t be “news” if it happened to average Joe, public knowledge. This is just part of the territory.
I needed a team so I wouldn’t turn into one of the eighty million pink hat-wearing Bud Light-drinking mulleted idiots at Fenway.
Well, I'm opposed to the law to begin with
This is hardly an act of civil disobedience, so I’m not that sympathetic, but drug laws are terrible public policy.
I agree that it’s news, i just find the fact that it IS news pathological.
Shawn Spencer: "I’m receiving a transmission from your husband. Really more of a voicemail, if I'm being honest. A status update. Perhaps a twitter."
Burton Guster: "I believe it’s called a tweet."
Shawn Spencer: "There’s no way I’m saying that."
by PaulThomas on Mar 17, 2010 9:58 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
But-but-but--
How can we stop marijuana use if we don’t make it a Schedule I drug?
"Smokey, this be not the foul jungles of the darkest East Orient. This be ninepins. We are bound by laws."
I'd go the other way...
mandatory marijuana use for all!
Put THC in the water supply!
"Cheese is the fruit juice nature intended."- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Mar 18, 2010 1:35 PM PDT up reply actions
wowza
During the season, whoa now!
Of course it can’t be the best thing to be doing, but I think drugs should be legal anyway so you’ll get no moralizing from me. Actually I’m with Bill Hicks and advocate beyond medical marijuana for a policy of Mandatory Marijuana, where you either rip a bong toke or go to prison.
That said, cocaine is (as alluded to above) a helluva drug and Wash does seem a little old to be huffing rails of blow, doesn’t he? Maybe he is going out for bass player for The Who and at his age he wanted to do a little Method Acting to get ready for the part, who knows?
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
Where the hell have you been?
On second thought, where the hell have I been?
You know what sucks? I wanted to capitalize “I” for emphasis, but it is already capitalized. And if I italicized it, it would look lame.
Where’s Bloom? Surely he’s still at work, too.
I'm here to talk about the past.
I think he skipped town for a couple of days...
"Cheese is the fruit juice nature intended."- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Mar 18, 2010 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Living in the real world, sadly.
It’s been so long, it actually took me a full two weeks to respond to a comment that was placed an hour after I commented, knowing full well that probably no one will ever read this.
But thanks 67, I figured no one really noticed. For what it’s worth, I got a new job that’s taking up most of my time. Plus the girlfriend takes up the rest. Barely even pick up my bass anymore.
Maybe I should change my name to Scottwork…
We do put the "AN" in tangents, don’t we? - 67MARQUEZ
Party at Walshes IMO
We can make it an AN event and save on food.
"-i never said half the things i said." --Yogi Berra
I'd party with Joe Walsh.
"Cheese is the fruit juice nature intended."- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Mar 18, 2010 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions
And Bill Walsh
"Smokey, this be not the foul jungles of the darkest East Orient. This be ninepins. We are bound by laws."
Its hard to leave when you cant find the door
at his mansion he’s never been to.
I'll have a sandwich and a draft(sic). - Bill King (RIP)
I find it hard to believe that
they drug test at your work you work.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
Not everyone is broken like you.
Leopold Bloom on why he loves Mr. Peter Gammons, his best buddy:
"Peter Gammons systematically ignored and/or ran down the A’s in the pages of Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News for a good ten year stretch in the late seventies and early to mid-eighties. Trust me, the c**ksucker hates our team."
we have some real multi-taskers in here, eh?
judge, jury, and executioner, all in the same 5 minutes? i’m blown away by some of the “disgust” and preaching going on here. get a grip. everybody should step out of their personal bubbles and realize that every person has his/her own life story, a whole life. everybody has their own hazy memories of things that happened when they were 5, everybody (not everybody) has their own awkward first date or first kiss or whatever memory, everybody has their own dark places that nobody else would understand.
do any of you know wash? do any of you know any of his story other than his involvement with professional baseball? who knows what kind of demons he has. the guy is in his 50s, so he’s experienced a lot of life, as anybody on here who is that age can attest to. who knows what his adolescence was like, who/what influenced him, helped to shape him.
i am 99.9999% sure this was not his first time. he probably did coke when he was younger, maybe recreationally or maybe habitually. he was probably hanging out with some buddies, had a few beers, and let himself be talked into the wrong choice. he’s a major league manager. there’s a sliver of a chance that he might have been a little stressed over work and made a poor choice while he was dealing with it. who on here never willingly makes a choice that they later regret? do we have any robots on AN?
cut the guy some slack. maybe you don’t do coke, but who can say they have no vices? no secrets? nothing they are a little ashamed of? we’re people.
this turned into a ramble, but really, take a step back and realize you are the only person out of all 6 billion who thinks just like you and has been shaped just like you. wash is still the same guy he was when he was in oakland and we all loved him. i hope he stays on the winning side in this battle.
BK: This guy is on fire, he is really smokin'.
KenKo: Oh yeah, Bill? What's he smokin'?
by jlanning17 on Mar 17, 2010 7:23 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs
Hmm...
No, I think I’ll go ahead and judge strangers on a blog cuz it’s fun.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
strangers on a blog ..... what an idea, hitchcock-ess, no less.... pen in hand...
alaska A residing in northern Idaho.
Unfortuntely the internet provides a large plot hole to deal with
There’s a record of the “transaction”. That’s the beauty of strangers on a train that still works today.
Leopold Bloom on why he loves Mr. Peter Gammons, his best buddy:
"Peter Gammons systematically ignored and/or ran down the A’s in the pages of Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News for a good ten year stretch in the late seventies and early to mid-eighties. Trust me, the c**ksucker hates our team."
Uh.
we have some real multi-taskers in here, eh? judge, jury, and executioner, all in the same 5 minutes?
i am 99.9999% sure this was not his first time.
Taken down with hearts alive, our hearts alive.
you got me
though i left the possibility open.
did you get caught on the opportunity to shoot a hole in what i said, or did the main idea still get through?
BK: This guy is on fire, he is really smokin'.
KenKo: Oh yeah, Bill? What's he smokin'?
Throwing stones, or throwing stoned?
Because the latter worked pretty well for Doc Ellis.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
I already made the Doc Ellis joke. :-(
They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick
It used to work for me in Wiffleball,
but then my sidearm riser went to heaven, or wherever pitches that don’t get anybody out go to…
"Cheese is the fruit juice nature intended."- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Mar 18, 2010 12:37 PM PDT up reply actions
and in the recently posted write-up on espn.com
wash did claim it to be his first and only time. that wasn’t in the first write-up i read earlier this evening.
BK: This guy is on fire, he is really smokin'.
KenKo: Oh yeah, Bill? What's he smokin'?
You haven't been around a lot of drug users, have you?
It’s remarkable how many “first times” and “only times” they tend to have. That being said, maybe it was; I don’t know.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
exactly
i’ll give him the benefit of the doubt because i don’t know the man.
the fact that he came forward to the organization, didn’t make any excuses, and essentially acknowledged he’s done other drugs makes him more believable, imho.
Washington said he used cocaine only once during the season. When asked if that was the only time he used illegal drugs, Washington said “the drug we’re talking about, yes.”
BK: This guy is on fire, he is really smokin'.
KenKo: Oh yeah, Bill? What's he smokin'?
by jlanning17 on Mar 17, 2010 9:31 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Whereas I'll carelessly defame a guy I don't know
because I’m bored!
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
If he used cocaine once
I would tend to think he probably has smoked pot at least once.
You have to include smiley faces - Poppy
;- ) :- ) :-O : -> : -] : -}
You are missing the point.
It is almost certain that Wash has used cocaine more than once. Big deal. He probably used occasionally – say maybe once or twice a year – who knows? He, most likely, isn’t a drug addict as his usage hadn’t seemed to affect his professional life or anyone else negatively.
My hunch is that he simply said what he had to (“I only did it once”) to appease his bosses, the sensational media, and a small percentage of the hysterical public. Can’t knock a guy for using a little white-lie to nip public hysteria in the bud and not wanting to lose his job over something so insignificant. He’s passed drug tests since. No harm, no foul. Now let’s move on.
i'm with you
just following up on a mini brush fire i started.
BK: This guy is on fire, he is really smokin'.
KenKo: Oh yeah, Bill? What's he smokin'?
as a 12 year old, I convinced my mom
it was only once. She knew better though, when I had to get prescription eyeglasses two years later.
alaska A residing in northern Idaho.
its a non issue with me
What he chooses to do in his own time is his own business. As long as your still a responsible adult who cares..we all have guilty pleasures which are different for everyone…Hell, I don’t like coke, but I do like the way it smells from time to time if u get my drift. Probably same thing with wash.
ohio roots
"Look how far this is from your ‘Moneyball’ theories a couple years ago," Buckley said. "They were drafting all college pitchers. And now who’s the team that got the 16-year-old? Oakland." Chris Buckley, the Cincinnati Reds’ scouting director.
by nickatt7 on Mar 17, 2010 7:27 PM PDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs
A responsible adult
would spell “you’re” correctly.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
yer sew dern rite.
Leopold Bloom on why he loves Mr. Peter Gammons, his best buddy:
"Peter Gammons systematically ignored and/or ran down the A’s in the pages of Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News for a good ten year stretch in the late seventies and early to mid-eighties. Trust me, the c**ksucker hates our team."
Nico has a ritual involving Laura Dern and sewing?
or is it Bruce Dern? That, I’m afraid, would be much much creepier.
"Cheese is the fruit juice nature intended."- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Mar 18, 2010 12:39 PM PDT up reply actions
are u kidding me?
This I why I lurk and don’t comment…stupid shit like this…sorry commenting on my phone while workin…not much more. Sorry, it wasn’t up to your standards.
ohio roots
"Look how far this is from your ‘Moneyball’ theories a couple years ago," Buckley said. "They were drafting all college pitchers. And now who’s the team that got the 16-year-old? Oakland." Chris Buckley, the Cincinnati Reds’ scouting director.
by nickatt7 on Mar 17, 2010 7:42 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Don't mind Nico
He’s high.
Leopold Bloom on why he loves Mr. Peter Gammons, his best buddy:
"Peter Gammons systematically ignored and/or ran down the A’s in the pages of Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News for a good ten year stretch in the late seventies and early to mid-eighties. Trust me, the c**ksucker hates our team."
That's completely untrue
I’m drunk.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
I'm still waiting for MY chance to interview someone.
They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick
Dang. I knew I forgot something.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
And yet ...
where are his pants?
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
listen to your rusty warren records
“High” was once used to mean “drunk.”
"The ego, the super-ego, and the Ed" - danmerqury
Now I know why Ron Washington had such a funny look on his face when we got called with a balk.
The umpires were handing out freebases.
Taken down with hearts alive, our hearts alive.
I caught a glimpse of this today in passing
and immediately thot it was the NY Rangers manager. I am stunned!
dood, I've come to the conclusion that you're just a dumb*ss.
I'm failing to work up much outrage here.
As someone else mentioned, it’s not like coke is a PED. Plus, I’m not real hip on our current drug laws and policy to begin with.
The only part where I would take issue with a player or manager using “performance reducing” drugs would be that they could affect performance in a negative way… and that’s not fair to the fans who pay their hard-earned money to watch the best perform at their highest levels.
That being said, he could have only done it on his day off, or late at night, or some other non-critical time. It’s not automatic that he’s under the influence during work time.
Pitching and defense wins pennants, but offense sells tickets.
As an individual who has suffered because of the actions of an addict
I must say that the moral outrage towards Wash does not help anyone. What is accomplished by tearing the man to shreds over this? Basically he is a flawed human being just like the rest of us. He made a bad choice or a series of bad choices. If Wash has a problem then I hope that he gets that the help that he needs and those who love him are a part of that help, getting help, and recovery.
Jack Cust: Nothing but true results….
by Athletics fan and runner on Mar 18, 2010 6:44 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs
My biggest problems are
that (a) he has a fabulous job that only 29 other people in the world have, and (b) he knows he gets drug tested. So he did a stupid thing, which he is the first to admit. Beyond that, much ado about not much IMO.
Losing this team would be a huge failure for this city and an affront to Oakland’s great sports legacy.
No offense to Yon Yohnson btw
"Tonto think Billy Beane need to make team full of squirrels and bears."
by OptimistPrime on Mar 18, 2010 11:49 AM PDT up reply actions
despite a headline unsuported by the article's content ("stunned?" they don't sound stunned...)
the chron’s article has some player reactions. but they don’t run to extremes like (i might be reading into) has been expected/demonstrated above. i especially enjoy and support the levelheadedness shown by chavez and ellis:
“Hopefully, it’s over quick and people don’t make too much of a big deal,” A’s infielder Eric Chavez said of Washington […] "Obviously, the Rangers are supportive and behind him, and that’s the stand I’m going to take and hopefully everyone will.
Mark Ellis, who also was tutored by Washington, added, “He’s a great man, and hopefully people can get past this.”
don't care if i ever get back.
amen to that
he’s still the same guy he was before he failed a drug test.
BK: This guy is on fire, he is really smokin'.
KenKo: Oh yeah, Bill? What's he smokin'?
Strange how personally knowing someone...
… might inform how you react to the mistakes they make.
"Smokey, this be not the foul jungles of the darkest East Orient. This be ninepins. We are bound by laws."
Yahoo has an article up
speculating why they did not fire Wash.
http://bleacherreport.com/tb/b3l0y
You have to include smiley faces - Poppy
;- ) :- ) :-O : -> : -] : -}
wait wait! lemme guess… because there’s no “president” for firing a high-level ranger with something up his nose?
don't care if i ever get back.
by AV on Mar 18, 2010 2:28 PM PDT up reply actions
Okay, can someone explain THIS?
http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/03/17/2048257_p2/cocaine-blackmail-converge-on.html
Basically a disgruntled Rangers ex-employee has been blackmailing the Rangers about this story, and they finally couldn’t keep him quiet any longer, it sounds like.
Aren’t we taught not to negotiate with blackmailers? Isn’t blackmail a felony?
WHY didn’t the Rangers just turn him in and break the story earlier?
Do not get.
"Bobby Crosby at third is a bit of an adventure. And not like, here’s some hidden treasure, what fun. More like, gah! poison ants!" --alea iacta est
Now that Wash's trade value is low..
do you think we can trade Wash straight up for Geren? Or do we still have to send a little cash as well?
Let's send 'em Justin Souza and some dry-rub barbecue recipes.
"Cheese is the fruit juice nature intended."- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Mar 18, 2010 5:57 PM PDT up reply actions
Ooh -- I kind of like those recipes.
Maybe Souza and H-Rod instead?
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
A little more on Wash
So, not the first time for drugs (as some of us suspected)
SURPRISE, Ariz. — A day after apologizing for using cocaine last season, Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington said that he used amphetamines and marijuana during his playing career.
Washington was randomly selected for a drug test by Major League Baseball last summer and tested positive for cocaine. After learning he failed that test, Washington told ESPN’s Pedro Gomez that he informed the Rangers of his amphetamine use.
Later Thursday, Washington told ESPNDallas.com’s Richard Durrett that he used marijuana “a few times” during the early stages of his minor league playing days.
“It was not an ongoing thing,” Washington said. “I was young and didn’t know better.”
Washington did not specify how often he used amphetamines during his 10-year career in the majors, which ended in 1989 with the Houston Astros. He spent the majority of his career with the Minnesota Twins.
More: http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/mlb/news/story?id=5006406
"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey
Everything is better with bacon.
{acts stunned}
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
Yeah
it was the 80’s after all. People in the HOF have done MUCH worse.
I'll have a sandwich and a draft(sic). - Bill King (RIP)
That's it? A few times...
I’m almost surprised he said he didn’t inhale.
"Cheese is the fruit juice nature intended."- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Mar 18, 2010 11:33 PM PDT up reply actions
I loved the photo accompanying this story on SFGate
Wash walks into training camp smoking a cigarette
It's the fans that make the game fun. -- Rickey Henderson, July 26, 2009.
by Englishmajor on Mar 19, 2010 8:34 AM PDT up reply actions
also
it looks like sfgate.com is trying to drum up viewers by posting spring break pics.
You have to include smiley faces - Poppy
;- ) :- ) :-O : -> : -] : -}
Ron Washington could smoke PCP with Jose Canseco whilst bumping heroin off of the pitcher's mound
and I’d still think he was a better, more vivacious manager than Bob Geren, and I’d still wish he was here teaching all these kids because he’s one of the game’s greatest living teachers, and I’d still want him to be manager of the Athletics and not a team we have to try and beat 19 times a season.
The idea, ever more obvious, that he’s a partier with appetites is irrelevant to what he could be showing Chavy at first right now, or Rosales at any number of positions… he could probably even find a way to make Jake Fox grow (and learn, eventually, to use) opposable thumbs, so I’ll take him back any day of the week. I wouldn’t be giving him any antique silver miniature spoons on a necklace as a signing bonus, but I’d take him coaching or running my team any day whatsoever… the Rangers were competitive for the first time in forever last year so he must be doing something right, the occasional adventure playing in the snow notwithstanding cuz we all do things we oughtn’t.
Hey, I just bought the team from Lew Wolff... who wants to play third?
by emperor nobody on Mar 19, 2010 12:49 AM PDT reply actions 7 recs
this
Fire Geren now!
"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey
Everything is better with bacon.
by cuppingmaster on Mar 19, 2010 8:44 AM PDT up reply actions
Here's another thing though....
I’ve met many a substance abuser whose company I enjoy. On the other hand, I’ve met many of the proverbial straight laced folks who I can’t far enough from fast enough. Sadly, a great many of those recreational drug users met rather unfortunate ends because of their using. One of the reasons I could never advocate for legalization is due to the swath of destruction drug use can inflict on not just the user, but also on everyone who ever loved them.
"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer
I'm not sure if when people talk about legalizing drugs, they're talking about coke
That’s a pretty dangerous one. I know for me, personally, I could care less about pot, but PCP, heroin, and all the others need to go.
"Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I'm trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?" - Rickey
Everything is better with bacon.
by cuppingmaster on Mar 19, 2010 9:43 AM PDT up reply actions
Back when Robin Williams was funny...
… he did this…
Around the 2 minute mark he starts talking about cocaine in baseball. HIlarious.
“You’re out!”
“It’s cool… I’m up.”
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