Post by Fish Troll on Mar 23, 2007 23:16:06 GMT -5
Rangers buying into Washington's style
First-time manager brings optimism, energy and passion
By T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Execution. Fundamentals. Pound the strike zone. Team first.
Ron Washington did not come to the Arizona desert to reinvent the game of baseball. This may be his first Spring Training as a Major League manager, but it is his 37th season in professional baseball and he knows what needs to get done.
So he emphasizes the same basic tenets over and over so that they become an article of faith for a team that has had six losing seasons in the past seven years and has not been in the playoffs since 1999.
Being the manager of the Rangers is not an easy task. There is no substantial winning tradition to fall back on in times of crisis. The reverse may be true.
But the optimism, energy and passion that Washington has brought to the Rangers has continued unabated on the western edge of the Valley of the Sun, and so far, his first Spring Training as their new manager, in his view, has gone extremely well.
"It has been excellent," Washington said one morning in an office that was occupied the past four years by Buck Showalter. "It really has. I've been surprised how well these guys have taken to what we're trying to get done -- their seriousness and the execution. Every day gets better. That's what I want them to understand, that execution is what I call playing successful baseball."
It would be hard to imagine Washington being anything but universally optimistic. That's his nature and one of the reasons why he was a surprise choice to replace Showalter.
He has still had to deal with stumbling blocks. Michael Young and Mark Teixeira both missed time with injuries, pitcher Robinson Tejeda and outfielder Nelson Cruz -- both key components of this team -- got off to slow starts, and some of the performances out of the bullpen have been uneven. Hank Blalock and Brad Wilkerson have not yet taken off offensively.
But Sammy Sosa looks like a smash hit, second baseman Ian Kinsler is enjoying a terrific spring, the competition for the fifth spot in the rotation and the utility infield job has been fierce, and Eric Gagne looks like he'll be ready for Opening Day with Akinori Otsuka right there to push him.
The Rangers have a winning record to this point, and Washington is convinced that his team will be in the American League West race right there to the end, even though he knows any of the four teams are capable of winning it.
"The one thing I've enjoyed the most is seeing how these guys have gone about their business," Washington said. "They've been so professional, every one of them. I've been able to use the whole roster, and everybody has been performing. Of all the Spring Trainings that I've been in, I've been very surprised about how well everybody is competing."
From the players' side, Spring Training has not surprised. They had certain expectations about their new manager, and he has been just what they expected.
"Absolutely," Young said. "He walks the line between having fun and staying loose, but still being intense and focused on working hard and winning. I don't know he does it, but it fits. We're ready to roll."
Circumstances do not alter Washington's approach. Most of his starters weren't in the game when Thursday's game against the Chicago Cubs went into the bottom of the ninth with the game tied, 7-7. The Cubs had the bases loaded with one out against Minor League reliever Jesse Ingram when Washington employed a five-man infield trying to cut off the winning run at the plate.
Cubs manager Lou Piniella was impressed.
"Washington's doing a nice job over there with that Texas team," Piniella said even after Daryle Ward's grand slam ruined the strategy. "He's trying to win a Spring Training game because he wants to change the mentality over there. It was a good ballgame. It had the feel of a Major League game."
Washington does not sugarcoat his message. If something needs to be said, he will say it. He made it clear early in camp that his catchers needed to do a better job of calling a game and working with his pitchers. He made it clear to Tejeda and others that they needed to be better at throwing strikes and commanding their pitches.
He was not shy about bring it to their attention.
"I just say, 'This has to get better,'" Washington said. "It's not like it's a secret, because I did get them to understand even before we hit in Spring Training what I expected and I found out what they expected. We've all been on the same page. So I really haven't had to jump too many people because my coaching staff has been making sure that things are getting done.
"When I've needed to talk to someone, they understand where I'm coming from. They want to win and I want to win. I want to be successful, and I want them to be successful. So anytime I say something tough, it's only to help them, not to break them down."
Really, the toughest part of the spring is not being able to get quite as involved as he did as a coach in the hands-on instructing of players.
"I was one of those coaches who like to get down and get dirty," Washington said. "The toughest thing has been hands off, allowing my coaches to do their job, not going out there and using my expertise in areas that I feel real good in. But I've learned I've got really good guys who are doing it and I've been walking around, checking it out. I've been happy with what I've been seeing.
"I'm not concerned about anything. We got a good bunch of guys to go to war with and the front office is going to continue to work on things that might strengthen us. But what I have right now, if I had to go to war with this, I'm very pleased."
T.R. Sullivan is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
First-time manager brings optimism, energy and passion
By T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Execution. Fundamentals. Pound the strike zone. Team first.
Ron Washington did not come to the Arizona desert to reinvent the game of baseball. This may be his first Spring Training as a Major League manager, but it is his 37th season in professional baseball and he knows what needs to get done.
So he emphasizes the same basic tenets over and over so that they become an article of faith for a team that has had six losing seasons in the past seven years and has not been in the playoffs since 1999.
Being the manager of the Rangers is not an easy task. There is no substantial winning tradition to fall back on in times of crisis. The reverse may be true.
But the optimism, energy and passion that Washington has brought to the Rangers has continued unabated on the western edge of the Valley of the Sun, and so far, his first Spring Training as their new manager, in his view, has gone extremely well.
"It has been excellent," Washington said one morning in an office that was occupied the past four years by Buck Showalter. "It really has. I've been surprised how well these guys have taken to what we're trying to get done -- their seriousness and the execution. Every day gets better. That's what I want them to understand, that execution is what I call playing successful baseball."
It would be hard to imagine Washington being anything but universally optimistic. That's his nature and one of the reasons why he was a surprise choice to replace Showalter.
He has still had to deal with stumbling blocks. Michael Young and Mark Teixeira both missed time with injuries, pitcher Robinson Tejeda and outfielder Nelson Cruz -- both key components of this team -- got off to slow starts, and some of the performances out of the bullpen have been uneven. Hank Blalock and Brad Wilkerson have not yet taken off offensively.
But Sammy Sosa looks like a smash hit, second baseman Ian Kinsler is enjoying a terrific spring, the competition for the fifth spot in the rotation and the utility infield job has been fierce, and Eric Gagne looks like he'll be ready for Opening Day with Akinori Otsuka right there to push him.
The Rangers have a winning record to this point, and Washington is convinced that his team will be in the American League West race right there to the end, even though he knows any of the four teams are capable of winning it.
"The one thing I've enjoyed the most is seeing how these guys have gone about their business," Washington said. "They've been so professional, every one of them. I've been able to use the whole roster, and everybody has been performing. Of all the Spring Trainings that I've been in, I've been very surprised about how well everybody is competing."
From the players' side, Spring Training has not surprised. They had certain expectations about their new manager, and he has been just what they expected.
"Absolutely," Young said. "He walks the line between having fun and staying loose, but still being intense and focused on working hard and winning. I don't know he does it, but it fits. We're ready to roll."
Circumstances do not alter Washington's approach. Most of his starters weren't in the game when Thursday's game against the Chicago Cubs went into the bottom of the ninth with the game tied, 7-7. The Cubs had the bases loaded with one out against Minor League reliever Jesse Ingram when Washington employed a five-man infield trying to cut off the winning run at the plate.
Cubs manager Lou Piniella was impressed.
"Washington's doing a nice job over there with that Texas team," Piniella said even after Daryle Ward's grand slam ruined the strategy. "He's trying to win a Spring Training game because he wants to change the mentality over there. It was a good ballgame. It had the feel of a Major League game."
Washington does not sugarcoat his message. If something needs to be said, he will say it. He made it clear early in camp that his catchers needed to do a better job of calling a game and working with his pitchers. He made it clear to Tejeda and others that they needed to be better at throwing strikes and commanding their pitches.
He was not shy about bring it to their attention.
"I just say, 'This has to get better,'" Washington said. "It's not like it's a secret, because I did get them to understand even before we hit in Spring Training what I expected and I found out what they expected. We've all been on the same page. So I really haven't had to jump too many people because my coaching staff has been making sure that things are getting done.
"When I've needed to talk to someone, they understand where I'm coming from. They want to win and I want to win. I want to be successful, and I want them to be successful. So anytime I say something tough, it's only to help them, not to break them down."
Really, the toughest part of the spring is not being able to get quite as involved as he did as a coach in the hands-on instructing of players.
"I was one of those coaches who like to get down and get dirty," Washington said. "The toughest thing has been hands off, allowing my coaches to do their job, not going out there and using my expertise in areas that I feel real good in. But I've learned I've got really good guys who are doing it and I've been walking around, checking it out. I've been happy with what I've been seeing.
"I'm not concerned about anything. We got a good bunch of guys to go to war with and the front office is going to continue to work on things that might strengthen us. But what I have right now, if I had to go to war with this, I'm very pleased."
T.R. Sullivan is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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