Rangers Want to Keep Ron Washington as Manager
Just because the Texas Rangers have a new owner, it doesn’t mean they are looking for a new manager. New owner and team President Nolan Ryan, as well as General Manager Jon Daniels, have made it clear that they want to keep Ron Washington as the team’s manager after this season.
The club has already made it clear to Washington what their intentions are and the two sides will discuss a contract extension at the end of the season. With the Rangers doing so well in the season, nobody wants any distractions for the team as they try to win their first division title of the decade.
Why wouldn’t they want to keep Washington? He’s done a terrific job with the team and one of the many reasons why the Rangers are having such a great season.
"I'm really pleased with the job he's done," Daniels said. "I don't think he gets enough credit for the way we've played. I think we're all in agreement that he's the guy we want managing this team in 2011 and beyond."
Ryan, who just won a bidding war with Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban to buy the club, echoed the sentiments of Daniels as well.
“That's awesome because I want to be here," Washington said. "I certainly want to be a part of what's happening here in Texas for a long time and I'm glad Nolan and Chuck Greenberg and Jon Daniels feel that way about me. I never doubted their feelings for me."
Washington led the Rangers to 87 wins and a second place finish in the West last season, and the addition of players like Vladimir Guerrero and left-handed ace Cliff Lee, have helped the club overtake the Los Angeles Angels in the West.
Controversy surrounded Washington this past offseason, as he admitted to using cocaine once before. Ryan stuck with him and has been repaid for giving Washington a chance.
Players are happy to hear the news as well, including Rangers third-baseman Michael Young. Young has been with the team for all of Washington’s four seasons with the team and is a real team leader: "Wash is having a fantastic season," Young said. "I don't think managers get credit for having good years. Players are having good years and our manager is having a good year as well. It's been really rewarding for me to see Wash where he's at right now. It's my fourth year playing for him and he's gotten better every year in every aspect of managing, and it's been a lot of fun to be a part of that."
A division title and a deep playoff run would certainly help Washington’s case further and would probably cement him as manager of the year.
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