ARLINGTON, Texas — Ron Washington by no means received the ring he was on the lookout for in Texas. Even so, the winningest supervisor in Rangers historical past is additionally stays essentially the most beloved by the followers.
It’s a giant purpose why the Atlanta Braves grew to become the de facto crew to cheer for within the World Series final yr—that and beating the Houston Astros. There had been so many in Dallas-Fort Worth that wished to see “Wash”, now the third base coach of the Braves, lastly get the championship that eluded him in 2010 and 2011.
And we all know how the story ends now. The Braves beat the Astros in final yr’s World Series and Washington lastly climbed to the highest of the mountain.
“I feel tremendously fulfilled because not only me, but every person that plays the game of baseball wants to get to the point where they can get a World Series ring,” Washington stated previous to Friday’s Rangers-Braves recreation.Â
“That’s what they play for. They play for a World Series ring. I had three opportunities in the World Series, and I finally got one. So it’s very special.”
Friday is additionally fairly particular. Not solely is it Washington’s seventieth birthday, however with the Braves visiting the Rangers, he will get to return to a spot the place he made numerous recollections.
Washington was the supervisor of the membership throughout its most profitable run, successful the one two American League pennants in franchise historical past throughout his tenure. And regardless that the World Series demons have been exorcized, these 2010 and 2011 groups nonetheless maintain a particular place in his coronary heart.
“My heart is broken that I haven’t been able to get one here in Texas,” Washington stated. “And we had two opportunities at it. My heart is broken for that. But you know, when things don’t work out the way you want them to work out, you got to pick up the pieces and you got to move on.”
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After he stepped down as supervisor in 2014, Washington returned to the sport as infield coach of the Oakland Athletics in 2015 and third base coach in 2016. During that point, Washington helped remodel present Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien right into a premier defender.
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Semien known as Washington “the most influential baseball man” in his life, and consulted with him earlier than signing his seven-year, $175 million contract with the Rangers.
“When I got to meet Marcus … he was committed to become the best that he could be,” Washington stated. “He had a tremendous attitude. He had a great work ethic. And he never took one day into the next. He tried to take what went wrong the day before and improve it going into the next day. And that’s what’s special about Marcus Semien.”
Washington has been the third base coach of the Braves since 2017, so it is not usually that he will get to return to Arlington anymore. So when a go to to Texas appeared on the schedule this season, it stood out. Washington is eternally engrained in Rangers historical past, and that is not simply forgotten on both aspect.
“There’s not a day that I don’t look at the box scores and see what Texas is doing because I want them to be successful,” Washington stated. “I know the people up top. I know them well. I know how they go about their business and they want to be successful. And I just hope they’ll be successful, you know? They tried to prove to the fans this year by going out and getting some winning ballplayers and try to put something together. And I think in the end, they probably will.”
Washington has seen the Rangers’ early struggles from afar. As the three-game sequence begins this weekend, he is gotten a more in-depth look because the Braves put together for this weekend’s sequence. While followers could be skeptical of the Rangers’ 6-13 begin, Washington believes within the strikes made will ultimately pan out.
Or, as he so eloquently stated whereas supervisor of the Rangers, that is the best way baseball go.
“Right now everyone is trying to find themselves,” Washington stated. “[It was a] short spring training. Everyone is trying to find themselves. I think after 100 at bats arrive, and the consistency starts to kick in, I think you’ll see a different situation between those lines.”
As treasured because the recollections in Texas may be for Washington, his focus stays with the Braves. They’re the defending World Series champions and simply welcomed again their celebrity, Ronald Acuña Jr., after an extended restoration from a knee harm. The Braves reloaded within the offseason and, regardless of a Sep 11 begin to the season, are primed for an additional run.
“It should be a very exciting ballgame,” Washington stated. “So I’m looking forward to it. I’m here with Atlanta Braves and I certainly want to beat the Texas Rangers.”