Stop it. Ron Washington Did Not Get Hosed.

By Richie Whitt Thu., Nov. 18 2010 at 11:00 AM

Categories: Texas Rangers

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Texas Rangers' manager Ron Washington deserves credit.

But not a trophy.

I was neither surprised nor disappointed yesterday when Minnesota Twins' skipper Ron Gardenhire was named American League Manager of the Year. While he led his team to 94 wins and a division championship despite major injuries to closer Joe Nathan and first baseman Justin Morneau, Washington led the Rangers to ... their potential.

Back during spring training in Surprise, Arizona, I picked the Rangers to win 90+ games and win the AL West. So did team president Nolan Ryan. I appreciate Washington's unprecedented journey in 2010 from cocaine admission to champagne celebration, and I fully realize his targeted closer (Frankie Francisco), catcher (Jarrod Saltalamacchia) and top two starting pitchers (Scott Feldman and Rich Harden) fizzled.

But given the fact that he had on his roster one of baseball's best position players (Josh Hamilton), best starting pitchers (Cliff Lee) and best relievers (Neftali Feliz), doesn't that somehow diminish his role in the team's accomplishment?

Washington deserved his new contract. Don't look now, but he has improved in wins each of his four seasons in Texas and has 331 regular-season wins, third-most in franchise history behind only Johnny Oates and Bobby Valentine.

To me the Rangers' season - regular, not post-, obviously - was a success, but not surprising. And Washington was good, but not the best.

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baseball, Josh Hamilton, Nolan Ryan, Ron Washington

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Wash was hosed without a doubt. Not sure the reason he wasn't chosen Manager of the year but it's ashame if his drug use played a part in the decision. If so I wonder if Alcohol abuse will play a decision in Josh Hamilton winning the MVP???
Gardy also pulled the Twins out of an early tailspin, which most people forget. He's great manager in a superb organization. The unknown here is Tom Kelly, Gardy's predecessor. He's the one who rebuilt the Twins organization and its baseball philosophy, which had a great impact on on Wash's managerial style.
Wash dealt with plenty of major injuries to his team, more than Gardenhire. You are a dipshit
Weak AL West is the story here. Ron was great this year but the Rangers didn't have a real threat down the stretch when they were missing Josh.
I would have voted for Gardenhire but to include Cliff Lee as a reason to discount Washington's performance is disingenuous, given that the award is based solely on the regular season. Lee, of course, was only here for a half a season. And his regular season performance, while not as disappointing as Hardin's and Feldman's, was lackluster. Why, some even thought C.J. Wilson should be the number one starter in the postseason.
By the way, I'm Roxy from the above post.
I admit that the writers were more aware of Gardy this year based on previous misses, but don't discount his managing performance. Despite losing Morneau for half the season and Nathan for the entire season, the Twins were able to clinch the Central with 2 weeks left to go in the season. And...when they clinched they had won 14 games more than they had at that point in 2009.
Richie, I'll let you hose me all day long! I'll sip on your man juice for a mid-afternoon smack. I think I'm in love with your bald spot and your gay earrings. Sincerely, The looney tune shirt and sweat pants wearin', big bags 'o fun havin', teen mother of 3. XOXO, Rox-Anne
Anyone who doesnt realize that the only reason Gardenhire got it this year is bc he should have got last year, or the year before, or the year before that, or the year before that, so this is a make up year. If the Rangers win again next year and imporve again, Ron will get his due, unless some scrub team like Kansas City or Baltimore turns it completely around. This was a total make up for past fucks up by MLB
RW somewhat disagree with you here. Not saying Wash got hosed but not giving it to Gardenhire as a foregone conclusion either. Yep Ron G dealt with key injuries to his first baseman, but at least he got a little bit of production out of his replacement in Cuddyer. And let's not forget that Morneau didn't go down until July 4th (there abouts) so its not like he had to deal with subpar play from that position like Ron W did all season. Then, as many here have also stated, factor in the injuries to Kins, Cruz, and Hamilton (down the stretch I might add), plus non existent offensive production from catcher, flame outs and 1 & 2 in your rotation. Then you you sprinkle in a little bankruptcy, an opening day center fielder that didn't pan out as planned, a down year from your leader at 3rd production wise (offensively and defensively), losing your projected closer, etc... the fact that he was able to hold this team together and keep the fire going in them through out all the distractions is enough, to me, to win this award. All of that said, I obviously don't know all the ins and outs of what went on in Minn and if it had to go to anybody but Wash, I'm alright with Gardenhire getting it. Still doesn't make it the right choice. And I agree, if Hamilton doesn't get the nod for MVP, that will be a travishamockery. Oh and I think Jeter will also win exec of the year, there will be a recount in the Rookie of the year and he'll win that...plus he will be elected to the hall of fame just before opening day next year and play every position on the field at the same time and win gold gloves at each before May 1st. Cheers
I think Chris Davis should get AL MVP.
How close would Wash have been if the 3 voters who did not even include Wash in the top 3 voted for him? Gardenhire had to juggle w/ injuries, AND he had a battle in the Central until the last 6 weeks. Oh well... two solid post for RW today.
That's the way Manager of the Year voting go....
Minnesota was expected to win the Central. Everyone had Anaheim winning the West or their shocker pick was Seattle. But who won? The little red shoes. Gardenhire wasn't undeserving by any means, but he also didn't do anything that caused any "really?" ripples in the baseball space-time continuum. Ron did. But I'm fine with him not getting it as minor punishment for making a stupid decision about some white powder. Hambone not winning MVP? If that happens then I'll be mad. Better not be Jeter. Jeter will probably get an AL Cy Young vote today.
the weak AL West hurt him, and some bad decisions. Then again, we don't know if the other guy made bad decisions since Warsh is under a microscope here. The body of work is incomplete right now. Without Cliff Lee, they don't beat Tampa, case closed. If you're going to base him getting the award just because the Rangers made the World Series, it's just bad reasoning. Now Jon Daniels.....
Disagree, kind of. Wash lost Hamilton for the last month, Kinsler was out twice, Nellie was out a couple of times. Production from first base and catcher were awful. On top of what you listed already, I think Wash did a better job. I think he was hurt because it's the weak AL West.