Ron Washington returns to Arlington with A’s, says he wants to manage again
Ron Washington was back at Globe Life Park early Tuesday afternoon and back on the field just before 2 p.m. to do what he has always said he does best: work with infielders.
But he was also pretty good at managing a baseball club, the Texas Rangers from 2007-14.
The desire to manage again has never left him, and now that he has been back in the game for a month after an abrupt resignation Sept. 5, he feels as if he can say what’s on his mind without stepping on the toes of any Oakland Athletics personnel.
“Yes, I do want to manage again. I can help a team. I can direct a team,” Washington said before the A’s opened a three-game series against his old team. “I think that’s going to be up to a general manager and ownership. I think my credentials are out there. Just see what happens.”
For the moment, as it was two weeks ago when the Rangers visited Oakland, Washington is focused on the here and now. That means continuing to groom A’s infielders the Wash Way and doing everything he can to make them better.
And they have gotten better.
The Wash Way includes removing emotion from the process. The guy who would never admit to being frustrated also didn’t admit to having any emotions as he returned to Globe Life Park after a shocking departure in an attempt to save his marriage.
“I’m excited to see the stadium. I’m excited to see the fans. I’m excited to see the players,” Washington said. “But emotions, no I don’t have that. If I have that I don’t know where it’s at right now.”
But there is some regret about the way he left the Rangers in his eighth season.
“Yes, I regret that I had to leave here, I regret that my wife had to suffer what she went through, I regret people that I love had to suffer what they went through, and I dealt with that for 7 1/2-8 months, and nobody will ever understand how much pain I was in,” he said. “But I felt like I had to do what I had to do to save my marriage, and that’s what I did.”
The past is the past, though. His future may or may not include managing again. For now, he’s coaching A’s infielders and happy to be doing it. Heck, he’s just happy.
“Spiritually, I’m in a bit of different place,” said Washington, the Rangers’ all-time leader in managerial wins with 664. “I’m happy, you know what I’m saying? Not that I was unhappy, but right now, I’m in a good place.”
Jeff Wilson, 817-390-7760
This story was originally published June 23, 2015 at 8:14 PM with the headline "Ron Washington returns to Arlington with A’s, says he wants to manage again."