November 9th 2023.
The Los Angeles Angels have turned to longtime baseball figure Ron Washington to help turn around a decade of losing. According to the Associated Press, Washington, 71, will become Major League Baseball's oldest current manager and the second Black manager after Houston Astros Manager Dusty Baker, who announced his retirement following the team's ALCS loss to the Texas Rangers, where Washington served as bench coach.
Washington has been a fixture in the world of baseball for over 40 years. He played second base and shortstop for five teams between 1977 and 1989, and has since gone on to serve as manager and coach for numerous teams. Most notably, he was the manager of the Texas Rangers from 2007 to 2014, leading the team to the World Series in 2010 and 2011. In addition, he coached the Oakland Athletics in 2015 and served as the third base coach of the Atlanta Braves from 2016 to 2023, winning a World Series in 2021.
When asked about his new role, Washington said, “I’m lost for words, but the work it will take.” He replaces Phil Nevin, who the Angels declined to re-sign after one-and-a-half losing seasons. Despite having two of the league’s top five players in outfielder Mike Trout and pitcher and outfielder Shohei Ohtani for the last six years, the Angels have had eight consecutive losing seasons and have missed the playoffs in nine straight seasons. Both streaks are currently the longest in baseball.
Washington, one of the most respected figures in baseball today, will be the Angels fourth manager in the last six seasons after Mike Scioscia, who managed the team for 19 years before leaving after the 2018 season. Despite Washington's stellar record, he has been involved in several controversies. He tested positive for cocaine in 2009 while he was managing the Rangers. He offered to resign, but the Rangers decided to keep him. Five years later, he abruptly resigned as manager of the Rangers; several weeks later acknowledged he was having an extramarital affair.
Overall, this is an exciting move for the Angels, and it marks a new chapter in the team's history. With Washington in charge, fans can expect a renewed focus on winning and a commitment to excellence. With his experience and leadership, the Angels could be on the brink of a major turnaround.
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