12/21/24
November 06, 2006
Mr. Washington Goes to Texas: The Texas Rangers will hire Ron "Wash" Washington to become the team's 17th manager at a 2 p.m. press conference today. If the Oakland A's coach is still with the team Tuesday evening, he'll pass Eddie Stanky, who only coached the woebegotten franchise for one day in 1977.
Stanky only lasted a day, but he technically did manage one game. But, Did he win? If you don't win you are not going to stick around! Seriously, I hope things work out for Washington. I like to see new faces enter the Manager ranks. I'm kind of tired of seeing guys like Lou Piniella get recycled time after time. Pitching Coach, Bud Black of the Angels, has interviewed with San Diego. I hope he goes to San Diego or returns to the Angels. I don't want to see him in Oakland next season.
posted by Termite at 01:53 PM on November 06, 2006
Eric Chavez gave one of his gold-gloves to Mr. Washington. He seemed to be well liked by the players. I'm glad he's getting his shot.
posted by boxscore jr. at 02:14 PM on November 06, 2006
Stanky was undefeated as Rangers manager. Wash sounds pretty good, but I wonder why he didn't get this shot in Oakland, considering the way that A's players talk about him. Texas appears to have a fondness for A's people who didn't agree with Beane's moneyball premise. Grady Fuson, one of the villains of the Moneyball book as an old-school scout who doesn't buy sabremetrics, left the team for Texas after the season described in the book. Wash is reportedly another person who isn't a believer.
posted by rcade at 02:19 PM on November 06, 2006
But, Did he win? Yep, Stanky shares the Texas Rangers' manager record for best winning percentage (100 percent) with a 1-0 record. Other 1-0 record goes to Del Wilbur, but Del was only an interim waiting for Billy Martin to arrive.
posted by graymatters at 02:20 PM on November 06, 2006
I don't think it's that Wash didn't believe in the theory. Rather, he was a developer of players. His job was to get them to swing, hit, field, catch, run, throw, etc. And he was/is a stellar defensive-minded coach; that's a big part of the Moneyball take, in that defense is traditionally an underrated asset. As a coach in the player-development role, Wash worked wonderfully with Beane's world. That said: Wash never would have been a good fit under Beane because Wash is his own man. Period. Beane loves to tinker with decisions that should be left to the Manager, and there's no way that would have ever worked out. Sad to see him leave Oakland, but it's for the better. I hope it all comes together for him.
posted by diastematic at 04:12 PM on November 06, 2006
Excellent choice by a team known for making same bad decisions in the past (i.e. A-Rod 1/4 billion dollar contract). Showalter is an idiot and deserved to be fired. Washington is an excellent teacher and communicator. Not that the Rangers will ever win it all under current ownership, they have at least made a laudible choice at skipper.
posted by jettblack at 04:21 PM on November 06, 2006
Eric Chavez gave one of his gold-gloves to Mr. Washington. When you're pretty much guaranteed to win one every year for the rest of your career, I'm sure they're pretty easy to part with. (I kid, I kid...it's a nice gesture) they have at least made a laudible choice at skipper. A major league manager is only as good as his roster. What's the old saying? A manager's influence is good for +/- 3 games? Texas has shown some signs of life in the first half over the past couple years. They've built a nice offense but they need to find the pitching to sustain themselves through the summer months. Unfortunately they're probably gonna need to get creative and try trading some of that offense to find it. Lynn Henning of the Detroit Free Press floats the prospect of a Mark Tiexera for Jeremy Bonderman trade. Given the timing and the Q&A format of the article it sounds like the kind of thing I could come up with as well, but probably indicative of what it would take to get some reliable pitching.
posted by YukonGold at 05:29 PM on November 06, 2006
Is there a good story about why Stanky only lasted a day?
posted by ajaffe at 06:37 PM on November 06, 2006
Wikipedia knows all:
"After almost a decade as head baseball coach at the University of South Alabama, he returned to the majors as manager of the Texas Rangers in 1977, winning his debut game. But, having second thoughts about leaving his adopted state of Alabama, he immediately resigned."From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Stanky
posted by tieguy at 06:40 PM on November 06, 2006
I actually went to south alabama and my dorm was across the street from the baseball field, named after the man himself, of course. Stanky Field.
posted by justgary at 07:23 PM on November 06, 2006
"A manager's influence is good for +/- 3 games?" Hmmmmmm Another baseball adage up for question. Are the Marlins 3 +/- games only in the 1997 and 2003 WS and not the regular season? Or are McKeon and Leyland exceptions. Are the 06 Tigers + 3 games because of Leyland or +30 games because of him. Are any of the Braves teams, barely playoff worthy, worth a damn without Cox? I think this baseball adage is due for a rest. "Hit 'em where they ain't" isn't.
posted by jettblack at 10:02 PM on November 06, 2006
That's weird, tieguy. When I read Stanky's entry on Wikipedia earlier today, it said he resigned over his involvement in both Kennedy assassinations.
posted by rcade at 09:52 AM on November 07, 2006
Are the 06 Tigers + 3 games because of Leyland or +30 games because of him. I'm voting for +3 if those are my only options. Kansas City finished 33 games out of the wildcard. Tampa Bay finished 34 games out. I guess any other team in baseball, given Leyland and his +30 wins, would have made the playoffs. Is that right?
posted by Amateur at 02:33 PM on November 07, 2006
Kansas City finished 33 games out of the wildcard. Tampa Bay finished 34 games out. I guess any other team in baseball, given Leyland and his +30 wins, would have made the playoffs. Is that right? Well he has done it with the Marlins (Title) and the Tigers (no WS). Is he just inheriting greatness or is he really the difference?
posted by yay-yo at 06:01 PM on November 07, 2006
If the proper controls can be put into place, and it can be proven that Leyland adds 30 games, then he's immediately the greatest manager ever, as well as the most underpaid.
posted by rocketman at 07:25 PM on November 07, 2006
The New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks both won the World Series the year after Showalter left them. World Series, here we come. If not, throw out the Wash. Oh, and he's got to last until at least the third game of next season. Stanky only lasted a day, but he technically did manage one game.