Ron Washington

Memo to Ron Washington: It's the, Um, Postseason, Just In Case You Forgot

Photos by Sam MertenPerhaps more than any of his players, Ron Washington needs to break out of his postseason slump.​After the Texas Rangers fired Buck Showalter following the 2006 season, general manager Jon Daniels interviewed five candidates. Of course, there was Ron Washington, a longtime ... More >>

Um, Shouldn't You Have Asked Me These Questions Before I Got on the Plane?

​Got home from the airport last night just in time to see Channel 8's piece on how Dallas PD and the FBI are prepping for the 10th anniversary of September 11. Would have been home a little sooner, but, ya know, I stopped by a Northwest Highway construction site. Oh -- and I was briefly detained b ... More >>

Whitt's End: 7.29.11

​Whether you've reached the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *I know one practice doesn't make a career and, as Bill Parcells says, let's hold off on shipping that bust to Canton, but Cowboys' first-round draft pick Tyron Smith looks like a beast ... More >>

Rangers to Honor Blyleven On ... Wait. What's This? Foxy Brown's Throwing a First Pitch?

​While we await some return phone calls and sift through some rather nutty legal docs, let's take a closer look at this release the Texas Rangers' John Blake sent out announcing some highlights from the upcoming homestand that begins tomorrow with games against the Jays. Because there are some int ... More >>

The Tragic Accident at the Ballpark Last Night

At 10:02 last night, an email from the Texas Rangers arrived in the in-box bearing the subject heading "Statement From Texas Rangers CEO and President Nolan Ryan." This is what it said: The adult male who during tonight's game fell approximately 20 feet from section 5 in the left field lower reserve ... More >>

Give Ron Washington Credit for His Desperation Flip-Flop

​Rangers' manager Ron Washington loves status quo. Likes the same ol' routine of it all. When something extraordinary happens in the game he delivers his pet philosophical phrase: "That's the way baseball go." But in the midst of watching his team lose seven of nine games and seven of eight ... More >>

My Top 5 Worries About the Texas Rangers at Spring Training

​I know that stats are usually meaningless during baseball's spring training. But trends and feels aren't. The San Francisco Giants won the Cactus League in 2010 with an 23-12 record, but their opponent in the World Series - your Texas Rangers - went a last-place 10-19. Pitchers are usua ... More >>

Texas Rangers' Pitching Staff: No. 3 in the AL West

​I fully admit it, at the end of last season I was calling for C.J. Wilson to pitch Game 1 of the American League Division Series. Considering the way he'd pitched all year and the way Cliff Lee had struggled at times it made sense. Turns out both pretty pitched damn skippy in the playof ... More >>

Whitt's End: 1.21.11

​Whether you're at the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *So the Dallas Cowboys hire loquacious, bombastic, entertaining new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan not with a press conference but only a press release? That's like hiring Ricky Gervais to emcee th ... More >>

As Chuck Greenberg Deals With Lee "Letdown," Rangers Release 2010 DVD Look-Back Tonight

​Shortly after the news broke that Cliff Lee is a Phillie once more late last night, Texas Rangers owner Chuck Greenberg posted to his Facebook page the following note:Tonight's news is a letdown, but I'm proud of our effort. Congratulations to Cliff and a heartfelt thank you for the role you play ... More >>

"The Old Rangers Are Gone."

​That quote, from Texas Rangers owner Chuck Greenberg, is the theme of this morning's World Series round-up.It comes from an interview in USA Today concerning the prospects of keeping Cliff Lee, which doesn't sound like the impossibility others have made it out to be; says Lee, beating the San Fra ... More >>

The Ballad of Ron Washington

Over on ESPNDallas.com, Richard Durrett tells the tale of how Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels came to hire Ron Washington instead of one of the four other contenders for the skipper's gig following Buck Showalter's ouster: Manny Acta, John Russell, Trey Hillman or Don Wakamatsu. Washington ... More >>

2010 ALCS GAME 6 - Rangers 6, Yankees 1: My Top 10 Observer-ations

​10. In retrospect, a great call by Rangers' manager Ron Washington taking Nelson Cruz out of Game 5 early with a tight hamstring. Cruz hit the biggest homer in Rangers' history in the four-run 5th tonight, shoving Texas to a commanding 5-1 lead. 9. Claw > Antlers? Very cool surprise when ... More >>

GAME 3 - Rays 6, Rangers 3: My Top 10 Observations

​ ​10. 'Twas an occurrence about as rare as Halley's Comet this afternoon out here at Rangers Ballpark. In the Rangers' 39-year history they've played 3,092 home games in Arlington. Game 3 was only the fifth playoff contest. Texas is 0-5 all-time in home playoff games. 9. In ... More >>

Whitt's End: 10.8.10

​Whether you're at the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *A sentence I thought I'd never live long enough to type: The American League Championship Series -- Texas Rangers v. New York Yankees -- starts one week from today at Rangers Ballpark in ... More >>

While We Rip the Rangers, Let's Praise Ron Washington

​I was thinking the other day - after another mindless, rambling post-game press conference - at how Texas Rangers' manager Ron Washington was deteriorating into weirdspeak. He not only trips over simple subject-verb conjugation, but recently his synopsis has read like a play-by-play review. ... More >>

Mark Cuban is MLB-Approved! And Other Notes From Today's Texas Rangers Hearing.

Hal SamplesTexas Rangers manager Ron Washington, GM Jon Daniels and their attorneys enter a Fort Worth courtroom this morning.​As promised, Sam just phoned in from outside the Fort Worth federal courthouse where, moments ago, Judge Michael Lynn sneak-peeked at where he's leaning concerning the pro ... More >>

Texas Rangers: More Buck For Their Bang

​Strangely successful season for your Rangers so far. In spring training manager Ron Washington admitted to using cocaine. Their catching tandem is Matt Treanor-Max Ramirez, instead of the planned Jarrod Saltalamacchia-Taylor Teagarden. Chris Davis is gone, and forgotten? Their elite closer ... More >>

Whitt's End: 5.14.10

​Whether you're at the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *This is why I thought Ron Washington should have been fired on the spot last summer when he first told Texas Rangers' management about his cocaine use: He can't be trusted. Twice in the last two w ... More >>

Which Rangers' Pitcher Do You Most Fear?

Welcome back.​Another weird game at Rangers Ballpark last night: *Something I've never seen: With Ian Kinsler caught dead along the third-base line during an aborted steal of home, Oakland A's starter Gio Gonzalez panicked and half-balked, half-wild-pitched him home with a crazy ass throw ... More >>

This is the Problem I Have With Rangers' Manager Ron Washington

​I like Ron Washington. Really do. I don't necessarily trust his relentless optimism about everything and I lost a lot of respect for him for using cocaine in the middle of last season, but I like him. There is a part of him, however, that I don't like. His in-game decisions as a basebal ... More >>

Ron Washington = Hot Seat?

​I know. It's early. The Texas Rangers' season is exactly two weeks old. But there are ominous signs, no? Getting swept by the Yankees in New York isn't Apocalyptic. But mustering only eight runs in four games is troublesome. More so, the 5-7 Rangers have already blown two wins with thei ... More >>

Whitt's End: 4.16.10

​Whether you're at the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *Not only should Dirk Nowitzki be on the first-team All-NBA squad and a legit MVP candidate, he'll be unstoppable against the Spurs. San Antonio has its nucleus back - Tim Duncan, Manu Ginob ... More >>

The Texas Rangers try to Sweep Ron Washington's Drug Episode Under Their Well-Worn Rug

Clearly, Everything Gets a Logo These Days, Even Stuff About to Get Blowed Up

​Impossible to retrace the myriad steps that led me here this morning: to The Official Texas Stadium Implosion Web site, where you'll find a lengthy video shot inside the joint during Tuesday's media show-and-tell. I must say: This is a logo I can get behind: The artwork's playfully retro (like fe ... More >>

Some Random, Frustrated Thoughts on Your Texas Rangers

Yeah, he had some help. But he blew it.​*Catching and throwing the ball has rarely been a problem this season, but yesterday's 5-3 loss was hideously reminiscent of years gone by. First off, I blame C.J. Wilson. The worst thing you can do when protecting a 1-run lead is walk the l ... More >>

The Resilient Rangers

Now that's more like it.​Okay, I'm impressed. Friday night's kick-to-the-crotch loss to the Boston Red Sox felt like that moment. Big game. Big crowd. Gigantic implosion. Frankie Francisco's blown save - six runs - felt like the big-bang instant in which a demoralized, gutted bunch of Texas ... More >>

Shooting Star

No doubt the man who once held the Cup now calls the shots.So I'm gone a week and two major coaching deals? Ron Washington: In. Dave Tippett: Out. How can that be? I'll get to Wash later this week, but I'm still trying to figure out new Stars' GM Joe Nieuwendyk's decision to replace the likea ... More >>

Whitt's End: 5.15.09

Whether you're at the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *Of the Texas Rangers' hot start - they are 20-14 compared to 14-20 last year - the most amazing feat is pitcher Matt Harrison's back-to-back complete games. If you're looking for Nolan Ryan's st ... More >>

Rangers Survive April, and The Aporkalypse

Dude is touching 57 on the gun today. Wow.Regardless the outcome of this afternoon's pitching duel between Vicente Padilla and Bobby Bragan, it's already - I'm sorry, I'm being told the Oakland pitcher is actually Dallas Braden - a successful April for the Texas Rangers. Not only has Texas no ... More >>

Play Baaaaaaalllllllllll!

No time to dilly-daddle this morning, as I'm headed out to Arlington for Texas Rangers' Opening Day. Gotta get there in time to beat some traffic, smell the fresh-cut grass and, of course, see former Prez George W. Bush throw out the first pitch. I know it'll never happen, but wouldn't Dub ... More >>

Texas Rangers Opening Day: Pre-Game Observations

  Your new third baseman, taking Opening Day BPFirst pitch in T-minus two hours ... *When I stepped on the field at 9 a.m. it was 39 degrees. Factoring in the northern howl of about 30 mph and it felt, ya know, about 0. *You know it's a different, bigger day when you get on the press ele ... More >>

The 2009 Starting Pitcher for Your Texas Rangers: Dubya

  This is not the time to talk politics. It's the time to talk baseball. I'll put my liberal left leaning on hold today because the Texas Rangers have announced - no surprise - that former Prez and former co-owner George W. Bush will throw out the first pitch before next Monday's season ... More >>

Oscar Overhaul: Ahem, Where Was Sports?

I generally agree with Jerry Seinfeld. On everything. Including the Oscars. During a show at, of all places, UTA's Texas Hall in '02 the comedian quipped, "Worst thing about The Oscars is that they never tell you the final scores. We're Americans. We not only want to know who won, but ... More >>

You Could Use Some ... Baseball?

Has there ever been a better team player in the history of Metroplex sports?Approximately 5,000 fans braved freezing temperatures and decades of losing at Saturday's Rangers Fan Fest in Arlington. I was one of them. The highlights: *General manager Jon Daniels says he's recently tal ... More >>

Ron Washington Channels Chuck Woolery

We’re No. 2! We’re No. 2!

My Crystal Baseball

The Rangers are Sending a Pitcher to the Mound Tonight. Duck!

Hump Day for the Rangers? Almost.

Reaction to Rangers’ Reaction

Texas Rangers Making Contingency Plans In Case This Uptick is a Mirage

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