The Rangers stuck by their manager, the guy they decided four years ago was the one to lead this team back to the Postseason Promised Land, and each side was rewarded for it. Washington let down himself, his family, and his organization when he failed a drug test in the middle of the 2009 season, and then the news got out on St. Patrick's Day during Spring Training. He was humble, apologetic, remorseful, and willing to step down from a job that he'd worked long and hard to get, but his team stuck with him and believed in him, providing that he keep himself clean. Fast forward seven months, and Wash was the rallying influence behind one of the most resilient teams baseball has ever witnessed, leading the Rangers into the World Series and gaining the admiration of Rangers fans everywhere.
Today it was announced that Ron Washington has been given a two-year contract extension as manager of the Texas Rangers. His contract was up at the end of the season, so this move was a no brainer, and the team wanted to get it done before he left town to go home to New Orleans for the next three months.
To me, Johnny Oates will always be the top Rangers manager, but Wash has the silver medal firmly in hand, with whoever would be bronze leaps and bounds behind him.
Washington spoke at the Rangers Rally that was held in the parking lot next to the Ballpark on Wednesday night. I was lucky enough to be able to attend this hour-long party to put some closure on this season and honor the American League Champions. Many players and members of the ownership team and front office spoke and got the crowd pumped up, but Wash's speech was the most touching. He spoke highly of his players, the fans, those that had supported him, and seemed to be holding back tears from time to time as he searched for the right words. I can see why his players love him so much and are willing to do so much for him. It's hard to put into words, but some people are so passionate and give so much into making others great, that their pupils are willing to run through walls for them. That's what Ron Washington brings to the Rangers. That's the kind of guy Jerry Jones wishes he had right about now.
The Rangers Rally was fun, but bittersweet. Everyone there would have rather been at a World Series championship parade like the one held in San Francisco earlier in the day, but like I said, it helped to put closure on the season, keep the fanbase enthusiastic about this team going forward, and it gave us one last chance to personally tell this 2010 team how much they mean to us. Things will never be the same around here again, and even if the Rangers do win a title in the coming years, it may not match up to the magic we all experienced through the Spring, Summer, and Fall of 2010.
Then again, maybe it will match up. With Ron Washington in charge, I wouldn't put much past them.
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