Decisions, Decisions

I will not comment on the NLCS just yet. I'm superstitious enough not to want to jinx anything there, so I'll keep my lips (fingers?) sealed for the moment.

But, having watched the Texas Rangers clinch the AL pennant tonight, I do want to mention a thing or two about Rangers manager Ron Washington.

First, a bit of cold water: the Rangers are getting a lot of credit for not firing Washington this past spring when the news came out that he failed a drug test and came up positive for cocaine use. While everything ultimately worked out very well for Texas, that credit is mostly misplaced. Really, what were they going to do? Fire Washington in the middle of spring training and blow up their season? Sure, maybe they could have hired a new manager who could have pulled the pieces together and kept that team on its upward arc. But the Rangers' options were few and far between at that point. This is especially true when you remember the uncertainty surrounding the franchise and its financial situation at that moment. It says here that Texas kept Washington not simply because he is a good manager (and man, from most accounts), nor out of patience and compassion, but because they had little other choice at that point. It worked out for him and them, and maybe there's a story about good karma in that, but had that crisis happened any time other than spring training, the actions taken might have been very different.

So that's that. On the other hand...

In 2006, the A's--my local nine, as they say--won the AL West and made it to the ALCS for the first time in 14 years. Despite that achievement, they--and specifically, GM Billy Beane--decided not to retain the services of manager Ken Macha.

In the ensuing off-season, Beane had a choice about whom to hire as manager. The options came down to the A's bench coach--and Billy Beane best buddy--Bob Geren, and the aforementioned Washington. Geren had had some success managing the Athletics Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento, had spent several seasons as bench coach on some very good A's teams, and had served as Beane's best man at the GM's wedding. Washington, meanwhile, had been on the A's coaching staff for a decade (part of that time alongside Geren), serving as third base coach and infield instructor. He was immensely popular with the players, many of whom credited him for their success in the field. (If memory serves right, Eric Chavez famously gave Washington one of his Gold Glove trophies in appreciation for the coach's positive influence on his fielding.) However, no reports can confirm Washington's participation in any matrimonial ceremonies during his stay with the A's. Taking this data into account, Beane chose Geren for the A's managerial position. Washington made do with his consolation prize: taking over as Texas Rangers manager.

Fast forward to today. Geren has been A's manager for four years, and this season they finally reached the .500 mark, finishing 81-81 after three losing seasons. They have a promising future, if their young pitching holds up and they can get a few more bats in the lineup.

And Washington just won the AL pennant with the Rangers.

Of course, the A's declining record can be chalked up to many reasons beyond the identity of the manager. And there are many reasons why the Rangers have shown steady improvement for four years, up to the point of clinching their first World Series appearance in franchise history this very evening. But it is conceivable that, back in 2006, when he had a crucial choice to make, Billy Beane may have gotten a best man...but maybe, just maybe, he didn't get the right man.

Something to think about, if you have any hiring to do.

Abysmal

Just want to make a quick hit post here to record for posterity the fact that the announcers on TBS's baseball playoff coverage are, in a word, abysmal. In fact, the whole coverage is abysmal. Technical gaffes, missed plays (no one--I mean NO ONE--said a word about the blown caught stealing call in the Giants-Braves game until at least four innings later), confused commentary--just a disaster. It must be nice, to be so unconcerned about the fate of your industry that you would place its showcase events in the hands of amateurs. Another fine call by The Idiot Selig.

Yeesh.