Ex-Rangers skipper Ron Washington waiting on next chance to manage in MLB

ARLINGTON — At 68 years old, there’s a lot that Ron Washington has to do to be physically ready for his job every day as the Atlanta Braves third-base and infield coach.

It’s a job that requires working with players, and, if things are going well, vigorously waving them to home plate.

“Sometimes you can think you’re younger than you are, but the body will always tell you that you’re not,” Washington said. “… As long as my mind is working, I will fool my body.”

The beloved former Rangers manager might be one of the oldest coaches in the game, but he’s still working toward his goal of becoming an MLB manager again.

Washington led Texas starting in 2007 until his 2014 resignation. During his tenure, he took the team to consecutive World Series, both of which ended in defeat. Now, he’s back in Arlington, where the Braves are hoping to be crowned champions.

“There’s nothing more joyous than being a leader of a group of guys,” Washington said, "and watching them grow and watching them become consistent, and hopefully watching them become champions.

“I had that opportunity here in Texas. I thought I had another opportunity, but it just didn’t work out. But, of course, I’m always waiting for that general manager to interview me, and to convince the owner that I’m the guy.”

Washington said he looks back to those two World Series losses and tells himself that it must not have been meant to be. Texas lost in five games to San Francisco in 2010, but suffered an infamously brutal seven-game series setback to the Cardinals in 2011.

“It wasn’t meant to be because when we played the Cardinals, it was two pitches,” Washington said. “… It’s a game of inches. We were two pitches away twice, and didn’t win.”

Washington spoke in mostly a big-picture context when talking with the media on Wednesday morning. Reflecting on his desires to coach, how he likes to lead, and alluding to decisions he’s made and decisions made for him during his career.

Washington said he sees a lot of similarities between the young and personality-driven Braves group, and those Rangers teams that made it to the World Series.

“These guys go about their business the way we went about our business when I was here in Texas,” Washington said. “… They’re young, they care and they care about each other.”

When the Braves got to Globe Life Field for the first time before the NLCS, it was the first time Washington had been at the new ballpark.

He made it clear that his Rangers teams didn’t care too much about the heat, and they weren’t ones to complain, roof or no roof. But still, he was impressed with the new venue.

In comparing the two ballparks, he said it’s like father and son. The son being the old Globe Life Park, and the father being the new home stadium.

“To be honest with you, there’s really no comparison,” Washington said. “This is like walking into a magic kingdom.”

At this magic kingdom, he talked about the Rangers fans who have come out to support their ex-skipper rather than those rooting for either the Braves or Dodgers.

He said it’s happening this week because he believes he brought joy to the fans, and he helped create a culture that made people support them through thick and thin.

That’s why it’d be special to win it all in Arlington, even if the trophy is going someplace else.

“I certainly hope that we can hold it together long enough to do that here in Atlanta,” Washington said. “To win it in Arlington would be very nice, but to hoist it in Atlanta would be excellent.”

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