Can Ron Washington Fix the A’s Defensive Woes?
The Oakland Athletics‘ defense has been just awful to watch at times this season. As a team, they’ve committed 44 errors and allowed 28 unearned runs to score, both totals that lead the major leagues. Shortstop Marcus Semien in particular has had a rough go of it, as he has committed an MLB-most 16 errors (he racked up another one during Wednesday’s game), and owns a .915 fielding percentage.
In an effort to try to turn the defensive woes around, the Athletics have hired Ron Washington as a special infield instructor, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. As an instructor, Washington wouldn’t be on the field for games, but he would be there for pregame activities. He is expected to join the team during their four-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays, in Tampa, that kicks off on Thursday.
Washington is a familiar face for the Athletics, as he spent 11 seasons with the team as a coach. He was hired for the 1996 season, and was the first base coach that year. The next season, he moved to third base, and took on duties as the infield coach, the two positions he held for the next decade.
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Prior to the 2007 season, Washington moved over to the Texas Rangers to become their manager, and spent a very successful eight seasons there. He became the first Rangers’ manager to win a playoff series in 2010, when Texas beat the Rays in the Division Series. They eventually lost the World Series to the San Francisco Giants that year.
Washington and his Rangers returned to the World Series the following year, but lost in a heartbreaking seven games to the St. Louis Cardinals. Overall, Washington won 664 games with the Rangers, the most managerial wins in franchise history. The team won 90+ games four times with Washington at the helm, and finished over .500 five times.
The Athletics are 14-27 currently, are dead last in the AL West, and own the worst record in baseball. Their defensive miscues continue to haunt them, and are a big reason as to why the A’s can’t seem to get on track. The errors aren’t the only reason for the A’s horrid start, as the bullpen has also been much worse than they were last year.
Washington would be a good teacher for Semien, as he played parts of nine big league seasons, primarily as a shortstop. Washington committed more than 10 errors just twice, and matched Semien’s current total of 16 in 1988 as his career-high.
If you’ve seen the movie Moneyball, you know the impact that Washington had on Scott Hatteberg‘s career. The A’s brought Hatteberg in for the 2002 season, and wanted to move him to first base. He had been a catcher his entire career, but due to a shoulder injury, he could no longer make those throws.
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Washington was Hatteberg’s primary teacher, and Hatteberg became a pretty good defensive first baseman. The move added seven years to his career, as he played with the Athletics for four years, and the Cincinnati Reds for three years, all primarily as a first baseman.
Washington has had his personal issues, which drove him out of baseball, on his accord, during the 2014 season. He tested positive for cocaine in the 2009 season, and resigned as the Rangers’ manager in September of 2014 after having an extra-marital affair.
Washington wanted another chance in the major leagues, and he’s going to get it. This seems like a perfect marriage for the two. Washington is familiar with the A’s team, and the A’s are desperate to fix their defensive issues. There won’t be any shakeup on the coaching staff to bring in Washington, so there should be no reason for animosity for anyone.
Washington is a good defensive coach, which is what the A’s need in a big way. If it works out, this could be a huge turning point for the team. And as anyone who has watched them knows, they need something to turn.