Washing Into the Future

Washington's determination and energy have
made him a fixture in the Texas clubhouse.

The franchise's first postseason series win. Check. First two American League Pennants and World Series berths. Check. Check.

These are just some of the accomplishments Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington has achieved during his tenure in Arlington, and was rewarded for his hard work Monday.

Washington, 59, who was in the final year of his current contract, was given a two-year contract extension, keeping the skipper in heart of Texas through the 2014 season. His original contract was also a two-year deal, consisting of two club options for 2009 and 2010, both of which were exercised.

But with no more options, it was time for a much needed extension.

After spending 11 seasons coaching with the division rival Oakland Athletics, 10 of them coming as the club's third-base coach, Washington was hired by general manager Jon Daniels prior to the start of the 2007 season.

In his first year as manager, the Rangers finished 12 games under .500 and last in the AL West. However, management never faltered, keeping their faith in the New Orleans native.

The sixth-longest tenured manager in baseball today followed up that season with the acquisition of future AL MVP Josh Hamilton from the Cincinnati Reds. Hamilton finished his first year with Texas leading the AL in RBIs (130) and playing in a career-high 156 games, but it was Washington's energy that pointed his team in the right direction.

Still under .500, the Washington-led Rangers finished second in the AL West. It wouldn't be until year three that Texas would finish above the .500 mark for the first time since 2004, again finishing second in the division with a record of 87-75.

Possessed with his own demons, Washington admitted to the use of cocaine during the '09 season, but it surfaced during spring training the following year. Daniels and newly appointed team president and CEO, Nolan Ryan, never wavered in their faith with Washington, letting him continue his life long dream when it should have been taken away.

He wouldn't disappoint

2010 brought Washington and Co. their first division title and playoff appearance since 1999. They ran threw the postseason, narrowly defeating the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS and outslugged the defending World Series champion New York Yankees.

In their first World Series appearance in franchise history, they were upended by the surprising San Francisco Giants in five games.

After setting a club-record with 96 wins during the regular season this past year, Washington had to fill the agony of defeat for a second time in the World Series, this time even they could taste it. Holding a two-run lead in the ninth inning, the Rangers were one strike away from capturing their first World Series title before St. Louis' David Freese tied it with a triple and won it with a walk-off home run in the 11th.

Washington has accumulated a 427-383 record in his five seasons as manager, including improving his win total every year.

His 427 wins are the third most in Rangers history, trailing only Johnny Oates (506) and newly hired Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine (581). Washington has finished in the top five of the AL Manager of the Year voting each of the last three seasons, finishing as high as second his fourth year on the job.

Texas as found their guy and will ride him until he's all washed up. 

An American Story

An Angel that Earned His Wings

Anderson receives a curtain call
during his 10 RBI night.

Former Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim outfielder Garret Anderson has decided to call it a career. The announcement was made official on Tuesday morning.

Anderson played 17 seasons in the big leagues with three different teams, including the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers the last two seasons. Although, Anderson will always be known for his 15 fabulous years in Anaheim.

Anderson, a native of Los Angeles was drafted in the fourth round of the 1990 amateur draft out of Kennedy High School. Little did we know that he would become an immortal angel.

In his 15 seasons as a member of the Angels, Anderson became the franchise all-time leader in games played (2,013), hits (2,368), doubles (489), runs (1024), extra-base hits (796), total bases (3,743) and runs batted in (1,292). Some consider Anderson the greatest player in franchise history and there is no argument here.

During his tenure, the Angels made six playoff appearances with five of them coming as American League Western Division champions. They made two ALCS appearances winning one of them in 2002, heading to their first World Series in franchise history.

That season the Angels made the postseason by winning the AL Wild Card and eventually defeating the San Francisco Giants in an epic seven-game series with the help of Anderson's bases-clearing double to seal the victory in the decisive seventh game.

Anderson was a player that flew under the radar most of his career, which is just the way he would have wanted it, but was quietly a one of the best hitters in Major League Baseball.

From 1996-06 only two players had more hits than Anderson's 1,956 throughout that time period, Derek Jeter (2,138) and Alex Rodriguez (2,023). Anderson stole the show at the at the 2003 Midsummer Classic winning the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award. In August of 2007, Anderson made the New York Yankees pitching staff his personal batting practice session, going 4-for-6, driving in 10 runs. The last four came on a grand slam he hit off of left-handed reliever Sean Henn to cap his amazing night.

Anderson was designated for assignment by the Dodgers on Aug. 8 of last year after only batting .181 in a pinch-hitting role. That would be the last time we would see Anderson in a Major League uniform.

Anderson's No. 16 will soon be in the right field bleachers in Anaheim, never to be worn again and just maybe one day Anderson will reach the pearly gates of baseball heaven, Cooperstown.