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. 

World Series Showdown: Texas Draw Cards

Two franchises from completely different backgrounds, one rich in tradition and winning while the other still looking to find their place among baseball history. Two teams that took far different roads to get back here, one taking an improbable up the wild card standings, the other winning their second straight division title, convincingly.

The St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers are set to square off in the 2011 Fall Classic in a series that should be one for the ages.

Texas Rangers at St. Louis Cardinals:
After feeling the bitter pain of losing in their first World Series appearance a year ago to the San Francisco Giants, the Rangers have come back with vengeance and find themselves in their second straight Fall Classic. With thirteen returning players from last year's World Series roster, Texas is determined to not let this one slip away.

Wilson has struggled this postseason, going
0-2 with a 8.04 ERA in his three starts

The Ranger's offense has been stagnant for most of the postseason, but came to life in the series-clinching Game 6 against the Detroit Tigers in the ALCS. They scored 15 runs on 17 hits that included a nine-run third inning. Nelson Cruz has six playoff home runs for the second straight postseason and was honored as the ALCS MVP. He along with Josh Hamilton, who has yet to hit a home run this postseason mainly due to his recent groin injury, will need to be the two that protect the middle of the order.

Many questioned manager Ron Washington's decision to keep Michael Young in the cleanup spot, but he silenced the critics after Young's big Game 6, tallying 5 RBIs. Offseason acquisitions Adrian Beltre and Mike Napoli are both playing in their first World Series and will need to swing the bat like they have all season if Texas is overcome a unbelievably hot St. Louis team.

Texas' starting rotation hasn't fared well in this postseason and could be tested mightily by the best offense in the National League this season. It's the bullpen that holds the key to success in this series for Washington and Co. In their 42 and 2/3 innings this postseason they have accumulated a 2.34 ERA.

The Rangers have added starters Alexi Ogando and Scott Feldman, who won 17 games for Texas in 2009, to their 'pen to go along with 2010 Rookie of the Year, Neftali Feliz.

General manager Jon Daniels also traded for relievers Mike Gonzalez, Koji Uehara and Mike Adams during this season, giving Washington the ability to mix and match late in the game, something Cardinals manager Tony La Russa is famous for doing and could loom large with four potential games in the NL style of play.

In a baseball city that rivals all others, St. Louis will be roaring for Game 1 of the World Series. The Cardinals offense was not only among the best in the NL, but throughout the majors. They were in the top ten in runs (762), batting average (.273), on-base percentage (.341) and slugging percentage (.425), but have taken their game to new heights in the postseason.

Third baseman David Frees, who is fresh on his NLCS MVP honors, is leading the team with a .425 average, 4 home runs and 14 RBIs. Free-agent-to be, Albert Pujols, is second in all three categories, but it will be the bats of Matt Holliday and Lance Berkman that need to come alive. Berkman and Holliday are two of six Cardinals that have at least one home run this postseason, but will need to provide more pop to contend with the high octane offense in Texas.

Schumaker adds a toughness and different
dimension to La Russa's lineup.

While Holliday has batted .375 in his ten games this postseason, Berkman has struggled to find his stride, batting .237 in his 38 at-bats.

Skip Schumaker missed the entire NLCS due to an oblique tweak, but batted .600 in the NLDS, including driving in the only run of the decisive Game 5 against the Phillies. He has been added to the World Series roster and could prove to be a huge addition to this Cardinal team.

Much like Texas, St. Louis has seen their rotation scuffle, becoming the first team in postseason history to have win a playoff series without having a starter go past five innings.

Jake Westbrook has been added to the roster in favor of reliever-turned-starter-turned-reliever Kyle McClellan to help mend a struggling starting staff. On the other hand, the 'pen for La Russa has been unbelievable, posting a 2.55 ERA in their 42 and 2/3 innings of work and it could be better if it weren't for some rough outings in the Cardinals' 11-6 loss in Game 1 of the NLDS to Philadelphia.

Berkman and Texas' Game 1 starter C.J. Wilson were involved in some preseason controversy and now find themselves fighting for the right to call themselves the best in baseball. Who would have thought? This series could be a battle of the bullpens and with some inclement weather in the forecast this should make for an intriguing World Series.

TEX X-Factor: C.J. Wilson

STL X-Factor: Skip Schumaker

St. Louis in Seven.

ALCS Preview: Detroit Roars Into Texas

After one of the most exciting first rounds in recent memory with three decisive Game 5's, it's on to the League Championship Series with some of baseball's most historic franchise's.


Detroit Tigers at Texas Rangers:
The last time these two teams were in the ALCS, they both advanced to the World Series, but came up short in five games. In 2006, the Tigers launched to the Fall Classic thanks to the bat of Magglio Ordonez, but it was the inability of their pitchers to make plays off the mound that saw the St. Louis Cardinals celebrate their tenth World Series title. As the Rangers, they are the defending American League champions and trying to have avenge last seasons World Series loss to the pitching packed San Francisco Giants.

Detroit battled through a tough five game series with the New York Yankees, who had the AL's best record in 2011, much like they did in '06. Manager Jim Leyland chose not to pitch his ace Justin Verlander in a decisive game, which would have quite a stir if the Tigers would have lost in the Bronx. Instead, Leyland's decision looks genius as this flame throwing right-hander is set to pitch Game 1 of the ALCS.

Leyland clearly out managed Joe Girardi in
the ALDS and could do the same to Ron
Washington.

It will need to be the pitching that carries this Tigers team through the postseason's second round if they want to slow down the Rangers' high octane offense. Detroit had yet to lose a game this season when leading after eight innings. That can be contributed to arguably the best closer in baseball this season, Jose Valverde. "Paper Grande" as they call him was a perfect 49 for 49 in save opportunities during the regular year and has saved both games asked of him this postseason.

The Rangers will need to score early and often if they want different results at the end of games.

Don't forget about the Tigers offense which was one of the best in the majors in 2011. After yet another MVP caliber year by Miguel Cabrera and a late September surge that won him his second career batting title, he will be the main focus of the heavily left-handed pitching staff in Arlington. Victor Martinez was among the best in the majors with runners in scoring position and the rejuvenated bat of Jhonny Peralta could loom large in this best-of-seven showdown.

Despite all their recent offensive success, it's the bat of late season acquisition Delmon Young, who hit a franchise record three home runs in the ALDS, that will be sorely missed. Young was left off Detroit's roster after suffering an oblique injury late in Game 5 against the Yankees.

Texas is coming off their thrilling series with the Tampa Bay Rays in which they beat them for the second straight year in the ALDS. With their offense struggling most of the series, offseason acquisitions Adrian Beltre and Mike Napoli caught fire. In the series-clinching Game 4, Beltre hammered three home runs while Napoli became the first catcher in postseason history to hit a home run, steal a base and throw a runner out in the same game, that coming in Game 3.


The Rangers survived the first round after a relatively quiet series from three of their main sluggers, Michael Young, Josh Hamilton, and Nelson Cruz. Maybe with a trip back to World Series in their sights will ignite their unusually subtle bats.

Ogando is one of the few pitchers that had

success against the Tigers in 2011.

Ron Washington's bullpen is even stronger than last season with the addition of Alexi Ogando. The hard throwing righty, who was responsible for all three of Texas's wins this season against Detroit, started most of the season for the Rangers, but has translated well back to the bullpen and could be a difference maker with Neftali Feliz still slamming the door shut in the ninth.

Poised with three young talented left-handed starters, the Rangers rotation will need to be on their game to hold down a heavy right-hander hitting offense in the Motor City.

Detroit won the season series with Texas six games to three, taking two out of three in all three series they played in 2011. But the postseason is a whole new season where anything can happen.

DET X-Factor: Jim Leyland


TEX X-Factor: Alexi Ogando


Detroit in Six