Former Atlanta Braves third base coach Ron Washington has no regrets about leaving the team to manage the Los Angeles Angels, and he’s unapologetic about his decision. Washington, who previously managed the Texas Rangers, was highly respected in the Braves clubhouse. His move to the Angels wasn’t a surprise, given his ambition to lead a team again.
In an interview with Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Washington firmly defended his decision: “I ain’t no damn failure. I’ve never been a failure in my damn life. I might be failing, but I ain’t no failure. There’s a difference. I’m going to do what it takes to not fail. I’m not going to let it just keep happening to me and say I’m a failure. [Expletive] that. I’m going to do what I have to do to come out of it.”
Washington’s departure from Atlanta was significant, as he was a fan favorite. Despite his age, he seized the opportunity to manage the Angels, a team in the midst of a rebuild and missing key players like Mike Trout for much of the season. Washington remains optimistic about the team’s future, stating, “We just have to learn how to win. It takes time. It’ll be different next year.”
His confidence in the Angels is unwavering, even though they are expected to trade for younger talent at the deadline. Washington hasn’t lost sleep over the challenges, emphasizing the youth and potential of his team: “This record isn’t anything what I hoped, and we’re not playing like I expect. But we’ve got such a young team. There are nights when we’ve got everyone on the field making the minimum salary.”
Despite losing star player Shohei Ohtani, Washington believes he is the right leader for the Angels and stands by his decision to manage them. His determination and confidence suggest that the Angels made a solid choice, even if some Braves fans might disagree with his outspoken defense of his move.
Leave a Reply