The Best Man: A Look At Rangers Manager Ron Washington Vs. Other Class Of 2007 Debutants

Posted on May 30th, 2009 1:06pm by Evan Grant
Filed under Baseball, Ron Washington
Class of 2007
W-L records for first-managers hired for 2007
Manager Team W-L Pct.
Ron Washington Rangers 183-189 .492
Fredi Gonzalez Florida 177-195 .476
Bud Black San Diego 176-196 .471
Bob Geren Oakland 169-200 .458
Manny Acta Washington 145-225 .392

Following the 2006 season, both the Rangers and Oakland started looking for new managers. The A’s chose to bypass Ron Washington and hire Bob Geren from their own staff while also interviewing Rangers coach Don Wakamatsu. So who got the better end of the deal. The chart shows overall winning percentages for all the first-time managers hired before the 2007 seasons. For whatever impact a manager has, as of right now, it certainly seems like the Rangers made the best move. Yes, Washington can be inconsistent with his strategic moves, but I’d still venture to say that unless it’s a seven-game series being played by two fairly evenly matched teams, a manager who gets his team to play hard is going to be worth more than one who plays the percentages.

Speaking of which, that’s exactly what Bob Geren did, I guess, in walking Chris Davis intentionally in the first inning. Technically speaking, you’d want your right-handed pitcher to face a right-handed backup player rather than a guy with 12 homers. Technically speaking, it was the correct move. And, yet, it remains with me to this point as one of the stupidest things I’ve seen a manager do in forever. It is the absolute case of making the right “technical” move and ignoring all the instincts, scenarios and other influences that could have an impact.

Now, one last thing on the manager situation: Take those five first-time managers and subtract the first 50 games they managed. Figure that was the “learning curve.” Who has gotten better? And who hasn’t? Here is there winning percentages since their first 50 games: Washington (.512), Gonzalez (.478), Black (.455), Geren (.451) and Acta (.371). What you will notice is that only one manager has seen a significant increase in winning percentage – Washington. Much of it is due to better talent, but for as much as I’ve questioned some of Washington’s tactical moves, it also must be noted that he’s getting his team to do something the others aren’t. They are winning.

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10 Comments to “The Best Man: A Look At Rangers Manager Ron Washington Vs. Other Class Of 2007 Debutants”
  • Doug @ May 30th, 2009 at 1:26 pm

    One thing is for sure: Geren ought to be fired for his move last night — intentionally walking Chris Davis. There is no more automatic out in baseball right now than Davis. That was dumber than dumb.

  • Rodney @ May 30th, 2009 at 3:01 pm

    You sound like you’ve been to athleticsnation.com today, Doug.

  • Tsing Sao @ May 30th, 2009 at 3:13 pm

    Facts are facts, but some of those wins and loses came under doubtful moves by Ron Washington. Under the NL rules it’s been even clearer how he make bad calls.

    And for the line up management and all that ‘gut feeling first’ theory, my conclusion is that the team is good but not because enjoys of ‘good’ Management.

    Regards,

    T.

  • Evan Grant @ May 30th, 2009 at 3:41 pm

    @Tsing Sao: I’m not suggesting that Washington is a managerial genius, only that the team has gotten better under him. Encouraging good talent to play hard, to me, is worth more than making all the proper decisions for inferior talent.

    And let me say this about NL rules: The Rangers were 9-9 under NL rules during Washington’s first two years and they are 3-0 this season. Overall, the Rangers are 24-15 in interleague play during the Washington era. In all of MLB, only Detroit, Minnesota and the LA Angels have better interleague winning percentages in that time.

  • Jack Daddy @ May 30th, 2009 at 4:43 pm

    Evan,

    This town is full of idiots, racists and contrarians. It shouldn’t surprise you that anytime you show the slightest bit of compliment toward Wash, a few people are going to chime in and say the guy can’t manage. His moves this year, with few exception, have hit. I also don’t think mgr strategy impacts that many games (though I think the As idiot cost them any chance of winning last night with his idiot move). The most important thing a bb mgr can do is create a good locker room calm and keep his guys stable and playing hard. We’ve seen that for 3 years here, save

  • Jack Daddy @ May 30th, 2009 at 4:45 pm

    a couple of Aprils. Not to imply Tsing Sao is any of those things, but I guaranty you 60% of the feedback you get will say the guy can’t manage. And talking about NL rules? So there is the double swith (I bet NONE of these readers can explain how it works) — let’s not overrate NL “strategy”.

    People need to recognize the most important thing – this team likes Wash and they play hard for him. Case closed.

  • Jack Daddy @ May 30th, 2009 at 4:47 pm

    One more thing – Wash’s grammer isn’t the best, but people shouldn’t think for a second that he’s not smart because of it. The guy is bright and his baseball IQ is very high. Plus he’s not a douche blow hard like Buck was.

  • JustSaying @ May 30th, 2009 at 6:19 pm

    These guys do show they will play hard for Wash despite some moves that gives baseball folks a cold headache……..
    Bottom line is they are winning and if they can find another couple of bullpen arms then they might win the division…..it’s pretty easy to see that the rotation doesn’t match up with other division leaders…..Tigers or Yankees but we’re moving in the right direction that is for sure……

  • Tsing Sao @ May 30th, 2009 at 6:52 pm

    To me, the ball club has won due to a great team effort. Talent is overmatching a) Managerial Decisions, b) The bullpen, c) The sporadic sluggish-one dimensional offense…

    I have no part in the “idiots, racists and contrarians” bandwagon that Mr. Jack Daddy is implying I’m on… that’d be unrealistic since I’m a minority… and let me tell you, I’m as happy as I can be with the team right now, just a bit clear that the success of this team (I think) has no direct relationship with Ron Washington as a Manager.

    All the parts sum up, yes, but when you’re the one using Frankie – Frank like he’s Scott Proctor and then he actually hits the DL, obviously some level of concern will arise.

    The use of David Murphy? The use of Chris Davis? Especially going with them while on severe slumps and a favorable match for Jones on the bench… I don’t know, maybe Im getting spoiled at all this winning.

    Regards,

    T.

  • Jack Daddy @ May 30th, 2009 at 7:05 pm

    Tsing Sao,

    Went to gym and my post was bugging me, not because I don’t believe it, but didn’t want it to look like attack on you. Wasn’t intended that way (trust me, my thoughts were running more to people that I actually encounter and hear the things they say).

    I just get a bit defensive of this team, as I feel like people are being critical of a second division team, and they lead the AL!!