Ron Washington used cocaine.  He has admitted that.  The Texas Rangers organization, from President Nolan Ryan on down, while giving him warning, are forgiving him- and giving him a chance to remain with the team. Tim Cowlishaw questions whether that should be the case.  Managers don’t win ball games, players do- and what kind of message do you send to the players and to the fans if you keep a manager with a positive drug test.

But what kind of message do you send to players and fans if you give a player a second chance and not a manager?  We all know the miraculous story of Josh Hamilton, and we know about his continued struggle.  If he gets 3, 4 or even 5 chances just because he can hit a home run, what kind of a message does it send if you fire Ron Washington because of what appears to be a one-time incident.  (I didn’t see the entire press conference, but I suspect it was something he did when he was a young man, but hasn’t done it since until last summer.)  Giving Hamilton chance after chance and sending Washington away sends the message it all about the money.  And let me be clear, as much as I like to remind everyone this is a business- every business is about the people.

Cowlishaw may be right.  Ron Washington may not be a good manager.  He certainly doesn’t have the reputation that Tony LaRussa has- and Cowlishaw’s parallel of LaRussa’s DUI in 2007 is a fair one.  But if Ron Washington is to be fired, it should be because he can’t do his job.  He guided the Rangers last year to a better record, despite this indiscretion.  If he fails to do that this year- well, then he should be gone.  Many had already named him as a manager who was in danger of losing his job this year anyway.

The players all support Washington, according to this Evan Grant piece. They know he cares about them- that is what Washington’s reputation has been built on.  This group also knows a fair amount about what loyalty can do.

If Washington has a problem with cocaine, he won’t be able to hide it.  He will fail another test very very soon.  Then, without doubt he should be let go.  Why?  Because he has failed to acknowledge the problem and deal with it properly.  Josh Hamilton has someone travel with him to help ease his way and to act as a mentor and sponsor.  He has taken steps to try to keep him making good choices.  If Washington slips again, it could be a sign he hasn’t done that.

But I think the Rangers keeping Washington is the right move.  They have a tight supportive clubhouse, and Washington is a big part of that.  Watch what the Rangers are going to do this year.