AP News, December 7th, 2006
Ron Washington's rebuilding project back home in New Orleans is on hold _ and not because he's suddenly too busy as a first-year major league manager with Texas.
Washington had been working for the second straight offseason to recover his flood-ravaged home after Hurricane Katrina hit last year, but said Wednesday that thieves have been taking parts from his new air conditioning unit.
His wife saw the trespassers in the backyard at their damaged home in Washington's native Big Easy, which was devastated by the nation's worst natural disaster in late August 2005.
"I've got to stop. We're pushing it back, maybe two or three years," said Washington, who has been traveling back and forth between Texas and his home since the Rangers hired him Nov. 6 to replace Buck Showalter.
"It's coming. But it doesn't make sense to keep putting stuff in if they're going to keep stealing. I didn't really expect it. I thought they'd break into houses, but I didn't think they'd be copping from air conditioning units. I've got to find a way to put a steel cage around my air conditioning unit."
The frustrating development isn't getting him down too much, though. Washington is keeping his wits about him.
"Right now, I'm on the top of the world," he said. "I'm enjoying it. I'm in a good state in baseball."
His new job is barely more than an hour's flight away, or an eight-hour drive. He's spending a lot of time in both places and has found a place to live near the Rangers' ballpark.
Washington has received dozens of congratulatory handshakes during the baseball winter meetings, including from Braves manager Bobby Cox on Wednesday.
"I hope I'm still doing it at 65," Washington told Cox, who turns 66 next May.
Washington sat with new Oakland manager Bob Geren for lunch. Both interviewed for the A's job last year when the club briefly cut ties with Ken Macha, then again this fall after Macha was fired. Washington received his offer from the Rangers while Oakland GM Billy Beane was still interviewing candidates.
The 54-year-old Washington, who played parts of 10 seasons in the majors as an infielder for five teams, spent 11 seasons as an A's infield and third-base coach.
He has always been popular with the players and was instrumental in the development of five-time Gold Glove third baseman Eric Chavez _ not to mention Mark Ellis, Miguel Tejada and Jason Giambi. Chavez presented his third Gold Glove to Washington, who began coaching in the New York Mets organization in 1991 and later managed their Class-A club.
Hours before batting practice, Washington would be on the field hitting grounders to kids trying to better their game. He doesn't plan to change much now.
"If I have an opportunity to hit ground balls and work, I'm going to work," Washington said. "That's me."
After Katrina hit, Washington's wife, Gerry, and 25 other family members got out and landed safely in an Alabama shelter. Then they moved together into three temporary houses, where they tried to establish some semblance of normalcy amid the chaos in the Gulf Coast.
"There's still a lot to do in New Orleans," he said.
