Ron Washington Resigns as Manager of the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington has suddenly resigned from the team, the Rangers announced Friday.
Washington, who led the Rangers to two straight World Series appearances, released this statement:
"Today, I have submitted my resignation from the job I love - managing the Rangers -- in order to devote my full attention to addressing an off-the-field personal matter. As painful as it is, stepping away from the game is what's best for me and my family.
This is in no way related to the disappointing performance of the team this season. We were already discussing 2015 and looking forward to getting the Rangers back to postseason contention."
Rangers bench coach Tim Bogar will serve as the interim manager for the rest of the season. Texas currently has the worst record in baseball at 53-87.
Washington had a 664-611 record in eight seasons with the Rangers, and was 18-16 in the postseason. Texas lost to San Francisco and St. Louis, respectively, in the 2010 and 2011 World Series.
He tested positive for cocaine use in 2009, but Nolan Ryan kept Washington as the manager, even when Washington offered to resign.