BASEBALL – Rangers: Interviews for Coach Position
By Kris Lazaro (12/11/2006)
Ron Washington, who is the Oakland Athletics third base coach, will be the first candidates interviewed for the Texas Rangers' managerial vacancy. At least five other candidates will be interviewed later for the same position by the Texas Rangers.
Washington has been working as a coach with the Oakland Athletics for the past 11 seasons. The Texas Rangers’ will interview the coach on Tuesday this week. This event just took place a few days after the Oakland Athletics were swept away by Detroit in the AL Championship Series.
Jon Daniels, General Manager of the Texas rangers, also plans to discuss on Thursday with minor league manager John Russell regarding the same managerial vacancy. Russell is a former Ranger who was the International League Manager of the Year with Scrantona and Wilkes-Barre this season.
Two other candidates’ interviews have not been scheduled since they are still involved in post-season play. These candidates are New York Mets coach Manny Acta and Japanese manager Trey Hillman. Hillman is an Arlington native and was a former director of player development for the Rangers. Once the post-season games will be over Daniels planned to approach both coaches.
Eventually general manager Daniels will talk to Rangers bench coach Don Wakamatsu after interviewing all candidates outside the organization. Rangers hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo withdrew his name from consideration last week, preferring to remain in his current position.
The Rangers dismissed Buck Showalter who led the team to his sixth losing record in seven years since last making the playoffs in 1999. Showalter was 319-329 in four seasons and he was 80-82 this season with the A’s.
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