So, I gotta tell you about this whole Ron Washington and the Atlanta Braves thing. Man, it’s been a ride. I’ve been following the Braves for years, you know, and Wash, he was our third-base coach for like, seven seasons. The guy was a fixture, a real part of the team’s spirit, like family you know.
I remember when the news first broke. It was just this month, actually. Ron Washington was leaving us. It came out of left field, I wasn’t expecting it at all. He was going to manage the Los Angeles Angels. The Angels! I mean, good for him, getting a manager gig, but still, it felt weird, like a gut punch. It felt like a brother is leaving for another place.
I started digging around, reading all the articles online. Turns out, Wash is pretty beloved by Braves fans. And why wouldn’t he be? He was our infield guru, always waving those guys home, and he was good at it. I saw some talk about his past, some struggles he went through when he was with the Texas Rangers, but it seems like he got the help he needed. And you know what? It was the Braves, with Brian Snitker, that helped him get back on his feet. That’s what families do. The Braves gave him a second shot, helped him rebuild his image, and he really delivered for us.
Then I found out that he was going to earn about $4 million this year, along with some other managers like Stephen Vogt, Bob Melvin. Pretty good money, right? But it’s not really about the money, it’s about respect and opportunities. Apparently, Wash even got his own World Series ring before the Rangers won it. That’s how much he meant to the game, even to our rivals.
I watched some of the Angels’ press conference, and man, it hit me right in the feels. Wash was talking about his time in Atlanta, and you could tell he really missed it. I mean, we miss him too! He brought so much energy, so much knowledge to the team. For a long time, I was thinking, should he have left the Braves in the first place? He was such a perfect fit here.
Here’s what I did after hearing the news:
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Dug into the details
I read every article I could find about Wash leaving for the Angels. I wanted to know the why, the how, all of it. I also looked at what other Braves fans were saying. It was kinda like group therapy, you know? Sharing the sadness with others who understood.
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Reflected on his time with us
I spent some time thinking back on all the great moments Wash gave us. The close plays at the plate, the celebrations, his interactions with the players. He was a big part of our success, and I realized just how much I appreciated him.
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Watched his press conference
I found the Angels’ press conference online and watched the whole thing. It was emotional, seeing him in a different uniform, talking about his new team. But it was also good to see him happy and excited for this new opportunity.
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Accepted the change
It took a while, but I finally came to terms with it. Wash is gone, and that’s okay. He gave us his all, and now he’s on a new adventure. We’ll always have those memories, and we’ll always be grateful for his time with the Braves. And honestly, I’ll be keeping an eye on the Angels now, just to see how he’s doing. After all, he’s still family, even if he’s wearing a different uniform.
It’s definitely the end of an era for the Braves. We’re gonna have a new third-base coach next year, someone new to learn the ropes with. It won’t be the same, but change is part of the game, right? We’ll adjust, we’ll move on. But we’ll never forget Ron Washington. He’ll always be a Brave in our hearts. And I will remember this feeling for a long time.
