The attitude we could use in politics and not just baseball
From new L.A. Angels manager and self-professed baseball generational lifer:
“In the game of baseball, what it is about is adjusting and readjusting,” he said. “As long as you make adjustments and you readjust to things after you’ve made that adjustment, you’re going to be fine in baseball. I’ve adjusted and readjusted to a few generations. I’ve adjusted and readjusted to a bunch of changes in the game. It hasn’t done anything to my style of teaching, or my style of the game.
“I see the difference in the game. And I see where it comes in application. And while I’m the manager now, when this new style of baseball can be applied, I’m not going to miss it. I’ve been through it. What I’m trying to do is get the guys that have to go between those lines to understand that we just want to be prepared for every part of the game of baseball. Every part.”
Before he was hired by the Angels, Ron Washington was a Braves coach for seven seasons. He’d previously coached with the A’s and managed the Rangers. (John Bazemore / Associated Press)
I then reminded him of a story he once told me about a disagreement he had with the Braves’ analytics department, over infield positioning. He concluded that debate by telling one of the members of that department: “I want you to teach me what you know. But then I want you to let me teach you what I know.” That’s an expression that has been stuck in my head ever since.
Is there any better way a baseball lifer could reach a meeting of the minds with a new-age baseball thinker than that? Let’s learn from each other. That’s the message Washington wanted to convey, then and now — and it feels like it ought to solve everything.
“It’s not hard, if you’re willing to adjust and readjust,” he said. “It’s not hard at all. … What happens is, you make every person feel invested. And in this business, that’s all you want to do, is be invested in what’s going on. Now it may not work your way. But at least I had an opinion. You see what I’m saying?
“And that’s all you want,” he said. “And all I want from them is to recognize the wisdom and knowledge down here — just like you want us to recognize the wisdom and the knowledge up there. Let’s talk about it. That’s all I want to do.”
-- Starkville podcast
“In the game of baseball, what it is about is adjusting and readjusting,” he said. “As long as you make adjustments and you readjust to things after you’ve made that adjustment, you’re going to be fine in baseball. I’ve adjusted and readjusted to a few generations. I’ve adjusted and readjusted to a bunch of changes in the game. It hasn’t done anything to my style of teaching, or my style of the game.
“I see the difference in the game. And I see where it comes in application. And while I’m the manager now, when this new style of baseball can be applied, I’m not going to miss it. I’ve been through it. What I’m trying to do is get the guys that have to go between those lines to understand that we just want to be prepared for every part of the game of baseball. Every part.”
Before he was hired by the Angels, Ron Washington was a Braves coach for seven seasons. He’d previously coached with the A’s and managed the Rangers. (John Bazemore / Associated Press)
I then reminded him of a story he once told me about a disagreement he had with the Braves’ analytics department, over infield positioning. He concluded that debate by telling one of the members of that department: “I want you to teach me what you know. But then I want you to let me teach you what I know.” That’s an expression that has been stuck in my head ever since.
Is there any better way a baseball lifer could reach a meeting of the minds with a new-age baseball thinker than that? Let’s learn from each other. That’s the message Washington wanted to convey, then and now — and it feels like it ought to solve everything.
“It’s not hard, if you’re willing to adjust and readjust,” he said. “It’s not hard at all. … What happens is, you make every person feel invested. And in this business, that’s all you want to do, is be invested in what’s going on. Now it may not work your way. But at least I had an opinion. You see what I’m saying?
“And that’s all you want,” he said. “And all I want from them is to recognize the wisdom and knowledge down here — just like you want us to recognize the wisdom and the knowledge up there. Let’s talk about it. That’s all I want to do.”
-- Starkville podcast
80-89, M
