Rangers Manager Tests Positive for Coke

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

whoops.

SI: Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington tested positive for cocaine Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington tested positive for cocaine in a Major League Baseball-administered drug test, SI.com reported today. Washington confirmed to SI that he did test positive. The report also notes that he took the unusual step of informing MLB officials that it was possible he'd test positive before the test came back. Said Washington: "I did make a mistake and I regret that I did it," Washington told SI.com by phone from Surprise, Ariz., on Tuesday night. "I am really embarrassed and I am really sorry." The Rangers held a team meeting this morning to discuss the matter before SI's report went public. Just two years ago, Washington and other managers would not have been subject to testing. But as part of the recommendations made by the Mitchell Report in December 2007, baseball added testing for managers, coaches and clubhouse personnel. Rangers general manager Jon Daniels told SI that Washington will keep his job after the manager made assurances he will not use the drug again. Said Daniels: "We asked a lot of questions and worked through Major League Baseball's program, where Ron had appropriate consultation, support and testing. But for all the reasons we hired him in the first place, we felt and continued to feel that he's the right guy to lead the club. He made a significant mistake. He also admitted to it and took steps to ensure that it won't happen again." Washington tied for fourth in American League Manager of the Year voting in 2009. His club had to face another drug-related distraction that season when outfielder Josh Hamilton, whose battles with addiction delayed what became an All-Star career, admitted he suffered a relapse with alcohol in spring training. By Gabe Lacques

[metirish]

Washington is 57 , it's not like he's a 21 year old trying coke for the first time , at least that would be my impression. I'd say he won't be there long..

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Well, I can understand it, ah s'pose-- it's tough to live up to the wildly-unrealistic expectations of fans in baseball-mad Texas.

[metirish]

He's the manager of Josh Hamilton , hardly a good thing for him.

[Guest Edgy DC]

It would seem to me that they'd have to give him the same suspension a player would get.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Well, it sounds like he got points for 'fessing up before the tests came back positive, saying that they would. Sounds like they like him, and would have axed him last year if they were going to do it.

[Guest sharpie]

Also don't think anyone would say the game is tainted by coked-up managing.

[metirish]

Daily Snooze

While all non-player personnel with clubhouse access are randomly tested once a year, Washington, 57, was subjected to increased testing following last July's positive and passed every subsequent test. According to the online report, Washington also called the commissioner's office and alerted the Rangers' front office before the results had come in, warning the league that he might have failed the initial test. Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/2010/03/17/2010-03-17_rangers_manager_tested_positive_for_cocaine.html#ixzz0iShrjKCM

[Guest Edgy DC]

Well, it sounds like he got points for 'fessing up before the tests came back positive, saying that they would. Sounds like they like him, and would have axed him last year if they were going to do it.[/quote:2aluargw]
Yeah, I'm not expecting anybody to be axed, just that they send a double-standard message by not suspending him.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

He claimed the positive test was caused by kissing tennis player Richard Gasquet.

[Frayed Knot]

One of the odd things is that Washington was rumored to be on the chopping block at various times over the past year or two and you suspect something like this would have pushed that thought over the edge.
Now heading into this year, Texas is a sexy pick to win a division and then maybe even a playoff round (they never have).
Plus they've now got a stacked minor league system which actually contains some live arms so the pressure to win is suddenly go to increase around there.

[Gwreck]

Yeah, I'm not expecting anybody to be axed, just that they send a double-standard message by not suspending him.[/quote:2x84b4kh]

Disagree, for the reasons stated by sharpie above. It's a different standard because he's not on-field personnel.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Yes, I understand, but I'd like to discuss how that's a meaningful distinction.

I mean, if the idea behind the prohibition of use of illegal recreational narcotics is the shame it brings on the organization by providing a terrible example to young fans inconsistent with the values... (or somesuch) blah blah, how is the manager exempt from that standard that the organization and league are trying to project through the players?

[ashie62]

The Rangers have acquired pitcher Phil Coke to man the base

[Valadius]

The Rangers have acquired pitcher Phil Coke to man the base[/quote:3ea5voyi]
More like freebase.

[MFS62]

As of now (11PM update on WFAN) he's staying on this year, but only has one year remaining on his contract.
I wonder if it matters if a manager is on steroids. Or if they even test them for it.

Later

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Suspension, no suspension... at least this explains why Washington was always jumpy by the bottom of the eighth.

[Gwreck]

Yes, I understand, but I'd like to discuss how that's a meaningful distinction.

I mean, if the idea behind the prohibition of use of illegal recreational narcotics is the shame it brings on the organization by providing a terrible example to young fans inconsistent with the values... (or somesuch) blah blah, how is the manager exempt from that standard that the organization and league are trying to project through the players?[/quote:1ha4ft33]

With that premise, I don't think there's much of a distinction.

Practically speaking, I don't think the league suspends the manager because they don't have the ability to do so and such matters are a matter of team discretion. I suppose from a health standpoint as well, the league has an interest in deterring recreational drug use if they are inhibiting performance, whereas a manager isn't a physical competitor.

[duan]

fwiw,

the premise of the WADA's policy is nothing to do with legality or morality, but to do with performance enhancement - seeing as a manager doesn't actually 'perform' there's no basis for him not being involved in the games.
However you could manager is the one person who might actually be using cocaine to (if not enhance as such) enable his performance, it'd certainly explain.
http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=6703749

[Guest Edgy DC]

It wouldn't be the league but the team. And I think there is a legal/moral dimension, as they do suspend players for illegal recreational drug use that has no particular performance value --- they just maybe haven't in a while. He would initially be placed on some sort of clinical track under the current policy, I believe. Heck, maybe Washington has been.

And please know that I'm not really looking for blood --- Matthew 15:11 and all. I just anticipate a player on the verge of suspension down the road who cites the Washington case in his defense.

[Gwreck]

With all of the attention on performance-enhancing drugs, I don't think I can recall the last player suspended for recreational drug use. Doc and Darryl's most recent suspensions were both in 1995, but I'm sure there's been someone else since.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Not sure I can either, and I think that's because the current policy calls for initially a clinical intervention, and it's not until maybe a second violation that a player faces random manadatory tests.

Was anybody suspended after that highly publicized lawsuit-launching Tigers dope-fueled Soul Plane flight, which was probably more common (at least at the time) than one might care to think about.

[metirish]

Tony Torasco?

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

According to the MLB site's drug-policy chronology, it was Matt Lawton in November 2005.

[Gwreck]

I think that suspension was for steroids, not a "drug of abuse." (Link)

This appears to be a comprehensive list dating back to 2005 and there are no major league suspensions for "Drug of Abuse".

[Fman99]

Keep that guy away from my cocaine!

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Now he's fessing up to pot and uppers during his playing days.

[metirish]

When he was a coach in Oakland he said he would take "uppers" and Art would take " downers" .

[MFS62]

When he was a coach in Oakland he said he would take "uppers" and Art would take " downers" .

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I think the person who gave Art Howe downers was the same friend who suggested that Robin Williams try cocaine.