C.J. Wilson is a pud. Ron Washington is a stud.
Posted by: Richie Rich in Pitching, Rangers, Shallow Thoughts, White Sox, Yankees
Texas Rangers’ relief pitcher C.J. Wilson is headed to the Disabled List and possibly the DFA list. Supposedly for “bone spurs in his left elbow.”
Bullshit. It’s because Wilson’s not effective as a pitcher (recently removed from the closer’s role) and even worse – he’s disrespectful towards his manager and his team.
Last night, Wilson entered the game in the top of the eighth inning with the Rangers holding a six-run lead over the visiting New York Yankees.
Wilson threw 22 pitches … and was not impressive. He walked Bobby Abreu, hit Alex Rodriguez, struck out Xavier Nady, walked Robinson Cano, and then, with a 0-1 count, served up Richie Sexson’s 15th Career Grand Slam.
And then it got ugly.
Texas manager Ron Washington came in to yank Wilson before he could give the Yankees the keys to the stadium. As Washington made it to the mound, Wilson started to walk off the field and flipped the ball to Washington.
Washington would have none of that. He stopped Wilson, gave him back the ball, and made him hand the ball back to him. Here’s the video.
Awesome. You foul up, you take it like a man. You hand the ball to the manager when he asks for the ball … and not before.
I’ve seen pitchers hand the ball back to a manager before being asked for the ball. And the manager gave it right back to the pitcher and told him to get the nexy guy out. That manager was Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen.
A few weeks ago, Guillen blasted Wilson’s mound antics after Wilson celebrated on the mound after giving up three runs to the White Sox – nearly blowing the Rangers’ four run lead in the process.
I bet Wilson’s pitched his last game for Ron Washington and the Rangers. Not coincidentally, Ron Washington has become one of my favorite managers.
I wonder if C.J. Wilson will blog about this.
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August 6th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
It would be one thing if the Rangers were any good. But as they love having sorry pitching, it amazes me to think that this guy might think he is better than anyone else. Note to CJ…Dude, you suck.
Thank the maker that the Cowboys are in camp, and the first preseason game is Saturday. Starting Saturday, the Rangers slip back down into irrelevance.
August 7th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Ball flip doesn’t look like that big a deal.
August 7th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
I originally was not a Ron Washington fan, but when he came to Texas, one of his first statements was that it takes a while to turn a ship around (presumably one going in the wrong direction). As a fan of the Rangers, it’s not easy, losing every year. This town is Cowboys nuts (which I could care less about), the Mavs draw good numbers only when their winning and the same is true with the Stars. 85% of Rangers’ fans don’t know the first thing about being a true baseball fan. But if they keep going the way that they are, and aquiring a couple of starting pitchers, the rest of the team and manager are A-OK with me.
August 7th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
TomBrooklyn -
The flip wasn’t the issue.
If Wilson had waited until Washington had made it to the mound and asked for the ball … no problem.
But Wilson WANTED out of that game. He quit before Washington pulled him.