Not a Wash-out

To summarize: Ron Washington uses cocaine, just once, gets tested by Major League Baseball in a most unfortunate case of bad timing, tells his bosses Jon Daniels and Nolan Ryan, goes to all the right doctors, says all the right things, and apologizes to the known world when the story breaks nine months later. Got it? Good.

The question I find most intriguing...Who merits a second chance in America? People are coming down on both sides of the fence in the Ron Washington debate. Some say a 57 year old Skipper of a Major League Baseball team must have the common sense to never put himself in such a situation and should have been terminated on the spot. Some say the way he handled the situation shows contrition and maturity and therefore he should not be judged so harshly.

I heard someone say that Wash has done all the right things, and with the exception of snorting the coke in the first place, I would tend to agree. If it is true that this was a one time deal, that he made a stupid mistake that never happened before and will never happen again, I think I would have come to the same conclusion that Daniels and Ryan obviously did, which was to give Washington another chance. The consequences of that decision will be playing out in front of us all over the course of the upcoming season, which promises to be uncomfortable for Washington and his players for at least a few months. Every move Washington makes will be up for scrutiny from the front office, his team, the media and the fans. Hecklers from Anaheim to New York must already be working on their material for when the Rangers visit. These things could prove to be a mighty distraction or could prove to galvanize a manager with a team that knows a thing or two about guys being on the edge of the abyss. Was it a gamble for the Rangers to stick with Wash, absolutely, but betting on a good man is always worth the risk.

I am big on forgiveness, and yes big on second chances. Does that make me a bleeding heart? Maybe. Does it mean I have a heart. God I hope so.