“Because that’s the only hop that matters,” said Washington, who has long been regarded as one of the game’s best infield coaches. The idea, as Washington hits to a variety of angles on both sides of each player, is to simulate the last hops of ground balls. So 570 one-hoppers daily in around a half-hour of work. The sessions, according to Washington, last 4 minutes 35 seconds, during which he briskly hits 95 one-hoppers to each player. Six infielders - first baseman Freddie Freeman, Albies, shortstop Dansby Swanson, third baseman Austin Riley and the backups Ehire Adrianza and Johan Camargo - each work with the coach before batting practice. The elaborate daily drills that he runs his six infielders through are like watching a tightly choreographed dance troupe prepare for a performance. He acknowledges that his own mistakes - a positive test for cocaine use in 2010 and his resignation as the Rangers’ manager after he had an extramarital affair four years later - may cost him the opportunity to return to managing.įor now, though, Washington is entirely committed to coaching with Atlanta. Washington got a lot of attention with the Oakland Athletics of “Moneyball” fame, and took the Texas Rangers to the World Series twice before off-field issues resulted in his resignation. It was a glimpse into one of the most private and entertaining corners of this postseason’s baseball universe: The loving, lively and unique relationship between Washington and his group of infielders - especially, Albies. Finally Washington, dressed in yoga pants with shorts over them, requested that Albies bring him some uniform pants. Washington accused him of going soft with the massage. Albies was explaining that he would be down to begin his daily drills with Washington in a few minutes. Yet there they were, face to face via their devices. And batting practice was closing in before Game 2 of the National League Championship Series. Ozzie Albies, the second baseman, was upstairs in the trainer’s room getting a rubdown. But Ron Washington, Atlanta’s third-base coach, was sitting in his team’s dugout. If this scene happened during the off-season, it might have seemed normal. He tapped the screen and up popped the face of his star second baseman. ATLANTA - The phone buzzed with a FaceTime request and the old coach grinned.
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