Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington expressed worry about his future as skipper beyond this season in an ESPN Dallas radio interview on Tuesday, reports Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
More Rangers: Some Thoughts on the Season, to Date
Speaking on the Fitzsimmons, Durrett Show, Washington said:
"I'm concerned about my job. If that decision is made, it's out of my hands. I hope I've gained credibility for what we've accomplished the past few years. I'm not a finger-pointer.
"We've all got to take blame for right now for our collapse, if you want to call it that."
Washington added that he'd rather call the team's struggles a "slump," then contradicted his first statement by saying that the possibility of looking for another gig "isn't anything I'm concerned about." (Or perhaps he's concerned about losing his current job but not worried about getting another. Is that a thing?)
The Rangers have given no indication that their plans include giving Washington the axe. In fact, general manager Jon Daniels spoke out Tuesday afternoon following Wash's radio interview, stating: "There's no substance to [rumors of his firing]. It's something we haven't discussed."
Team president Nolan Ryan also gave Washington his backing in an interview on the same show Monday, stating that he doesn't see the skipper taking the blame for a season that has been littered with issues that are out of his control -- i.e. a slew injuries and the suspension of Nelson Cruz.
The club was a game up on Oakland in the division standings at the start of the month, but have lost 12 of their last 15 games, falling completely out of the AL West race. The Rangers are now tied with the Rays atop the AL Wild Card standings, and need to fight in the final week-plus just to get themselves in the play-in game.
Washington is under contract with the Rangers through the 2014 season. The club is 602-520 overall in his seven seasons at the helm, and have made the postseason each of the last three years.
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