Lame duck coaches are never the best thing, and that's what Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington is right now.
Same goes for Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett. One of them deserves an extension, and one of them doesn't, and it's pretty easy to guess which is which.
Despite the mass of injuries in 2013 and the lack of offensive punch, the Rangers were playing a Game 163 to earn a fourth straight trip to the postseason in one of the best divisions in baseball. Now, the front office has addressed several of their roster deficiencies, but injuries are again a concern following Derek Holland's knee surgery that will have the club's No. 2 starter out until at least midseason.
It's hard to imagine a scenario where Washington wouldn't be brought back beyond 2014. It will be horribly disappointing if they don't make the postseason, but the AL West should be even tougher in 2014 with the moves the Seattle Mariners have made and you have to think the Los Angeles Angels will rebound a bit, along with Josh Hamilton.
"I'm not worried about that," Washington told ESPN Dallas. "That will take care of itself."
That's a good attitude to have, but the front office should give him an extension to get him out of the lame duck status. Jon Daniels has always supported Washington publicly and has never suggested he'll be looking elsewhere if the Rangers don't succeed this year, but that could be the message he's sending if he doesn't give Washington a new deal.
"He's been a huge part of what we've done here," Daniels said. "It's been a partnership from Day 1 and I expect that to continue going forward. We'll handle contracts and personnel matters privately."
