From start to finish, Ron Washington's first public statements since he resigned as Texas Rangers manager was three and a half minutes long.
"I was not true to my wife after 42 years," said Washington. "I broke her trust. I'm here today to own that mistake and apologize to her and those I disappointed."
Washington appeared in a Las Colinas hotel with his wife and didn't take any questions. He referred to his notes periodically while making his statement, and when he finished, Washington walked off the podium and put his arm around his wife and left the room.
"Today, I'm at a very low time in my life," said Washington. "I'm sorry for breaking the trust that I had with my wife and for disappointing my players, for disappointing my coaches, for disappointing Major League Baseball and for disappointing the Texas Rangers.
"All I ask is for your forgiveness and your understanding."
Ron Washington resigned on September 5th and at that time did not appear before the media. Instead, he released a statement that read, in part, "I have submitted my resignation from the job I love in order to devote my full attention to addressing an off-the-field personal matter."
That was the extent of his explanation, and a Rangers press conference -- with general manager Jon Daniels and owners Ray Davis and Bob Simpson -- only added to the mystery. We were told only what it was not -- Washington said in his statement he was not leaving because of how poorly the 2014 season was going, and Daniels said that it was not drugs (Washington tested positive for cocaine during the 2009 season).
Washington managed for nearly eight full seasons, during which time the Rangers won like they never had before -- winning two American League Pennants. They went to back-to-back World Series, losing to San Francisco in 2010 and St. Louis in 2011.
His managerial record is 664-611, making Washington the winningest manager in Rangers history.
"This matter is certainly personal, and we're trying hard to put it behind us," said Washington. "I was born to be a baseball player; I'm a baseball lifer. The Rangers gave me a home and I'm thankful for that, and also thankful for the experience to have the opportunity to manage here in Texas. I look to the future and getting back in the game and continuing my career."
Email: tmadden@wfaa.com
