SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Texas Rangers officially put
2011 to bed Sunday when they began full-squad workouts in a bid to make 2012 end
with one more playoff victory than last season.
Manager Ron Washington delivered his annual message in a passionate speech that
included some talk about Game 6 of the World Series. But getting over 2011
wasn't the focus.
Everyone doing their job in 2012 was.
"We are the champions of the American League and we can play,"
Washington said. "Let's just go do that. Let's take care of the business
of baseball so when April rolls around, we're ready to go. That was the
message."
Washington said he told him team he wanted his young pitchers to continue to
progress, his offense to stay healthy and his team to tighten up on the
fundamentals and execution.
He wasn't the only one to talk either. Michael Young also addressed the team as
did new closer Joe Nathan, who was called upon by Washington to talk after
Young finished.
Washington chose Nathan to talk because the skipper said Nathan is a winner and
the Rangers are all about winning.
The veteran offered his observations of what he saw from the club as an
outsider.
"When (Washington) kind of called me out a little bit, I just talked about
what it looked like from the outside in," Nathan said. "For me,
watching that (the World Series), they were the better team. What happened is
baseball. Stuff happens in this game that sometimes is unexplainable. That
doesn't mean they weren't the better team. I told them how excited I am to be
here and they have nothing to be ashamed about."
Young, in his 12th camp with Texas, said this year feels a lot like last season
because the Rangers come into spring training in the same position. His message
to the team was also a simple one.
"It was just basically about staying healthy, making sure that the new
guys feel welcome, taking care of our bodies," Young said. "Making
sure by the time Opening Day comes, we're ready to go out and be ourselves and
play our style of baseball. It was a good, productive talk. Usually the first
ones of spring training are good. It was a good way to kick off the
spring."
Washington said he talked about Game 6 some but declined to get into specifics.
He has no doubt that his speech Sunday was a success.
"Just watching them, they're ready to prepare for 2012," he said.
"The championship runs through Texas. Everyone's here so we can go through
the process of defending."
