While no one with the Atlanta Braves will cast blame outright, it has become very apparent that this Braves team misses Ron Washington badly. There just isn't another coach out there that can motivate and prepare a team like he can and when the Angels stole Washington away, the difference in Atlanta's clubhouse was immediate and stark. It certainly didn't hurt that Washington was a great quote and he continued that proud tradition this week.
Washington's future as Angels manager became iffy once Washington had heart bypass surgery. At his age, it would be fair for any organization to worry about putting a guy with serious health problems in the dugout for 162 games during all the warm months of the season.