Ron Washington is starting to sound like New York Gov. Kathy Hochul.
The Angels skipper instituted a no cellphones in the clubhouse rule during spring training in a move similar to Hochul’s January proposal to ban students from using phones during school hours.
Washington hopes his decision will allow the ballclub to be more focused on baseball.
It’s a rule that he intends to keep once the regular season starts.
“Now the rules have extended to the outside of the clubhouse,” Washington told reporters, according to The Athletic. “Right now, they are in the hallways in here [right outside of the team’s clubhouse]. Now it’s going to be completely out of the goddamn clubhouse [building].
“It is not punishment; I just want some focus.”
Washington said he hadn’t received any pushback from the players and added that was a decree he’d put in place during his time managing the Rangers from 2007-14.
Outfielder Mike Trout and pitcher Kyle Hendricks will be responsible for keeping the rest of the team in line, as they will be tasked with setting the amount a player will be fined if they break the rule.
Washington had suggested $500 for the fine — the same amount used in Texas.
But it will be the players who decide the final amount.
“That clubhouse is for the veterans on this team to run it the way they want to run it,” Washington said. “We just dropped what we would like to have happen [with cellphones] and we want them to make certain it happens inside the clubhouse.”
But Washington isn’t just dishing out the rule and not holding himself to the same standards.
“If I’m outside [my office] in the clubhouse on the phone, I want them to ring my butt up, too,” he said.
