The Sunday Read: How Ron Washington, Marcus Semien helped each other in 2015

(Rangers Today/Joel Perez)

ARLINGTON — Times were hard for Marcus Semien in May of 2015, or as hard as times can be for a young starting shortstop in the major leagues.

The Oakland A’s acquired him in an offseason trade with the Chicago White Sox and anointed him as their shortstop.

Only 42 games into the season, Semien had committed 16 errors. He made 10 in the first 12 games of May.

A player who didn’t have a year’s worth of big-league service time needed help.

Ron Washington wasn’t having a good time either. Out of baseball after his abrupt resignation as Texas Rangers manager late in 2014, no team hired him in the offseason. A career in professional baseball that started as a player in 1970 was at a standstill.

The baseball lifer needed a job.