While I have been salivating over the World Baseball Classic since the United States kicked off play last Friday, Cactus League and Grapefruit League action has been in full swing. I apologize for my lack of attention to Spring Training, but it is almost as if that does not exist right now.
But there are some things worth talking about, including the Texas Rangers hot streak since their game was rained out with the Brewers last Friday. The Rangers swept a pair of split squad games over the Athletics and San Diego on Saturday before knocking off Cleveland on Sunday. Monday saw the Rangers lose to the Giants, 2-1, but not without a strong performance from Yu Darvish. Texas then routed the Brewers on Tuesday before having another day off on Wednesday.
Texas has been in the news more for their off the field issues than their on field play during the past week or so, mainly for the brewing controversy over whether or not Nolan Ryan will be leaving the Texas Rangers.
Reports surfaced last week that Nolan Ryan would be leaving the team, possibly the end of Spring Training. While I will not claim to know the reasoning behind whatever problems there are between Jon Daniels and Nolan Ryan, it is my opinion that there is a growing chasm between the Daniels camp and the Ryan camp within the front office.
There is a noticeable difference in the success of the Rangers after Ryan arrived on the scene than the success, or lack thereof, before he arrived. Yes, Jon Daniels may be one of the best business guys in baseball, but a successful team needs baseball guys, not business guys. As a Rangers fan, I do not care how much money the Rangers make, or how much they save, I just care how many wins we have at the end of the regular season and whether or not we are holding a World Series trophy or not.
It is not a coincidence that the Rangers pitching staff has blossomed into one of the best. Ryan made an organizational change, to force pitchers to pitch deeper into games and used his scouting department to develop pitching from within. Neftali Feliz and Derek Holland are products of past regimes, but guys like Matt Harrison improved dramatically since Nolan came to town.
The reports now say that Ryan will remain with the team for now, but for the long term success of this team, he needs to be here for good. And if the choice is between Daniels staying or Ryan staying, see you later Jon.
It appears there is coming a day when Nolan is forced out of the front office so Jon Daniels can be the man. We already have one egomaniac in a Dallas sports front office, we do not need another.
One last note before I let you go for now, and that is the addition of Jurickson Profar to the Netherlands squad for the Semi-Finals and possibly for the Finals of the World Baseball Classic. Profar was originally scheduled to participate from the beginning of the tournament, but he felt it was better for his chances of making the major league team if he did not participate. But with Elvis Andrus back in camp, and Profar playing at a high level during the last week or so, he has decided to go help his country as they hope to become the only other team besides Japan to win the tournament.
Until next time, keep watching the games, and watch the United States take on the Dominican Republic on Thursday night for crying out loud!
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