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[Jaymze13]

No need to fire Buck; he'll resign

By Gil LeBreton
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

In Seattle today, Buck Showalter will manage his final game with the Rangers.

That's not a scoop, nor is it an announcement.

Owner Tom Hicks, in fact, told the [Randy] Galloway and Co. radio audience on ESPN/103.3 FM on Friday that the manager's fate remains "open-ended." Showalter and general manager Jon Daniels will gather with Hicks at the owner's stately Dallas manse Tuesday night and discuss the 2006 season over dinner.

Prominent on the menu: Roasted Buck.

No, Hicks didn't tell me that. But the owner's actions and his inactions, what he's said and what he hasn't, are all clues, I feel, to what's about to happen.

In this business, we don't always get blunt answers to our questions. But we can connect the dots.

Fire Buck? No, I can't see it happening that way. Hicks, remember, didn't even fire John Hart.

There is no need to embarrass Showalter, a loyal Hicks employee. The owner was right when he said that Buck bled Ranger blue.

Hicks also has to protect his young general manager, Daniels, who, some baseball people may argue, doesn't have enough trophies on the mantle to fire a Buck Showalter. And make no mistake -- Hicks has amply buffered himself from the eventual decision.

By waiting until the season ends today and until the club's ruling threesome can gather over dinner, it lends a veneer of civility to the process.

What, too, can Showalter possibly tell them at dinner Tuesday? That the dog ate his bullpen?

The only reason that Hicks and Daniels need to relieve Showalter of his duties isn't likely to change before Tuesday. Namely, Buck has a losing record, and in the end that will get almost anyone fired, from Bobby Valentine to Kevin Kennedy to Jerry Narron.

Come to think of it, Narron also was made to wait until a season-ending evaluation meeting before Hart fired him.

The feeling here is that Showalter won't give them that chance. When faced with several questions that Buck probably is not going to be able to answer, Showalter likely will choose his own path to the door -- he'll resign.

It won't be because Buck feels that he did a poor job of managing the Rangers. Which players on this team, frankly, have had bad seasons because of playing for Showalter? On the contrary, some have prospered.

And it won't be because Showalter doesn't feel that he could have turned the team's fortunes around. Somebody is going to inherit a pretty good American League baseball team.

What Showalter understands, though, is that today's major league manager can only manage so much. It's hard these days in any sport to be the best-liked man in the clubhouse or locker room and also be the man who leads it.

Today's manager has to be, among other things, a crafty lawyer and a compassionate psychologist. He has to be wary of ruffling some feathers and know when to stroke others. Some players draw inspiration from being singled out; others take offense to it.

The man in charge may think he's acting in the best interests of the team in his candid conversations with people. But players talk, it seems. They compare stories.

If it all sounds petty, you're not alone in thinking that. The managers with long careers have mastered the art of filling the clubhouse with players who are more interested in the night's opposing pitcher than with the day's club politics.

Think about it. When was the last time that you read about a Ranger giving credit for a good performance to the skipper? The Rangers of the late '90s didn't regularly credit Johnny Oates, either. But Oates had a knack for stroking each player in just the right way.

Oates' greatest strength was seldom written about -- he knew how and when to keep his mouth shut.

Once the losses piled up and the media started to assign blame to Showalter, the players had their scapegoat. The piling on began.

Quietly, in this case, because that's the way that the self-styled leaders of this Rangers team do things. But as Daniels poked around, it apparently was loud enough.

And so, they'll gather Tuesday night and reflect on another disappointing Rangers season. There won't be a line of picketing ticket holders, I'm guessing, walking the sidewalk with "Bring Back Buck" signs.

Michael Young and Mark Teixeira have both enjoyed All-Star seasons with Showalter as their manager. Kevin Millwood has won 16 games and logged 200-plus innings.

And all for what? Third place?

The Rangers' window of opportunity isn't going to stay open indefinitely, not with the current players.

In the end, as Daniels will conclude, the old bromide about it being easier to change the manager than the players is true.

The losing. The post-season meeting. The noncommittal Hicks. The lack of any "Bring Back Buck" bumper stickers.

The dots aren't that difficult to connect.

Today is Buck Showalter's final day as Rangers manager.

That's no scoop. Just an educated hunch.

Expect a dignified resignation. Buck Showalter is entitled to that, you know.

He's leaving behind a pretty good American League baseball team.

[Jaymze13]

Rangers' Millwood: 'Exactly as advertised'

11:01 PM CDT on Saturday, September 30, 2006
By EVAN GRANT / The Dallas Morning News

SEATTLE – Though he suffered a loss Saturday, Kevin Millwood put the finishing touches on a hallmark season. It does seem possible now that a big-time starting pitcher can come to Texas and continue to thrive.

"He was exactly as advertised and exactly what we hoped for," manager Buck Showalter said after a 3-1 loss to Seattle. "It's important for him to fulfill obligations. He wants to post up. He's pitched with various ailments over the last half of the season, but he had a commitment he wanted to keep."

Millwood completed the first year of a five-year, $60 million contract Saturday. His final numbers – a 16-12 record, 4.52 ERA and 215 innings – are not sexy, but rather sturdy. And the Rangers want their starting pitchers to be more about substance than sizzle, anyway.

Millwood went six innings and allowed three runs, all coming on homers by Adrian Beltre. It was a typical start for Millwood. It met the criteria for a quality start (three or fewer earned runs in six or more innings). It was his 22nd quality start of the season. Since Ameriquest Field in Arlington opened in 1996, only once has a Rangers pitcher had more quality starts in a season.

Ken Hill was that pitcher. He had 23 quality starts in 1996 for a Rangers rotation that drew the blueprint for pitching in Texas. That blue-collar staff, which also featured Roger Pavlik, John Burkett and Darren Oliver, was all about eating up innings.

Millwood, who pitched with a bruised foot and a split fingernail for much of the last month, brings the same kind of blue-collar approach. He said he hopes his performance this season helps alleviate fears other veterans might have of coming to Texas.

"I think everybody can see that the park is not a band-box and not unfair," Millwood said. "As a staff, we did a pretty good job of keeping the ball in the park and giving us a chance to win. It's more about making quality pitches than anything else."

The park and the environment, however, had become negatives in attracting pitchers. Before Millwood, the one time the Rangers did spend big bucks on a starting pitcher, it got them Chan Ho Park.

Park's struggles made the Rangers reticent to jump into the free-agent market. It made on-the-fence free agents choose other destinations. It threatened to keep the Rangers from attracting quality free-agent pitchers.

It still may be difficult for the Rangers to lure free-agent pitchers. Millwood, however, has shown them it's not impossible.

Showalter ready:Showalter said he was ready for whatever the outcome from Tuesday's meeting with owner Tom Hicks and general manager Jon Daniels. The trio will meet to discuss why the 2006 season wasn't fruitful and what Showalter's status will be for 2007. The Rangers have not yet guaranteed Showalter will return for a fifth season, even though he is signed through 2009.

Hicks said in a radio interview Friday that Showalter's status is still "open-ended."

"It's the way of the world," Showalter said stoically about his uncertain future with the Rangers. "Whether that's right or wrong, it's the way of the world."

DeRosa sits: With Mark DeRosa slumping, the Rangers decided to give him Saturday off in hopes of getting things together for one strong season-ending game that will push him back above .300.

DeRosa was 20-for-96 (.200) in September to drop his batting average to .298. He could get back to .300 by going 2-for-4 today. He could also reach the .300 threshold by going 1-for-1.

"I feel like I deserve it," DeRosa said. "But a lot of guys deserve it. If I had been hitting .260 or .270 all year and got to .300 late, it wouldn't be that big a deal to me. But to have been above .300 for the whole season and then to drop, it would be a disappointment to me. It wouldn't be a disappointing season, but that would be disappointing."

[Jaymze13]

Season over but Rangers still have work to do

02:57 AM CDT on Monday, October 2, 2006
By EVAN GRANT / The Dallas Morning News

SEATTLE – The season may be over for the Rangers, but the work only now really begins.

The Rangers enter the "off-season" with two huge issues to settle.

First, the team must decide the fate of manager Buck Showalter. Owner Tom Hicks, general manager Jon Daniels and Showalter will meet Tuesday to figure out if Showalter returns for a fifth season. But that decision essentially comes down to two choices: Either Showalter stays or he doesn't.

The other issue – once again having to retool the starting rotation – is a lot more complex.

The Rangers overhauled the rotation this season. The starters improved significantly in some areas (home runs allowed and quality starts) and were about the same in ERA. The Rangers' rotation, however, still ranked as the worst in the American League West.

While the Rangers retool, the two teams that finished ahead of them in the AL West – Oakland and Los Angeles – can focus on other areas. Their rotations are all but set for 2007. Oakland, even with the loss of Barry Zito, will have four solid starters returning to the rotation. If Bartolo Colon is healthy, the Angels may have six.

Right now, the Rangers, who finished the season 12th in the AL in rotation ERA and 13th in starters innings, can count on Kevin Millwood and are optimistic about Robinson Tejeda. That's it.

"It's a significant challenge," Daniels said. "That said, a year ago at this time, Kevin Millwood, Robinson Tejeda, Adam Eaton, Vicente Padilla, John Koronka and John Rheinecker were not Texas Rangers. I think some corners have been turned, but we're certainly going to be in the market for starting pitching."

The market is where things get even more complex.

The Rangers managed to lure one big-time free agent pitcher from a thin pitching market last year, and Millwood has been the solid and sturdy pitcher the club needs at the top of the rotation. Still, if last year's market was thin, this year's market is emaciated.

At the top are Zito and San Francisco's Jason Schmidt, and possibly Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka. After that, the Rangers' top free agents, Padilla and Eaton, might be as attractive as anything on the market. That will only drive their prices up.

Padilla, who crawled to his 15th win and to the 200-inning threshold Friday, could get a three-year deal in the $25 million vicinity. The Rangers, who have seen the good and bad sides of Padilla, must decide if he's worth it.

Eaton, who missed the first four months, has never had a 200-inning season. The club's top criterion for a starter might be the ability to reach that plateau.

"You are looking for wins and innings," Showalter said. "And not necessarily in that order."

Making matters more difficult, the Rangers don't seem to have prospects ready to join the rotation. Edinson Volquez was a flop in his audition and John Danks doesn't appear to be on the verge of breaking in, either.

Though Hicks said in a radio interview a month ago that he thought Danks would be in the rotation for 2007, he amended himself this week to say he thought the Rangers would try to have an all-veteran rotation.

If the Rangers don't retain Padilla and Eaton, they might pursue Jeff Suppan and left-hander Ted Lilly. Or they might try the non-tender free agent market, which would include young pitchers with lots of question marks. The Rangers found John Thomson in that heap in 2003.

And, with Daniels at the helm, there is always the possibility of a deal. Pitchers acquired by trades since the start of Daniels' tenure last fall accounted for 98 of the Rangers' 162 starts.

There is no doubt it's a challenge. What Daniels said it won't be, however, is an excuse.

"I want to get away from thinking, As soon as the pitching gets better ..." he said. "The pitching was improved this year.

"Are we there yet? No. But we're improving, and we've got to keep improving."

[Jaymze13]

Wait 'til next year is Rangers' official cry

By KAT O'BRIEN
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER

SEATTLE - Next year will be different for the Rangers.

At least, after a 3-2 loss Sunday to the Seattle Mariners in the season finale left them at 80-82, they hope it will be a year when they make the playoffs and have a winning record.

There will be other changes. Some players will leave via free agency or trades. It's possible a new manager will take over for Buck Showalter, whose status was described Friday by owner Tom Hicks as "open-ended."

"It's not about me, none of this is," Showalter said Sunday afternoon. "That's something I've never lost sight of. It's about the players and the fans, and it's about the people you work for and work with."

Regardless of whether Showalter returns in the same role or not -- he is under contract through 2009 -- he knows a different team will report to spring training. The Rangers have nine free agents.

"It's sad for me, regardless of whether they're back or not," Showalter said. "It's kind of the end of the journey, the end of a season."

The Rangers had been eliminated from playoff contention weeks ago. But to at least finish .500 would have been nice.

Mariners starter Jake Woods and the Seattle bullpen helped wipe away those thoughts, though, by holding the Rangers to two runs. The Rangers did not have their normal lineup. Gary Matthews Jr. was given the day off. Carlos Lee was out of the lineup as he was sitting on a .300 batting average. Mark Teixeira had to DH instead of play first base because of a bruised knee, and that kept Hank Blalock on the bench because his shoulder (he will have arthroscopic surgery today) prevents him from playing in the field.

By playing, Teixeira and shortstop Michael Young were two of just six players in the major leagues this season to play in 162 games.

"It was very important to me," Young said. "The season didn't end yesterday. It ends today. To me, being somebody that my teammates depend on every day is very important to me. That's what leaders do."

The carefully cobbled together lineup had rookie shortstop Joaquin Arias playing third base for the first time in his pro career. He looked slick, and finished with a .545 average (6-of-11) in his brief major league look .

"We obviously didn't reach our goals this year," Teixeira said. "But I look around, and I see guys that have potential to be winners. I'm excited about our future."

Rangers starter Robinson Tejeda was not as crisp as he had been in September, when his 1.13 ERA was the best of any starter in the major leagues. But Sunday began October, and he gave up home runs to Ichiro Suzuki and Richie Sexson. Tejeda allowed three runs on six hits in five innings.

Still, Tejeda (5-5, 4.28 ERA) had a terrific finish. He was 4-2 with a 2.32 ERA in nine games from August on.

When the game and the season were over, neither in a satisfactory manner, Matthews remained on the dugout steps after all his teammates had gone inside. The first-time All-Star lingered there, wearing his Rangers jacket, reluctant to walk away in case it was for the last time.

"It was a little bit emotional," Matthews said, "knowing that there's a possibility that I might not be around these guys.... I'd love to be a part of this."

But will he? And will Showalter?

[Jaymze13]

Rangers close 2006 season with 3-2 loss

01:22 AM CDT on Monday, October 2, 2006
By EVAN GRANT / The Dallas Morning News

SEATTLE – If this was Buck Showalter's last game as manager of the Rangers, it seemed an odd way to go out.

With a strange lineup, the Rangers fell, 3-2, to the Seattle Mariners on Sunday. The Rangers finished the season at 80-82, which makes it the 20th losing season in 35 years since the franchise moved from Washington.

The next step for the Rangers is to decide Showalter's future. He will meet with owner Tom Hicks and general manager Jon Daniels on Tuesday night. The possibility of a managerial change exists.

Daniels did not address the media Sunday.

Said Showalter: "This is not about me. It's never about me. It's about the players, the organization and the fans. You have a covenant you have to live up to in the big leagues. There's always a bigger picture than one individual."

Showalter's lineup for the final game did not include Carlos Lee, Hank Blalock or Gary Matthews Jr. Showalter said all would have played if he had asked them to.

Right-hander Robinson Tejeda, who seems to have pushed himself into a spot for the 2007 rotation, allowed extra-base hits to start each of the first three innings. He allowed homers to Ichiro Suzuki (first) and Richie Sexson (second) and a double to Yuniesky Betancourt to start the third. Betancourt came around to score what proved to be the winner.

The players went their separate ways shortly after the game, and it's time for management to decide the direction of the team. Though Showalter is signed through 2009, Hicks and Daniels have not said he'll return next season. In a radio interview Friday, Hicks said the situation was "open-ended."

"Things haven't gone the way we wanted this year," Hicks said on ESPN-FM (103.3), "and I want to sit down and figure out why."

With the season done, now comes the sorting-out process. That will begin in earnest Tuesday.

Blalock to have surgery: Third baseman Hank Blalock, limited to designated hitter duties for most of the last two months because of a sore shoulder, will have minor surgery today to repair some frayed ligaments and clean up the joint.

Blalock said the surgery is similar in scale to what outfielder Brad Wilkerson had done a month ago, and he expects to resume baseball activities in about six weeks. Blalock considered having the surgery 10 days ago but decided to make the final road trip with the club.

"I didn't want to miss being around these guys for the last trip of the season," said Blalock, who finished with 89 RBIs, narrowly missing his fourth straight season with 90 or more. "The shoulder has been hurting for two months, but I've been able to swing a bat."

Perfect attendance: Mark Teixeira started at designated hitter, completing his second consecutive season without missing a game. Shortstop Michael Young did the trick for the first time in his career.

Teixeira has played in 446 consecutive games over the last three seasons, which is the second-longest active consecutive games played streak in the majors. Baltimore's Miguel Tejada has 1,079.

"We talked about it a month ago, and they both wanted to finish it out," Showalter said of Teixeira and Young. "It's a testament to the kind of players they are."

Briefly: Because of some players' preferences to rest on the final day, the Rangers started rookie Joaquin Arias at third base. Showalter said Arias will not play any position other than shortstop during the Instructional League.
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[Jaymze13]

A final day for some

By KAT O'BRIEN
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER

SEATTLE -- Some of the Rangers' nine free agents surely will not be back next year.

That's not necessarily a huge deal to players who spent less than a season in Texas, such as Carlos Lee, Kip Wells and Jerry Hairston Jr. While any or all of those three could re-sign with the Rangers, none is truly attached. It's different for Rod Barajas and Gary Matthews Jr., who have been Rangers for three seasons, and Mark DeRosa, a Ranger for two years.

Barajas, in particular, had an odd feeling. He knows it is unlikely he can return to Texas as a starter. That job is likely to be Gerald Laird's, and Barajas doesn't want to be a backup. If that is his only option in Texas, would that seal his moving on?

"Pretty much," Barajas said. "I don't feel like at this point I should settle for playing that amount."

If Barajas goes elsewhere, though, he has no hard feelings. For three years in Texas, he played in more games and got more at-bats than he had in any season with Arizona.

"There's disappointment because I do like the team," Barajas said. "I've had a great time here. But I don't have any hard feelings. I know this is a business. This is what happens. If the team decides to go in a different direction, I completely understand."

Should Matthews and DeRosa go elsewhere, it would be for different reasons. Matthews would be the starting center fielder if he returns to Texas, and DeRosa would get substantial playing time here, though probably not the set infielder's job he prefers. If they leave, it would be because of better offers -- financially and/or in the chance of winning -- from somewhere else.

Matthews said Sunday that more than anything else, the people who might or might not be back next year made Game 162 bittersweet.

"I have a really close relationship with [hitting coach] Rudy [Jaramillo]," Matthews said. "A personal relationship, not just professional, after all he's been through this year [prostate cancer]. It's so rare to have someone that's honest with you even when they know you might not want to hear it....There's just emotion about how far I've come, having a chance to play with Jerry [Hairston Jr.] again, who I've known since I was 10 years old. Playing with E.Y. (Eric Young), who I played with my first full year in the big leagues. It's about the relationships."

Briefly

Mark DeRosa went 0-for-4 and missed his chance to bat .300. He finished .296 on the season after hitting above .300 all year until last week.

Carlos Lee just missed out on becoming the seventh player since 2000 to hit 35 home runs, drive in 100 runs and steal 20 bases in a season. He finished the year with 37 homers, 116 RBI and 19 steals.

[Jaymze13]

Final exams

Despite a sub-.500 finish, Rangers had some bright spots

By KAT O'BRIEN
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

The Rangers came up short of expectations in 2006, failing to make the playoffs for the seventh consecutive year. But there were plenty of bright spots. Michael Young was, well, Michael Young. Gary Matthews Jr. had a career year, making sparkling plays in center field and emerging as an offensive threat. The pitching was spotty, but Vicente Padilla and Kevin Millwood were dominant at times. And Akinori Otsuka developed into a solid closer. As the Rangers head into another off-season hoping to improve, we take a look at the players' 2006 performances.

SP Kevin Millwood: B+

Signed to be the staff ace last winter, Millwood met most expectations. He came close to his career best in wins, topped 200 innings and was a reliable starter. His ERA went up more than he planned, though.

SP Vicente Padilla: A-

Padilla overachieved, compared with expectations. He came to Texas in probably the best trade yet by Jon Daniels, as the Rangers gave up Ricardo Rodriguez. The one blight on Padilla's year was his role in the Angels-Rangers brawl.

SP Adam Eaton: I

He missed two-thirds of the season after tearing a tendon in his right finger days before Opening Day. After his return, he often gave the Rangers a chance to win, but had trouble pitching deep into games.

SP Robinson Tejeda: B-

A late-spring acquisition in exchange for David Dellucci, Tejeda struggled early. But after returning to the big leagues in August, he was very good. He could be an important part of future Rangers rotations.

SP Kameron Loe: C

He looked great in spring training, raising people's hopes for a big year. But Loe struggled and wound up on the disabled list. The Rangers are optimistic that health problems were responsible for most of his down season.

RP Joaquin Benoit: C+

He had an up-and-down year, beginning strong, struggling in the middle and improving late.

RP Ron Mahay: B

He didn't start with the team but was terrific once he came up in mid-April. He had an awful July, but was mostly solid, and probably will be back next year.

SP John Koronka: B

The rookie lefty had a solid first half, but was optioned to Oklahoma after a dismal return from the All-Star break. He was a good late-spring pickup.

RP Akinori Otsuka: A-

His importance grew by leaps and bounds because of Francisco Cordero's sky-high early numbers. Otsuka assumed the closer's job, and did so very well.

SP/RP John Rheinecker: C+

Acquired the same day as Koronka, the rookie lefty had some bright moments but fewer of them. His future could be in a relief role.

SP Edinson Volquez: D

Aside from one really good outing, Volquez was a big disappointment. He was named the team's top prospect by Baseball America, but it did not show on the big league level.

RP C.J. Wilson:B

The left-handed reliever pitched well, especially in the second half. He had a 3.28 ERA in 24 2/3 innings after the All-Star Game.

RP Scott Feldman: B

The rookie right-hander did a good job, and seemed to make adjustments. His post-All-Star ERA was 0.69 in 11 games.

RP Nick Masset: I

He got a brief look in relief.

RP Wes Littleton: A+

The rookie right-handed reliever was absolutely brilliant, with a 1.73 ERA in 33 appearances.

SS Michael Young: A

He did exactly what Rangers fans have come to expect, which is just about everything. Young topped 200 hits for the fourth consecutive year, batted above .300, made his third All-Star Game in a row, and improved his defense.

1B Mark Teixeira: B+

It was a tale of two halves for Teixeira. The first half was decidedly subpar, when he had only nine home runs and 49 RBI before the All-Star break. He returned to 2005-like form in the second half, ranking just behind David Ortiz in homers by an American Leaguer while again playing stellar defense.

CF Gary Matthews Jr.: A+

Absolutely no one pegged Matthews for the kind of numbers he put up this year, especially after he was injured for almost all of spring training. Quite simply, Matthews had perhaps the best season ever by a Rangers center fielder. He was an All-Star, batted well over .300 and played fantastic defense.

3B Hank Blalock: C+

Blalock arrived at spring training with what seemed renewed dedication. The effort didn't translate into numbers, particularly on the power side. He will have arthroscopic surgery today on his right shoulder, which might have been a factor.

2B Ian Kinsler: A-

Other than the month he missed with a dislocated left thumb, the rookie second baseman lived up to lofty hopes. His defense sometimes suffers when he gets overanxious trying to make plays, but it is improving. His offense was solid.

RF/3B Mark DeRosa: A+

Like Matthews, DeRosa had a career year. He proved remarkably versatile with his ability to play all over the field. He also supplied high-level offense no matter what position he played.

C Rod Barajas: B

He had a season similar to his two previous years in Texas. Barajas was good behind the plate, if unspectacular at the plate.

C Gerald Laird: A

His strong play had some fans thinking he should take over the starting job from Rod Barajas. That finally happened in September, although his offense declined. Laird earned props for his ability to handle a staff, call a game and perform offensively.

OF Carlos Lee: A-

Lee was short on power numbers early in his Rangers tenure, but wound up with the highest on-base plus slugging percentage on the team. There is no doubt the lineup is better with Lee in it. His defense, however, was lacking.

IF Jerry Hairston Jr.: I

He almost never played, but was an excellent defender.

OF Nelson Cruz: C

He's not yet a great hitter, but he showed signs that he could be someday. He is outstanding in right field, with a superb arm.

OF/IF Eric Young: I

Played sparingly after re-signing with the Rangers in August.

SS Joaquin Arias: I

Got a taste of the major leagues with his September callup.

C Miguel Ojeda: I

Might be able to serve as a backup catcher in 2007 if Rod Barajas leaves.

[Jaymze13]

"You either have hope or you don't. For most of the season, we did. Right now, there's that air of disappointment ..."
'We felt we could win this year'

Q&A WITH RANGERS GM JON DANIELS
By KAT O'BRIEN
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

On Oct. 4, 2005, Jon Daniels was named the Rangers' general manager after John Hart's resignation. Following a season of ups and downs, Daniels talked recently about his first year at the helm.

What is your feeling as the season winds down, with the Rangers eliminated?

It really hits home. You either have hope or you don't. For most of the season, we did. Right now, there's that air of disappointment because I think the genuine expectations inside the organization -- whatever they were outside, that's fine -- but inside the organization, the players, the scouts, the staff, us, we felt we could win this year. Now we're starting the process of planning for next year. Really, we started the process a couple of weeks ago when we started playing some of our younger guys.

You began planning once you were out of contention?

Until you're mathematically out of it, you never write it off, as Houston showed. But you have to be aware of the probabilities. We were. Even at the [trading] deadline, when we made the trade for Carlos [Lee], we made sure that we weren't going to do it without Nelson [Cruz] involved. We felt like he could be a big part of our future.

Getting back to the hope thing, at the end of the season, you have eight teams that still have it, and 22 that have to gear up for next year. I was hoping to be in the first group, and instead we're in the latter.

When you say within the organization you had hope, do you think your hopes were too high?

No. I think any time where your expectations -- unless you're in a full-fledged rebuilding mode, which we're not -- any time your hopes are anything less than being the last team standing, you're not giving yourself a chance to succeed.

I will say this: There were a lot of positive things this year, and that also stands out. I'm extremely proud of a lot of our guys on an individual basis.

Some of the things you're proud of?

Michael Young just being Michael Young. The commitment to consistency and at a high level. It's one thing to be consistent, and another to be consistently excellent. The way he represents us.

Mark Teixeira's second half. I don't think anybody doubted him in the organization, but he had a first half below his standards, and the second half he picked it up. He's going to be one of the more productive players for a long time in this league.

Ian Kinsler's rookie season.

The way our bullpen came together, especially after Coco's [Francisco Cordero] struggles early, and he was excellent in the setup role. We make the deal [trading Cordero, Kevin Mench, Laynce Nix and minor league Julian Cordero to Milwaukee for Lee and Cruz], and you have a lot of guys who are stepping into new roles. Aki [Otsuka] in the closer's role. C.J. [Wilson] and Wes [Littleton] and [Josh] Rupe and [Scott] Feldman, [Rick] Bauer, [Ron] Mahay...you've got how many guys there with sub-4.00 ERAs?

Robinson Tejeda's development.

Kevin Millwood stepping forward as kind of the leader of the pitching staff.

Vinny Padilla's season.

The contributions from a number of guys early on when we had been dealt a blow with Adam Eaton [getting hurt]. John Koronka and John Rheinecker stepping up and buoying us for a little while, and they're still developing.

The job our coaching staff's done, kind of never letting -- it's a season of highs and lows -- the lows get too low. It's a very resilient club.

I don't mean to leave out Gary Matthews Jr. and Mark DeRosa taking steps to the next level. I'm going to end up leaving somebody out.

What about on the other side, the biggest disappointments?

Well, I'm not going to single players out or anybody in the organization out. I just don't believe in that. I think we share the credit. Hopefully the blame goes equally around.

Probably our struggles to sustain momentum when we had it. There were a couple of times when it looked like we were going to put a long winning streak together, and we were on the verge of winning 17 out of 20, and for whatever reason, it just didn't materialize.

I believe in the talent on this team. Were we the favorites? No. But if you look around the last couple of years, how often has the favorite won? It's typically been the team that overachieves the most.

You've said before that on judging trades and signings, you focus on the decision-making process more than the outcome in whether you did the right thing.

You're going to ask things that didn't go as well as we needed them to. My staff and I certainly shoulder some of the burden in those cases. Like I said, I evaluate trades in two ways. I view the process, the decision-making process, because that's what you can control, and then you review the outcome. There are some deals that the outcome, at least to date, doesn't appear favorable. I'm certainly cognizant of that.

Are there any where you think the process wasn't right?

Yeah, yeah ...

You don't want to say which? Is the Soriano trade one?

No. I felt the factors that led us to make that deal were sound. The outcome is a different story, clearly, but...there aren't many, but there are a couple.

Are there any things you feel you maybe weren't insistent enough about forcing your opinion, as a new general manager?

Sure, sure. It's a growing process. I think when Tom [Hicks] gave me this opportunity and made the decision to go with a younger guy, a less experienced guy -- some of the pros were a different way of looking at things. We were going to be very proactive with things, to try to, I guess to a degree, beat some people to things at certain times. The cons were you lack some of the things that experience teaches you. I've learned a lot this year, both personally and professionally.

If you could focus on one thing you learned this year, what would it be?

I'm big on soliciting opinions before you make a decision. I think that is very important, but I think you can also paralyze yourself at times by being too inclusive. There are times where it's warranted and times where it's not. I'm always going to trust my people, always, but there are certain times where, depending on the level of the decision, you have to make a call and move forward. That's kind of the process when decisions are critical to involve certain people. That's something I'll be better at next year.

How aggressive do you expect to be on the trade and free-agent market?

Our internal free agents are our No. 1 priority right now, and that process has been going on for some time. I expect to be fairly aggressive within the confines of what we're trying to do.

[Jaymze13]

Disappointing end leaves a sour taste

By KAT O'BRIEN
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER

SEATTLE -- Hank Blalock wanted this year to be different. He wanted to have a strong second half of the season.

Entering this season, Blalock was a career .294 hitter before the All-Star break and .248 hitter after it.

He did not want that trend to continue, so he changed his routine. He focused more on his diet, eating healthy foods such as grilled chicken and oatmeal. And he faithfully worked out five mornings a week, schlepping to the 24 Hour Fitness or Gold's Gym near the team hotel in every road city so he could lift weights and do cardio.

And for the first six weeks after the break, the changes seemed to work. Blalock hit .287 before the break and .278 from the first game back through Aug. 31. But after going 0-for-3 Saturday, he's batting only .168 (16-of-95) with seven RBI and four runs scored in September.

"Every morning I would go work out, and I tried to eat right," Blalock said. "I did it and it didn't work out. I had a horrible month of September. I look at myself in the mirror, and I know I did everything to give myself a chance."

Blalock, 25, can't explain the difference in his offense that seems to take place every year in late summer.

"I felt like I was on pace to drive in 100 [runs] and do some other good things," Blalock said. "It just didn't work out. If I knew [why], then I wouldn't play like this every September."

Realistically, Blalock's sore right shoulder might be one reason for this month's dropoff. He began feeling pain in his shoulder in late July, and it gradually got worse. Eventually, the it got so bad that Blalock couldn't play third base. He has been exclusively at designated hitter since Sept. 15.

Blalock said an MRI revealed fraying of the ligaments in the shoulder, so he will undergo arthroscopic surgery on Monday in Arlington. If the operation goes as expected, Blalock said he should be able to throw in about six weeks.

Blalock refused to lay the blame for his struggles on the shoulder injury.

"I don't think so," Blalock said. "I can't use that as an excuse. It didn't bother me that much to hit."

He said he contemplated calling it a season and having surgery before the year ended. However, he wanted to be with the team and try to help the Rangers win, even though their playoff chances were gone.

Outfielder Brad Wilkerson had a down season, playing through shoulder pain before having surgery Aug. 22 to repair a partially torn rotator cuff. Wilkerson's surgery involves a longer recovery time than Blalock's, but Wilkerson's .222 average was 34 points below his career average entering the season.

Blalock's numbers this season will be similar to those of 2005, but his power numbers are down. His average is nominally higher and his runs and RBI slightly lower. But last year he played in 161 games, and Saturday was his 152nd game of the season. In 2007, Blalock hopes to get closer to the statistics he posted in his 2003 (.300, 29 homers, 90 RBI) or 2004 (.276, 32 homers, 110 RBI) seasons.

"I still think of myself as the same caliber player," Blalock said.

[Jaymze13]

Hicks' dinner may have price

By KAT O'BRIEN
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER

Rangers owner Tom Hicks will host general manager Jon Daniels and manager Buck Showalter at his home for dinner tonight. The discussion is expected to focus on what went wrong this year, and how the Rangers can fix it. They will also talk about whether a managerial change is needed.

On Friday, Hicks said on (Randy) Galloway and Co., a show on ESPN/103.3 FM: "I'm certainly not leaning [one way or the other] until I have a chance to talk to him, to talk things through. I love Buck, he was [American League] Manager of the Year two years ago. Obviously things haven't gone the way we had hoped this year, and I want to understand why."

Hicks also said in a phone interview that he wanted Showalter to have a significant voice in that discussion. Daniels has declined to discuss the managerial situation over the past couple of weeks, but said last month he had "no plan to change managers."

Hicks said that there would not necessarily be a decision on Showalter's status coming out of tonight's meeting. It is possible that will not be decided immediately. Showalter is under contract through 2009.

Blalock has surgery

Rangers third baseman Hank Blalock underwent surgery on his right shoulder Monday.

Team physician Keith Meister performed the operation, which was an arthroscopic surgery similar to the one outfielder Brad Wilkerson had in late August.

Blalock had a disappointing season. He batted .266 with 16 home runs and 89 RBI. His slugging percentage dropped for the third consecutive season, and it was the lowest RBI total of his career.

His shoulder bothered him for about the last two months of the season. An MRI in mid-September showed some fraying of the ligaments.

Blalock is expected to be 100 percent before spring training. He said last weekend that he expects to be able to throw in less than two months.

[Jaymze13]

Silence dominates Rangers talk

With meeting tonight, no one commenting on future of Showalter

09:37 PM CDT on Monday, October 2, 2006
By EVAN GRANT / The Dallas Morning News

They won't even discuss the menu.

With a dinner summit scheduled for Tuesday night to discuss the future of Rangers manager Buck Showalter, the Rangers went into radio silence mode over the issue Monday.

Owner Tom Hicks, who revealed the meeting during a radio interview last week, declined to comment. General manager Jon Daniels, who did not address the media after Sunday's season finale, also did not comment Monday.

Showalter, who finished his fourth season in Texas with an 80-82 record, is signed through 2009 with approximately $6 million remaining on his contract. During his radio interview last week, Hicks said Showalter is "protected" by the contract but did not mention whether that referred to financial or job security.

In the radio interview, Hicks said Showalter's future was very "open-ended." He said he planned to sit down with Daniels and Showalter to do discuss what went wrong this season.

But Hicks added during the interview: "It may take us a while to sort things out. I'm not going to lean any way until I get a chance to talk to them."

While no clubs changed managers during the season, dismissals came quickly Monday. Washington had already announced that Frank Robinson would not return before Chicago parted ways with Dusty Baker and San Francisco declined to renew Felipe Alou's contract.

Florida could become the next club to make a change. Rookie manager Joe Girardi, who has warred with owner Jeffrey Luria, is expected to learn his fate at a management meeting this morning. (edit - he was fired today - j)

Briefly: There were no complications with 3B Hank Blalock's shoulder surgery Monday. His shoulder joint was cleaned of fraying ligaments, and he should be able to begin baseball activities in six to eight weeks.

[Jaymze13]

Season ends, but good memories live on

07:34 PM CDT on Tuesday, October 3, 2006

Well, it had to end sometime.

Mercifully for us, it ended Sunday because the Rangers' season seemed to be getting worse the longer the season wore on. It was a hard finish to a frustrating season.

Since we've been over and over and over the weaknesses and flaws of this team, I thought I'd send you into the off-season with a few pleasant memories of 2006. Even if it's another year without a playoff berth, it was still baseball. And that's a very good thing.

So here, in no particular order, are my top five memories of 2006. After this, I plan to put it (and me) to bed:

• The twisting, acrobatic, incredibly athletic catch Gary Matthews Jr. made on Mike Lamb's drive to center field back in July. I can't decide if that catch or one Otis Nixon made with Atlanta on Andy Van Slyke are the best I've ever seen. They were both phenomenal
  
• Michael Young's game-winning hit at the All-Star game, which earned him MVP honors. At the end of the eighth inning, I checked the box score on my computer to see what it would take for Young to get up. And when I saw it was a realistic possibility, I just knew he'd deliver the game winner if given the chance.
  
• Mark DeRosa, the former Penn quarterback, reliving his glory days in the clubhouse. I was especially fond of the day DeRosa put in his old Penn highlights tape and watched his teammates giggle like teenagers.
  
• Dinner with Ian Kinsler during spring training while working on a profile. It was the first in-depth conversation I had with the rookie, and it let me know that this guy is built along the same lines as Michael Young. It was pretty easy to know that fans were going to dig this guy's scene. And they did.
  
• Watching Wes Littleton's ever-present smile grow larger than life after he picked up his first career win in Anaheim, five miles from where he went to college. And watching that scene again last week when he picked up his first major league save.
  
• Every exchange with Akinori Otsuka. Fans need to get to know him. He's a special person.
  
• Seeing Rudy Jaramillo back in the dugout after his prostate cancer scare. Typical of Jaramillo, he simply went back to work. No fanfare. Just a guy doing what he loves best: Instructing.
  
• And finally, but certainly not least, all the chats and newsletters that allowed me to communicate with Rangers fans. It's always good to talk, debate and discuss baseball. Thanks for your interest.

Don't look at this as goodbye. Look at it as relief from me for a full month. See you in November.

[Jaymze13]

Buck's status still not known

By KAT O'BRIEN and JIM REEVES
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITERS

A couple of hours before going to dinner at Rangers owner Tom Hicks' home Tuesday night, manager Buck Showalter referred to the evening -- which was also to include general manager Jon Daniels -- as something they do every year. However, the difference this year is that Showalter's job is on the line.

Neither Hicks nor Daniels returned phone calls or e-mails Tuesday night. However, Hicks called Showalter's status "open-ended" in a radio interview on ESPN/103.3 FM last week and acknowledged in a phone interview that they "had a decision to make."

Reached Tuesday night, Showalter, 50, was noncommittal about the outcome: "We'll know more [today]. I've got some things to think about."

On Tuesday afternoon, prior to his meeting with Hicks and Daniels, Showalter said: "I'm not going to talk about that. It's about the organization and the fans and the players."

Asked if he thought it would be unfair if he didn't get another season, given the injuries and lack of experienced pitchers he had to work with this year, Showalter said: "The last thing I'm going to do tonight is make excuses. Nobody wants to hear that."

The Rangers finished 80-82 this season, in third place in the American League West. They haven't made the playoffs since 1999. They finished three games out of first in 2004, when they were 89-73 and Showalter was named the American League Manager of the Year.

This was Showalter's fourth season in Texas, and he is signed through 2009. Despite the contract, Hicks has admitted that Showalter's future will be up for discussion.

He said in a phone interview Friday that he would sit down with Daniels and Showalter to talk about that after the season, then made clear on the radio that Tuesday's dinner would be the forum for that conversation.

"I look at things very realistically," Showalter said.

Some players privately made clear that they were unhappy with Showalter as manager. They primarily cited a lack of communication and Showalter's being too uptight, though some said they felt he wasn't honest with them. Whether that will hold any sway with Hicks and Daniels was unclear late Tuesday night.

How much Showalter is to blame for the Rangers not making the playoffs is debatable. He has had shoddy starting pitching throughout his time with the Rangers.

Their starters ranked no higher in ERA than 11th out of 14 AL teams, with two 12th-place finishes and one last-place finish. They also were either last or second-to-last in innings pitched each year.

Other areas were more successful. They've been between third and fifth in the AL in runs scored in each of Showalter's four seasons. The bullpen has been erratic at times, but it ranked fifth in the league this season after finishing 11th in 2005, second in 2004 and 13th in 2003.

If the Rangers wind up searching for a new manager, there are plenty of candidates. Should Daniels and Hicks opt for an experienced, veteran manager, Dusty Baker, Lou Piniella, Felipe Alou and Frank Robinson are available.

Other potential candidates include Rangers bench coach Don Wakamatsu, Rangers hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo, former Rangers farm director and current Nippon Ham Fighters (Japanese Pacific League) manager Trey Hillman, and former Rangers first base coach and current Boston Red Sox third base coach DeMarlo Hale.

Before coming to Texas, Showalter's record in seven years as a major league manager was 563-504. Excluding his first season in both New York and Arizona (which was an expansion team), he had had winning records each year.

[Jaymze13]

No one talking after Rangers meeting

Management remains mum on the future of Showalter

01:35 AM CDT on Wednesday, October 4, 2006
By EVAN GRANT / The Dallas Morning News

The sound of silence was deafening again Tuesday as the Rangers' top management troika met at the estate of owner Tom Hicks to discuss the future of manager Buck Showalter.

A Rangers official confirmed the meeting, but the club offered no statement about its outcome. Via e-mail, Hicks declined to comment. General manager Jon Daniels did not respond to e-mail questions.

Showalter, who finished his fourth season with the Rangers on Sunday, is signed through 2009 with a club option for 2010. He is still due between $5 million-$6 million in salary.

Hicks said last week during a radio interview that he planned to meet with Daniels and Showalter over dinner Tuesday to discuss what went wrong in 2006, the 2007 season and the manager's future in Texas.

Daniels said in mid-September that he had "no plans to change managers at this time." He has not backed away from the statement, but he has also not made Showalter's turn absolute. He has since kept a very low profile on the matter. He did not address the media after Sunday's final game or Monday.

There have already been four managerial changes in the majors. Florida dumped first-year manager Joe Girardi on Tuesday and replaced him with Atlanta third-base coach Fredi Gonzalez. San Francisco, Washington and the Chicago Cubs have also dismissed their managers but have not named replacements.

In his four seasons, Showalter had produced one winning season, 89-73 in 2004. The Rangers have not finished higher than third in the AL West. But that streak dates longer than Showalter's tenure. Showalter is 319-329 since joining the Rangers. It is his third managerial stop, following stints in New York and Arizona. Both clubs won the World Series in the season after Showalter left.

[tolarfan]

The Fort Worth Star Telegram online is reporting that Showalter is out.

Edited by tolarfan, 04 October 2006 - 07:46 AM.

[Jaymze13]

Oh well. It's not like we didn't see this or some other drastic move coming.

[Jaymze13]

Showalter dismissed by Rangers

Decision comes after annual meeting with owner Hicks

By T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com

Buck Showalter is out as manager of the Rangers, a club source confirmed Wednesday morning.

Bench coach Don Wakamatsu is likely the leading candidate to replace him, although hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo could get consideration as well. Former Rangers farm director Trey Hillman, who has been managing in Japan, could be another candidate.

Showalter had been the Rangers manager for four years. He was American League Manager of the Year in 2004 after the Rangers went 89-73. But they followed that up by going 79-83 in 2005 and 80-82 this year, missing the playoffs for the fourth straight season under Showalter and the seventh straight year overall.

The move came after Showalter met with owner Tom Hicks and general manager Jon Daniels on Tuesday night.

Showalter was hired on Oct. 11, 2002 and given a four-year contract. The Rangers were 319-329 during his four years. He was given a three-year contract extension after the 2004 season through 2009.

[Jaymze13]

BREAKING NEWS: 9:10 a.m.

Showalter fired after 4 years as Rangers boss

By JIM REEVES and KAT O'BRIEN
Star-Telegram Staff Writers

After four years of failing to rise above third place in the American League West, the Rangers fired manager Buck Showalter late Tuesday, according to a source close to the situation.

Showalter learned of his fate after arriving at owner Tom Hicks' house for dinner, over which he expected to discuss the team's future with Hicks and general manager Jon Daniels.

What he learned is that it won't include him after he led the Rangers to an 80-82 record and third place in the West in 2006.

Showalter, 50, who resigned as Yankees' manager after the '95 season and was fired as the Arizona Diamondbacks' manager following the 2000 season, was a combined 319-327 in Texas.

He still has three years on his contract at $2 million.

After the meeting late Tuesday, a clearly dejected Showalter would not confirm that he'd been fired but said he had "some things to think about."

Hicks or Daniels could not be reached for comment but a news conference is expected to come later today.

Last week, Hicks had called Showalter's status "open-ended" in a radio interview on ESPN/103.3 FM and acknowledged in a phone interview that team officials "had a decision to make."

On Tuesday afternoon, prior to his meeting with Hicks and Daniels, Showalter said: "I'm not going to talk about that. It's about the organization and the fans and the players."

Asked if he thought it would be unfair if he didn't get another season, given the injuries and lack of experienced pitchers he had to work with this year, Showalter said: "The last thing I'm going to do tonight is make excuses. Nobody wants to hear that."

The Rangers finished 80-82 this season, in third place in the American League West. They haven't made the playoffs since 1999. They finished three games out of first in 2004, when they were 89-73 and Showalter was named the American League Manager of the Year.

Some players privately made clear that they were unhappy with Showalter as manager. They primarily cited a lack of communication and Showalter's being too uptight, though some said they felt he wasn't honest with them.

How much Showalter is to blame for the Rangers not making the playoffs is debatable. He has had shoddy starting pitching throughout his time with the Rangers.

Their starters ranked no higher in ERA than 11th out of 14 AL teams, with two 12th-place finishes and one last-place finish. They also were either last or second-to-last in innings pitched each year.

Other areas were more successful. They've been between third and fifth in the AL in runs scored in each of Showalter's four seasons. The bullpen has been erratic at times, but it ranked fifth in the league this season after finishing 11th in 2005, second in 2004 and 13th in 2003.

There are plenty of candidates for a new manager. Should Daniels and Hicks opt for an experienced, veteran manager, Dusty Baker, Lou Piniella, Felipe Alou and Frank Robinson are available.

Other potential candidates include Rangers bench coach Don Wakamatsu, Rangers hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo, former Rangers farm director and current Nippon Ham Fighters (Japanese Pacific League) manager Trey Hillman, and former Rangers first base coach and current Boston Red Sox third base coach DeMarlo Hale.

Before coming to Texas, Showalter's record in seven years as a major league manager was 563-504. Excluding his first season in both New York and Arizona (which was an expansion team), he had had winning records each year.

[Jaymze13]

Showalter won't manage Rangers in 2007

Associated Press

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Buck Showalter is out as the manager of the Texas Rangers, ending four seasons in which he was never able to get a team with several young All-Stars above third place in the AL West.

Texas was 80-82 this season, its sixth losing record in seven years since last making the playoffs in 1999. Showalter was 319-329 with the Rangers, his third managerial job, and still had three seasons left on his contract.

Showalter was the AL manager of the year only two years ago, when after AL MVP Alex Rodriguez was traded in the spring the Rangers remained in playoff contention until an 11-inning loss in the 158th game of the season.

The Rangers were 89-73 in 2004, the fourth-best record in team history and an 18-win improvement over 2003. They finished only three games back in the AL West, but still in third place behind the division-winning Angels and Oakland.

But the Rangers weren't able to build off the momentum of that unexpected playoff chase. They backtracked last year with only 79 victories, and were only one game better than that this season.

[Jaymze13]

Rangers fire Showalter

10:13 AM CDT on Wednesday, October 4, 2006
By EVAN GRANT and RICHARD DURRETT / The Dallas Morning News

The Rangers have fired manager Buck Showalter, club sources confirmed Wednesday.

The Rangers' top management troika met Tuesday night at the estate of owner Tom Hicks to discuss the future of Showalter.

A Rangers official confirmed the meeting, but the club offered no statement about its outcome. Via e-mail, Hicks declined to comment. General manager Jon Daniels did not respond to e-mail questions.

Showalter, who finished his fourth season with the Rangers on Sunday, had been signed through 2009 with a club option for 2010. He is still due between $5 million-$6 million in salary.

Daniels said in mid-September that he had "no plans to change managers at this time."

There have already been four managerial changes in the majors. Florida dumped first-year manager Joe Girardi on Tuesday and replaced him with Atlanta third-base coach Fredi Gonzalez. San Francisco, Washington and the Chicago Cubs have also dismissed their managers but have not named replacements.

In his four seasons, Showalter had produced one winning season, 89-73 in 2004. The Rangers have not finished higher than third in the AL West. But that streak dates longer than Showalter's tenure. Showalter is 319-329 since joining the Rangers. It is his third managerial stop, following stints in New York and Arizona. Both clubs won the World Series in the season after Showalter left.