February 04, 2008
The Ryan Talk Express
Evan Grant looks at the pros and cons of hiring Nolan Ryan as president of the Rangers:
For Ryan, the most attractive part of rejoining the Rangers would be the ability to have a bigger say on baseball issues. And I'm not sure that would happen. The structure Tom Hicks has used since Schieffer left the club is for the GM and the president to report directly to him, not to have one report to the other. If Ryan and Jon Daniels both report directly to Hicks, what does the owner do the first time they have a difference in opinion on a baseball issue? And if he sides with one, would human nature not leave the other one feeling a little powerless?
Of course, Hicks could always change the club's flow chart to a more traditional alignment in which Daniels reported to the president. But after years of inner turmoil (see John Hart-Buck Showalter era), the club seems to be headed in the right direction even if there is a long way to go. If Hicks inserts a level of management between Daniels and himself, he could end up unintentionally changing the team's direction. One thing this organization doesn't need right now is another change of directions.
Grant also notes that if Ryan does decide to join the Rangers in some capacity, that's a positive sign the Rangers are indeed moving in the right direction.
Posted by David Pinto at
08:49 AM
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