Normally I stick to movie-related news and notes, especially James Bond stuff, but today is a big day for the Texas Rangers organization. While an official announcement has not yet been made, it is understood and being reported that Jeff Banister, bench coach for the past four years in Pittsburgh, will be the new manager for the Rangers. Banister will become the 25th manager since the ballclub's beginnings as the Washington Senators (21st since the move to Texas).
Banister was among the three finalists vying for the job, which included Cleveland Indian bullpen coach Kevin Cash and Rangers interim manager Tim Bogar, who went 14-8 to finish out the abysmal 2014 regular season and saw the departure of long-time manager Ron Washington. Many fans expected Bogar to win the job based on that 22-game performance, mustering a pitiful hodgepodge of major and minor league talent who had nothing to fight for into a scrappy group of overperformers, nearly knocking the Oakland A's out of playoff contention.
Considering I attended the game following Ron Washington's resignation and was in the ballpark the night Bogar took control, I was hoping Bogar would be hired. However, Banister has been hired. I know, literally, nothing about the man. A New York Times article on the man was published a year ago. You can read it here.
Banister has until April 6 to get his inaugural team into shape. Good luck to him. He will need it after what this fanbase went through in 2014.
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