Banister hired over Bogar

[Xx srs bsns xX]

Thoughts?

 

[Xx srs bsns xX]

Jeff Banister is the Rangers new manager

ARLINGTON – The Rangers have hired Pirates bench coach Jeff Banister as their new manager, according to a source. He replaces Tim Bogar, who served as interim manager for the final 22 games of the season.

Banister, Bogar and Indians bullpen coach Kevin Cash were the three finalists for the position. The Rangers also interviewed pitching coach Mike Maddux, Triple A manager Steve Buechele, White Sox third base coach Joe McEwing, Red Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo and Puerto Rico winter league executive Alex Cora.

The outside hire leaves the coaching staff in a state of uncertainty. Hitting coach Dave Magadan has been approached by the Mets and Yankees. The Rangers have reportedly reached out to Athletics hitting coach Chili Davis. Maddux remains unsigned for next season.

Banister is a Texas native with an extraordinary background. He developed bone cancer in his left leg in high school that doctors initially wanted to amputate. But the leg was saved through multiple operations and he continued his baseball career in college. At Baytown (Tx.) College, he suffered a crushed vertebrae as a catcher in a collision at home plate and was paralyzed for ten days. <p>

He still ended up playing at the University of Houston and was drafted by the Pirates in the 25th round of the 1986 First-Year Player Draft. He has spent 29 years in the Pirates organization as a player, coach and Minor League coordinator. He had one at-bat in the Major Leagues with a single in 1992. <p>

Bogar served as interim manager for the Rangers after Ron Washington resigned on September. Bogar was in his first season as Washington’s bench coach and led the Rangers to a 14-8 record, including 13 wins in their final 16 games.

...

 

[Bmurph]

Going to be very interesting to see how it all plays out from here. Banister will likely bring in some different faces to the coaching staff and some of the staff could also be chosen to return. Hopefully Banister will lead the Rangers to many many wins. However if he isn't successful for whatever reason and Bogar goes elsewhere and has the same type of success he did at seasons end, JD will receive plenty of backlash one would think.

 

[Xx srs bsns xX]

Going to be very interesting to see how it all plays out from here. Banister will likely bring in some different faces to the coaching staff and some of the staff could also be chosen to return. Hopefully Banister will lead the Rangers to many many wins. However if he isn't successful for whatever reason and Bogar goes elsewhere and has the same type of success he did at seasons end, JD will receive plenty of backlash one would think.

Except it was the whole "brain trust" that made the decision....

 

[Duane1952]

Sure surprised me. But glad a decision has been made. Anybody heard anything when they might hold a press conference.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

That whole article on Bannister does nothing for me. Bogar 3 out of 5 years manager of the year in the minors and had the Rangers playing with some enthusiasm. Now that means something to me.

 

[fordman84]

Thrilled with this hire. Really would have been happy with any of the 3. Any chance Bogar stays on as bench coach, or would that be too weird.

Hope Magadan hits the road, not impressed with him. I REALLY hope Maddux stays on as well. I wouldn't fault him for jumping ship, but sure hope he doesn't.

 

[jaar01]

Bogar essentially led a AAA baseball team to a winning record over the last few weeks of the season. He couldn't have had a better audition or "job interview." This one is a big time head scratcher for me. Bogar will go somewhere else and be very successful.

 

[donaldson79]

That whole article on Bannister does nothing for me. Bogar 3 out of 5 years manager of the year in the minors and had the Rangers playing with some enthusiasm. Now that means something to me.

I was very satisfied with Bogar, overall. I liked what he said, like the way he conducted himself, and liked how the team responded to him.

But when you go through the interview process, narrow it to 3 good candidates, and then pick the one who the ownership/FO felt was the best fit, I'll have to accept the decision as a good one.

My guess is there was probably a minimum of 5 people who had to agree on the right fit.

I'll get behind Bannister 100%.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

I was very satisfied with Bogar, overall. I liked what he said, like the way he conducted himself, and liked how the team responded to him.

But when you go through the interview process, narrow it to 3 good candidates, and then pick the one who the ownership/FO felt was the best fit, I'll have to accept the decision as a good one.

My guess is there was probably a minimum of 5 people who had to agree on the right fit.

I'll get behind Bannister 100%.

I will get behind him as well. But it doesn't mean I have to like the hire over Bogar. I try and get behind anyone with a Ranger uniform at first. Its just later I may jump off their bandwagon.

 

[donaldson79]

This from Tim Cowlishaw regarding Bannister:

You have to understand that he has spent 28 years in the same organization as a minor league player, a brief trip to the bigs, then a minor league instructor and manager before being elevated to Hurdle's bench coach four years ago.

If what Daniels is doing is hiring the next best thing to Hurdle -- someone he has known at both Colorado and here at Texas -- that's fine. Your chances of success are better with someone who is hungry, ready to prove himself, than with someone who believes he has shown that he has all the answers.

Daniels wanted to find a guy who would bring modern analytics into the game -- something that was sorely lacking in the last manager, whose best qualities were as a people person and in a "feel" for the game -- and as bench coach in Pittsburgh, Banister is widely given credit for having done that. Banister also learned the importance of communication on a staff where Hurdle had all of his coaches grade him each month.

There's a new era of Rangers baseball starting in 2015. The last one was awfully good but it ended with a mess. Jeff Banister has never been one to shy away from a difficult task his entire life. In fact, given what he endured as a young man, this project might seem relatively easy.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Also from Cowlishaw:

I'm very surprised that Banister emerged from the pack during interviews to beat Bogar for this job because I know how much General Manager Jon Daniels likes and respects Bogar. As he once told me, if your job is to go into Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon's office after games and tell him what you think he did wrong, you have to really know your stuff.
Bogar's background with the Rays and his work here was impressive. He took a team that had quit on its manager (before he did likewise on the team) and had them playing at a level that they all but eliminated the Atlanta Braves from the N.L. wild-card chase.

 

[donaldson79]

I will get behind him as well. But it doesn't mean I have to like the hire over Bogar. I try and get behind anyone with a Ranger uniform at first. Its just later I may jump off their bandwagon.

Did you think the Rangers should have just made Bogar the manager at the end of the season, or did you like the idea of having a "due diligence" search process?

 

[ESPN Refugee]

Did you think the Rangers should have just made Bogar the manager at the end of the season, or did you like the idea of having a "due diligence" search process?

I personally LOVED the fact that they did a real and thorough search and not just some window dressing search with token candidates. That's why as much as I feel bad for Bogar and kinda wished he was given the job, I fully trust JD and clan of the Banister hire. I certainly have to give credit the organization for taking this seriously and not screwing around.

 

[donaldson79]

I personally LOVED the fact that they did a real and thorough search and not just some window dressing search with token candidates. That's why as much as I feel bad for Bogar and kinda wished he was given the job, I fully trust JD and clan of the Banister hire. I certainly have to give credit the organization for taking this seriously and not screwing around.

Perfect....wish I could have said it so succinctly.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Did you think the Rangers should have just made Bogar the manager at the end of the season, or did you like the idea of having a "due diligence" search process?

I think you have to do what you need to do that will be what is best for the organization so I have no problem with us doing our due diligence. And I hope Bannister is great. But the reasons I am reading do not get me all excited. Bogar was good enough to be the Assistant to RW and his past experiences with Francona and Maddon who both have high praise for him, his success as a manager in the minors, and what he did in his short time here. Some may be basing it on just his short time as manager at the end of the season but I was looking at the body of work. Now if Bannister can be a hitting coach like Hurdle then sign him up as hitting coach. Just kidding on that one. But 29 years with the same organization. Not too sure about that. But like I said I will be pulling for the guy as I want us to get back to being a better ball club. I am just not a "yes" man just because JD and our supposed brain trust (owners) chose him. I am not too sure about ownership's ability in baseball matters.

 

[darrylgann]

Thrilled with this hire. Really would have been happy with any of the 3. Any chance Bogar stays on as bench coach, or would that be too weird.

Hope Magadan hits the road, not impressed with him. I REALLY hope Maddux stays on as well. I wouldn't fault him for jumping ship, but sure hope he doesn't.

Too weird, I'm afraid. Interesting day, though. I had an inkling this might happen. An NL man at that. Wonder if that had anything to do with anything.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Too weird, I'm afraid. Interesting day, though. I had an inkling this might happen. An NL man at that. Wonder if that had anything to do with anything.

I was going to mention that as well but didn't. All 29 years with one team and in the NL. Where Bogar had much of his time in the AL. Not sure if that will matter but it could.

 

[ESPN Refugee]

For those that are interested Banisters Twitter handle is @bannyrooster28

 

[donaldson79]

I think you have to do what you need to do that will be what is best for the organization so I have no problem with us doing our due diligence. And I hope Bannister is great. But the reasons I am reading do not get me all excited. Bogar was good enough to be the Assistant to RW and his past experiences with Francona and Maddon who both have high praise for him, his success as a manager in the minors, and what he did in his short time here. Some may be basing it on just his short time as manager at the end of the season but I was looking at the body of work. Now if Bannister can be a hitting coach like Hurdle then sign him up as hitting coach. Just kidding on that one. But 29 years with the same organization. Not too sure about that. But like I said I will be pulling for the guy as I want us to get back to being a better ball club. I am just not a "yes" man just because JD and our supposed brain trust (owners) chose him. I am not too sure about ownership's ability in baseball matters.

I honestly hear you and understand completely where you're coming from. Like I said earlier, I'm disappointed for Bogar. Good man who will be fine and gain from the experience he garnered here.

But Bannister seems to have great support throughout baseball just like Tim Bogar does.

I don't know so much about our ownership. But I think they're smart enough to trust the FO team to make strong recommendations for them.

Now, it's really going to be interesting going forward to see how Mr Bannister sets up his coaching staff.