Buck Showalter Fired as Manager of Texas Rangers

John Daniels has been the General Manager of the Texas Rangers for exactly one year, so replacing manager Buck Showalter on the anniversary of his promotion, was his toughest decision yet.

“Anytime you make a personnel change, regardless of the position or the level, its emotional,” said Daniels at an afternoon press conference. “This was a very tough decision on that front, one that I don't take lightly, one as an organization we don't take lightly, and one we thought through quite a bit before making a final decision.”

Showalter's first year on the job was the 2003 season. One year later, he won 89-games, and was named manager of the year. But when he signed on, Texas was a team that began cutting their payroll, a fact that many believe lead to the teams sup par performance the last few years.

Said Daniels, “I don't think the payroll is fair excuse for anybody, whether it’s in my position, or the manager’s position, or a lack of payroll. There are teams with lower payrolls in the playoffs right now.”

Despite spending less on salaries, Daniels felt the Rangers simply underachieved with Showalter as his field boss. The team finished with a losing record and third in the American League West three straight seasons.

“When I say we weren't an 80-or-82 win team, and this isn't just me, I think if you ask the staff or ask the players, I think they expected to be better.”

The last two times Showalter was fired, the teams he left won championships. New York was the first, and Arizona was the second five years later, bringing new meaning to the term, hired to be fired.

When he took the job in 2003, Showalter knew all about that track record. “That's okay,” he said shortly after being hired. “If that's the case, I'd gladly sacrifice that, as long as they save me a championship ring.”

The bottom line is the Showalter just didn't enough games for the Texas Rangers. Now it’s up to Daniels to find someone who will. It will be his most important decision since taking over as the youngest General Manager in the Major Leagues.