Melmart1
09-06-2006, 10:53 AM
I have never been a big fan of Tom Hicks, the owner of the Rangers. But his comments that he made on the radio about his team and how maybe he needs to trade players instead of firing Buck Showalter as manager? Does he really think that Michael Young or Mark Teixeira are expendable in order to keep Buck fucking Showater?!?! I also don't think the Rangers would be in a better position if they hadn't traded David Delucci. I miss him and I know the team misses him, but is he really a difference-maker like Hicks makes him out to be? Read for yourself:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/090606dnsporangerslede.2f1a2d7.html
Hicks: Rangers lack leadership, mental toughness
09:41 AM CDT on Wednesday, September 6, 2006
By EVAN GRANT / The Dallas Morning News
OAKLAND – Taking a page from the George Steinbrenner School of Management, in which any time is a good time to challenge players, Rangers owner Tom Hicks said Tuesday that his team has lacked mental toughness and leadership this season.
During a lengthy radio interview with Norm Hitzges on KTCK-AM (1310), Hicks also said top prospect John Danks would "probably" make the 2007 starting rotation. He said general manager Jon Daniels has given him no reason to believe it was necessary to make a managerial change. Hicks said he had been trying to "dig around" to see if manager Buck Showalter's style was wearing on his players.
The toughness issue, however, was a widespread indictment of his team, which began Tuesday nine games behind Oakland in the AL West. Hicks all but conceded the race last week. On Tuesday, he sought to explain what has gone wrong with the 2006 team.
"We need to be a little tougher," Hicks said. "We need to be mentally tougher. I think we missed David Dellucci [traded to Philadelphia on April 1] this year. I think that leadership in the clubhouse part is really important, and we didn't have that after he left."
Hicks declined requests from The Dallas Morning News to elaborate on those statements, particularly about what area of the team lacked toughness. He said he would answer further questions at the end of the season. Showalter also withheld any comment. He said he had not heard the interview but was aware of some of the subjects Hicks broached.
Daniels said the comments should not be interpreted as a management vs. players issue. Daniels said the entire organization, starting with himself, is accountable for what has happened this season.
"If the team is lacking in leadership, it starts with me," Daniels said. "Anything pertaining to a lack of performance or a lack of success starts with me and everybody else in the organization. Everybody who wears the 'T', whether it's on a uniform or not, is fully vested. There's a lot I'm proud of this year, but at the end of the day, I take accountability if we come up short of our goals."
Although some players declined to discuss the assessment, several of the team's key contributors disagreed with Hicks' assessment about a lack of toughness and leadership.
"Absolutely not," shortstop Michael Young said when asked if he thought the club lacked the necessary toughness to win. "If anyone questioned my toughness or my ability to grind through a season, I'd have a big problem with it.
"We didn't win because we lacked toughness," Young added. "We didn't win because we got outplayed. But don't question my approach to the game. Any player that takes pride in the game would look at those comments personally."
Said first baseman Mark Teixeira: "He's entitled to his opinion, but the fact of the matter is that in the four years I've been here, we haven't had what it takes to win. We've had different teams every year, and none of them have turned out like we would have hoped. We're still searching for the right combination."
For the second time in two weeks, Hicks bemoaned the loss of Dellucci's leadership.
Hicks singled out Young as a great player and said he leads by example but added that the All-Star Game MVP and reigning batting champ is "not a captain of the clubhouse kind of guy."
"Mike Young is for sure our leader," third baseman Hank Blalock said. "He doesn't need to yell. He is so confident and expresses that confidence that he never has to yell at anybody. I see him talking to Ian Kinsler off to the side, he talks to me, and I know he talks to other guys. He doesn't yell, and he doesn't do it out in front of people, but he does [communicate]. And he does it well.
Added Blalock: "I don't understand the toughness part of it. Michael Young and Mark Teixeira play 162-game seasons in 100-degree heat. You've got to be pretty tough to do that."
Hicks also told Hitzges that Danks, the team's top pick in the 2003 draft, would probably be in the rotation for next season.
"I don't think our baseball people will say that," Hicks said. "But I think he does [make the rotation]. He'll be very exciting."
On Showalter's future, Hitzges asked Hicks if Showalter's style tends to wear on players. Hicks acknowledged that he's tried to determine the answer for himself, but he did not indicate if he's spoken to players.
"Buck has a unique style that works," Hicks said. "He grinds pretty good, and I think that's why he's successful. But coaches in any sport with that style sometimes run their course with certain players. But, we might want to change players rather than change managers."
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http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/090606dnsporangerslede.2f1a2d7.html
Hicks: Rangers lack leadership, mental toughness
09:41 AM CDT on Wednesday, September 6, 2006
By EVAN GRANT / The Dallas Morning News
OAKLAND – Taking a page from the George Steinbrenner School of Management, in which any time is a good time to challenge players, Rangers owner Tom Hicks said Tuesday that his team has lacked mental toughness and leadership this season.
During a lengthy radio interview with Norm Hitzges on KTCK-AM (1310), Hicks also said top prospect John Danks would "probably" make the 2007 starting rotation. He said general manager Jon Daniels has given him no reason to believe it was necessary to make a managerial change. Hicks said he had been trying to "dig around" to see if manager Buck Showalter's style was wearing on his players.
The toughness issue, however, was a widespread indictment of his team, which began Tuesday nine games behind Oakland in the AL West. Hicks all but conceded the race last week. On Tuesday, he sought to explain what has gone wrong with the 2006 team.
"We need to be a little tougher," Hicks said. "We need to be mentally tougher. I think we missed David Dellucci [traded to Philadelphia on April 1] this year. I think that leadership in the clubhouse part is really important, and we didn't have that after he left."
Hicks declined requests from The Dallas Morning News to elaborate on those statements, particularly about what area of the team lacked toughness. He said he would answer further questions at the end of the season. Showalter also withheld any comment. He said he had not heard the interview but was aware of some of the subjects Hicks broached.
Daniels said the comments should not be interpreted as a management vs. players issue. Daniels said the entire organization, starting with himself, is accountable for what has happened this season.
"If the team is lacking in leadership, it starts with me," Daniels said. "Anything pertaining to a lack of performance or a lack of success starts with me and everybody else in the organization. Everybody who wears the 'T', whether it's on a uniform or not, is fully vested. There's a lot I'm proud of this year, but at the end of the day, I take accountability if we come up short of our goals."
Although some players declined to discuss the assessment, several of the team's key contributors disagreed with Hicks' assessment about a lack of toughness and leadership.
"Absolutely not," shortstop Michael Young said when asked if he thought the club lacked the necessary toughness to win. "If anyone questioned my toughness or my ability to grind through a season, I'd have a big problem with it.
"We didn't win because we lacked toughness," Young added. "We didn't win because we got outplayed. But don't question my approach to the game. Any player that takes pride in the game would look at those comments personally."
Said first baseman Mark Teixeira: "He's entitled to his opinion, but the fact of the matter is that in the four years I've been here, we haven't had what it takes to win. We've had different teams every year, and none of them have turned out like we would have hoped. We're still searching for the right combination."
For the second time in two weeks, Hicks bemoaned the loss of Dellucci's leadership.
Hicks singled out Young as a great player and said he leads by example but added that the All-Star Game MVP and reigning batting champ is "not a captain of the clubhouse kind of guy."
"Mike Young is for sure our leader," third baseman Hank Blalock said. "He doesn't need to yell. He is so confident and expresses that confidence that he never has to yell at anybody. I see him talking to Ian Kinsler off to the side, he talks to me, and I know he talks to other guys. He doesn't yell, and he doesn't do it out in front of people, but he does [communicate]. And he does it well.
Added Blalock: "I don't understand the toughness part of it. Michael Young and Mark Teixeira play 162-game seasons in 100-degree heat. You've got to be pretty tough to do that."
Hicks also told Hitzges that Danks, the team's top pick in the 2003 draft, would probably be in the rotation for next season.
"I don't think our baseball people will say that," Hicks said. "But I think he does [make the rotation]. He'll be very exciting."
On Showalter's future, Hitzges asked Hicks if Showalter's style tends to wear on players. Hicks acknowledged that he's tried to determine the answer for himself, but he did not indicate if he's spoken to players.
"Buck has a unique style that works," Hicks said. "He grinds pretty good, and I think that's why he's successful. But coaches in any sport with that style sometimes run their course with certain players. But, we might want to change players rather than change managers."
E-mail [email protected]