Is it time to call the Bannister hiring a failure?!

Full disclosure I was a strong supporter of Washington. I tired of hearing how bad he was and how anyone could coach them better.

I'm drawing a line in the sand... let's hear why Bannister, 15 games into his Rangers career, is better than Wash.

I'll get the conversation started:

The State of the Rangers is terrible..

2015: 15 Games in they are 6-9.
2014: 15 Games in they were 8-7 (April 16).

Today they have the following roster along with who was in that role in 2014 (Age in 2015):
Leonys Martin (CF-27) <- Opening Day CF in 2014
Elvis Andrus (SS-26) <- Opening Day SS in 2014
Fielder (1B-30) <- Opening Day 1B in 2014
Beltre (3B-36) <- Opening Day 3B in 2014
Choo (RF-32) <- Opening Day LF in 2014
Moreland (DH-29) <- Opening Day DH in 2014
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Chirinos (C-30) <- Arencibia was Opening Day C in 2014
Smolinski (LF-26) <- Rios was Opening Day RF in 2014
Odor (2B-21) <- Wilson was Opening Day 2B in 2014. Called up May8

6 of the guys starting in 2014 are starting in 2015, with Choo moving from LF to RF. If 27-32 is a player's prime, Beltre is the only one you can argue is in decline. The rest are either in their prime or getting closer to it.

I will concede that Rios (34) brought a lot to the table. He has played 7 games for KC and is on the DL. There was a reason Odor was called up in May.

2015 Rotation
Gallardo (4 GS)
Lewis (3)
Martinez (3)
Detwiler (3)
Holland (1)
Ranaudo (1)

2014 Rotation
Scheppers (3 GS) - Opening Day
Robbie Ross (3 GS)
Martin Perez (3)
Saunders (1)
Nick Martinez (1)
Darvish (3) - Started on DL
Colby Lewis (1)

Lewis and Martinez both had 1 GS in each season's first 15 games.
Could we say Gallardo and Perez balance 3 GSs as being replacement value?
Darvish was on the DL to start the season but did make 3 GS.

But how bad was the rotation going into 2014. I remember shaking my head about the rotation and wondering how we were going to convert 3 (Feliz was a thought, IIRC) RPs to starters. I would argue that since Lewis and Martinez each had 2 additional GS, that is a bonus.

The Rangers have Wandy pitching tomorrow (Friday).

Is the rotation better or worse than it was in 2014? I say at best it is equivalent, but more likely better. The Rangers used 15 SPs in 2014. 7 in the 1st 15 games. The Rangers have used 6 SPs so far in 2015. #7 comes at 17 Games.

With Wash, I felt we won some games we otherwise might have lost. We may have lost a couple, but I always felt like the team did better than the talent it had. Even in a loss, I always felt Wash had the team motivated. I always felt like they battled to the end. And even in a loss, I always felt like tomorrow would be a better day. He pushed the players to just win every series. In 2014, they won 3 of 5 Series. When Wash went to the mound, you knew a message was being delivered and you could see the SP respond. Some of that was the result of long-term relationships\respect over time. Wash would sit engaged in the game and you felt the intensity he brought. He always seemed to be coaching and teaching.

With Bannister, I haven't seen anything from him that is encouraging. The team seems to play uninspired most of the time. Their defense is terrible. I have been very negative because he doesn't instill confidence to me that things are going to get better. In 2015, not only have they not won a series... they haven't won consecutive games. I'm not sure if they are just not showing the dugout, but I rarely notice Bannister in the game. Part of that could be I'm just not looking for him.

15 Errors in 15 Games in 2015. (Fielder-4, Andrus-3, Beltre-3, Odor-2, Chirinos-1)
15 Errors in 15 Games in 2014. 105 for the entire season. (Season: Andrus-18, Beltre-12, Odor-9, Martin-8, Chirinos-4, Fielder-4

I'm probably most known as being a Rangers Sunshine Pumper. So, you know if the Rangers are losing me, there are issues. I love a young team. I love following prospects. I love watching the young guys being called up and watching them perform.

It would not surprise me if Bannister is cut loose by June and replaced with Maddux. The talent isn't that much lower in 2015, than it was in 2014. The rotation was worse in 2014.

Bannister reminds me of Kevin Kennedy.

Not saying Bannister is going to be a success. I was skeptical from the beginning when they selected him over Bogar, and the start is not encouraging. But it's largely a continuation of trends that we saw last year- Elvis and Choo sucking. bandaid pitching staff, etc.

But it's been 2 weeks. That's a blink in baseball. And even if it carries on much longer (even all season), I think he at least gets through one season.

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Not saying Bannister is going to be a success. I was skeptical from the beginning when they selected him over Bogar, and the start is not encouraging. But it's largely a continuation of trends that we saw last year- Elvis and Choo sucking. bandaid pitching staff, etc.

But it's been 2 weeks. That's a blink in baseball. And even if it carries on much longer (even all season), I think he at least gets through one season.

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Bogar was 14-8 (0.636) in 22 games. He took over a team that was 53-87 (0.378). At 6-9 (0.400), you are correct that it is similar to what Wash put on the field, but Bogar seemed connected with the team and the results were better. Maybe a 0.400 team is who they are.

True, 15 games is a blink in a season. After today they will be about 10% of the way through the season. However, help is not on the way. The existing players need to improve.

Magadan has been a failure and I don't see him getting it figured out.

Daniels hired Banister and Magadan. I'm a Daniels fan but when does he start sweating?

oops

oops

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Daniels hired Banister and Magadan. I'm a Daniels fan but when does he start sweating?

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And ran off Nolan...

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That's a ton of words to try and explain a 2 game difference after 15 games.

"Darvish was on the DL to start the season but did make 3 GS"... Darvish missed Opening Day, that's it. In your minuscule 15 game sample size he actually made 3 starts and the Rangers went 3-0 in those games. 22 innings pitched, 2 earned runs.... Yeah, might have had somewhat of an impact on that 15 game sample size.

Texas has also played 10 of those 15 games against teams projected to be over 0.500. Last year through 15 games they played 9 games against teams that finished 15+ games under 0.500 (Philly (73-89), Boston (71-91), Houston (70-92)) and another 3 games against 77-85 Tampa Bay.


TLDR: Last year they played an easier schedule and had their ace put them in position to win 3 games.... More than enough significance for a 2 game difference.

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Easy peezy...

2015: Texas: 6-9
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Oakland: 8-8
Houston: 8-7
LAA: 6-9
Seattle: 6-9
Arizona: 8-7
36-40
Take out the Rangers games: 27-34

2014: Texas 8-7
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Philly: 7-8
Tampa: 7-8
Boston: 6-9
Houston: 5-11
Seattle: 7-8
32-44
Take out the Rangers games: 25-36

Not too much different in terms of opponent's results. Maybe the difference between the two seasons is Darvish. We will see.

Why would Maddux take over, and Buechele?

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That's a ton of words to try and explain a 2 game difference after 15 games.

"Darvish was on the DL to start the season but did make 3 GS"... Darvish missed Opening Day, that's it. In your minuscule 15 game sample size he actually made 3 starts and the Rangers went 3-0 in those games. 22 innings pitched, 2 earned runs.... Yeah, might have had somewhat of an impact on that 15 game sample size.

Texas has also played 10 of those 15 games against teams projected to be over 0.500. Last year through 15 games they played 9 games against teams that finished 15+ games under 0.500 (Philly (73-89), Boston (71-91), Houston (70-92)) and another 3 games against 77-85 Tampa Bay.


TLDR: Last year they played an easier schedule and had their ace put them in position to win 3 games.... More than enough significance for a 2 game difference.

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Easy peezy...

2015: Texas: 6-9
---------------------
Oakland: 8-8
Houston: 8-7
LAA: 6-9
Seattle: 6-9
Arizona: 8-7
36-40
Take out the Rangers games: 27-34

2014: Texas 8-7
---------------------
Philly: 7-8
Tampa: 7-8
Boston: 6-9
Houston: 5-11
Seattle: 7-8
32-44
Take out the Rangers games: 25-36

Not too much different in terms of opponent's results. Maybe the difference between the two seasons is Darvish. We will see.

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Wait... a 2 game difference in 2.5 weeks worth of games when looking at opponent's results is "not too much different"...

... but a 2 game difference in 2.5 weeks of games when looking at what the 2014 team record vs 2015 team record is enough to question the Bannister tenure?

I wonder what the Rangers record was on days when Wash was ****ing around on his wife. Let's go for some deep metrics here.

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I wonder what the Rangers record was on days when Wash was ****ing around on his wife. Let's go for some deep metrics here.

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I'll have to get back to you, with that...

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TLDR: Last year they played an easier schedule

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Wait... a 2 game difference in 2.5 weeks worth of games when looking at opponent's results is "not too much different"...

... but a 2 game difference in 2.5 weeks of games when looking at what the 2014 team record vs 2015 team record is enough to question the Bannister tenure?

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I was SO going to say that to you, but in reverse.

The point about Yu is the only relevant Wash vs. Bannister comparison at this point. One had him. One didn't. The one that did won 3 more games because of him. Their teams were otherwise equal trash at this point.

Yeah, just not sure what the point of the conversation is. Especially since the Rangers wanted to keep Wash.

Choosing between this year's team and last year's team at this point is choosing between 1,000 papercuts and being shocked 10,000 times.

The only point is that Dallas Ag 94 has the biggest case of Wash blue balls ever. He defended him for so long that he could barely wait 2 weeks to string together some sort of "I told you so" post. And there isn't any "told you so" to be had at this point. It's too early, Wash had Yu, Wash walked away, etc. All sorts of reasons why it's a dumb argument, but the blue balls win out.

I'm not sure anyone could win with the rotation we're trotting out now.

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The only point is that Dallas Ag 94 has the biggest case of Wash blue balls ever. He defended him for so long that he could barely wait 2 weeks to string together some sort of "I told you so" post. And there isn't any "told you so" to be had at this point. It's too early, Wash had Yu, Wash walked away, etc. All sorts of reasons why it's a dumb argument, but the blue balls win out.

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My issue regarding Wash isn't with the Rangers. My issue is with all the petty criticism Wash took on here, for doing many of the same things every other coach does. I think it was less than a week I was criticizing Bannister. If it were Wash managing the Rangers, you'd have heard plenty of drum beating here.

My issue with the criticism of talent this season, including criticism of the rotation is the hitters\defense is largely what we had last year, only a year older. The rotation was terrible last year. Same as this year.

JD got a free pass last year with all of the injuries. Many of us have indicated this will be a critical year for him.

I don't think it is time to panic, yet. By the ASB, it may very well be time to throw the towel in. I've got about another week of Bannister patience. Not to have this team turned around and winning, but to show he can manage the club.

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I've got about another week of Bannister patience.

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In about another week, we'll still have 5 months of the season left. Back away from the ledge

Matter fact, go ahead and just jump

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Don't be so sensitive.

My version of the clubhouse speech.

We sweep the Halos and we're back talking about winning the World Series.

This team isn't as bad as we've seen them lose. They aren't as good as some of their wins. I know this season is going to have big swings.

Bannister does remind me of Kevin Kennedy, but I'll have to watch a number of post-game press conferences to determine if I like him. I did like the fact he went to each player in the off-season and meet them without calling them to Arlington and disrupting their time. That was classy and very "player-friendly." That plays well with me.

Much to your disappointment, I've stepped away from the ledge.

Most of the criticism of Wash came from his actual strategic decisions. Bunting like there's no tomorrow. Forgetting to make defensive substitutions. Etc, etc...

Bannister hasn't wowed me by any means, but we don't have a large enough sample size to really know what kind of coach he is.

Do I like Elvis continually batting 2nd? No... But I look down this rag-tag roster and I certainly don't see anyone a lot more qualified for the job. When you've got **** pieces to work with, there's not a lot you can do MAKE things work.

And I don't think people criticized Wash as much last year as they did in 2012. I think after the injury atom bomb was dropped on us last year, people realized (like this year) that there's only so much you can do with a crap roster.

The 2012 season -- with a relatively stacked roster -- and Washington's failure down the stretch with them is what doomed him in most people's eyes.

Something something small sample sizes.
Can't believe Dallas Ag is the one w/ knee-jerk reaction on Bannister. You're better than that...

A.J. Preller... Maybe the man behind sucessful JD?

That makes no sense.

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Something something small sample sizes.
Can't believe Dallas Ag is the one w/ knee-jerk reaction on Bannister. You're better than that...

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I think his disdain for those who speak ill of Ron Washington has clouded his thinking on this. He seems hell-bent on being able to say, "I told you so."

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A.J. Preller... Maybe the man behind sucessful JD?

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Preller certainly contributed to his success.

I think once they started limiting the amount of money you can spend internationally, it diminished their investment and thus Preller's benefit.

Rangers did very well investing in the DR. This went back to Hart, and IIRC, Preller was brought on about that time. Was he the guy from the Dodgers that had already started the growth in the DR or was he part of another Dodger that helped? Was that Don Welke?

That period of time the Rangers hired someone known for success in the DR with connections\buscons to the DR. I also recall there being a number of times the Rangers got slapped for dealings... 5+ years ago. Even before Beras.

Much of that was just the way it was and has been cleaned up. I don't criticize the Rangers for exploiting it, but glad it has been cleaned up.

JD brought a number of people on board. The Padres will benefit from adding Welke.

Clint Hurdle among others. Magadan appears to be a bust.

Wasn't there also a guy JD brought to run the minor leagues during the heyday, that recently left?

Some guy named Nolan, as well. ;-)

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A.J. Preller... Maybe the man behind sucessful JD?

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Because he can make trades?

Makes sense.

Hamilton coming back.

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A.J. Preller... Maybe the man behind sucessful JD?

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Because he can make trades?

Makes sense.

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Because he was able to find lots of International players.

IIRC, he was the one who wanted to take Ogando in the Rule V from Oakland and turn him into a pitcher.

Darvish and Profar were both players he pushed the Rangers to get.

I don't know all the details, but the Rangers were very successful sorting out the LATAM players and spending wisely down there. He was generally considered the one behind many of the players we got from there.

Pretty early on to make declarative statements was my point. He's been gone for ~6 months.

So now the rest of the season will be DA94 complaining about JD and Bannister with War and Peace length diatribes? Super