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Texas Rangers fans, it’s time to quit placing all blame on Jon Daniels

By Stephen Francis

ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 01: General Manager Jon Daniels of the Texas Rangers looks on during batting practice against the San Francisco Giants in Game Five of the 2010 MLB World Series at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on November 1, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 01: General Manager Jon Daniels of the Texas Rangers looks on during batting practice against the San Francisco Giants in Game Five of the 2010 MLB World Series at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on November 1, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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Despite the best run of success in Texas Rangers history, general manager Jon Daniels is one of the most-hated men in town. It’s time for all of that to stop.

The past seven seasons of Texas Rangers baseball have been the best we’ve ever seen. Yet, that’s not good enough for some of the fans out there. Therefore, it’s time to have some honest talks about it. Despite what you think, Jon Daniels is not the sole reason this team hasn’t won the World Series, yet. So let’s all put away our pitchforks and think about this rationally.

Look at where the past

Before we get into what Daniels has accomplished, let’s remember the previous 34 seasons of Texas Rangers baseball. They made the playoffs a total of just three times, winning a combined one game in ten playoff appearances.

**Side note — I contend to this day still that the Rangers would have made the playoffs in the strike-shortened 1994 season and could have put up quite the fight in the playoffs. But that’s a discussion for another day.**

The pre-Daniels Rangers were a perennial whipping boy to the rest of the American League, and the American League West for that matter. From 1972 to 2005, Texas had a record of 2,596-2,775. That’s an average record of 78-84. Believe it or not, they had more last place finishes (eight) than first place finishes (three) in that time. Not to mention, they went ten straight years without a postseason appearance before Daniels took the helm.

Look at his resumé

Jon Daniels became the general manager of the Rangers following the 2005 regular season. Through 2016, his win-loss record as the GM has been an impressive 941-842. That translates to an average regular season record of 86-76. While that probably equates to a second place season in a one year chunk, it paces out as a great track record.

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He has taken Texas to the World Series twice. In fact, since the 1992 Blue Jays, they’re one of just four teams with back-to-back American League pennants. The Daniels-led Rangers have made the postseason five times during his tenure and he has them in contention for a sixth trip this season.

Now all of this isn’t to say J.D. has been perfect. I’ve yet to find a perfect general manager during my years of watching major league baseball. I’m sure he’d like to take back the trade of Chris Young and Adrian Gonzalez. Yet, his successes far outweigh his failures.

Don’t look at Nolan

Now I know some are ready to throw the name of Nolan Ryan out there, but just keep some things in mind before doing so. He was not the reason for the success of the Rangers in 2010-2011. As much as you’d like to heap all the credit on him, think about the makeup of those teams before you do.

Ryan came to the Texas Rangers organization as the team president of baseball operations in the middle of the 2008 season. Prior to his coming aboard, the Rangers had already drafted/acquired Elvis Andrus (by trade, July of 2007), Matt Harrison (by trade, July of 2007), Josh Hamilton (by trade (by trade, December of 2007), David Murphy (by trade, July of 2007), Nelson Cruz (by trade, July of 2006), Tommy Hunter (drafted, June of 2007) Neftali Feliz (by trade, July of 2007) and Derek Holland (drafted, June of 2006).

All eight of those guys played pivotal roles in 2010 and 2011. So before saying Ryan had everything to do with the 2010 and 2011 World Series appearances, remember this. They all were here before he even had a job within the Texas front office.

Now before anyone gets bent out of shape, none of this is meant to besmirch the name of the great Nolan. The dude is a legend around here. He deserves all credit for what he has done on the field for the Rangers and the game of baseball. But it’s time to let this notion that the greatest Rangers teams in history belong to him. More so, it’s time to let the notion die that Daniels has destroyed this team.

We’re still talking about a team that is coming off back-to-back AL West championships. A third doesn’t seem likely, but they’re still in the thick of the Wild Card race. If they creep into the Wild Card game and win it, then they’re no worse off than they’ve been the past two seasons.

This thing’s not dead, yet and Daniels certainly hasn’t destroyed this team. J.D. has certainly had his ups and downs as the general manager. However, he’s far from demolished a team that has been in the playoff picture in seven of the past eight seasons.

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So, let’s quit it with the spoiled temper tantrums and remember just how well we have it. Seriously, we’ve watched meaningful Rangers games in September in seven of the past eight seasons. We never said that in the 90s and the notion was never even on my radar in the 80s. Give credit where credit is due, and let’s enjoy this run of success instead of crying and moaning about it. And finally, remember that it wasn’t that long ago that we’d have given anything for just one good season.

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