The Rangers staff takes shape…almost

Well one major opening is all that remains in the Rangers search for a coaching staff. The hirings of Jackie Moore and Dave Anderson tonight leaves only the pitching coach role vacant on the major league staff.

Jackie Moore takes over for Art Howe as the Rangers bench coach. He’s an Arlington native that will also serve as the catching instructor for the club in 2009. He has strong ties to Nolan Ryan from 1999 when Nolan coaxed him to coach his AA team instead. He will be in his 4th stint with the Rangers.

Dave Anderson was a major league shortstop for just over a decade. He was the Rangers field instructor in 2008 and takes over as thirdbase coach and infield coach. A significant amount of the hope for a better 2009 rests on Andersons shoulders.

The pitching coach race appears to be down to three candidates. Rick Peterson and Dave Wallace have already been interviewed. The club appears to be holding out hope that Milwaukee will allow the Rangers to interview pitching coach Mike Maddux. Three solid candidates for sure.

The most interesting part of this process is the small amount of input Ron Washington seems to have. Jon Daniels is reportedly conducting the interviews. A lot of the candidates have the Nolan Ryan hand print all over them too. Dave Wallace, Perry Hill, and Jackie Moore have the Nolan imprint. TR Sullivan points out that Dave Anderson worked under Perry Hill so he works similarly. Nolan appears to be saying this is my team. I have one word for that: good. Don’t be surprised if Dave Wallace is announced as Texas’ pitching coach on the first off day of the series as Nolan begins to remake this team in his image.

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Last post (s) by Josh Lile

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