Another Nolanite brought in by the Rangers

I said this on October 22nd…

“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.”

Click it if you need proof

I was half right. I thought Nolan would have another of his guys come in. What I didn’t realize is what has been pointed out quite often the past couple of days. Mike Maddux got his start as a pitching coach in AA Round Rock in 2002. Guess who was in charge? If you guessed Nolan Ryan then you’ve been following the story that is the Rangers offseason.

Mike Maddux certainly has a reputation already in his relatively short career. He was able to get something out of Derrick Turnbow, Danny Kolb, and Doug Davis among others. Maddux’s reputation extends to his work with younger pitchers as well which, aside from his relationship with Nolan, has to be his main selling point to the Rangers. If Andy Hawkins is retained as the bullpen coach he and Mike Maddux should make a formidable tandem of coaches who will have the main responsibility of fixing the 2008 pitching staff while also integrating a bevy of new young pitchers in the coming seasons. Maddux has a chance to put himself squarely on the map among coaches nationally during his time in Texas. If he can help the Rangers develop some of these kids into viable major league pitching he’ll be able to have virtually any job he wants within 3 years. 

The Maddux signing brings another intriguing angle. As a National League pitching coach he has a unique perspective on this seasons pitching market. He’s seen a lot more of the National League this year than the majority of the Rangers staff so his input could be invaluable. Top free agent pitchers Derek Lowe, Ryan Dempster, Oliver Perez, Ben Sheets, and CC Sabathia are all coming from the NL although the Rangers should have a decent grasp of what CC brings. A significant portion of the pitchers the Rangers have been linked to in the trade market are from the National League as well. It’s  worth noting too that he does have experience working with Ben Sheets. Does Maddux’s presence entice Ben Sheets, a resident of Dallas, to come to the Rangers? Who knows, but the time he spent in the National League should be very useful to Texas in this pivotal offseason.

This is a pivotal offseason for the Rangers development wise. The Rangers are in a position to add a piece or two to help when the farm begins to produce en masse by the All Star Break in 2009 onward. Developing the organization isn’t just done on the field. Hours upon hours of behind the scenes work is put in every year. The Rangers have the farm system in place now, and from the looks of it the Rangers will have an elite coaching staff in place when 2009 takes the field. Hopefully Mike Maddux is that last piece they need off the field to translate the off the field successes into wins.

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