Oates Sacrifices Job for Rangers’ Future
You’ll have to register to read this (before Tuesday, I think), from Sunday’s NY Times.
Murray Chass makes it sound as if Johnny Oates quit altruistically. “In the interests of the organization…” he says, before suggesting he be replaced.
The story goes on to note that not only has the Ranger pitching been terrible, but the defense has been awful, too. How often these things go together! And how ironic, since when Oates and Melvin arrived in Texas their stated aim was to improve the pitching by improving the defense.
Somehow it never occured to them that an infield where three of the four positions are filled with someone more than 35 years old, where the top reserve is a mediocre fielder at all positions he plays except first base, maybe, and the crown jewel, Alex Rodriguez, is a big man with a big stick who has never been noted for his glovework.