The Rangers took a big step forward in 2009 when they were able to pry well-regarded pitching coach Mike Maddux away from Milwaukee. In the years since then, the Rangers have become a formidable pitching team and not the pitching hell the organization was known to be before then. In layman's terms, Maddux has made it possible and OK to come pitch in Arlington again.
And now, with one announcement on Thursday afternoon, Maddux is gone, and he's taking his Hall of Fame brother Greg, who was a special assistant to Rangers GM Jon Daniels, with him.
After the announcement, Dallas Morning News insider Evan Grant wrote the decision came down mostly to business. Grant said the Rangers offered Maddux a two-year deal after the season. Maddux, who has overseen the six lowest staff ERAs in the 22 seasons at Globe Life Park, wanted to either further negotiate his situation or have a chance to explore his market value. That's when the Rangers said "thanks, but no thanks" and sent him on his way.
It was a fairly shocking announcement, not so much because Maddux is gone but more because it seems it was at least a mutual decision, if not more a decision from the Rangers.
Rangers GM Jon Daniels praised Maddux's tenure with the team but said he saw a chance to "get better" at the spot.
"Mike is as hard-working and dedicated coach as we've been around," Daniels said Thursday. "I've got nothing but positive things to say. While Mike was looking around, we did the same. As we talked things through, we felt like there was an opportunity for us to get better with a new voice in that role."
Now, it's going to be interesting to see who the Rangers replace their longtime, highly successful pitching coach with. You'd think we'd know something pretty soon.
