Over recent seasons, the Baltimore Orioles have become nothing more than "Texas Rangers East."
It starts with their skipper, Buck Showalter, who preceeded Ron Washington as the Rangers' manager. Since his arrival in Baltimore, Showalter has enjoyed several former Rangers, who have made big contributions to the Orioles.
The biggest name, of course, is first baseman Chris Davis, who went from being a prodigious power bat that couldn't figure things out in Texas to a Triple Crown candidate in Baltimore this past season. There's also guys like Pedro Strop, Darren O'Day, Tommy Hunter and Taylor Teagarden.
Now, the Orioles and Showalter could be adding another part of the Rangers as Texas bullpen coach Andy Hawkins is set to interview for the vacant pitching coach job in Baltimore.
Hawkins has been with the Rangers for 12 of the past 13 seasons and has spent the past five seasons as the Rangers' bullpen coach. During that time, the Rangers have put together one of baseball's best staffs, and just as pitching coach Mike Maddux is a strong managerial candidate, Hawkins has also become a good candidate for a promotion elsewhere.
