Nolan Ryan took over as Rangers' president in 2007: Nolan Ryan is back with the Rangers!
Two years later, Ryan is making a difference.
He wants starters to go deep. He does not want to hear any more excuses about the heat or whatever else we've heard for such a long time around here.
Ryan is preaching toughness with the young pitchers: Ryan Instills His Toughness in the Rangers
Jean-Jacques Taylor has a great analysis about the 2009 team: Going deep applies to Texas Rangers' pitchers, too:
"What Nolan Ryan, Jon Daniels, Ron Washington and Mike Maddux are doing is establishing a new standard of excellence for starting pitchers.
It's about time.
This organization wants pitchers who expect to go deep into games, routinely throw more than 100 pitches and finish what they start."
I love it! It's about time! It's great to see the starting pitcher out in the 7th or 8th inning. It certainly makes life easier for the bullpen!
For years, we've heard about the "heat in Texas" or the "hitter friendly park".
Indeed, it's awfully hot down here.
Indeed, this is a good park for hitters, specially left handed hitters.
At the same time, a ground ball pitcher can win here, as Kenny Rogers demonstrated year after year.
Will the Nolan Ryan plan work? Let's hope so.
So far, it's working in 2009!
