Nolan Ryan screwed up and publicly said the Rangers wouldn't get in a bidding war for Lee and that Lee and Braunecker would have to just tell the Rangers what they wanted.

Just a terrible handling of the situation in the press. Simply idiotic.

The Rangers are saying they went because Crawford was signed, and that probably contributed as well, but if that were the case Ryan surely would have gone for the final pitch as well.

Instead, the Rangers sent Ray Davis (the ultimate decision-maker in all this, along with Bob Simpson) along with Greenberg (Michigan Law School) and Thad Levine (UCLA MBA). Nolan stayed home, and Greenberg did damage control with the local press on a quickly-arranged conference call afterwards.

No one wants to hear it because he threw 100 mph and struck a lot of people out and punched Robin Ventura and talks with a twang and hates pitch counts and whatever, but Nolan Ryan as president is a really, really, really bad deal. It was a smart PR move by Hicks at a time when he needed it, and the name value helped Greenberg pull off a great deal, but he has long overstayed his usefulness to the club or anyone else at this point.

The trend in baseball is away from minimally-educated ex-jocks in such positions. Those days are gone. For very good reason, as Ryan is showing. Presidents and GMs now are MBAs and JDs or people of comparable intelligence and/or professional experience. They are dealing with highly complex financial negotiations as well as 24/7 media and marketing control.

Daniels, Levine, and Preller are young, but they are sharp. They are 2 Ivy Leaguers and a top MBA. They are still fairly young though so the team needs to be filled out with experience. Under Hicks, they had access to top business management and finance resources. And Jon Hart was kept as a more baseball-specific resource for them as well. He played a major role in their development.

But Hicks is gone now, and Simpson and Davis are new at this and wanting to stay out of the day-to-day affairs as much as possible. It's most likely a short-term investment for them anyway.

So someone has to step in and fill that daily financial and business management expertise void that has opened.

Greenberg would be perfect for this. He is media savvy, well-educated, experienced and highly intelligent. He is more than enough to complete the team and provide great cover for Daniels and Co. to drill down into what they do best. But with Ryan sharing the office, Greenberg has to defer to him on many things... because, hey, he's Nolan Fonking Ryan.

But it sucks that he has to do this. His having to is going to increasingly cause problems for the club. Today won't be the last time he has to go do damage control because of a Ryan mistake.

-- Ryan fired Josh Lewin (something he'd been pushing to do since he showed up; so I'm sure Greenberg and the others just figured they'd let him finally have it). Why? Who the hell knows... It's becoming increasingly clear he didn't have his own option ready to take the spot.
-- Ryan asked Hicks for permission to fire both Washington and Daniels in late April 2009. He got a 2-week window for Washington (which an amazing run fortunately saved) and, thankfully, vetoed on the Daniels request.
-- He walked the Rangers into the Purke debacle, convincing Hicks and Daniels he could talk the Purkes down to $4M, owing to contacts at Purke's agency and his being Nolan Fonking Ryan and their being Texans. MLB vetoed an emergency last minute move to $6M, but that was an absurd amount the Rangers never should have offered anyway... just to get out of a mess they were in because of Nolan Ryan. Ryan months later, with Hicks on his way out, made up a bogus claim about having agreed to $6M before the draft (which is not only untrue but just an idiotic suggestion anyway... that a club would go and guarantee a player several times over his slot value before that player's falling in the draft).
-- Now he's botching sensitive player negotiations with ham-handed press management.

The guy threw a baseball hard. Great. Hooray. Fire up the pre-game jumbotron montages. Whatever.

But he is woefully in over his head as president of an MLB club in 2010.

I respectfully disagree. I don't know if Nolan was behind Purke, or if he would have fired Wash and JD. I do know he is a big reason we have Mike Maddux. Nolan is more than a "hard throwing" baseball player. He is an intelligent business man with several successful off field investments. He didn't get an MBA from an ivy league school, but he is wise. When Nolan talks, people (not just ranger fans/players) listen. His contributions to the organization extend well beyond his value crunching numbers in contract negotiations.

He is an intelligent business man

I guess "intelligent" is a highly subjective term, but I certainly disagree with that statement.

with several successful off field investments

He slapped a famous name on a cattle company. I'm sorry, but that just doesn't sell me when we are talking about someone's ability to handle the demands of far more complex and valuable operation.

He didn't get an MBA from an ivy league school, but he is wise.

Ha. That reminds me of this classic:

George W. Bush's Thoughts: "The Rock is stronger. But Nolan Ryan's wise. Presidenting is hard!"

Joking aside though, Nolan Ryan is not wise. Which isn't to say he's unwise. He's just a really average dude as far as that goes. So am I. So are most human beings. That's why we aren't running $600M organizations. Nolan Ryan shouldn't be either.

When Nolan talks, people (not just ranger fans/players) listen. His contributions to the organization extend well beyond his value crunching numbers in contract negotiations.

Great. So keep him on the jumbotron and let him throw out first pitches. But get him out of the front office and let Greenberg, Daniels and team run this business. They are far better suited to do so.

Agree.

The problem is that he gets an oversized share of the decission-making responsibility because he's Nolan Ryan. If he were just another guy in the room, not a problem. But he's strutting around like, you know, he owns the place. Greenebrg needs to be the big veto.

My NFL loyalties are with the Denver Broncos, largely because John Elway enthralled me in the mid '80s. Obviously, that franchise needs a new direction. Talk is, they'll be hiring a new GM first, and asking him to hire the next coach. This is a smart move. Lots of people in the BroncoNation are pushing to have John Elway become that GM because, hey, he threw a football hard and slapped a famous name on some car dealerships and a steakhouse. I say HELL NO. Hire the wunderkind underling to Ozzie Newsome or some other top NFL executive. Go find your Harvard MBA. Do NOT give it to a famous jock.

Back to the Rangers. I suspect GMJD has gained enough cred at this point to get his way on most matters. Let's hope so.

@Rangers100 ...

The Rangers understand the demographic market that they are trying to appeal to ... and, like it or not, Nolan Ryan personifies that demographic ... I'll admit up front ... I'm not a "Texan" ... and Nolan is ... and that carries significant weight in a lot of "potential customer's minds" ...

Nolan's "business style" is different than what a lot of "baseball people" are used to dealing with ... the suggestion that Cliff Lee and his agent "get back to the Rangers with what it will take to get a deal done" is pure no-nonsense, no pretense Nolan Ryan ... and that's OK ... Lee's agent had never dealt with anyone in baseball with that type of approach to doing things ... OK, so now he has ... when the Red Sox decided to throw that contract at Carl Crawford, it changed the dynamic of the "playing field" for the negotiations with Cliff Lee and his agent ... again, that's OK too ... things happen, and situations change ... Greenberg, Davis and Levine decided, at that point, to step in and try to move the process toward completion ... doesn't make Nolan Ryan incompetent ... just different ... and that's fine ... there's 32 baseball clubs out there, with 32 different styles of management ... if they were all the same, what would be the point ...

Nolan's style is old-school, no nonsense ... and from everything I've read ... pure Texas ... and that's fine ... the Rangers are developing a "new business persona" ... that's fine, they're allowed to ... and as more time goes by, more and more agents are going to become familiar with the "Texas Way" ...

Life affords us opportunities to grow, and expand our knowledge and skills in a multitude of ways ... Nolan Ryan is no different ... and he had already begun to come around on the length, in years, of what kind of contract it would take ... I don't find it "incompetence" in how Ryan spoke of the negotiations up to the point Thursday when Mr. Greenberg, Mr. Davis and Mr. Levine met with Lee and his agent in Arkansas ... it's more that the conditions changed, and the Rangers felt that the "money men" needed to step into the fray, if you will ...

Nolan Ryan is Texas ... down-to-earth, no pretense, and a straight-shooter ... I do not know all of the details of the Purke situation ... time will tell, eh ... but I trust Nolan, Jon Daniels, Chuck Greenberg, and the rest of the Rangers "braintrust" to get these things right ... I do not expect Nolan to change "who he is" ... but would not be at all surprised if he "didn't speak as much about it" as things go forward ... Texans are straight-forward, and not afraid to speak their minds ... if they're wrong, they're wrong ... but they're not intimidated or afraid to speak their minds ...

Don't Mess with Texas ...

Ranger, I notice you offer almost no evidence for your arguments. Because Nolan is different he is bad? I am in no way saying he is totally responsible, but look at the positive things that have happened for the organization since he took over. If he is as bad as you claim, how come the Rangers are finally making strides in the right direction?

And just how does one gain the proper experience to run an MLB club? I'd think that over 2 decades in the league help. I'd think owning another successful (minor league) team would help. Or even the experience that comes from "slapping a famous name on a cattle company" might be valuable? I am not claiming that Nolan is as "intelligent" as everyone around him, but his experience, leadership, and character can be seen throughout our organization. It's not like he is out spending like crazy to land a Jayson Werth. What has he done that is so bad?

Come on now sonnnnnnn you cant be trash talking Nolan Ryan,You dont even live in Texas and you cant possibly know how much that man means yo this area.So if you are gonna trash talk y dont you just be a orioles fan?????????

He can throw a baseball really really hard, and accurately hit his spots and be one of the best starting pitchers to ever live. This is exactly why he is good for this organization. The Rangers have always had offense but no defense. We've had awful pitching for years. Ever since Nolan has been with the Rangers he's made an emphasis on the teams starting pitching. More innings in less pitches...etc. etc. He knows what it takes to win games and win championships. You can't learn that in a harvard classroom. He's the perfect man for the job.

I don't have any idea where your info on the inner workings of the team come from, but I very much agree Nolan has begun to talk to the press way too much. It's funny, because most of the transactions that JD pulls off are a complete surprise to the press and public. It's a good way to do business, because it keeps public sentiment out of the tougher decisions (like shopping MY around). For whatever reason, Ryan has begun to give access to the press on too much of what is happening behind the curtain. I wouldn't be surprised to learn he was an anonymous source of information for the press on MY possibly getting sent to Colorado.

Rangers 100...

Could you possibly provide links to any of the claims you have made?

And could you name a person that didn't want Washington fired in April 2009?

@Rangers100 - what did Nolan do to you? You are either speculating and filling in between the lines or you are someone who has been, in fact, intimately involved in things within or surrounding the organization. What is clear is that you have a vendetta against Nolan Ryan.

I have no dog in this fight, I do however appreciate that good organizations have a diversity of experience, temperament, talent, and perspective and that is a very healthy culture in which to develop an outstanding group.

Nolan may not be your kind of guy but you should put your noose away and dismantle your gallows. I hope in this time of peace on earth and good will towards man that you can find some of the same for yourself and Nolan....

Ranger 100 - after yesterday's actions and reactions, you wrote exactly what I was thinking. Nolan Ryan was a great pitcher and competitor but he's not a negotiator and should stay out of these deals. JD and his team of scouts are smart, business savvy and low key when it comes to making deals for this club. It's paid off. You are 'dead on' about the Purke deal or should I say 'no deal' last year - it has Nolan's interfering all over it. I don't hate Nolan and I think he has a place with this organization. But when it comes to dealing and signing players, the finesse of such transactions belongs with JD's team and Greenburg.
Nolan Ryan is the 'brand name' for this organization. He definitely needs to keep a low profile with the press and player transactions with the Rangers.

Matt Purke wears dumb glass anyways. I'm glad he's not on the team.

Don't ever underestimate that degree from The School of Hardt-Knox. Yeah, I know Nolan is an ex jock and that is far removed from reality but he may be reading the tea leaves better than the others wish to admit. Everybody else may be seeing smooth sailing but the old sea captain may be seeing rocks or reef. I'm betting some people with deep pockets still listen to Nolan. He may not sound so good to you transplanted Philadelphia lawyers but he still makes some good horse sense. He didnt always throw a strike on every pitch but he has more K's than anybody else by a country mile. If this is his coup de grace then I'm still betting on his wisdom if not always his instant smarts.

@Rangers100 - we get it, you don't like Nolan as president. Go grind that axe somewhere else please.

First of all, I've never seen an ellipsis used as many times as one was in "The View from the Swamp ..." 's post. (even his name has an ellipsis) -- and that's coming from a fan of the ellipsis.

What that being said... (ellipsis) I tend to agree with Rangers100 & Scooby Dude.

Baseball is a business. Negotiations are business. Ryan is a great face for the franchise. He's a guy that players respect (and rightfully so) and will listen to (because he's been there and done that, quite successfully mind you). However, besides meeting with potential FAs and giving his two cents on the way the organization is run, I tend to agree that he needs to stay out of the way when it comes to the business side of baseball. I'm not saying he isn't capable of negotiating -- hey, someone did quite well selling Advil and beef for many years -- but his southern-way and no-bull straight-shooting head-locking tactics only go over well with others who have similar personalities. Other old southern business men probably appreciate his style and would love to only do business with Nolan. However, baseball is quickly becoming a young, educated man's business world (look at the trend in GMs over the past few years -- thank Moneyball?) and Nolan is neither young, nor educated -- not calling him dumb. I love him being a part of the franchise and he was great on the field... but I'd hate for him to do something now as an executive that tarnishes his reputations amongst the fans, like say... keep asking Lee's agent for "what it's going to take" instead of just making an offer and laying the cards out there. Thankfully Greenberg and "the pockets" showed up with a "menu of offers" for Lee.

Again, love Nolan -- but I think he's a bit out of his element when it comes to the real business side of baseball. Would I let him negotiate the price for a new scoreboard, sure. Would I let him decide on things involving the fan experience, personnel, marketing, charities, pitch counts, things of that nature... yes, but leave the other stuff to the guys who are a bit more savvy in those areas.

What's wrong with stating the team isn't going to enter into a bidding war?

A bidding war is when there the potential buyers are not only bidding because of the desire to purchase the item, but also in part BECAUSE of the bids of competing bidders...wanting to win the item not only because of it's actual value, but also ascribing extra value from winning the auction. Especially so in this particular case because the bidders are actual competitors outside of the confines of the auction/bidding.

See also "auction mentality".

I have no problem with the "what's it going to take" tactic... other than it's not going to get you anywhere. Maybe in buying a used car or a tv on Craigslist. I really doubt Lee's agent is going to come out and say "Nolan, we'll sign for 6 years $150M -- nothing less". Then where's the potential for the Rangers and Yankees to overbid? Sure, you could turn it the other way around and say if you name your price, you're more likely to get it matched and avoid the potential under-bid. But you've got to let the market dictate your asking price in this case. If you're going to offer me $7,500 for my crappy used car but secretly I only wanted $6,000, I'm not going to come out and reveal that to you. I'm going to let you tell me how much you think it's worth and if I don't feel it's enough, then I'll look elsewhere. Now, if no one else is willing to offer me $6,000 and you're willing to do $5,800, then we've got a deal. But if I say "$6,000 and it's yours", then I've got no shot at ever getting $7,500. It's just the game that's played.

My point was, Lee's agent wasn't going to play Nolan's game and in the end all your doing is frustrating them and not putting an offer out there. Just tell them what you'll pay and if it's too low they'll let you know. But in the mean time, NY has offered three deals and you're just wanting Lee and Co. to give you a price without working for it, and yes, potentially over-paying for it.

"What's wrong with stating the team isn't going to enter into a bidding war?"

1) You ARE in a bidding war, and stating that you won't get into one does nothing to change that.

2) It probably pisses Lee off. Which is bad when the other side is clearly bidding enough to meet the "reserve price" (to extend the auction analogy). Now, if no one else is bidding (i.e. on Vlad), then maybe this strategy has some merit. But not so much in a case like this.

3) There's a reason Cliff isn't flying around meeting with teams- they're flying to Arkansas to meet with him. It's his world right now, and the teams are just living in it. Nolan's statement made him seem a bit oblivious to that fact.

1) You ARE in a bidding war, and stating that you won't get into one does nothing to change that.

Thank you.

Even if it is true and the Rangers are/were done raising bids, it is just stupid to tell that to the press. It gives the appearance that the team is short on cash and that all other free agents now and in the future should keep that in mind.

The Rangers likely aren't going to win this and few teams would have. But they have gained a lot of respect and revised thinking from many within baseball throughout 2010 and the Lee negotiations. Why? Because Daniels and Co., on a tight budget, have now twice gone head-to-head with the Yankees.

So they know they're unlikely to win this 2nd round for Lee. But make it look like you came really close to winning him. Don't just pout and say you're done bidding and that he needs to just tell you what to do. Just horrible.

@Rangers100 - what did Nolan do to you?

Nothing. I think he's a good guy, and as others have noted, he has been huge for the organization over the past couple decades.

But I am a Rangers fan. I don't care who the president, GM, or owners are beyond their abilities to bring wins and championships to the Rangers. And it is clear Nolan Ryan as president is becoming a major hindrance to the people who put this whole thing together and who could continue building it in the best way possible.

Nolan's style is old-school, no nonsense ... and from everything I've read ... pure Texas ... and that's fine ... the Rangers are developing a "new business persona" ... that's fine, they're allowed to ... and as more time goes by, more and more agents are going to become familiar with the "Texas Way" ...

Texans are straight-forward, and not afraid to speak their minds ... if they're wrong, they're wrong ... but they're not intimidated or afraid to speak their minds ...

Don't Mess with Texas ...

Hilarious. Very well done.

I realize you're just doing a bit, but what's sad is that many Rangers fans and people really do talk like that when it comes to Nolan Ryan and anyone questioning his ability to handle this job.

1) If his statement doesn't change anything, why are you whining about it so much?

2) If Lee gets "pissed off" over that comment in the context of a negotiation, then he'll do well in New York once he loses a couple starts.

3) It's quite common for teams to go to free agents...Lee isn't inventing the wheel here. He's this year's top free agent....let's not go overboard like he's the most coveted guy in the history of the game or anything.

If Nolan really hurt our chances so bad why hasn't Cliff just taken the money? I think Nolan's comments will have little to no effect on these negotiations.

My NFL loyalties are with the Denver Broncos, largely because John Elway enthralled me in the mid '80s. Obviously, that franchise needs a new direction. Talk is, they'll be hiring a new GM first, and asking him to hire the next coach. This is a smart move. Lots of people in the BroncoNation are pushing to have John Elway become that GM because, hey, he threw a football hard and slapped a famous name on some car dealerships and a steakhouse. I say HELL NO. Hire the wunderkind underling to Ozzie Newsome or some other top NFL executive. Go find your Harvard MBA. Do NOT give it to a famous jock.

Interesting. Hadn't heard that about Elway (I don't follow NFL), but that sounds like a very similar battle.

One problem is that most fans don't understand what these roles require in 2010. They don't really get what these meetings look like and how important every word with the press, every conference room negotiation with agents, etc. can be. The ability of your president to go head to head with top agents, union reps, media execs, etc. in crowded conference rooms, in the 11th hour of pitches and negotiations that have gotten down to esoteric questions of finance, law, market positioning, etc., is extremely valuable. It not only gives you a better chance of winning the deals, but it inspires confidence and builds unity among the teammates in the room and beyond. When the president has to sit outside the ring in these moments because he doesn't understand many of the highly complex financial and business terms being discussed, it's a huge waste. And at these moments of these negotiations and meetings, no one cares anymore about how "Texas" you are or how well you threw a baseball. They want specific, direct answers to the sophisticated argument they just laid out presenting their concern with an element of, say, the complex financial models you are attempting to get them to accept.

As I noted before, Greenberg can fill this role. But Ryan, as he publicly admitted at many times throughout the bankruptcy proceedings, does not have the ability to keep up with these people to such levels. So if not, why is he president? It would be fine if he was simply a figurehead for public image (as he was most of the time under Hicks), but he is increasingly involving himself at the table in such negotiations, and his reports out of such meetings are taken by the press, understandably, as the official position of the Rangers.