Arlington, TX (My Sportsbook) - The
Texas Rangers named Buck Showalter the team's new manager at a news conference on Friday afternoon.
"I'm truly honored to have the opportunity and it truly goes without saying how much the opportunity means to me," said Showalter while addressing the media.
Showalter is the 16th full-time manager in team history, taking over a club that finished with a 72-90 record and was last in the AL West this season. Texas has finished last in the division three straight seasons.
"We're on a one-year plan," explained Showalter. "You always try to get a little better every day and at the end of the season if it takes you to the playoffs, then so be it."
He is replacing Jerry Narron, who was fired on October 1, 2002, after spending almost two full seasons with the Rangers. Narron took over on May 4, 2001, and had a record of 134-162.
Showalter, 46, has a .528 career win percentage and compiled a record of 563-504 in his seven-year managerial career.
"We brought in the absolute best candidate that's out there," said Rangers general manager John Hart. "I've known Buck Showalter for many, many years. He has the qualifications we are looking for. As I looked at his background with player development, young players, veteran players, it fit the criteria of what we have here."
Showalter managed the New York Yankees between 1992-1995 with a record of 313-268 in 582 games. He guided the Yankees to a 70-43 record in the strike-shortened season of 1994, and was named the American League Manager of the Year. In his four years with the club, Showalter made one playoff appearance, leading the Yankees to the AL wildcard in 1995, where the team lost 3-2 in the best- of-five AL Division Series, to the Seattle Mariners.
Showalter managed the Arizona Diamondbacks between 1998-2000 with an overall record of 250-236. In 1999, the D-Backs won the National League West Division, and lost in the NL Division Series, 3-1, to the New York Mets.
Showalter had spent the past two years as a baseball analyst for ESPN.
