MLB Rangers co-Chairs Ray Davis and Bob Simpson have not said or suggested that they are "going to sell" the club, but the "signs are there that such a move is coming," according to Mac Engel of the Ft. Worth STAR-TELEGRAM. Of the six groups to own the Rangers, the duo of Davis and Simpson "now have the second-longest tenure behind only Tom Hicks." Other than winning a World Series, there is "not that much left for this current ownership group to achieve." Davis and Simpson have "followed the standard ownership timeline." They "spent a lot of money early on player acquisition, and then slowed down when the spread sheet doesn't justify it." The ownership group has 11 other members, including Neil Leibman, who was part of the original ownership group that bought the team in '10. His role, and stake in the team, has "steadily increased over the years." He is "open and receptive to taking on more" responsibilities (Ft. Worth STAR-TELEGRAM, 2/22).
SURVIVAL TIPS: The STAR-TELEGRAM's Engel writes the root of the Rangers' problem "isn't in the money they spend but how they spent it, and specifically a minor league system that is not producing enough quality major league players." Of the plausible indictments lobbed at GM & President of Baseball Operations Jon Daniels, the franchise's "struggle to produce their own pitchers remains 1 and 1a, and 1z." As long as the ownership group led by Davis and Simpson remain in power, it "will not lavishly spend on high dollar free agents." The only way the Rangers will contend again is to "develop their own young stars" (Ft. Worth STAR-TELEGRAM, 2/24).
