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Saturday 22 September 2018

MLB Texas

Rangers fire COMING UP

Banister after

consecutive

losing

seasons ROSE

By STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Sports Writer
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP)
— The Texas Rangers fired
manager Jeff Banister on
Friday after the team stum-
bled to its first consecutive
losing records in 10 years
after winning AL West titles
in each of his first two sea-
sons.
Texas announced the
move with 10 games left in
Banister's fourth season.
In a season when the fo-
cus turned to the devel-
opment of their younger
players, the Rangers had a
64-88 record heading into
the Friday night's game
against Seattle to open
the final home series of the
year. They had lost four in a
row and 11 of 15.
Bench coach Don Waka-
matsu will serve as interim
manager for the remain-
der of the season, starting
with the three-game series
against the Mariners. The
Rangers will finish the sea-
son on the road next week
against the Los Angeles
Angels and Seattle.
General manager Jon
Daniels said he informed
the 54-year-old Banister of
the decision on Thursday, a
day off for the team. Ban-
ister was under contract
through next season.
“This was not an easy de-
cision and comes after a
long period of evaluation.
However, we feel that a
change in the leadership Woods, Rose tied for halfway
of our Major League club
is necessary as we move
forward,” Daniels said. lead at Tour Championship
“Once this conclusion
was reached, I felt it was
appropriate to make the Justin Rose hits from the 17th tee during the second round of the Tour Championship golf tournament Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, in At-
move now.” lanta.
Associated Press
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