Rangers fire manager Banister amid second consecutive losing season
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers fired manager Jeff Banister on Friday after the team stumbled to its first consecutive losing records in 10 years following American League West titles in each of his first two seasons. Texas announced the move with 10 games left in Banister’s fourth season, and general manager Jon Daniels said the decision wasn’t based on the record. “There are times when you’re looking for a new voice, and the new voice for the leadership,” Daniels said. “Jeff did a very good job for us. Ton of passion and energy and care for everybody involved. … We just made a decision that a new voice at this point was needed.” In a season when the focus turned to the development of their younger players, the Rangers took a 64-88 record into Friday’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 Wakamatsu will serve as interim manager for the remainder of the season, starting with the three-game series against the Mariners. The Rangers will finish on the road next week against the Los Angeles Angels and Seattle. Banister became the third manager in the majors to be fired this season, along with Mike Matheny of St. Louis and Bryan Price of Cincinnati. Banister released a statement thanking Rangers owner- ship and Daniels for giving him the opportunity, and thanked his assistant coaches and the players. “We had some great times here, but it doesn’t last forever,” Banister said. “Certainly I am disappointed that I was not able to finish the job. But this has been the experience of a lifetime.” Banister had a 325-313 record with the Rangers.