I'm a Texas Rangers Fan again, and It's Tom Hicks Fault!

After ten plus years of jaded hate for all that is owned by Tom Hicks, the Texas Rangers are winning me back.

After taking 2-3 games against the Angels this weekend in LA the Rangers are in position to make some serious noise in the West.  They are also tied with the Boston Red Sox in the Wild card race. 

This collection of fine young talent seasoned with proven veterans isn't what started my comeback to Ranger fandom.  As much as I hate to admit it the credit is due to Tom Hicks himself.

You see Hicks did something I thought he would never do, hire the right people to make the decisions about the Rangers, and just write the checks.

It gradually started last season when Hicks hired Nolan Ryan as president, to take over Player Personnel.  I've always been a fan of the "Express", good move Hicks, but I wasn't onboard quite yet.

Rangers last season ended much like all Rangers seasons ended, tanked again.  Ryan promised next season would be different.  Having in mind to put all the pitcher on a special off season conditioning program.

One thing Ryan doesn't get enough credit for, he was conditioned to play in Texas.  He did it first in Houston with the Astros, and in Arlington with the Rangers.  Ryan knew how to be ready to play and win, in the worst of the Texas summer heat. 

Sure the Rangers came out like normal from spring training, beating everyone in sight.  But we've all seen this before.

The real season for the Rangers doesn't start till after the All-Star game.  That's when the heat in the Ball Park in Arlington gets really nasty.  Why they didn't built that park with roof over it is beyond me.

So here I'm am still learning the players names and rotations.  I pride myself as a quick study in sports.  Those who know me know that is a fact.

Last week the Rangers did it again with their off field actions, and impressed me greatly.  They ridded themselves of Vincente Padilla.  This was a bold move for clubhouse solidarity.

I watch Padilla's last start as a Rangers pitcher.  I saw him hit Kurt Suzuki of the Oakland A's.  I later watched as the camera pan to the Rangers' dugout with Padilla grinning after Michael Young took the brunt of the A's revenge.

I would later learn that this was not Padilla's first incidence of being a complete jerk.  I learned bout him hitting Mark Texiera twice in one game back in June.

I have a lot of respect for the Rangers' management for looking out for the integrity of the team over a winning pitcher prowess. 

Sending your number two rotation starter to AAA in August, when your in the hunt for post season play is a big gamble.  So far the Rangers as a team, are proving that the management made the right decision. 

You see, in baseball the team playing together as a unit is far more important than in other major sports. 

Win or lose if they give it their all and leave it all on the field they are winners. 

This is a very different Rangers team.  These guys look like they really are having fun 

So thank you Tom Hicks, looks like I'll be watching for a while.